# Fadl-i-Qa'ini: The Tamed Phoenix

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Darius K. Shahrokh, Fadl-i-Qa'ini: The Tamed Phoenix, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> FADL-I-QA IN1
> A transcript of audio-cassette from series
> WINDOWS TO THE PAST
> by Darius K. Shahrokh, M.D.
> 
> Set your trap for another bird, 0 trapper!
> Why?
> For I am the phoenix and my nest is way up high."
> 
> In the soul-stirring Hidden Words, Baha'u'llah states " 0 Immortal
> Phoenix! Dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein
> is thy habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to
> the realm of the infinite and seekest to attain thy goal." (Persian
> Hidden Words # 1)
> 
> At one time, these windows to the past opened to the enchanting
> warble of the nightingales, and at another time, to the mesmerizing
> flight of the two heavenly doves, Varqa and Ruhu'llah. This time
> it shall open to the awesome scene of the taming of that immortal
> and legendary bird, the phoenix. So let this window from these
> ageless windows to the past open to the life story of Aqa
> Muhammad-i-Qa'ini, also known as Fadl-i-Qa ini, meaning the learned
> one from Qa'in. The title of Nabil-i-Akbar was bestowed upon him
> by Baha'u'llah.   He should not be mistaken for Nabil-i-A'zam, the
> great historian who wrote The Dawn-Breakers.        The given name
> of both men was Muhammad.      In Arabic numerology of Abjad the
> numbers of Nabil equal the numbers of Muhammad. The meaning of
> Nabil is noble or learned.
> 
> We shall refer to our star as Fadl.
> 
> This great man was a prodigy among the scholars of his time and
> was instrumental in the conversion of Mirza Abu'l Fadl. When Mirza
> Abu'l Fad1 was yet a Muslim and occupying the position of professor
> and president of the highest Islamic college in Tehran, after one
> encounter with Fadl, he was heard to say, "By God, no one could
> withstand the power of this great man of knowledge."
> 
> Once in a southern city in Iran called Kerman, Fad1 appeared in
> a gathering of the learned and divines. He was not wearing the
> customary turban which would denote his rank, but wore an ordinary
> hat and no one recognized him. After listening to his discourse
> on the subject being discussed, they said no one can rival this
> stranger's eloquence and erudition except the famous Fadl-i-Qaini,
> which was himself. Rather amusing for Fad1 to hear that.
> 
> Haji Mirza Haydar- Ali, one of the great teachers whom Abdu'l-Baha
> honored with the title of The Angel of Carmel, and also the writer
> of the book The Delight of Hearts, said this about Fadl.    Should
> Fad1 state that fire is wet and cold might as well accept it or
> with logic he would convince you. Both these learned people, Mirza
> Abu'l-Fad1 and Mirza Haydar-'Ali, when at the gatherings of the
> believers with Fad1 present, would not utter a word.     Matter of
> fact, when smoking indoors was a common practice, Mirza Abu'l-Fad1
> who was a chain smoker, would not smoke in the presence of Fad1
> until Fad1 who realized his addiction, would ask him to smoke.
> 
> Who was this unusual man whose good looks complemented all his
> other great qualities? In the course of this story, you will learn
> why it was decided to call his story 'The Taming of the Phoenix.'
> 
> Well----it is a rather long story, but an exciting one. You shall
> witness how the phoenix arose from his smoldering ashes, and how
> on the wings of his soul he soared to the realm of abiding light.
> By the end of this hour, hopefully, you will find it well spent
> but, please, a word of caution.
> 
> The stories of these early believers should not be considered as
> fables or taken for entertainment. These are accounts of those
> who were so overwhelmed with love for Bahalulllahthat they forsook
> their homes, family, wealth, fame and name.       But they left for
> posterity a legacy of what is meant by being a lover of Baha'u'llah.
> Such love comes only after true recognition resulting in utter
> humility and feeling of nothingness. With this commentary before
> we start, might as well share with you the story of a beautiful
> raindrop by Saadi, the great Persian poet of the 13th century.
> by Adib Taherzadeh
> -   Masabeh-i-Hidayat, Volume I in Persian language by
> Azizu'llah Sulaymani was the foundation for this
> presentation.
> From a lofty cloud this pure drop of rain began its descent. Soon
> it became conscious of its own qualities so with pride told itself,
> '1
> I am the water of life. All existence depends on me."    Swollen
> with self-admiration and pride, suddenly it looked down and saw
> the vast ocean beneath it.     Dumbfounded, it said, "By God, if
> that is water, then who am I?" Filled with remorse and utter
> humility, it fell on the ocean.   The mighty ocean, with admiration
> and love, embraced the drop and made at the companion of the pearl.
> How beautifully expressive of the paradox of the greatness in
> humility.
> 
> And now the story.
> 
> To start this story without adequate introduction is not proper.
> Baha'u'llah revealed the Tablet of Wisdom, or Lawh-i-Hikmat, in
> honor of Fadl, and after Fad1 passed away, Abdu'l-Baha accorded
> him the rank of a Hand of the Cause. Later on Shoghi Effendi
> designated him as one of the nineteen Apostles of Baha'u'llah.
> To complete the list of honors, the degree of ijtihad which is
> a doctorate in Islamic law must be mentioned. One cannot find
> too many people with all of the above.
> 
> The sources for this story are:
> - The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah
> - Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah
> - Memorials of the Faithful by Abdu'l-Baha
> - Baha'u'llah, the King of Glory
> by Hand of the Cause H. M. Balyuzi
> - Eminent Baha'is in the Time of-~aha'u'llah by the
> same author
> - The Revelation of Baha'u'llah Volumes I and IV
> 
> by Adib Taherzadeh
> 
> - Masabeh-i-Hidayat, Volume I in Persian language by
> 
> Azizu'llah Sulaymani was the foundation for this
> 
> presentation.
> Fad1 was born on March 29, 1829, and passed away after the ascension
> of Baha'u'llah in 1892. His place of birth was the small town
> of Naw-Firist in the District of Qa in in the large province of
> -
> Khurasan. He came from a family of eminent clerics and received
> the usual religious education in his home town.
