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fling them into the Tigris. This earth and this dust, he would say, was hallowed by His blessed feet, and should not be touched by anything unclean. To Nabíl’s query, Siyyid I Ismá’íl answered, precisely and considerately, while his eyes welled with tears: ‘What I have seen cannot be described. After I asked Him for spiritual sustenance, and He said that it had been granted to me, door after door opened upon my heart, and my soul became acquainted with thoughts not of this world. One night, in His bírúní, (outer section of the residence where guests were met), His Blessed Person asked for a candle to peruse a paper, and I, as usual lost in wonderment at my own condition, suddenly thought: “Is it possible that that visage, the sight of which the Chosen Ones and the Messengers of God had longed to behold, could be unveiled in a human temple?” and as soon as this thought passed through my mind, His blessed voice called out to me: ” Áqá Siyyid Ismá’íl, look!’ and when I gazed at His blessed face, I saw that which no word can ever describe. All that I can say is this: it seemed as if a hundred thousand seas, vast and sunlit, billowed upon that Blessed Face. What happened then, I do not know. My last word to you is this: never ask for anything like this and be contented with what is given unto you, and always say, “O God! allow it all to end well with us” – and pray for me that my own end shall be well.
The incident which Siyyid Ismá’íl had described to Nabil happened thus. One day Bahá’u’lláh was a guest in the house of Áqá Muhammad-Ridáy-i-‘Aríd. In front of Him were laid dishes of fruits and sweets. Siyyid Ismá’íl too was there. When Bahá’u’lláh gave the Siyyid some sweets, the latter expressed his desire for spiritual sustenance, to which Bahá’u’lláh replied, ‘That has been given to you’.
Now Siyyid Ismá’íl became afire with the love of Bahá’u’lláh. Poems left by him testify to that all-consuming love:
Hear this from me,
Once again I say, and saying it, burn do I:
‘Has anyone ever seen flowers pullulant in fire?’
This I say, and saying it, burn do I.
‘Tear apart the veils, Bring forth the means,
Breathe the breath of love.’
This I say, and saying it, burn do I.