October 25, 1911
Paris, France
I regret that you have been kept waiting so long. Yet, I
have waited so many years in prison before I could see you-surely you do not
mind waiting a little to see me. Our
hearts are always together and the Bounty of the Kingdom of Abhá binds our spirits
in one. For have we not one aim, one desire and one prayer? Therefore we are
always together.
Last night, when I returned home, I did not sleep. I lay awake thinking and I said to myself: "Here
am I in Paris. O my God! what is Paris and who am I?" I never thought from
the darkness of my prison that I should come here and be among you, for I was
condemned to perpetual imprisonment. When I read the document which told me of
my sentence, I said to the officials:
"It is impossible!" And they were astonished. Then I said to
them: "If 'Abdu'l-Hamíd were immortal and I myself were immortal, then
would it be possible for him to condemn me to be in prison forever, but as we
are not immortal, then it is impossible. My spirit is free and that can no man
imprison."
Now you see the powers of God, that I am no longer in
prison, but here in Paris, talking with you. I am thankful to meet the
spiritual friends and you also must be happy that God has allowed me to come
among you. For who indeed would have thought it possible that I should be here
talking in Paris?
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, October 25, 1911, Paris, France;
‘Star of the West Vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)