> 
> After his basic education, at the age of 17 he left home for
> advanced studies. First he went to Maahad, the capital of the
> province.   While there he became interested in the study of
> philosophy. So he travelled to Sabzivar where Haji Mulla Mihdi,
> the most eminent Persian philosopher of the 19th century, was
> conducting classes.
> 
> After five years, he returned home, but did not stay long due to
> repeated heated arguments with his father over differences in
> understanding of certain principles. Where to go? Of course,
> nowhere else except to his illustrious and favorite teacher of
> philosophy. The teacher insisted that Fad1 must write a letter
> to his father and ask for his guidance. As loving fathers do,
> he sent Fad1 money, a horse and a servant and advised him to go
> to the holy cities of Karbila and Najaf, the center of Islamic
> theological schools which are located in Iraq for higher education.
> 
> He went through the capital city of Tehran and since the summer
> season was approaching, he decided to spend the summer in Tehran
> and then proceed toward the holy cities before fall.   Being thirsty
> for knowledge, he attended theological classes in Tehran.
> A teacher, who was also the president of the school, soon discovered
> Fadl's depth and talent. Before long Fad1 became his favorite
> student. This did not please the more established students who
> felt displaced by this newcomer.
> 
> The timing of this was in 1852 when an attempt was made on the
> life of the king by a few crazy Babi youth avenging the execution
> of the Bab two years earlier.    This resulted in the Babis, high
> and low, being rounded up and killed.  As you recall, that attempt
> was the reason that Baha'u'llah, a widely-known well-respected
> nobleman, was cast into the Siyah-Chal, being accused of
> masterminding that attempt.    In those days of terror, the least
> suspicion was enough reason for arrest and execution.     Jails and
> prisons were only holding places before execution.
> 
> Well, the jealous students used the very handy weapon, accusing
> Fad1 of being a Babi. Soon he was arrested and taken to the house
> -
> of notorious Mahmud-Khan-i-Kalantar,    the mayor of Tehran, for
> questioning, torture, and you know what. The name of the mayor
> should be familiar to you if you have heard the story of Tahirih.
> Tahirih spent four years in that house and was martyred in the
> same year, 1852.     You might wonder how they could keep so many
> people in the mayor's or police chief's houses when they, with
> their families, occupied them. Even a four bedroom house could
> not accomodate all of that. Maybe a house with a basement? No,
> even that wouldn't do it. The residences of these officials were
> immense complexes including multiple buildings and numerous
> attendants and servants for anything from bringing a glass of water
> to a pampered child or torturing the people in confinement.
> 
> Fad1 was taken to a room where an older man, possibly a real Babi,
> was also kept. The screaming they heard indicated some being
> tortured. The fiendish mayor, after attending the torture, came
> and sat in a room across from Fadl's room. Without being summoned,
> Fad1 walked to that room and tried to convince the mayor that he
> was not a Babi and had nothing to do with that religion. All fell
> on deaf ears. So he decided to put his fate into the mysterious
> hand of destiny, and what a mighty hand it proved to be!      Wait
> and see.
> 
> When Fad1 was first arrested, he managed to send a message to his
> teacher, the principal, about what was happening to him. All of
> a sudden, the secretary of the principal rushed to the mayor and
> handed him a note. You should have seen the 180 degree change
> in attitude. A beast turned into a human. Pleasantly, the mayor
> told Fadl, "Apparently the honorable principal expects you, so
> may I ask that, without any delay, you go and see him."    The mayor
> got up and, as a sign of respect, followed Fad1 to the door.
> 
> Fad1 continued to attend the classes in Tehran, but he had to cope
> with another aggravating irritation. He became known by the divines
> and their students as a Babi who was released through the intervention of the principal. He became so well-known as a Babi that
> even t h e laymen would p o i n t a t him, and t h e s t u d e n t s w h i l e walking
> k e p t d i s t a n c e from him t o a v o i d d e f i l e m e n t of t h e i r r o b e s s h o u l d
> it touch h i s .
> 
> Many of t h e s e r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l s had rooms f o r t h e s t u d e n t s t o s t a y .
> I n one of t h e rooms i n t h a t s c h o o l where Fad1 s t a y e d , t h e r e was
> a man c a l l e d S i y y i d Ya'aqtlb who s e c r e t l y was a Babi. L i k e F a d l ,
> he a l s o was from t h e d i s t r i c t of Qa i n which brought them c l o s e r
> together, particularly i n t h a t large city.
> 
> One of t h o s e summer n i g h t s of 1852, S i y y i d Ya'aqub, w e s h a l l r e f e r
> t o him as S i y y i d , t o l d Fad1 j o k i n g l y ,        "Do you know t h a t you a r e
> know a s a Babi?" Fad1 denied being a Babi and s a i d , " I have never
> m e t a s i n g l e one of them o r r e a d a l i n e from t h e i r w r i t i n g s . "
> I f o n l y h e c o u l d g u e s s what was i n s t o r e f o r him.              Siyyid s a i d ,
> "Well, i t d o e s n o t make any d i f f e r e n c e , and by t h e way, I have
> come a c r o s s some of t h e w r i t i n g s of t h e Bab which are t o o heavy
> f o r me t o u n d e r s t a n d .      I t h o u g h t I s h o u l d b r i n g them t o you s o
> w i t h your d e g r e e of l e a r n i n g you c o u l d e x p l a i n them t o me."           He
> p l a c e d t h e p a p e r s on t h e t a b l e and l e f t .
> 
> Fad1 s t a t e s , "To p l e a s e t h e S i y y i d , I scanned t h e p a p e r s , b u t s i n c e
> t h e y d i d n o t a p p e a r t o be i n my s t y l e , which was t h a t of
> p h i l o s o p h e r s , t h e y d i d n o t i m p r e s s m e . F i n d i n g them n o t worthy
> of my time, I h i d them under some books and p a p e r s s o no one would
> f i n d such i n c r i m i n a t i n g material i n my room.
> 
> "The n e x t n i g h t S i y y i d came back.             I t o l d him I found them
> w o r t h l e s s , and how I f e l t s o r r y f o r t h e f o o l i s h and g u l l i b l e who
> had embraced t h a t Cause t o t h e p o i n t of g i v i n g t h e i r l i v e s f o r
> i t . Worse t h a n them, I s a i d , were t h o s e l e a r n e d p e o p l e who s h o u l d
> have known b e t t e r t h a n t o become o v e z e a l o u s f o l l o w e r s of t h e Bab,
> m i s l e a d i n g t h e i n n o c e n t Muslims.
