Impressions on ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Recollection of Arminius Vambery

Source: First published in {Egyptian Gazette} 24 Sept. 1913. Quoted in Holbach, ‘The Bahá’í Movement’, pp. 465-6. Original letter in Arabic held at Bahá’í World Centre, Haifa.

From London, ‘Abdu’l-Baha proceeded to Paris and thence to Stuttgart, Vienna and Budapest. In Budapest, where ‘Abdu’l-Baha met with an ovation from both scholars and social reformers, the head of the Peace Society, a high dignitary of the Church of Rome, showed his liberality by extending a warm welcome to the Oriental guest, and appearing with him on the platform at a public meeting at which a renowned Jewish professor stood on his other side, thus typified the union of religions for which ‘Abdu’l-Baha pleads.

No account of the visit to Budapest would be complete without mention of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s two interviews with Professor Vambery, … that great scholar and Orientalist addressed to him shortly before his death. The meeting between Vambery and ‘Abdu’l-Baha took place in April 1913, and the letter was written on the receipt of a gift ‘Abdu’l-Baha sent him on his return to Egypt in the following summer.

Professor Vambery’s Testimony to the Religion of Abdul Baha.

I forward this humble petition to the sanctified and holy presence of ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas, who is the centre of knowledge, famous throughout the world, and loved by all mankind. O thou noble friend, who art conferring guidance upon humanity, may my life be a ransom to thee!

The loving epistle which you have condescended to write to this servant, and the rug which you have forwarded, came safely to hand. The time of the meeting with your Excellency, and the memory of the benediction of your presence, recurred to the memory of this servant, and I am longing for the time when I shall meet you again. Although I have travelled through many countries and cities of Islam, yet have I never met so lofty a character and so exalted a personage as your Excellency, and can bear witness that it is not possible to find such another. On this account I am hoping that the ideals and accomplishments of your Excellency may be crowned with success and yield results under all conditions; because behind these ideals and deeds I easily discern the eternal welfare and prosperity of the world of humanity.

This servant, in order to gain first-hand information and experience, entered into the ranks of various religions — that is, outwardly, I became a Jew, Christian, Mohammedan, and Zoroastrian. I discovered that the devotees of these various religions do nothing else but hate and anathematize each other, that all their religions have become the instruments of tyranny and oppression in the hands of rulers and governors, and that they are the causes of the destruction of the world of humanity.

Considering those evil results, every person is forced by necessity to enlist himself on the side of your Excellency, and accept with joy the prospect of a basis of the religion of God, which is being founded through your efforts.

I have seen the father of your Excellency from afar. I have realized the self-sacrifice and noble courage of his son, and I am lost in admiration.

For the principles and aims of your Excellency I express the utmost respect and devotion, and if God, the Most High, confers long life, I will be able to serve you under all conditions. I pray and supplicate this from the depths of my heart.