‘Abdu’l-Bahá, eight years old, went to see His father in the prison. He related that half-way down the steps to the cell it became so dark that He could not see anything. He heard Bahá’u’lláh call out, ‘Take him away.’ He was taken out and seated to wait for the prisoners to be brought out for their meal.
“I saw Bahá'u'lláh's neck in chains, and another, both chained to the same links, a link about His neck and another about the person who was chained with Him. The weight of the chain was so excessive that His neck was bent; He walked with great difficulty, and He was in a very sad condition. His clothes were tattered and battered; even the hat on His head was torn. He was in the most severe ordeal and His health was quite visibly failing. They brought me and seated me, and they took Him to the place where there was a pond, in order that He might wash His face. After that they took Him back to the dungeon and, although I was a child, I was so overcome I was unconscious.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, From a talk, 19 October 1912, Los Angeles; ‘Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 4, May 17, 1916)
- David Hofman (‘Bahá’u’lláh, The Prince of Peace’)
