"They laid down their lives for their Well-Beloved, and surrendered their all in His path."

 

© 2024 Chuck Egerton

Among them was Mullá Ḥusayn, who became the recipient of the effulgent glory of the Sun of divine Revelation. But for him, God would not have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor ascended the throne of eternal glory. Among them also was Siyyid Yaḥyá, that unique and peerless figure of his age, 

Mullá Muḥammad ‘Alíy-i-ZanjáníMullá

‘Alíy-i-BastámíMullá 

Sa‘íd-i-Bárfurúshí

Mullá Ni‘matu’lláh-i-Mázindarání

Mullá Yúsuf-i-Ardibílí

Mullá Mihdíy-i-Khu’í

Siyyid Ḥusayn-i-Turshízí

Mullá Mihdíy-i-Kandí

Mullá BáqirMullá 

‘Abdu’l-Kháliq-i-Yazdí

Mullá ‘Alíy-i-Baraqání

and others, well-nigh four hundred in number, whose names are all inscribed upon the “Guarded Tablet” of God.

All these were guided by the light of that Sun of divine Revelation, confessed and acknowledged His truth. Such was their faith, that most of them renounced their substance and kindred, and cleaved to the good-pleasure of the All-Glorious. They laid down their lives for their Well-Beloved, and surrendered their all in His path. Their breasts were made targets for the darts of the enemy, and their heads adorned the spears of the infidel. No land remained which did not drink the blood of these embodiments of detachment, and no sword that did not bruise their necks. Their deeds, alone, testify to the truth of their words. Doth not the testimony of these holy souls, who have so gloriously risen to offer up their lives for their Beloved that the whole world marveled at the manner of their sacrifice, suffice the people of this day? Is it not sufficient witness against the faithlessness of those who for a trifle betrayed their faith, who bartered away immortality for that which perisheth, who gave up the Kawthar of the divine Presence for salty springs, and whose one aim in life is to usurp the property of others? Even as thou dost witness how all of them have busied themselves with the vanities of the world, and have strayed far from Him Who is the Lord, the Most High."

Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán

www.bahai.org/r/248917937