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                  |  | Memorials of the Faithful | Pages 8-12 |  |  | Mullá `Alí-Akbar
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	| 1 | Yet another Hand of the 
Cause was the revered 
Mullá `Alí-Akbar, upon him be the glory of God, the All-Glorious.  
Early in life, this illustrious man attended institutions 
of higher learning and labored diligently, by day 
and night, until he became thoroughly conversant with the 
learning of the day, with secular studies, philosophy, and 
religious jurisprudence.  He frequented the gatherings of 
philosophers, mystics, and Shaykhís, thoughtfully traversing 
those areas of knowledge, intuitive wisdom, and illumination; 
but he thirsted after the wellspring of truth, and 
hungered for the bread that comes down from Heaven.  No 
matter how he strove to perfect himself in those regions of 
the mind, he was never satisfied; he never reached the 
goal of his desires; his lips stayed parched; he was confused, 
perplexed, and felt that he had wandered from his 
path.  The reason was that in all those circles he had found 
no passion; no joy, no ecstasy; no faintest scent of love.  
And as he went deeper into the core of those manifold beliefs, 
he discovered that from the day of the Prophet Muhammad's 
advent until our own times, innumerable sects 
have arisen:  creeds differing among themselves; disparate 
opinions, divergent goals, uncounted roads and ways.  And 
he found each one, under some plea or other, claiming to 
 
reveal spiritual truth; each one believing that it alone followed 
the true path--this although the Muhammedic sea 
could rise in one great tide, and carry all those sects away 
to the ocean floor.  "No cry shalt thou hear from them, nor 
a whisper even."
[1] |  |  
	| 2 | Whoso ponders the lessons of history will learn that 
this sea has lifted up innumerable waves, yet in the end 
each has dissolved and vanished, like a shadow drifting by.  
The waves have perished, but the sea lives on.  This is why 
`Alí Qabl-i-Akbar could never quench his thirst, till the day 
when he stood on the shore of Truth and cried: 
          Here is a sea with treasure to the brim; 
Its waves toss pearls under the great wind's thong.
 Throw off your robe and plunge, nor try to swim,
 Pride not yourself on swimming--dive headlong.
 |  |  
	| 3 | Like a fountain, his heart welled and jetted forth; meaning 
and truth, like soft-flowing crystal waters, began to 
stream from his lips.  At first, with humility, with spiritual 
poverty, he garnered the new light, and only then he proceeded 
to shed it abroad.  For how well has it been said, 
          Shall he the gift of life to others bear 
A teacher must proceed in this way:  he must first teach 
himself, and then others.  If he himself still walks the path 
of carnal appetites and lusts, how can he guide another to 
the "evident signs"
[2]
 of God?Who of life's gift has never had a share?
 |  |  
	| 4 | This honored man was successful in converting a multitude.  
For the sake of God he cast all caution aside, as he 
hastened along the ways of love.  He became as one frenzied, 
 
 
as a vagrant and one known to be mad.  Because of 
his new Faith, he was mocked at in Tihrán by high and 
low.  When he walked through the streets and bázárs, the 
people pointed their fingers at him, calling him a Bahá'í.  
Whenever trouble broke out, he was the one to be arrested 
first.  He was always ready and waiting for this, since 
it never failed. |  |  
	| 5 | Again and again he was bound with chains, jailed, and 
threatened with the sword.  The photograph of this blessed 
individual, together with that of the great Amín, taken of 
them in their chains, will serve as an example to whoever 
has eyes to see.  There they sit, those two distinguished 
men, hung with chains, shackled, yet composed, acquiescent, 
undisturbed. |  |  
	| 6 | Things came to such a pass that in the end whenever 
there was an uproar Mullá `Alí would put on his turban, 
wrap himself in his `abá and sit waiting, for his enemies to 
rouse and the farráshes to break in and the guards to carry 
him off to prison.  But observe the power of God!  In spite 
of all this, he was kept safe.  "The sign of a knower and 
lover is this, that you will find him dry in the sea."  That 
is how he was.  His life hung by a thread from one moment 
to the next; the malevolent lay in wait for him; he 
was known everywhere as a Bahá'í--and still he was protected 
from all harm.  He stayed dry in the depths of the 
sea, cool and safe in the heart of the fire, until the day he 
died. |  |  
	| 7 | After the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, Mullá `Alí continued 
on, loyal to the Testament of the Light of the World, 
staunch in the Covenant which he served and heralded.  
During the lifetime of the Manifestation, his yearning 
made him hasten to Bahá'u'lláh, Who received him with 
grace and favor, and showered blessings upon him.  He returned, 
then, to Írán, where he devoted all his time to 
serving the Cause.  Openly at odds with his tyrannical oppressors, 
 
no matter how often they threatened him, he defied 
them.  He was never vanquished.  Whatever he had to 
say, he said.  He was one of the Hands of the Cause of 
God, steadfast, unshakable, not to be moved. |  |  
	| 8 | I loved him very much, for he was delightful to converse 
with, and as a companion second to none.  One night, 
not long ago, I saw him in the world of dreams.  Although 
his frame had always been massive, in the dream world he 
appeared larger and more corpulent than ever.  It seemed 
as if he had returned from a journey.  I said to him, "Jináb, 
you have grown good and stout."  "Yes," he answered, 
"praise be to God!  I have been in places where the air was 
fresh and sweet, and the water crystal pure; the landscapes 
were beautiful to look upon, the foods delectable.  It all 
agreed with me, of course, so I am stronger than ever now, 
and I have recovered the zest of my early youth.  The 
breaths of the All-Merciful blew over me and all my time 
was spent in telling of God.  I have been setting forth His 
proofs, and teaching His Faith."  (The meaning of teaching 
the Faith in the next world is spreading the sweet 
savors of holiness; that action is the same as teaching.)  We 
spoke together a little more, and then some people arrived 
and he disappeared. |  |  
	| 9 | His last resting-place is in Tihrán.  Although his body 
lies under the earth, his pure spirit lives on, "in the seat of 
truth, in the presence of the potent King."
[3]
  I long to visit 
the graves of the friends of God, could this be possible.  
These are the servants of the Blessed Beauty; in His path 
they were afflicted; they met with toil and sorrow; they 
sustained injuries and suffered harm.  Upon them be the 
glory of God, the All-Glorious.  Unto them be salutation 
and praise.  Upon them be God's tender mercy, and forgiveness. |  |  |  | 
 
 Notes1. [Cf. Qur'án 19:98] 2. [Qur'án 3:91] 3. [Qur'án 54:55] |  | 
 
 
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