# Pilgrim Notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Hormozdyar Sabet, Pilgrim Notes, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Pilgrim Notes
> 
> Hormozdyar Sabet
> 
> 1910
> 
> Pilgrim Notes of Hormozdyar Sabet
> 
> (GM1/5/1)
> 
> In the year 1910 A.D. I, Hormozdyar Sabet, son of Khosrov
> 
> Before the year 1925 A.D. the Persians had no surnames, and they were
> known from the town or village they came from, for example if he was from
> Tihran, after his name Tihrani would be added to it and that would be his
> surname. The surname "Sabet" I had adopted in 1932 A.D.
> Beman, born of Persian Baha'i parents and was brought up in Poona, India.
> 
> +F2 Khosrov Beman was the first Baha'i of Poona, and the first to be
> +F2 buried in the Baha'i cemetery of that city. Twice he had the bounty of
> +F2 attaining the presence of Abdu'l-Baha. He has been honoured with many
> +F2 Tablets by the Master. he has had the privilege of recording
> +F2 Abdu'l-Baha's precious voice in Persian and Turkish, the records are
> +F2 being preserved in the International Baha'i Archives.
> 
> At the age of seventeen I accompanied some Baha'i families who were
> proceeding from the port of Bombay to the Holy Land. Two days prior to
> reaching Suez our ship caught fire and there was the possibility of it being
> sunk. There was a commotion and panic amongst the passengers specially when
> they observed that the crew were examining the life-boats before being lowered,
> but after an hour, it was announced, thank God, that the fire had been
> extinguished and everything was back to normal and the ship was out of danger.
> 
> At Port Said, the Persian Consul, Aqa Ahmad-i-Yazdi, voluntarily
> 
> +F3 Few years later he had the honour of marrying the daughter of
> 
> +F3 Abdu'l-Baha.
> 
> assisted all the Baha'i pilgrims, re their passports, customs tickets, etc.,
> so the arrangement for our transhipment was also made by him. When we reached
> Haifa, the friends met us at the dock and took us home, and informed
> Abdu'l-Baha Who sent the horse-driven coach to convey us to Akka.
> 
> Meanwhile, we were conducted to the Shrine of the Bab, where the sacred
> 
> +F4 In 1910, the Shrine of the Bab comprised of six chambers only. There
> +F4 was no proper road to the Shrine from the foot of the Carmel. There was
> +F4 no garden surrounding the Shrine, only the Cypress which exists today were
> +F4 there.
> 
> body of the Martyred-Prophet had been laid by the hand of Abdu'l-Baha to
> rest for evermore. When laying our foreheads on the threshold of that holy
> Shrine for praying, the peaceful atmosphere, the spirituality, the holiness
> that pervaded one's soul was indescribable.
> 
> The coach arrived and when we were being driven along the bay from Haifa
> to Akka, there were hardly any buildings on the way and we could see the
> blue Mediterranean all along the shore.
> 
> When we reached Akka the men were conveyed to the Khan-i-Avamid,
> 
> +F5 See "Baha'i Holy Places at the World Centre", p. 19.
> whereas the women were sheltered in the holy household.
> 
> The day after our arrival we were conducted to a large room in the
> Master's house at Akka. After a few moments, the door opened and the Master
> entered with a smile, a divine smile that one would forget the world and its
> cares, those eyes in which were mirrored the wisdom and the love of God, a love
> which draws love from all, the describe that temple of grace and majesty is far
> beyond my task.
> 
> He enfolded each of us in His bosom "Khush amadid" (you are welcome)
> "Bismillah" (In the name of God) were the words with which He greeted us and
> motioned us to be seated. He enquired about the course and nature of our
> voyage to which one of the friends replied, that before reaching Suez, some
> part of our ship had caught fire and we were in danger of being drowned.
> Instantly Abdu'l-Baha declared "Musafir-i-ma gharq nami shavand" (Our
> visitors will not be drowned). He then inquired about the state of health of
> Bombay and Poona friends, and the progress of the Cause in India.
> 
> After having tea with us He dismissed us from His presence.
> 
> We were graciously allowed to stay under His shelter for a period of fifty
> days. We visited the Most Holy Shrine, the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, at Bahji,
> and in humble adoration prostrated on the threshold of the Holiest Baha'i
> tomb, what a bounty, what a grace, and at that moment, these Hidden Words
> flashed through my mind "The learned and the wise have for long years striven
> and failed to attain the presence of the All-Glorious ... Thou without the
> least effort didst attain thy goal, and without search has obtained the object
> of thy quest". In the Shrine itself, the flowers, the carpets, the soft
> lights, and the emptiness, imparting to the place an air of sacred simplicity
> and the godliness which the sacred, the precious, the luminous Remains of the
> Founder of the Baha'i Faith has bestowed on this Shrine. This holy Shrine in
> Akka and the Shrines of His Forerunner and of the Centre of His Covenant in
> Haifa, shall in not distant future "Insha'llah" (please God), be the centre
> of pilgrimage for the people of the whole planet.
