19-20 November 1914
It was during this time that Prince Shaykhu’r-Ra’is arrived in the Holy Land
and the Birth of the Bab was observed on 19 November at Bahji. With utmost joy
and excitement, all the Baha’is residing in Abu-Sinan walked to Bahji where a
feast was given by Aqa Mirza Siyyid Husayn. Twice the friends visited the
Shrine of Baha’u’llah and before dusk returned to the village of Abu-Sinan.
`Abdu’l-Baha and Shaykhu’r-Ra’is returned to `Akka.
The following day, the Birth of Baha’u’llah was celebrated in Abu-Sinan where
19 Baha’i children sang songs and engaged in a game of questions and answers,
as means of deepening and character training.
24 November 1914
Aqa Mirza Nuri’d-Din Zayn came from `Akka to Abu-Sinan. Dr. Mu’ayyad asked him,
“Since you just returned from the Master’s presence, what news do you have?
What did he talk about?” He replied, “Today `Abdu’l-Baha told amazing stories
regarding the World War and the proclamation of jihad by the Muslims, and he
remarked, ‘If the Covenant-breakers had not frustrated my efforts, I would have
assembled some of the Muslim and the Christian chiefs and exhorted them to
disallow internal conflict [in the nation]. However, the violators of the
Covenant resisted and blocked me.’ He also related, ‘Once in a wedding in
`Akka, when the bridal party reached the residence of the groom, as customary,
the Arabs played out fencing games as they chanted songs in praise of the
Blessed Beauty. They would sing:
O Baha’u’llah, Thou art the sovereign of the land and sea,
Thou art the ruler of the Arabs and the Persians
Thou art the king of Damascus,
Sovereignty is deserving of Thee.
As they sang, a number of soldiers were sitting next to me, who did not dare
protest and only spoke in affirmation of the songs. Consider the influence [of
Baha’u’llah]! What troubles we endured during the reign of [Sultan]
`Abdu’l-Hamid, but they passed. The present way is agreeable as well. Alas, the
Covenant-breakers did not allow it and ruined [the opportunity].’ And this is
the exact event [as told by `Abdu’l-Baha]:
There was a certain Mustafa Effendi in charge of the newspaper, who
persistently caused us difficulties and incited people against us, including
the Mutisarrif Kurdih who had risen with the utmost determination to destroy
us. The more kindness we showed the Mutisarrif, the more he grew in his
animosity. One day he gathered in his house all the notables, the Qadi and the
Mufti of `Akka and anyone else who was hostile towards us, planning to create
great mischief on that day and to slay and plunder us.
One of the friends of the Mutisarrif, a certain Sa`da’d-Din Ramadan, who was
the chief of the merchants, left the gathering in its midst and came to our
residence. First, he knocked on the door very loudly, but I instructed that it
should not be opened. He persisted in knocking and insisted in entrance, saying
he was carrying an important message and that he only wished to say a few words
and leave quickly. Eventually, he was allowed in. Once inside, he began to
insult and curse the Mutisarrif, while I kept silent and did not utter a word.
After he had said all he wished, he commented, ‘Effendi, it is best if you
mitigate the tension and make peace with the Mutisarrif.’ I replied, ‘Peace?
That is an excellent and most wonderful idea, but how?’ He said, ‘The
Mutisarrif’s purpose is money. That is what he wants. It is best if you do not
deny him and give him some money.’ I remarked, ‘Very well, that is easy. Wait
till I go get some.’ Sa`da’d-Din Ramadan was thrilled, thinking that I was
about to go fetch a bag of gold coins.
Instead, I went inside, performed my ablutions and stood for prayer. With the
utmost concentration and reverence, I offered two repetitions of the obligatory
prayer, and afterwards recited a long prayer. Meanwhile, Sa`ad’d-Din Ramadan
was becoming impatient and I could hear him say, ‘Hurry, Effendi! Hurry,
Effendi!’ He was in a great hurry, growing impatient as he had promised his
friends he would return quickly, which is why he was insisting that I should
hurry and give him the money. However, with great deliberation, I was engaged
in prayer. He kept pleading for me to make haste, saying, ‘Hurry Effendi, it is
best not to delay this matter!’ I asked, ‘Which matter?’ He replied, ‘The issue
of the money!’ ‘The money was sent a while ago. Why are you here?’ I told him.