> I'
> Upon h e a r i n g my words, S i y y i d ' s f a c e showed h i s deep e m o t i o n a l
> despair.         H e lowered h i s head. A f t e r a l o n g p a u s e , he r a i s e d h i s
> head a few times as i f he were going t o s a y something b u t h e l d
> i t back.         F i n a l l y on t h e way t o t h e d o o r , he r e c i t e d t h i s poem,
> 'How o f t e n knowledge and i n t e l l i g e n c e t u r n i n t o a monstrous t h i e f
> robbing t h e w a y f a r e r . ' A s t h e f i n a l word, S i y y i d s a i d , 'Turn your
> h e a r t t o t h e t r u t h i n t h e s e words' and l e f t .
> Seeing him in that shape and hearing the poem and his final words
> had an unusual effect on me. However, I concluded that he was
> a Babi and was setting a trap for me, but did not realize the
> cleverness of his intended quarry. His naive delusion to trap
> me was pitifully ridiculous." The rendering of the poet states,
> "Set your trap for another bird, 0 trapper, why? For I am the
> phoenix and my nest is way up high."
> 
> The invisible trapper had His sight fixed on Fad1 and his
> paradoxical trap of deliverance was firmly set. It was only a
> matter of time. This phoenix was needed in the service of the
> Cause. Yes, those mighty wings were destined to propel the Cause
> of God and nothing else.
> 
> Fad1 continues to state, "Although Siyyid's mood and final words
> had caused an internal turmoil in me, philosophically I decided
> to dismiss it with logic. Well, why not. I felt with my knowledge
> and intelligence I could find enough proofs within those papers
> to save poor Siyyid from getting any deeper in his confusion.
> He looked like a good man and should be brought back into the fold
> of Islam.    My motivation was not to learn, but to find faults
> to prove the fallacy of the Bab's claim.
> It
> With every line I read a new door of knowledge opened before my
> eyes. Sleep escaped me and I was led into a new world. All night
> I read the Bab's writings with increased enthusiasm discovering
> gems previously hidden from me. The first rays of the sun found
> my vision, my soul, and my heart totally changed and refreshed.
> 
> That evening the Siyyid came back. As soon as he learned what had
> happened, he was overwhelmed and nearly went crazy. He prostrated
> and in humility praised the Lord. Then if he was not crying, he
> was laughing." Well! What do you expect? He had put the bait
> for the phoenix, but the real trapper was the invisible power,
> that inexplicable power of attraction to the Words of God.
> 
> From then on Siyyid could not supply him fast enough with other
> writings of the Bab, one of which was what the Bab had revealed
> for the matchless and erudite Vahid, the emissary of the king,
> who instead of defeating the Bab, was captivated by Him and became
> a staunch, dynamic, and dedicated follower.   Please do yourselves
> a favor and learn about the history of the Bab, truly a divine
> drama.
> 
> Now the sun had begun its descent, and day by day was setting lower.
> With the approach of fall, it was time for Fad1 to oblige his
> father's wishes. But who needed any further Islamic learning, having
> discovered the real source of knowledge.
> 
> Fad1 decided to go on with the original plan and acquire all the
> Islamic learning he could so no one could say "If he knew better,
> he would not have become a Babi."
> 
> With his ability, why not aim for the highest degree of ijtihad
> which is the doctorate degree of Islamic law.     Wouldn't you say
> that it was a memorable summer for Fadl?    Well, the unforgettable
> occasion is yet to come. Our phoenix is trapped but not yet tamed.
> 
> A new chapter in the life of this great man opens with his pursuit
> of knowledge at the feet of well-known divines in Najaf and Karbila,
> the two holy cities in Iraq.
> 
> Before opening the curtain to this stage, a timely digression is
> worthwhile, one historical and one mystical.
> 
> It staggers one's mind to know that in the blood-bath of Tehran
> in 1852, when the cross-fire of gory persecutions was mowing down
> the Babis, there were some who actually dared to proclaim themselves
> as new believers. Couldn't they wait until the danger was over?
> No, not those who found the truth and saw its dazzle with their
> spiritual eyes. Fad1 was not alone.      Another noteworthy person,
> who already was a mujtahid, declared his belief in that year.
> His title, given by Baha'u'llah, was Zaynu'l-Muqaribin, meaning
> the ornament of the intimate ones. He was the most meticulous
> transcriber who complied the Questions and Answers part of the
> Kitab-i-Aqdas.   An unshakeable conviction does not pay attention
> to the fear of persecution or death or any other obstacle, such
> as disapproval £;om family and friends. L& us pray that all of
> us attain such a certitude.
> 
> Where were we? Did I really tell you that it was Fad1 who decided
> to proceed to the holy cities for furthering his education, or
> was it his father who had advised him to do so. Well, maybe it
> was himself, maybe his father, maybe both, and again, maybe neither.
> Are you slightly confused,or am I?
> 
> Let us think of a child who has never seen a magnet which is setting
> on the table. While playing with paperclips, one of them gets
> close enough to the magnet and jumps to the magnet. The child
> might think that the paperclip decided to move and stick to the
> magnet. There are similar mysteries in this world and the worlds
> beyond which are beyond our comprehension. That power, that force
> is unfathomable. Wasn't it the same force which, some years later,
> attracted    to Baha'u'llah    the seventeen-year-old    Badi, the
> martyr-messenger who took Baha'u'llah's     tablet to the king of
> Persia? Superficially, it appeared that he and his father had
> made plans to make the long, dangerous, and difficult journey to
> attain the presence of Baha'u'llah, but who knows. Coincidentally,
> Badi and his father were from the same province of Khurasan blessed
> by the footsteps of Quddus and Mulla Husayn. ~0th-~adl and later
> Badi, like many others, were chosen and drawn to the magnet of
> Baha'u'llah's attraction to be recreated and magnetized.
> 
> We should not think that now in Baha'u'llah's physical absence
> such transformation is no more possible.       The glory which was
> concealed within the Holy Being of Baha'u'llah is even more present.
> What is asked of us is purity of motive, humility, and submission.
> He works wonders if only we take the first step. You may have
> experienced or witnessed such transformation which astonishes even
> the person who has undergone such a transformation.
