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A Lifetime with 'Abdu'l-Bahá

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A Lifetime with 'Abdu'l-Bahá A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí Translated and Annotated by Ahang Rabbani Volume 9 Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí Translated and Annotated by Ahang Rabbani Volume 9 Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History Copyright and Distribution © 2008, Ahang Rabbani This book was prepared for print publication by Ahang Rabbani. This electronic edition has been produced to facilitate widespread distribution and use of this study. This monograph may be freely redistributed in electronic form so long as the following conditions are met: 1. The contents of this file are not altered. 2. This copyright and redistribution notice remains intact 3. No charges are made or monies collected for the redistribution In addition, this electronic version may be printed for redistribution as a printed document or as a book for non- commercial purposes, such as, personal or educational use, so long as the above conditions are met with the following qualifications and additions: 1. Charges may be made or monies collected only to recover the actual costs of printing and distribution. No profit may be made, or surcharge assessed, for the distribution of this work in printed formats. 2. If printed in book form, five copies must be submitted for archival purposes to the International Bahá’í Library in Haifa, Israel (http://library.bahai.org/). Any other reproduction or redistribution in any format is forbidden without the expressed written consent of Dr. Ahang Rabbani or his designated heirs. For the latest version of this study, visit: http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/ Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History The Witnesses to Bábí and Bahá’í History series is a multi-volume on- going project of Ahang Rabbani. A list of current projects and forthcoming research monographs is available at: http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/ Published Volumes 1 In the Land of Refuge: The Genesis of the Bahá’í Faith in Shiraz 2 The Bábís of Nayriz: History and Documents 3 Eight Years Near ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Dr. Habíb Mu’ayyad 4 Memories of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Recollections of Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán 5 Ponder Thou upon the Martyrdom of Hájí Muhammad-Ridá: Nineteen Historical Accounts 6 Bahá’í Martyrdoms in Manshad in 1903: Three Historical Accounts 7 Memoirs of a Bahá’í in Rasht: 1889-1903 8 Witness to Shaykh Tabarsi: The Narrative of Hájí Nasír Qazvíní 9 A Lifetime with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí 10 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Year in Egypt: A Compilation of Eyewitness Accounts 11 With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Mírzá ‘Isá Isfahání 12 With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Diaries of Drs. Habíb Mu’ayyad and Zia Baghdadi 13 With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Diary of Dr. Núru’lláh Hamadání 14 With Bahá’u’lláh: The Narrative of Áqá Husyan Áshchí 15 The Voice of the Heroes: The Genesis of the Bahá’í Faith in Khurasan Contents Translator’s Foreword -------------------------------------------------------- 2 Shahídí’s Preamble ----------------------------------------------------------- 13 Shahídí’s Reminiscences Birth and Family Heritage --------------------------------------------- 14 The Covenant-breakers ------------------------------------------------ 15 Ustád Abú’l-Qásim ----------------------------------------------------- 15 Muhammad-Hasan Khádim ------------------------------------------ 16 ‘Akká’s Bahá’í Cemetery ----------------------------------------------- 17 My Family ---------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Rely Upon God --------------------------------------------------------- 18 Calligraphy --------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Confirmations ----------------------------------------------------------- 19 A Visit to Haifa --------------------------------------------------------- 20 Memorization of the Writings ---------------------------------------- 20 Lawh Istiqámat ---------------------------------------------------------- 20 Visiting the Shrines ----------------------------------------------------- 22 Siyyid Abú’l-Qásim Khurásání --------------------------------------- 22 Custodianship of the House of ‘Abbúd ----------------------------- 24 The Master --------------------------------------------------------------- 25 The Covenant-Breakers ------------------------------------------------ 26 A Note by the Narrator ------------------------------------------------ 28 Remains of the Báb ----------------------------------------------------- 28 Iran ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29 Diffusion of the Faith -------------------------------------------------- 29 Iran’s Future ------------------------------------------------------------- 29 Visit to the Shrines ----------------------------------------------------- 30 A Humorous Story ----------------------------------------------------- 30 Shaykh Mahmúd, the Muftí ------------------------------------------- 31 Khalíl ‘Arrábí ------------------------------------------------------------ 33 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Chant --------------------------------------------------- 34 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ------------------------------------------------------------- 35 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Return in December 1913 -------------------------- 35 The Mansion ------------------------------------------------------------- 36 Attempts on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Life ------------------------------------- 37 Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alí ------------------------------------------------- 38 Dietary Considerations ------------------------------------------------ 41 The Fast ------------------------------------------------------------------ 42 Feeding Haifa-‘Akká Area --------------------------------------------- 43 The Sea of the Cause --------------------------------------------------- 44 The Guardian ------------------------------------------------------------ 46 Remedy ------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 Azal ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 Mishkín-Qalam ---------------------------------------------------------- 49 On Life ------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 Bahiyyih Khánum’s Resting Place ----------------------------------- 50 Sugar Shortage ---------------------------------------------------------- 51 Tea ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 52 A Former Opponent --------------------------------------------------- 52 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Influence ---------------------------------------------- 53 Children’s Education --------------------------------------------------- 54 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Knowledge -------------------------------------------- 54 Impact of Deeds -------------------------------------------------------- 55 Germany and Sangsar -------------------------------------------------- 55 The Guardianship ------------------------------------------------------ 55 Jamáliyyih Khánum ---------------------------------------------------- 57 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Residence --------------------------------------------- 59 Husayn Áqá Tabrízí ---------------------------------------------------- 60 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Speech ------------------------------------------------- 60 Nightly Gatherings ----------------------------------------------------- 61 Pilgrims ------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Dream ------------------------------------------------- 63 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Residence in ‘Akká ---------------------------------- 63 Haifa’s Pilgrim House -------------------------------------------------- 63 Payment of Huqúqu’lláh ----------------------------------------------- 64 Visit to ‘Akká ------------------------------------------------------------ 65 Visiting the Mosque ---------------------------------------------------- 65 The Future of Haifa and ‘Akká --------------------------------------- 66 Tiberius ------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 Confirmations ----------------------------------------------------------- 68 On Caution -------------------------------------------------------------- 69 Mírzá Abú’l-Fadl -------------------------------------------------------- 69 Good Citizenship ------------------------------------------------------- 71 Siyyid Mihdí Dahají ----------------------------------------------------- 71 The Narrator’s Family -------------------------------------------------- 73 Revising Traditions ----------------------------------------------------- 75 Simple Expositions ----------------------------------------------------- 76 Proving the Truth of Islam -------------------------------------------- 76 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Guidance ---------------------------------------------- 78 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Humor ------------------------------------------------- 78 Bahá’u’lláh’s Influence ------------------------------------------------- 79 Old Traditions ----------------------------------------------------------- 80 On Marriage -------------------------------------------------------------- 81 A Dream ------------------------------------------------------------------ 81 Payment of Debt -------------------------------------------------------- 82 Messengerhood --------------------------------------------------------- 82 Ladies Attire ------------------------------------------------------------- 82 On Marriage ------------------------------------------------------------- 83 Children’s Spiritual Education ---------------------------------------- 83 Spiritual Assemblies ----------------------------------------------------
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