‘How was it sent? By whom was it sent?’ he inquired. I said, ‘By now it has
reached the Mutisarrif. Go quickly!’
He rose and began to put on his shoes; and, when he turned back towards me, I
slapped him hard and was about to slap him again, but he fled and went to the
Mutisarrif who had inquired, ‘Why did it take you so long? Where is the money?’
He replied, ‘By God, I went to them, but all I received was a hard beating.
Look, my face is still quite red! These people are very tough!’
This incident further deepened the enmity, rancor, animosity and hatred of the
Mutisarrif who rose with the utmost determination and haste to cause us injury.
Instead, he received a telegram dismissing him and his entire administration –
both religious and secular – from office. Until then, it was unheard that a
whole municipal administration should be dismissed at once and without
exception.
The Mutisarrif discovered the source of his troubles, so he sent the Mufti with
a thousand liras to Beirut, charging him to present the gift to the Vali with a
request for a new post. The Mufti proceeded to Beirut; but, when the Vali
learned that he was carrying a gift of a thousand liras for him, he became very
angry and did not allow the Mutfi to sit in his presence, and instead had him
stripped of the thousand liras and thrown into prison.
>From Beirut, the Mufti wrote me. He appealed of the Blessed Beauty so I would
intercede on his behalf: He had written, “By His Threshold.” When I saw the
misery and wretchedness that had befallen him, I agreed to his release. In
utter despair and gloom, he returned to `Akka, but everyone abandoned him.
Eventually he came to me, fell at my feet and expressed his regret and remorse.
I lifted him up and forgave him. I then wrote to the Vali, who was Nusvahiy
Bey, recommended him, and said that he had not perpetrated any harm or injury
against us. In short, this Mufti, whose name was Shaykh `Ali Miri, embraced the
Faith.
Soon thereafter, the Mutisarrif also came to me, threw himself on the ground
and pleaded for forgiveness. He implored, ‘This evil man, Mustafa Effendi, the
newspaper editor, was the perpetrator of all the mischief and machinations!’
After him came Mustafa Effendi asking for forgiveness and expressing his
regret. He claimed it was the Mutisarrif who had caused the conflict and that,
‘It was he, this greedy man, who brought about these events. I was a mere
servant.’
Not long thereafter, orders were issued for the Mutisarrif to be exiled to
Damascus. I paid all his expenses in that city as well as for his family in
`Akka. After three months, I sent his family to him in Damascus and paid for
their journey.
In short, Mustafa Effendi was the one who caused and provoked the Mutisarrif
into enmity towards us and continued to oppose us to the point that he wanted
to forcibly seize the residence of the Blessed Beauty in `Akka because of its
refreshing climate and pleasant view. He continued with his harassment and
wrote a complaint to Istanbul, claiming: “The Blessed Beauty and his followers
are among the mischief-makers. They interfere in matters of politics, have
gained immense influence, and, therefore, I wish to seize the center of this
sedition (meaning, the house of Baha’u’llah).” They sent investigators to
`Akka, including the secretary of Beirut’s Vali. It so happened that prior to
their arrival, I met the secretary [of Beirut’s Vali] in a gathering, and, in
the course of conversation, he asked, “What is the difference between ‘In the
Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ and ‘In the Name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost?’” I explained the station of divinity and
prophethood in detail. He was absolutely astounded and enchanted with these
expositions and explanations. Afterwards in Turkish I wrote a short letter to
the Vali of Beirut, Nusvahiy Bey, alerting him to more closely mind the
situation of `Akka. The Vali issued immediate instructions for an
investigation, in the course of which, many corruption in the administration of
`Akka were discovered.
And this was the account of Mutisarrif Kurdih, Mustafa Effendi and their
collaborators.
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