> 
> If Fad1 gave any thought to what we just discussed or not, we don't
> know, but we know with certainty that he safely arrived at the
> cities which were the center of Islamic learning.
> 
> He sat at the feet of prominent Islamic divines, the greatest of
> whom was no less a person than -   - Murtida-i-Ansari. This great
> Shaykh
> man of learning and wisdom, praised by both Baha'u'llah and
> Abdu'l-Baha, had such exacting and strict standards that he rarely
> bestowed the title of mujtahid on any one. The six years which
> it took for Fad1 to graduate was much less than the time it took
> for others.
> For his final dissertation in answer to some questions asked by
> -   - Murtida, Fad1 wrote a book of a few thousand verses. -
> Shaykh                                                        Shaykh
> -
> Murtida wrote on the margin of that book his astonishment and praise
> for Fadlls depth and degree of knowledge. Fadl's diploma was signed
> by this leading Mujtahid of Shi'ih Islam. When jealous students
> of theology showed dismay about'the -    - having given the highest
> Shaykh
> degree to a person who was a Babi, he told them you write a similar
> book and you shall receive my signature. You might be interested
> to learn that only two other students received such a degree from
> Shaykh
> -   - Murtida. One was Mirza-i-Shirazi, who became the successor
> to the -    - as the leading mujtahid, but as you may remelnber
> Shaykh
> from the talk on the Kitab-i-Aqdas, he was secretly a believer
> in both the Bab and Baha'u'llah.     The third person receiving the
> degree of ijtihad from the a a y k died while traveling in Arabia.
> Doesn't it tell us something; that two of the three prize students
> of such an honorable divine were believers in the Baha'i Faith.
> 
> Should time permit at the end of this talk we shall audit the assets
> of -    - Murtida and Fad1 when they died compared to the other
> Shaykh
> greedy mujtahids.
> 
> One wonders how Fad1 felt after receiving the highest honor.
> We have a well-decorated mujtahid fully aware of his own genius.
> Being in such a position is challenging and dangerous. Our tests
> grow harder with our growth.   It is exactly like the air resistance
> which a moving object confronts. The faster it goes, the more
> resistance and listen to this, the higher it goes, the more dramatic
> becomes its fall. By remembering this analogy, we could always
> be reminded about such an equation.     Forewarning about tests and
> dangers is a good protection. The only problem is sometimes we
> don't realize that we are being tested.      It is so easy to pass
> the test if only we do our homework and read the guide book offered
> to us by Baha'u'llah, the Redeemer of mankind.     One thing is for
> sure, and that is Baha'u'llah's assurance that we will never be
> tested beyond our capacity.
> 
> What would you do if you were in the place of Fadl?        Well, go
> home, but of course, being so close to Karbila who would miss the
> last opportunity of a visit to the holy Shrine of Imam Husayn there.
> The year was 1858, five years before Baha'u'llah's declaration
> in Ba&dad.
> While in Karbila, Fad1 met a Persian Babi there. Fad1 states,
> "This believer gave me all of the news and he made frequent
> references about the exiled Babis in Ba&dad,     fifty miles away.
> This, of course, meant Baha'u'llah and other Babis.     He insisted
> that I must pay them a visit before returning to Iran or I might
> regret it forever.    His praise of Jinab-i-Baha (as Baha'u'llah
> used to be called in those days) had no bounds but when asked about
> Mirza Yahya, the younger half-brother of Baha'u'llah who was
> nominated by the Bab as the temporary head of the Babis, he became
> subdued and stayed quiet. To make it short, he begged and made
> me swear that when passing through Ba&dad,          I would visit
> Baha'u'llah.
> 
> The unfoldment of the following events in the life of Fad1 could
> be considered the highlight of this story, and that is the taming
> of the phoenix who roams around head and shoulders above every
> one else.
> 
> Don't you wish you could open the window wide by yourself without
> me slowing you with digressions? My purpose is to guide you through
> some passages of history, hoping that you will consider the history
> of our precious Faith interesting, exciting, and inspiring. Then
> you can be on your own, opening window after window through the
> pages of the books decorating your shelves.
> 
> As requested by that Babi in Karbila, Fadl, while passing through
> Ba&dad   on his way home, stopped over at Baha'u'llah's house.
> It was in the afternoon when he entered a house which for ages
> will be the center of circumambulation by the lovers of Baharu'llah
> in obedience to the law of obligatory pilgrimage.
> 
> After a few minutes, Baha'u'llah came out from the private quarters
> of the house to meet the visitor, Fadl. In that celebrated hall
> which witnessed so much history, Baha'u'llah greeted Fadl, extending
> a warm welcome to him. Then smilingly told him, "Don't you know
> that in the eyes of the government of Iran We are considered to
> be the enemy of the state and therefore have been cast out? People,
> too, regard Us as outlaws and shun Us. You are a learned man,
> a mujtahid who is highly respected. Whoever comes to meet Us and
> associates with Us is labelled the same. How, then, did you dare
> to come to Us, not sparing your position and status?" Then very
> kindly, Baha'u'llah invited Fad1 to stay at His house as His guest.
> He instructed His secretary, Mirza Aqa Jan, to look after Fadl's
> comfort.
> 
> Fad1 states, "One day in Baha'u'llah's house, I was visiting with
> Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas, a very dignified and distinguished follower
> of the Bab. Baha'u'llah, accompanied by a Persian prince, also
> an exile, entered the house and came straight to us.    Mulla Sadiq
> jumped out of his chair and threw himself at Baha'u'llah's feet.
> Baha'u'llah disapprovingly told him, "Mulla, stand up and stop
> these old practices," and immediately left with the prince. Fad1
> states, "I could not believe my eyes. Somewhat stunned and upset,
> I decided to give him a piece of my mind, seeing how Baha'u'llah
> had admonished him."    For your information, Mulla Sadiq is the
> same man who converted the celebrated Ahmad.     Listen to Ahmad's
> story. It is quite touching.