> 
> We were privileged to see the "Garden of Ridvan" where Baha'u'llah
> 
> +F6 See "Baha'i Holy Places at the World Centre", p. 20.
> 
> would make occasional visits, we were also shown the wooden bench under the
> mulberry tree where He sat.
> 
> We were shown the International Archives of the Cause, which were at that
> time housed in the room forming a part of the Master's House, among the
> precious relics and writings, were a couple of Baha'u'llah's reed-pens, in a
> wooden pen-case, material price of both not more than a few pence. But with
> those very pens what commotion did He raise into the very heart of the world.
> With those pens He issued the Proclamation of His mission to the crowned heads
> of the world and its ecclesiastical leaders.
> 
> Ya Baha'u'l-Abha, grant us the power, unworthy though we be, to spread
> Thy holy Cause and declare Thy Word to all mankind.
> 
> The other Holy Places, which, we have the privilege to see them today at
> the Baha'i World Centre, some of these did not exist at that period, some
> others were not in the possession of our Faith, while still others due to the
> then government's strict restrictions were unaccessible to the Baha'is.
> 
> Since Baha'u'llah set His blessed foot on the shores of Akka, "the
> most desolate of the cities of the world", the spiritual atmosphere which
> pervaded everything through the potency and spirit of the "King of kings", who
> had lived there for twenty-four years had changed it into Paradise.
> 
> The spacious hall in which we used to gather to attain Abdu'l-Baha's
> presence and hear Him speak was always full with pilgrims and the resident
> believers, and when questions were asked of Him, He without pre-meditation
> would not only reply to their questions, but elucidate the subjects also, in
> such wise that everyone would be contented and happy. Occasional visits were
> made by Abdu'l-Baha to the Khan-i-Avamid, where the pilgrims and very
> few resident-believers were lodged, sometimes He would dine with us, what a
> bounty it was to dine in the company of our beloved Master, the Centre of
> Baha'u'llah's Covenant and the Mystery of God. Once only we had the bounty
> of following Him in the streets, and that was when He was proceeding to the
> burial ground, to attend the funeral ceremony of the death of a
> resident-believer. The dignity and grace with which He would tread the
> streets, attracted the passers-by and caused them to gaze at His Countenance,
> when He was proceeding further through the copper-smith bazaar, it was amazing
> to see the copper-smiths, who were non-Baha'is, and busy with their work,
> when Abdu'l-Baha was passing by their shops, each in turn would bow and bend
> down and pay his respect to Him. It was indeed a remarkable sign of the
> triumph of Baha'u'llah and His Cause, that only four decades had elapsed
> since Baha'u'llah's arrival in Akka that Muslims and in a country governed
> by Muslims, should show such honor and venerate His Beloved Son. Thus lived
> Abdu'l-Baha, Whom Baha'u'llah called the Master, the Master of the world.
> 
> Once when we were in the courtyard in Abdu'l-Baha's presence, as usual
> after giving us His counsels and words of wisdom, He said "Fi aman'u'llah"
> (In the protection of God), that was the leaving signal, when we were to
> depart. He, after a moment exclaimed "Pisar-i-Khosrov biya inja"
> (Khosrov's son come here), with bowed head I approached Him, the wealth of
> love that He showered me was abundant, so abundant, that till now that I am
> four score years old has intoxicated me. On the blessed day Abdu'l-Baha
> with hands outstretched, thrice embraced me, and each time He would embrace me,
> would repeat these words "Pisar-i-Khosrov nisti, pisar-i-man hasti" (You
> are My son, not Khosrov's son). He afterwards with a lovely smile bade me to
> go and join my fellow-travellers, returning to the Khan-i-Avamid. Would
> that the Almighty had given me the capacity to prove worthy of His tender
> affection and generosity by serving the Cause.
> 
> Finally would to God that it may be every Baha'i's good fortune and
> bounty to visit the Most Sacred Spots and Holy places at the Baha'i World
> Centre. Than this nothing better can I wish for the beloved friends throughout
> the world.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views461 views since posted 2026-02-22; last edit 2026-02-23 02:20 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../sabet_pilgrim_notes
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> — *Pilgrim Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*