Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: A True Brother
“One should wish for one’s brother that which one wisheth for oneself.”
―Bahá’u’lláh
Who do you count on to stick with you through hard times? For Bahá’u’lláh, one of those people was His younger brother, Mírzá Músá.
Even as a little kid, Mírzá Músá was devoted to Bahá’u’lláh, Who showed him great love and kindness. When their father, Mírzá Buzurg, passed away, Bahá’u’lláh cared for His siblings and mother. He provided a home for them and helped His younger brothers learn writing, spelling, and calligraphy. Mírzá Músá adored Bahá’u’lláh, and for his entire life, his attachment never wavered.
From the earliest days of Bahá’í history, Mírzá Músá was at Bahá’u’lláh’s side. When a new Messenger of God named the Báb shared teachings to guide humanity, He sent some of His writings to Bahá’u’lláh. Mírzá Músá greeted the messenger at the gate of their family home and took the tablet to Bahá’u’lláh.
After reading, Bahá’u’lláh said, “Músá, what have you to say?” Both brothers accepted the new Faith and became Bábís. Years later, when the Báb was martyred, Mírzá Músá helped keep His sacred remains hidden until they could be safely laid to rest in Haifa (now in Israel).
In 1852, Bahá’u’lláh was arrested because He was a Bábí. Mírzá Músá helped care for Bahá’u’lláh’s family while He was in prison. After Bahá’u’lláh’s release, Mírzá Músá joined Him in exile from their home in Persia (now Iran) to Baghdád (now in Iraq).
In Baghdád, Bahá’u’lláh declared that He was the Messenger of God foretold by the Báb. He shared teachings to help bring world peace. Building unity in the family is an important place to start. Bahá’u’lláh urged us to be as unified as “the fingers of one hand, the members of one body.”
Mírzá Músá devoted himself to serving the Bahá’í Faith. The family was exiled three more times as authorities tired to stop Bahá’u’lláh’s message of peace. If disunity arose in their family or community, Mírzá Músá was trusted to resolve it with justice.
Mírzá Músá deeply loved his nephew, Bahá’u’lláh’s eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Together they tended to the sick and met with government and religious leaders to share Bahá’í teachings. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called his uncle a “true brother” to Bahá’u’lláh.
Mírzá Músá passed away in ‘Akká (now in Israel), in 1887. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “He remained steadfast, under all conditions, to the very end. Unto him be praise and salutations ... upon him be mercy and grace.”
Photo © Bahá’í International Community
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