> 
> Fad1 goes on to state, "I said, Mulla Sadiq, you not only are of
> the learned but also occupy the exalted position of having been
> appointed by His holiness the Bab as a witness, which ranks second
> to the Letters of the Living. There is no question that Baha'u'llah
> is a respectable man of nobility, and we know that on account of
> His being a Babi. He was cast into the Siyah-aal, His belongings
> were ransacked, and He was then exiled to this city.        None of
> this justifies that a person of your caliber should act as a slave
> at the feet of his master.    Mulla Sadiq refrained from answering
> me. He was in another world. Beaming with joy, he said, 'I beg
> God to tear the veils away from your eyes and shower you with His
> abundant grace.'
> This answer puzzled me more than his action which I could not
> figure out. I was prompted to closely observe the person of
> Baha'u'llah,  His words and deeds.      I secretly began my own
> research." Imagine the paper clip researching the magnet, oblivious
> of its invisible force.
> 
> Well, there was nothing wrong with his research. After all,
> independent investigation of truth is a teaching of Baha'u'llah.
> But listen to this outlandish remark. Apparently, the phoenix
> is swelling with pride by the minute waiting for something to
> happen. Like what? Possibly like an overexpanded balloon? Pop?
> No, this is the undying phoenix!
> Fad1 continues his story, "The more I concentrated on Baha'u'llah,
> the less I found anything significant to impress me. He was the
> embodiment of humility and self-effacement. Nothing pointed to
> His claiming any station. That grievous delusion led me to consider
> myself in every way superior to Baha'u'llah. This proud attitude
> was inflated by the respectful attitude of Baha'u'llah and others.
> In all gatherings I occupied the seat of honor and when speaking,
> would not give a chance to anyone, including Baha'u'llah, to utter
> a word. "
> 
> So far our phoenix is having fun, but the hour of taming is drawing
> closer. None of us enjoy the thought of such a great being turning
> to ashes, but that is the only way to be recreated.
> 
> One unforgettable afternoon, something drastic happened. A fire?
> No, not a visible one, let us go to the words of Fadl, himself,
> "On that afternoon in the same hall where the gatherings used to
> be held, under the instruction of Baha'u'llah, a large gathering
> was held. As usual, I sat in the seat of honor and Baha'u'llah
> sat in the middle of the crowd pouring tea with His own hands."
> 
> Oh, what a sight! Don't you wish you could have just one drop of
> that tea?
> I'
> A question was asked and every one was quiet, so I was satisfied
> that no one in the room was capable of answering it. I began my
> usual discourse with everyone quietly absorbing every word except
> Baha'u'llah.  He, at times while agreeing with my statement, added
> further explanation. Gradually, He increased His explanation until
> He took over and I became silent."
> 
> Well, friends! This is that long-awaited moment. That electrifying
> sight when the phoenix consumes itself into ashes so he can be
> recreated into that beautiful being deserving to be called by the
> Blessed Beauty with these affectionate words "0 my Nabil." (Tablets
> of Baha'u'llah, p. 151)
> 
> You see, such a state of utter selflessness and nothingness is
> the absolute requirement at the end of the valley of search before
> one could step into the realm of unshakeable certitude. Such was
> the state of the greatest scholar, Mirza Abu'l-Fad1 when he embraced
> the Cause, and such was the state of the raindrop in our story
> before the ocean embraced it. As was said before, Fad1 was one
> of the guiding stars when Mirza Abu'l-Fad1 was treading the valley
> of search.
> 
> Back to the awesome scene of immolation and Fadl's own words, "When
> I heard the outpouring of His profound words and surging of the
> ocean of His utterance, I was dumbfounded. I was filled with awe,
> fear, and shame for having occupied the seat of honor and went
> into a state of fainting to the point that I could no longer hear
> Baha'u'llah.  I was so ashamed that I wished to run out, but like
> a sparrow in the claws of a mighty falcon, I could not make a move.
> I was waiting for Him to finish His utterance, but I could not
> hear Him. When His blessed lips stopped moving, I dashed out,
> and in remorse hit my head three times against the wall for my
> blindness."
> 
> By witnessing that glimpse of Baha'u'llah's might and glory, he
> realized that Mulla Sadiq's prostrating at the feet of Baha'u'llah
> was well justifiable.
> Fad1 had two obstacles to deal with.    The worst was self and ego
> and the next was the question of rank among the Babis.   The first
> was conquered through Baha'u'llah's   mercy, but the question of
> Mirza Yahya's position perplexed his analytical mind.  He overcame
> this frustration by philosophically concluding that Mirza Yahya,
> the nominee of the Bab, was in charge of day-to-day affairs of
> the Faith, but Baha'u'llah was the spiritual leader and source
> of innate knowledge.
> 
> Before long, at the home of a believer, Fad1 was also present when
> Baha'u'llah revealed words about the mysteries and the origin of
> creation. This made the words of all scholars appear to Fad1 like
> the talk of children. It was not the nature of this great man,
> Fadl, to be overcome by anxiety. He always could reason himself
> out of it, but not this time.      He being was shaken to the core.
> Every minute of those anxiety-ridden days seemed like eternity.
> Every time he tried to soar on the wings of knowledge and logic,
> an invisible force would direct him down to earth.              Such
> instability became unbearable, so with utmost humility, Fad1 wrote
> a letter to Baha'u'llah and requested   Abdu'l-Baha, at that time
> an adolescent, to present it to Baha'u'llah.    In the letter, Fad1
> begged Baha'u'llah to reveal His position.
> 
> In answer, Baha'u'llah revealed a tablet which began with utter
> humility. In the middle, He touched upon Irfanic or Illuminati
> subjects which were familiar to Fadl, and at the end, He expounded
> on His own exalted station. This tablet was taken to Fad1 by
> Abdu'l-Baha who instructed him to read it and return it to
> Baha'u'llah.
> 
> The mighty phoenix soared to the pinnacle of certitude, achieving
> immortality. Abdu'l-Baha's words verify this. You will hear them
> at the end of this talk. His true mission in life began. May
> all of us learn what is our real purpose and calling. Definitely
> it is not mundane fame and wealth.     Meditate on it. Baha'u'llah
> calls each one of us the immortal phoenix in this passage from
> The Hidden Words and illminates our mission, ''0 Immortal Phoenix!
> Dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is thy
> habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm
> of the infinite and seekest to obtain thy goal." (HW p. 22)
> 
> It wouldn't be fair to you not to recount an interesting story
> related by Fad1 about events while he was a guest of Baha'u'llah.
