When ‘Abdu’l-Baha was sent to Akka, he experienced three kinds of persecution. Two kinds were easy to bear. When he arrived in Akka they placed chains upon his limbs and circlets of steel were locked around his ankles and knees. While the guards were doing this ‘Abdu’l-Baha laughed and sang. They were astonished and said, "How is this? You are laughing and singing. When prisoners are ironed in this way, they usually cry out, weep and lament." ‘Abdu’l-Baha replied, "I rejoice because you are doing me a great kindness; you are making me very happy. For a long time I have wished to know the feelings of a prisoner in irons, to experience what other men have been subjected to. I have heard of this; now you have taught me what it is. You have given me this opportunity. Therefore I sing and am very happy. I am very thankful to you."
After a time the men who had been appointed to keep guard over me became as loving brothers and companions. They strove to lighten my imprisonment by acts of kindness. They said, "In order that you may not be subjected to the jeers of the people when you walk upon the streets we will arrange your clothing so these chains are not visible." They took the chains which were upon my limbs, gathered the ends together and wrapped them as a girdle around my waist, then arranged my clothing so no chains were visible.
One day I wished to go to the hammam (public bath). The guards said, "It will not be possible for you to go to the bath unless these chains are removed; and furthermore it will attract notice from the people in the streets." ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, "I will go." The guards then carefully gathered the hanging chains around my waist, covered them with my clothing and we went forth. As we passed through the streets, ‘Abdu’l-Baha took the chains from his waist, flung their loose, dangling ends over his shoulders in full view and walked to the hammam (public bath), followed by a great crowd of hooting, jeering people. The guards were most unhappy, but ‘Abdu’l-Baha was in supreme joy because of this opportunity to walk in the freedom of the Pathway of God. After many years the doors of Akka were opened, the prison walls thrown down and the chains which ‘Abdu’l-Hamid had placed upon the body of ‘Abdu’l-Baha were put around the neck of ‘Abdu’l-Hamid himself.
In brief, this kind of persecution was easy to bear. There was a second form of persecution to which ‘Abdu’l-Baha was continually subjected at Akka. Spies and enemies were constantly informing the authorities that he was plotting against the government, that he was secretly instigating revolution and teaching principles in opposition to the Muslim religion. In consequence of these reports and statements ‘Abdu’l-Baha underwent a great deal of restriction, difficulty and personal discomfort, but, Praise be to God! always in the utmost joy and exaltation. Sometimes the rigor of his restriction was increased; often he was threatened with death; often threatened with confinement in another prison fortress, but nothing was accomplished by his enemies that could lessen his complete happiness. On the contrary, the more falsehoods they invented, the more evident became his innocence and sincerity, the more constant his thanksgiving and rejoicing. This form of persecution was likewise easy to bear.
But there was a third kind of persecution which brought ‘Abdu’l-Baha sorrow and unhappiness, a persecution difficult to bear: the bitter words and criticisms of the friends. Where love was expected, hatred and jealousy was found; instead of friendship and kindness, envy and discord were manifested; instead of harmony there appeared dissension and ill-wishing; in place of assistance and appreciation, calumny, falsehood and slander. This is hard to bear.
Now, Praise be to God! turn all your thoughts and devote all your powers to the Divine Covenant. Unless a servant in the Cause of God is subjected to all these persecutions he is not fitted to spread the Heavenly Message of Glad Tidings.
Follow ‘Abdu’l-Baha! Let nothing hinder or defeat you. God is your, helper and God is invincible.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha during His sojourn in America; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 5, June 5, 1913)
