in the presence of the potent
king."(24)

May God make fragrant his sepulcher with the outpouring rains of His mercy
and cast upon him the eye of Divine compassion. Salutations be unto him,
and praise.

SHAYKH SADIQ-I-YAZDI

Another of those who emigrated to Ba_gh_dad was _Sh_ay_kh_ Sadiq of Yazd,
a man esteemed, and righteous as his name, Sadiq.(25) He was a towering
palm in the groves of Heaven, a star flaming in the skies of the love of
God.

It was during the 'Iraq period that he hastened to the presence of
Baha'u'llah. His detachment from the things of this world and his
attachment to the life of the spirit are indescribable. He was love
embodied, tenderness personified. Day and night, he commemorated God.
Utterly unconscious of this world and all that is therein, he dwelt
continually on God, remaining submerged in supplications and prayers. Most
of the time, tears poured from his eyes. The Blessed Beauty singled him
out for special favor, and whenever He turned His attention toward Sadiq,
His loving-kindness was clear to see.

On a certain day they brought word that Sadiq was at the point of death. I
went to his bedside and found him breathing his last. He was suffering
from ileus, an abdominal pain and swelling. I hurried to Baha'u'llah and
described his condition. "Go," He said. "Place your hand on the distended
area and speak the words: 'O Thou the Healer!'"(26)

I went back. I saw that the affected part had swollen up to the size of an
apple; it was hard as stone, in constant motion, twisting, and coiling
about itself like a snake. I placed my hand upon it; I turned toward God
and, humbly beseeching Him, I repeated the words, "O Thou the Healer!"
Instantly the sick man rose up. The ileus vanished; the swelling was
carried off.

This personified spirit lived contentedly in 'Iraq until the day when
Baha'u'llah's convoy wended its way out of Ba_gh_dad. As bidden, Sadiq
remained behind in that city. But his longing beat so passionately within
him that after the arrival of Baha'u'llah at Mosul, he could endure the
separation no more. Shoeless, hatless, he ran out alongside the courier
going to Mosul; ran and ran until, on that barren plain, with mercy all
about him, he fell to his rest.

May God give him to drink from "a wine cup tempered at the camphor
fountain,"(27) and send down crystal waters on his grave; may God perfume
his dust in that desert place with musk, and cause to descend there r