Beware! lest you pay one cent for my freedom

arthra · 02-07-2011, 04:56 PM

The Episode of Rasheed Pasha and Madame Jackson about Abdul Baha's Freedom

It so happened that at one time the secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Paris met Madame Jackson at a reception. Madame Jackson told him about Abdul Baha's incarceration in the town of Acca, and of the cruelty and injustice of the Turkish authorities. This secretary, being a relative of Rasheed Pasha, answered Madame Jack- son, saying, that there must needs be at least 3000 pounds sterling to bring about Abdul Baha's freedom. Madame Jackson agreed to pay this sum if he succeeded in achieving his liberty.
Immediately he reported to Rasheed Pasha that there lived a woman in Paris who was willing to pay a large sum if Abdul Baha could be set free. The governor, who loved money better than his life, cabled back to Paris, "Very well, it will be done."

Meanwhile Abdul Baha heard about the episode in this way: One day, the Motosarraf of Acca, who was the husband of the sister of Ahmad Ezzat Pasha, came running to him, saying, "God be praised! All the means are prepared!" "How?" Abdul Baha asked. "What has happened?" "Oh! do you not know?" he said. "Soon you will be free. You will go out of this prison. You will travel wherever you wish." Then he told the rest of the story.
As soon as he left Abdul Baha's abode, the latter sent a cable to Madame Jackson. "Beware! Beware! lest you pay one cent for my freedom. In prison I am feeling happy!"

When the governor heard about Abdul Baha's instructions to Madame Jackson, he was, of course, furious. He had thought it would be so easy to get this sum of money. So he changed his tactics, and Abdul Baha one day received a letter from his secretary saying that the governor was very anxious to see him enjoying the air of freedom. Abdul Baha did not answer.

After a week, he received another letter from the same secretary announcing that the governor had instructed him to draw up a petition to his Imperial Majesty, begging for Abdul Baha's liberty. Again Abdul Baha did not answer.

Then he wrote that the petition was ready to be mailed. No answer.
Again: the governor is going to sign the papers and mail them tomorrow. No answer.

Then Abdul-Baha received his last letter, saying that the governor had read the petition and had written over the envelope, 'Not to be sent.' No answer.

When the governor realized that he had failed in everything, he sent his own son to Acca to see Abdul-Baha personally, thinking that perchance he might succeed. The son was, of course, lavishly entertained by Motosarraf. Abdul Baha was invited to meet him. After dinner the son brought up the subject from various points of view. Abdul Baha took the attitude that he knew nothing about the matter. After dinner he followed Abdul Baha to his house and spoke a great deal, but to no cffect.

"I am sorry to see you in prison," he would say.
"Here I am happy," Abdul Baha answered.
When in the morning he was leaving, disappointed, he made another effort by saying, "I hope, my Effendi, that I shall see you next time in Haifa."
Abdul Baha waved the matter aside.

When the governor heard the unsuccessful report of his son, he was crestfallen and angry.

At that time he was so powerful that all the inhabitants of Syria trembled through fear of him. His reports to the Sultan were laws. One word from him would bring down the ire of his Majesty on anybody's head, no matter how important and influential they were.

When Abdul Baha realized that they were again at their old tactics, trying to make him say the word "yes" to their extortionate demands, he one day called Motosarraf to his house and told him defiantly:

"Do not make any more intrigues; you shall fail in all your secret machinations. There is a destined period for my imprisonment. Before the coming of that time, even the kings of the earth cannot take me out of this prison, but when the appointed moment arrives, all the emperors of the world cannot hold me a prisoner in Acca. I shall then go out. Rest thou assured of this."

When the Motosarraf heard this emphatic statement, he wrote a letter to the governor, advising him not to make any further move "because Abbas Effendi knows the Talisman of Imam Ali. He has learned from the position of the heavenly Constellations the time of his freedom and no one can hasten it. It is better for us to give up this idea."

From “Abdul-Baha in Egypt” by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab pp. 134-135

http://bahai-library.com/?file=sohra...baha_egypt#137

whine of astonsihment · 02-07-2011, 05:18 PM

Wonderful story - thanks arthra!

Essence of GOD · 02-07-2011, 09:43 PM

what an awesome guy
love him

tonyfish58 · 02-07-2011, 10:36 PM

Arthra - I love stories of Abdul'baha - That one was great and I had not read it before, thanks for that

Cheers Tony

Jafar · 02-08-2011, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the story Art!

