Mullá Husayn

MULLA HUSAYN

Village to village

Town to town

He would travel

To futures renown

Selfless and without heed

He would travel without need

Teaching the message of his Master

Rushing to reunion, ever faster

Those with eyes, looked to see

The truth of his message

To their best ability

His character and words

Changed the hearts

From all classes

And all parts

Power and fame were his to have

Yet with utter detachment

Teaching the cause

His only salve

Certitude, faith and service his banner

Conquering the hearts of men

In all manner

He served the cause

To the end of his days

Bringing light

To peoples haze

Oh what I would give

To, at that time, live

What we are given

How to see

Is following in his footsteps

Our destiny

For now, as then

Darkness surrounds

We are in need of light

Towards unity

We keep in our sight

To assuage this hunger

In my heart

I know that I

Must do my part

My lot was to be here now

To follow in his footsteps

If I can somehow

So I read and learn

Inspired by example

The opportunities this day

More than ample

And as this short life draws to a close

Perchance reunion with him

Who knows

Shiidon, September 2009

It has been a while since I have posted on this web site. I have been reading the Dawn-breakers, a book about the early history of the Bahá'í Faith. On May 23rd, 1844 the Báb proclaimed His mission in preparing the World for the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. That is the year we mark as the beginning of our calendar. On that date the Báb declared Himself to one person, Mullá Husayn, who had been searching for the return of the 12th Imam. As Bahá'í's we believe that the Báb was that return. I was inspired reading about the life and saintly actions of Mullá Husayn and wanted to write somehow about my feelings as I was reading. This poem is the result of that reflection.

As I read I reflect on the 40 years of suffering, exile and imprisonment that Bahá'u'lláh went through in bringing His message to humanity. I reflect on the over 20,000 martyrs that gave their lives willingly and joyfully for this cause. It makes me sad that the world seems to forget what a martyr truly is. My great-grandfather went missing after his life was threatened in Kashan, his city. All they found was his cummerbund. I can't say that he was martyred for sure, but I do know that he would have gladly given up his life for his cause. The early Christians that gave their lives for their beliefs where martyrs to their cause and went to reunion with their Beloved upon their death. So it was with the early Bahá'í's and even to some today. There are more than a few of my fellow believers in prison in Iran without cause and without any idea what their fate is to be. They have not taken a life, they have not caused any sorrow or trouble on another soul. Their only guilt is in loving their fellow man and being Bahá'í. A martyr is not someone that straps on a bomb and kills others, innocent or not. That is murder. But I do not fault that poor soul that commits this horrible crime for what he or she does. It is the one that knows better and still promises them in the name of God that they will be rewarded in heaven for their actions that needs to answer to God for those same actions.

May the need for the deaths of innocent people be removed. May mankind wake up and realize that we are all brothers in the same human family and that any action taken against another is one taken against us. Injustice is wrong under any banner and the sooner we as humanity arise and reach out to hug each other instead of killing each other the sooner we can put away the ever increasing horrors we have perpetuated on each other.

For my part I say this. Each day I see another glimmer of light that gives me hope. I see another soul reaching out to help someone in need. I see people not accepting the oppression of their fellow man on an increasing level. I see people not accepting war as the only solution available to us in solving our problems. Yes, there is hope.