Yet another from amongst that blessed company was Ustád
Ismá’íl, the builder. He was the construction overseer of Farrukh Khán
(Amínu’d-Dawlih) in Tihrán, living happily and prosperously, a man of high
standing, well regarded by all. But he lost his heart to the Faith, and was
enraptured by it, till his holy passion consumed every intervening veil. Then
he cast caution aside, and became known throughout Tihrán as a pillar of the
Bahá’ís.
Farrukh Khán ably defended him at first. But as time went
on, he summoned him and said, “Ustád, you are very dear to me and I have given
you my protection and have stood by you as best I could. But the Sháh has found
out about you and you know what a bloodthirsty tyrant he is. I am afraid that
he will seize you without warning, and he will hang you. The best thing for you
is to go on a journey. Leave this country, go somewhere else, and escape from
this peril.”
Composed, happy, Ustád gave up his work, closed his eyes to
his possessions, and left for ‘Iráq, where he lived in poverty. He had recently
taken a bride, and loved her beyond measure. Her mother arrived, and by
subterfuge, obtained his permission to conduct the daughter back to Tihrán,
supposedly for a visit. As soon as she reached Kirmansháh, she went to the mujtahid,
and told him that because her son-in-law had abandoned his religion, her
daughter could not remain his lawful wife. The mujtahid arranged a divorce, and
wedded the girl to another man. When word of this reached Baghdád, Ismá’íl,
steadfast as ever, only laughed. “God be praised!” he said. “Nothing is left me
on this pathway. I have lost everything, including my bride. I have been able
to give Him all I possessed.”