> He states, "One day I was sitting on my knees at the presence of
> Baha'u'llah when an agent of the Muslim divines in the holy cities
> arrived. His name was Mulla Hasani-Amu. He knew me quite well.
> He had come there on behalf of the doctors of Islam to ask
> Baha'u'llah to perform a miracle as a proof of His powers."
> 
> Fad1 goes on to state, "Mulla was dumbfounded to find me sitting
> at the feet of Baha'u'llah. He sat down and gradually moved closer
> to me and whispered in my ear, 'What is a personage of your eminence
> doing here?' I whispered back in his ears, 'I am here for the
> same reason that you are. "' Both were seeking the truth, but in
> different ways.
> 
> Now we turn the page to a new chapter in the life of Fadl-i-Qaini
> who was later given the title of Nabil-i-Akbar by Baha'u'llah.
> Upon his return to his hometown a large number of divines, students
> and merchants went a distance in advance to welcome the great
> mujtahid home. The Amir or ruler of the district of Qa in
> personally welcomed him with generous words of praise. Matter
> of fact, he invited Fad1 to be his guest twice a week and to teach
> him philosophy.
> 
> The divines and the students who had heard all about his fame and
> degree of ijtihad secretly planned to test him. They chose the
> most learned among them for the task. He reported back that Fadl's
> knowledge was superior. One thing after another made him ascend
> the ladder of prestige and popularity quite fast--but to our dismay,
> this did not last long due to two elements.
> 
> One was the jealousy of the established ecclesiastics who found
> themselves displaced by Fadl, and the second one obviously was
> his teaching the Faith. Although he used his discretion in choosing
> the receptive souls, it didn't work out that way. With his charisma
> and knowledge, converting people was no problem. One of the many
> Muslims he converted was a preacher and a relative of Fadl.
> 
> One day when this relative was giving a sermon, he intermingled
> some new verses which the listeners were not familiar with. If
> you like to see an uproar of disapproval, you should have been
> there. The large crowd interrupted his sermon with shouts of "What
> are these words?"     Quite frightened and not thinking of the
> consequences, he said, "These are not my words. I heard them from
> Fadl." Well, that was it. The clergy who were badly waiting for
> the opportunity to strike were supplied with ammunition against
> Fadl. They poisoned the goodwill of the ruler who used to see
> Fad1 twice a week to the point that the fickle ruler decided to
> arrest, chastise, and imprison Fadl. What an intriguing world.
> 
> At that time Fad1 was in his early thirties and was engaged to
> a fine young lady from a nearby village. No doubt she was the
> envy of many women her age.         After all, Fadl's good looks
> complemented his other unmatched qualities. It is yet too early
> to think of the biggest wedding in that corner of the world.
> 
> One day when he was returning from that village, before reaching
> his hometown, the agents of the Amir intercepted him and showed
> him the order of the Amir, the same ruler who used to have Fad1
> come twice a week to teach him philosophy.    He was ordered to
> dismount his horse. The agents removed his boots and filled them
> with gravel and hung the boots around his neck. Barefoot, he
> covered the distance back to the village over thistles and rough
> ground. There he was thrown into a prison where he was denied
> water and food. This period of suffering from inadequate food
> and water lasted about two months. Then with stocks on his feet,
> which are heavy blocks of wood locked around the ankles, he was
> taken to Birjand, a city in that province. There he was confined
> in the house of the police chief. I think that was the end of
> that engagement for Fadl. Maybe he will have better luck next
> time.
> That inhumane treatment of Fad1 should be followed by a refreshing
> incident, but all of us may wonder about the purpose of tests and
> difficulties which most of us have experienced or witnessed. There
> are many passages in the Baha'i writings about their purpose and
> significance.   They definitely make us stronger with a cleansing
> and mellowing effect, the way the earth is torn by the plow clearing
> thistles and rocks. Some may become bitter and resentful.       What
> tests and tribulations do for our soul could be explained as
> precisely as the soul itself. Limited human understandin-g is
> incapable of comprehending the infinite, the world to which the
> soul belongs.
> 
> Now the delightful story which was related by the son of the police
> chief of Birjand.    He states, "Before Fad1 was brought to our
> house, one night my mother saw in her dream that the sun descended
> from the sky right into our house and set in a corner of a certain
> room. The next day Fad1 was brought for confinement in our house.
> When my mother looked through the window, she saw Fad1 sitting
> exactly in the same corner where she saw the sun set in her dream.
> She realized the importance of the stranger and treated him with
> reverence."   You see, Baha'u'llah did not forsake His chosen
> servant.
> 
> There, in Birjand, the authorities decided to return Fad1 to his
> hometown hoping that he would keep a low profile. Fad1 planned
> to settle there, and built a house which was still in existence
> at the time of the writing of the history book Masabih-i-Hidayat
> in 1946. We don't know what the present regime has done to it.
> Since the writer of the history bdok reported that the house was
> in the hand of non-Baha'is, there is some hope that it may be
> preserved, as mainly Baha'i properties were destroyed by the present
> fanatic regime in Iran.
> 
> The culprit for all of this mischief was an influential man called
> Abu-Talib who was a bitter enemy of Fadl.    Not tolerant of Fadl's
> presence in his small hometown, he caused the government agents
> from the provincial capital of Mashad to come and take Fad1 back
> to Mashad. As depraved as ~ b u - ~ x i was,
> b     he bribed the agents
> to torture Fad1 on their way to Mahad.         Again, the hand of
> providence was at work. The governor general, as expected, was
> a prince but had exceptionally good character.     He received Fad1
> with respect and gave him protection from the enemies.        There
> Fad1 wrote a book called Hesamiyih which hopefully some day will
> be found. A dignitary close to the governor also became captivated
> by Fadl's charisma and qualities and arranged for a handsome annual
> allowance for him.     With honor he was encouraged to return to
> his district of Qa'in. One would think that with such honorable
> treatment, smooth sailing should follow. But ruthless is the word
> for many enemies of the Faith who have hounded the innocent
> believers even to these recent years.
> 
> The wretched Abu-Talib sent complaint after complaint to Tehran,
> and did not rest until the king's agent came and took Fad1 to
> Tehran. The ups and downs of this story were not arranged for
> the sake of story telling but are in the order they occured.
