e Affliction, the ascension of Baha'u'llah. There
was anguish then, and the noise of loud weeping. With his heart on fire,
his eyes raining tears, he struggled weakly to move about; so his days
went by, and always, he longed to make his exit from this rubbish heap,
the world. At last he broke away from the torment of his loss, and hurried
on to the Realm of God, and came to the assemblage of Divine splendor in
the Kingdom of Lights.

Unto him be salutations and praise, and mercy ineffable. May God scatter
on his resting-place rays from the mysterious Realm.

HAJI 'ABDU'LLAH NAJAF-ABADI

Once he had become a believer, Haji 'Abdu'llah left his native Persia,
hastened to the Holy Land, and under the sheltering grace of Baha'u'llah
found peace of heart. He was a man confident, steadfast and firm; certain
of the manifold bounties of God; of an excellent disposition and
character.

He spent his days in friendly association with the other believers. Then
for a while he went to _Gh_awr, near Tiberias, where he farmed, both
tilling the soil and devoting much of his time to supplicating and
communing with God. He was an excellent man, high-minded and unsullied.

Later he returned from _Gh_awr, settled near Baha'u'llah in Junayna, and
came often into His presence. His eyes were fixed on the Abha Kingdom;
sometimes he would shed tears and moan, again he would rejoice, glad
because he had achieved his supreme desire. He was completely detached
from all but God, happy in God's grace. He would keep a vigil most of the
night, remaining in a state of prayer. Then death came at the appointed
hour, and in the shadowing care of Baha'u'llah he ascended, hurried away
from this world of dust to the high Firmament, soared upward to the secret
land. Unto him be salutations, mercy and praise, in the neighborhood of
his exalted Lord.

MUHAMMAD-HADIY-I-SAHHAF

Yet one more among those who emigrated and came to settle near Baha'u'llah
was the bookbinder, Muhammad-Hadi. This noted man was from Isfahan, and as
a binder and illuminator of books he had no peer. When he gave himself up
to the love of God he was alert on the path and fearless. He abandoned his
home and began a dreadful journey, passing with extreme hardship from one
country to another until he reached the Holy Land and became a prisoner.
He stationed himself by the Holy Threshold, carefully sweeping it and
keeping watch. Through his constant efforts, the square