e fire of Divine
love that he turned his face away from his life, its peace, its blessings,
and set out for the Most Great Prison.

In Isfahan he had enjoyed every comfort, and the world was good to him.
Now his yearning for Baha'u'llah freed him from all other bonds. He passed
over the long miles, suffered intense hardships, exchanged a palace for a
prison, and in the Akka fortress assisted the believers and attended upon
and served Baha'u'llah. He who had been waited upon, now waited on others;
he who had been the master was now the servant, he who had once been a
leader was now a captive. He had no rest, no leisure, day or night. To the
travelers he was a trusted refuge; to the settlers, a companion without
peer. He served beyond his strength, for he was filled with love of the
friends. The travelers were devoted to him, and the settlers grateful. And
because he was continuously busy, he kept silent at all times.

Then the Supreme Affliction came upon us and the absence of Baha'u'llah
was not to be endured. Mirza Muhammad could not stay quiet, day or night.
He wasted away, like a candle burning down; from the fiery anguish, his
liver and heart were inflamed, and his body could bear no more. He wept
and supplicated day and night, yearning to soar away to that undiscovered
country. "Lord, free me, free me from this absence," he would cry, "let me
drink of reunion's cup, find me a lodging in the shelter of Thy mercy,
Lord of Lords!"

At last he quit this dust heap, the earth, and took his flight to the
world that has no end. May it do him good, that cup brimming with the
grace of God, may he eat with healthy relish of that food which gives life
to heart and soul. May God lead him to that happy journey's end and grant
him an abundant share in the gifts which shall then be bestowed.(65)

MIRZA MUHAMMAD-I-VAKIL

One of the captives who were sent on from Ba_gh_dad to Mosul was Mirza
Muhammad-i-Vakil. This righteous soul was among those who became believers
in Ba_gh_dad. It was there he drank from the cup of resignation to the
will of God and sought his rest in the shade of the celestial Tree. He was
a man high-minded and worthy of trust. He was also an extremely capable
and energetic administrator of important affairs, famous in 'Iraq for his
wise counsel. After he became a believer, he was distinguished by the
title of Vakil--deputy. It happened in this way:

There was a notable in Ba_gh_dad by the name of H