BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

YouthFrom that time onwards, He became His father’s closest companionand, as it were, protector. Although a mere youth, He alreadyshowed astonishing sagacity and discrimination, and undertookthe task of interviewing all the numerous visitors who came tosee His father. If He found they were genuine truth seekers,He admitted them to His father’s presence, but otherwise Hedid not permit them to trouble Bahá’u’lláh. On many occasionsHe helped His father in answering the questions and solving thedifficulties of these visitors. For example, when of the Súfí leaders,named ‘Alí Shawkat Páshá, asked for an explanation of thephrase: “I was a Hidden Mystery,” which occurs in a well-knownMu%ammadan tradition, 21 Bahá’u’lláh turned to the “Mystery ofGod,” Abbás, and asked Him to write the explanation. The boy,who was then about fifteen or sixteen years of age, at once wrotean important epistle giving an exposition so illuminating as toastonish the Páshá. This epistle is now widely spread among theBahá’ís, and is well known to many outside the Bahá’í faith.About this time Abbás was a frequent visitor to the mosques,where He would discuss theological matters with the doctors andlearned men. He never attended any school or college, His onlyteacher being His father. His favorite recreation was horsebackriding, which He keenly enjoyed.After Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration in the Garden outsideBaghdád, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s devotion to His father became greaterthan ever. On the long journey to Constantinople He guardedBahá’u’lláh night and day, riding by His wagon and watchingnear His tent. As far as possible He relieved His father of alldomestic cares and responsibilities, becoming the mainstay andcomfort of the entire family.21 The tradition is quoted in a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh; see Chapter 5 of thisbook.