Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: Journey to Constantinople
“O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose ... Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee.”—Bahá’u’lláh
How does your family prepare for a journey? You could load the car with books, games, and snacks to keep everyone happy. Or you might skip the driving and get there faster on a plane. When you travel today, you have a lot of options for how to get there and what to do along the way. But that wasn’t always the case.
In 1863, Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from Baghdád (now in Iraq) to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). At that time and place, there weren’t planes, cars, or even trains to take Him there. People traveled on foot or on a horse or mule. Or they could ride in a howdah, which had two large seats on either side of a mule. One person rode in each seat to balance the weight across the animal’s back, and they jostled along with each slow step.
For 110 days, Bahá’u’lláh and His friends and family crossed mountains, valleys, and woodlands. It got so hot that they often had to rest during the day and travel at night through intense darkness. But the companions cooperated and used their skills to take care of each other. Some tended to the animals. Others cooked meals. A few rode ahead each day to find food and supplies.
One man named Jináb-i-Muníb was happy to help. Though he had once lived in comfort, he gladly walked the entire way for up to 30 miles (48 km) each day. His charm and grace cheered his friends. Bahá’u’lláh’s eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who was 19 years old at the time, said, “He was a close companion of mine on that journey. There were nights when we would walk, one to either side of the howdah of Baha’u’llah, and the joy we had defies description.”
Jináb-i-Muníb also had a beautiful singing voice. On long stretches of empty road, he sang for hours to ease everyone’s boredom and lift their spirits.
After arriving in Constantinople, Bahá’u’lláh asked Jináb-i-Muníb to use his voice in another way. Bahá’ís were often attacked for their beliefs, so talking about the Faith was dangerous. Recognizing Jináb-i-Muníb’s wisdom and devotion, Bahá’u’lláh asked him to go to Persia (now Iran) to share His teachings.
After a time in Persia, Jináb-i-Muníb returned and was happy to be near Bahá’u’lláh again. When Bahá’u’lláh was exiled to ‘Akká (now in Israel) in 1868, Jináb-i-Muníb was severely ill, but he begged to go along. He passed away before reaching ‘Akká. Bahá’u’lláh said the souls in the next world rushed to meet his spirit with love.
Compared to the crowded streets of ‘Akká, the quiet calm of the gardens at Mazra‘ih was a great source of joy for Bahá’u’lláh.
The memory of Jináb-i-Muníb’s joy and insight stayed with the Bahá’ís on their journey. In ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh and His followers faced harsh difficulties. But after nine years, He was able to move to the peaceful countryside at last. For the rest of His life, He enjoyed the beauty of nature as His teachings began to spread around the globe.
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Bahá’í Faith515 Bahá’u’lláh150 Bahá’ís in History201 History52 Constantinople10 Baghdad20 Journey16 Unity235 Service288 Community16 Friends209 BahaLife27 Teamwork128