02-07-2011, 10:36 PM	#4
tonyfish58 Senior Member Joined: Sep 2010 From: Australia Posts: 828	Arthra - I love stories of Abdul'baha - That one was great and I had not read it before, thanks for that Cheers Tony Last edited by tonyfish58; 02-07-2011 at 10:37 PM. Reason: Spelling

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02-07-2011, 04:56 PM	#1
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,062	Beware! lest you pay one cent for my freedom The Episode of Rasheed Pasha and Madame Jackson about Abdul Baha's Freedom It so happened that at one time the secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Paris met Madame Jackson at a reception. Madame Jackson told him about Abdul Baha's incarceration in the town of Acca, and of the cruelty and injustice of the Turkish authorities. This secretary, being a relative of Rasheed Pasha, answered Madame Jack- son, saying, that there must needs be at least 3000 pounds sterling to bring about Abdul Baha's freedom. Madame Jackson agreed to pay this sum if he succeeded in achieving his liberty. Immediately he reported to Rasheed Pasha that there lived a woman in Paris who was willing to pay a large sum if Abdul Baha could be set free. The governor, who loved money better than his life, cabled back to Paris, "Very well, it will be done." Meanwhile Abdul Baha heard about the episode in this way: One day, the Motosarraf of Acca, who was the husband of the sister of Ahmad Ezzat Pasha, came running to him, saying, "God be praised! All the means are prepared!" "How?" Abdul Baha asked. "What has happened?" "Oh! do you not know?" he said. "Soon you will be free. You will go out of this prison. You will travel wherever you wish." Then he told the rest of the story. As soon as he left Abdul Baha's abode, the latter sent a cable to Madame Jackson. "Beware! Beware! lest you pay one cent for my freedom. In prison I am feeling happy!" When the governor heard about Abdul Baha's instructions to Madame Jackson, he was, of course, furious. He had thought it would be so easy to get this sum of money. So he changed his tactics, and Abdul Baha one day received a letter from his secretary saying that the governor was very anxious to see him enjoying the air of freedom. Abdul Baha did not answer. After a week, he received another letter from the same secretary announcing that the governor had instructed him to draw up a petition to his Imperial Majesty, begging for Abdul Baha's liberty. Again Abdul Baha did not answer. Then he wrote that the petition was ready to be mailed. No answer. Again: the governor is going to sign the papers and mail them tomorrow. No answer. Then Abdul-Baha received his last letter, saying that the governor had read the petition and had written over the envelope, 'Not to be sent.' No answer. When the governor realized that he had failed in everything, he sent his own son to Acca to see Abdul-Baha personally, thinking that perchance he might succeed. The son was, of course, lavishly entertained by Motosarraf. Abdul Baha was invited to meet him. After dinner the son brought up the subject from various points of view. Abdul Baha took the attitude that he knew nothing about the matter. After dinner he followed Abdul Baha to his house and spoke a great deal, but to no cffect. "I am sorry to see you in prison," he would say. "Here I am happy," Abdul Baha answered. When in the morning he was leaving, disappointed, he made another effort by saying, "I hope, my Effendi, that I shall see you next time in Haifa." Abdul Baha waved the matter aside. When the governor heard the unsuccessful report of his son, he was crestfallen and angry. At that time he was so powerful that all the inhabitants of Syria trembled through fear of him. His reports to the Sultan were laws. One word from him would bring down the ire of his Majesty on anybody's head, no matter how important and influential they were. When Abdul Baha realized that they were again at their old tactics, trying to make him say the word "yes" to their extortionate demands, he one day called Motosarraf to his house and told him defiantly: "Do not make any more intrigues; you shall fail in all your secret machinations. There is a destined period for my imprisonment. Before the coming of that time, even the kings of the earth cannot take me out of this prison, but when the appointed moment arrives, all the emperors of the world cannot hold me a prisoner in Acca. I shall then go out. Rest thou assured of this." When the Motosarraf heard this emphatic statement, he wrote a letter to the governor, advising him not to make any further move "because Abbas Effendi knows the Talisman of Imam Ali. He has learned from the position of the heavenly Constellations the time of his freedom and no one can hasten it. It is better for us to give up this idea." From “Abdul-Baha in Egypt” by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab pp. 134-135 http://bahai-library.com/?file=sohra...baha_egypt#137 Last edited by arthra; 02-07-2011 at 05:00 PM.

02-07-2011, 05:18 PM	#2
whine of astonsihment Senior Member Joined: Sep 2010 From: Canada Posts: 378	Wonderful story - thanks arthra!

02-07-2011, 09:43 PM	#3
Essence of GOD Senior Member Joined: Nov 2010 From: EARTH Posts: 235	what an awesome guy love him

02-08-2011, 02:19 PM	#5
Jafar The Evil Visir Joined: Mar 2006 From: Chapel Hill Posts: 147	Thanks for the story Art!