> Well, to your and my surprise, in Tehran they set him free. This
> was in 1869. (Eminent Baha'is in the Time of Baha'u'llah, p. 114)
> 
> Of course.    What else?     He became the light and source of
> inspiration in every Baha'i gathering in that large city. Oh,
> how badly this narrator wishes he could hear one of Fadl's speeches.
> By many accounts, his speech would galvanize everyone in the
> audience. Before speaking, he used to look intently into the eyes
> of the individuals in attendance as if reading their souls and
> establishing a strong connection.
> 
> It is timely to mention some of the strict principles which Fad1
> observed personally and stressed to others.
> 
> 1. Speech is by itself an action and every action will leave a
> permanent effect in both this world and the next. Therefore, our
> speech, even when joking, must be guarded as much as our deeds.
> 2. On quoting a source, one must always acknowledge the source
> or it will be an act of stealing.
> 3. When presenting a subject, should one realize he has made a
> mistake, he should not hesitate to correct it. Should someone
> ,   in the audience correct the mistake, one should gracefully stand
> corrected with humility and joy. We should be grateful when someone
> reminds us of our true nature, which is imperfection.
> 
> Finally, he stressed over and over that dissemination of wrong
> information, by all means, must be avoided, advice which has been
> the goal in this series of tapes, but who can claim perfection?.
> May we all continue to adhere to this advice in all of our speeches,
> writings, and other endeavors.
> 
> Soon Fadl's fame spread, and the large city of Tehran became too
> small for him. The clergy became agitated and the usual course
> of events followed. His stay in Tehran lasted three and a half
> years. He got married in Tehran but it was short-lived. Two of
> the greatest clergy of Tehran had plotted to assasinate Fadl, so,
> as a disguise, he discarded his turban and put on civilian hat
> which is shown in his photograph.   Under the order of the king,
> the police were searching for him everywhere, but without luck.
> Frustrated, they arrested Fadl's fifteen year old brother-in-law
> and tortured him to reveal Fadl's whereabouts which he did not
> know. Fad1 moved from house to house.     When he was told by an
> informant that the noose was getting tighter and trapping was at
> hand, he decided to leave Tehran. This was only one month after
> his marriage.
> 
> Under disguise, he left Tehran to face never-ending trials and
> difficulties which was the lot of all dedicated servants of
> Baha'u'llah.   His reward was permission to attain the presence
> of Baha'u'llah, now in Akka, confined in the house of Abbud. The
> year was 1873, that memorable year. In that year, that house
> witnessed the revelation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas,      Abdu'l-Baha's
> wedding, and the revelation of the momentous Tablet of Wisdom in
> honor of Fadl.     Baha'u'llah honored him with the title of
> Nabil-i-Akbar, Nabil meaning noble and learned, and Akbar meaning
> great. The Tablet of Wisdom will be briefly discussed at the end
> of this talk.
> With heavy heart, he said farewell to those unforgettable days
> and with refreshed spirit returned to Iran.      He crisscrossed the
> country, edifying the believers and teaching the non-believers.
> 
> He went to Tehran and spent some years in Qazvin where he got
> married for the second time.  His only child, a daughter, married
> Fadl's nephew, who was very close to him, and has given most of
> the accounts of this story.
> 
> The enemies never stopped looking for Fadl. Sometimes they would
> send advance notices to his next possible stopping-place. Now
> he had become so well-known that he stated the whole country became
> too small for him.
> 
> Finally a major complaint was filed against Fadl, and the king
> issued the order for his arrest and transfer to Tehran for
> execution. His age at that time was about 62.
> 
> The governor-general of the province of Khurasan was notified about
> Fadl's probable escape to that corner of the country, as it was
> his home territory. The governor sent notices to all of the mayors
> and rulers to be on the lookout for Fadl. This was not the previous
> governor in whose protection Fad1 wrote a book, but we shall see
> if he was as princely as the former governor. Now spies were posted
> everywhere.
> 
> The following story is related by Fadl's nephew, who was also his
> son-in-law and accompanied him. His name was Aqa -       - Muhammad
> Shaykh
> Ali, and he was also a distinguished believer. The nephew states,
> 1'
> Fad1 and I were approaching Sabzivar (the city where he received
> his education in philosophy), when we decided not to enter the
> city in order to avoid recognition. Therefore we went to a
> caravanserai and lodged in a room. Our disguise in civilian
> clothing had worked so far. However, at midnight an agent came
> and told my uncle, 'You are Fadl, and I am ordered to take you
> to the governor.'
> 
> The governor was sitting at his desk, expecting Fadl. As he entered
> the room, the governor raised his head and gazed at him for a while
> without uttering a word. Then he said, "Without a doubt, you are
> the celebrated Fadl.' Fad1 remained silent.       With anger in his
> voice, the governor said, 'I know Mirza Husayn- Ali from Nur
> (meaning Baha'u'llah).   I cannot fathom a person as great as you
> giving your allegiance to Him. You received your education in
> this very city, impressing your teacher, the greatest philosopher,
> Mulla Hadi. You received your degree of ijtahid from no less a
> person than -     - Murtida-i-Ansari.
> Shaykh                     Aren't you ashamed to be
> a follower of Mirza Husayn- Ali?      It is truly a mockery beyond
> compare. I wish you had declared yourself to be a prophet. Come
> on and have mercy and relieve yourself from such unworthy burden.'
> 
> Fad1 responded in these words, 'Your highness knows that it is
> a natural instinct for everyone to want to be respected,
> particularly the higher class and the learned. I was no exception
> to the rule. When I met Baha'u'llah for the first time I considered
> myself way superior to Him, but in the course of events when I
> heard His outpouring of gem-like utterances, I was convinced that
> He was the ocean and I was but a lowly drop.      I find myself to
> be a helpless bird in the claws of the mighty falcon.      He rules
> my heart and my soul. This is my confession. Do with me what
> you have to do. Kill me on the spot, put me in chains and stocks,
> or transfer me to Tehran for execution."'
> '1
> The prince governor was really moved by such sincere and bold
> declaration. His face could not hide his emotion. He said with
> quivering voice, 'I detest to see any harm done to you. I shall
> pretend that I have never seen you. For heaven's sake, leave the
> city at once and be extremely careful because spies are posted
> everywhere. ' "  Doesn't this just stagger your imagination? No
> one could resist the force of Fadl's personality.
