Youth
From that time onwards, He became His father's closest companion and, as it were, protector. Although a mere youth, He already showed astonishing sagacity and discrimination, and undertook the task of interviewing all the numerous visitors who came to see His father. If He found they were genuine truth seekers, He admitted them to His father's presence, but otherwise He did not permit them to trouble Baha'u'llah. On many occasions He helped His father in answering the questions and solving the difficulties of these visitors. For example, when of the Sufi leaders, named 'Ali Shawkat Pasha, asked for an explanation of the phrase: "I was a Hidden Mystery," which occurs in a well-known Muhammadan tradition, Baha'u'llah turned to the "Mystery of God," Abbas, and asked Him to write the explanation. The boy, who was then about fifteen or sixteen years of age, at once wrote an important epistle giving an exposition so illuminating as to astonish the Pasha. This epistle is now widely spread among the Baha'is, and is well known to many outside the Baha'i faith. (39:1)

About this time Abbas was a frequent visitor to the mosques, where He would discuss theological matters with the doctors and learned men. He never attended any school or college, His only teacher being His father. His favorite recreation was horseback riding, which He keenly enjoyed. (39:2)

After Baha'u'llah's Declaration in the Garden outside Baghdad, 'Abdu'l-Baha's devotion to His father became greater than ever. On the long journey to Constantinople He guarded Baha'u'llah night and day, riding by His wagon and watching near His tent. As far as possible He relieved His father of all domestic cares and responsibilities, becoming the mainstay and comfort of the entire family. (39:3)

During the years spent in Adrianople, 'Abdu'l-Baha endeared Himself to everyone. He taught much, and became generally known as the "Master." At Akka, when nearly all the party were ill with typhoid, malaria, and dysentery, He washed the patients, nursed them, fed them, watched with them, taking no rest, until utterly exhausted, He Himself took dysentery, and for about a month remained in a dangerous condition. In Akka, as in Adrianople, all classes, from the Governor to the most wretched beggar, learned to love and respect Him. (39:4)

Marriage
The following particulars regarding the marriage of 'Abdu'l-Baha were kindly supplied to the writer by a Persian historian of the Baha'i Faith: (39:5)

During the youth of 'Abdu'l-Baha the question of a suitable marriage for Him was naturally one of great interest to the believers, and many people came forward, wishing to have this crown of honor for their own family. For a long time, however, 'Abdu'l-Baha showed no inclination for marriage, and no one understood the wisdom of this. Afterwards it became known that there was a girl who was destined to become the wife of 'Abdu'l-Baha, one whose birth came about through the Blessing which the Bab gave to her parents in Isfahan. Her father was Mirza Muhammad 'Ali, who was the uncle of the "King of Martyrs" and the "Beloved of Martyrs," and she belonged to one of the great and noble families of Isfahan. When the Bab was in Isfahan, Mirza Muhammad 'Ali had no children, but his wife was longing for a child. On hearing of this, the Bab gave him a portion of His food and told him to share it with his wife. After they had eaten of that food, it soon became apparent that their long-cherished hopes of parenthood were about to be fulfilled, and in due course a daughter was born to them, who was given the name of Munirih Khanum. Later one son was born, to whom they gave the name of Siyyid Yahya, and afterwards they had some other children. After a time, Munirih's father died, her cousins were martyred by Zillu's-Sultan and the mullas, and the family fell into great troubles and bitter persecutions because of their being Baha'is. Baha'u'llah then permitted Munirih and her brother Siyyid Yahya to come to Akka for protection. Baha'u'llah and His wife, Navvab, the mother of 'Abdu'l-Baha, showed such kindness and favor to Munirih that others understood that they wished her to become the wife of 'Abdu'l-Baha. The wish of His father and mother became the wish of 'Abdu'l-Baha, too. He had a warm feeling of love and affection for Munirih which was fully reciprocated, and erelong they became united in marriage. (39:6)

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