> 
> Fad1 returned to the caravanserai and related to his nephew what
> had transpired. They wasted no time. Before dawn they were on
> their way, using the side roads. They headed for a town where its
> ruler was a very close friend of Fadl. Gracious hospitality was
> extended to both Fad1 and his nephew who needed some rest before
> the next surprise in the life of Fadl.
> 
> They bought two donkeys and headed for the Russian border aiming
> for Ishqabad, a sanctuary for many persecuted Persian Baha'is.
> There w a s only one problem which was not so minor. Neither had
> a passport and the border was only a short distance away.
> Fad1 said, "Baha'u'llah has always come to my assistance. We shall
> rely upon Him again." No doubt with Fadl's past experiences, he
> could almost see the Hand of Providence. Fad1 said, "Let us
> dismount our donkeys and walk ahead of them. In such situations
> I usually chant a prayer from the Bab." That worked like magic.
> As they walked through the Persian section of the customs, the
> chief was standing talking to his staff.      As the two passed by
> them, the chief greeted Fad1 and offered them tea, which Fad1 did
> not accept, pretending he was in a rush. They also passed through
> the Russian customs without anyone demanding to see their documents.
> They arrived in Ishqabad with no further trouble. The year was
> 1892. There, F a d l enjoyed reunion with the celebrated Mirza
> Abu'l-Fad1 who had moved there a few years earlier. What a bounty
> for the people of Ishqabad to have two of the greatest luminaries
> of the Faith among them.
> 
> One story about Fad1 during his stay in Ishqabad makes me very
> sad and makes me wonder if I ever have been guilty of such a
> neglect.
> 
> Fad1 enriched everyone in that city by his knowledge, but he had
> no income and was living in poverty. He was too dignified to ask
> for assistance. A believer from Ishqabad relates the following
> sad story: "One night I invited ~ a d lfor dinner. Before dinner
> was served, I saw Fad1 picking up a dry piece of bread in the corner
> of the room and, with a sigh, began to eat it. I learned that
> Fad1 had not eaten a few meals."     Apparently he was overcome by
> the aroma of the delicious meal being prepared and could not fight
> his hunger any longer. Just think!        During the Fast we miss
> only one meal and feel starved by sunset. How about missing a
> few meals ? This is a lesson to us to always be aware of the needs
> of others.
> 
> You know, in the story of Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, similarly it is
> mentioned that a meal consisting of a dry piece of bread dipped
> in water was no stranger to that great scholar.
> 
> With their capacity and knowledge, how much wealth and fame could
> have been theirs had they stayed Muslim, but they chose the Faith
> of Baha'u'llah.
> After a while, accompanied by Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, Fadl-i-Qa ini moved
> -
> to Bukhara in the province of Uzbakistan, north of Afghanistan.
> 
> In a short time, Fad1 became ill and on July 6, 1892, five weeks
> after the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, he passed way at the age of
> 63. After more than thirty years of dedicated service, the immortal
> phoenix winged his flight in the wake of the Ascension of his Lord
> to the realm of eternity.     He died penniless, far, far away from
> his home and family. Abdu'l-Baha conferred upon him the title
> of Hand of the Cause posthumously.
> 
> Abdu'l-Baha honored him with a tablet of visitation and instructed
> the local Assembly of Ishqabad to have nine people visit his resting
> place on the anniversary of Fadl's passing and chant that tablet
> as it would attract the bounties of God. For twenty years, the
> believers visited that spot. When Fadl's nephew attained the
> presence of Abdu'l-Baha, he was instructed to transfer Fadl's
> remains to IGqabad. This was done in 1923 and soon the wisdom
> of it became apparent. The cemetary in Bukhara-      was leveled by
> order of the government.
> 
> The Tablet of Wisdom, or Lawh-i-Hikmat, was revealed by Baha'u'llah
> in honor of Fad1 in 1873. The English translation, which you are
> urged to read, is in the book called Tablets of Baha'u'llah.      It
> was revealed in rich Arabic language in the style familiar to Fadl,
> who was a great philosopher. Much of the following description
> is extracted from The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, Volume 4 by Mr.
> Adib Taherzadeh, and in parts directly quoted. (pp. 33-49)
> 
> In another tablet, Baha'u'llah states that in each verse of The
> Tablet of Wisdom an ocean is concealed.      The Tablet of Wisdom
> is distinct from other tablets of Baha'u'llah for its philosophical
> terminology, its reference to Greek philosophers, praising Socrates
> as the father of philosophy and the most distinguished.       Among
> many other topics, He describes the influence of the Word of God,
> as well as the cause and origin of creation and refers to the
> mysterious workings of nature.
> 
> In that tablet, Baha'u'llah affectionately calls Fad1 " 0 My Nabil,"
> which must have balmed the wounds he suffered in the path of his
> Lord. Then comes the following celebrated passage revealed fifteen
> years after that memorable day when Fad1 suddenly recognized
> Baha'u'llah's superior knowledge. It is possibly in answer to
> Fadl's question or curiosity as to how Baha'u'llah attained
> omniscience. Don't we all want to know ?
> 
> "Thou knowest full well that We perused not the books which men
> possess, and we acquired not the learning current amongst them,
> and yet whenever We desired to quote the sayings of the learned
> and the wise, presently there will appear before the face of thy
> Lord in the form of a tablet all that which hath appeared in the
> world and is revealed in the Holy Books and Scriptures. Thus do
> We set down in writing that which the eye perceiveth. Verily,
> His knowledge encompasses the earth and the heavens. This is a
> Tablet wherein the Pen of the Unseen hath inscribed the knowledge
> of all that hath been and shall be - a knowledge that none other
> but my wondrous Tongue can interpret."
> 
> To close this window, no words could be more befitting to honor
> this Hand of the Cause and Apostle of Baha'u'llah than this tribute
> from Abdu'l-Baha in Memorials of the Faithful (pp. 1-5)
> 
> "Because he stood steadfast in this holy Faith,
> because he guided souls and served this Cause
> and spread its fame, that star, Nabil, will shine
> forever from the horizons of the abiding light."
>
> — *Fadl-i-Qa'ini: The Tamed Phoenix (Used by permission of the curator)*