A Conversation with Abul Kaaim,
the Gardener of the Rizwan

Agnes Parsons Box 20: Isabella D Brittingham

September 1901

(Not to be 1oaned, copied or published without permission of
Isabella D. Brittinghem) .

A Conversation with Abul Kasim,
the Gardener of the Rizwan

This conversation took place in the general reception room of our Lord’s House, in the Holy City of Akka, Syria. many beautiful flowers from the Rizwan.

The Rizwan is a beautiful garden situated on the outskirts of Akka, and which has been made sacred by the frequent Visits of the Blessed Perfection, Baha’u’llah. (Bizwan means Paradise). In the Garden there is a little house where Abul Kasim lives, and where Baha’u’llah often went to rest and to commune. He used to occupy a small cane seat chair by a window in the upper room of the house. Since His Departure, that chair has been covered with flowers, and pilgrims, coming to the Master,Abdul-Baha, visit- by His Direction- that Holy Garden, and beer those flowers away to all parts of the world.

The following are the incidents which Abul Kesim related concerning the Visits of the Blessed Perfection to the Rizwan:

At one time when the Blessed Perfection, Bahe.’u’llah, was in His little room at the Rizwan, a swarm of locusts filled the Garden. This troubled Abul Kusim and he sought the Presence of tho messed Perfection and told Him of their being there. The Blessed Perfection replied: “Go and entertain them. They are our guests.” Abul Kasim obeyed,ga.thering all the fruits and vegetables he could find,and placed them in the Garden. The locusts rapidly devoured these and then flew up and settled upon all the trees, shrubs and flowers,and upon every part of the Garden. Again the gardener sought the Blessed Presence, and expressed his fear that the locusts would destroy everything, and especially the mulberry trees. The Blessed Perfection replied: “This is well. Let them devour them.” The gardener supplicated: “This will not be good, for there will be no shade trees for Thee under which to sit.”

The Blessed Perfection replied: “Because you do not wish them to remain, very well.” And He then went down into the middle of the Garden, took the Hem of His Garment in His Hand, and waiving it uttered thrice, these words: “Abul Kasim does not want you! God protect you!” Immediately, upon His uttering these words, the locusts arose in a body and flew away. There were many hundreds of them.

At another time Abul Kasim was trying to beautify the fountain in the Garden, and he placed a glass tube in its apex to add to the grace of its flow. He also arranged some candles so that they would illuminate the spray of the fountain at nightfall. Then He sought the Blessed Perfection and supplicated Him to visit the Garden and see the fountain.

The Blessed Perfection replied: “It is well. Ask the man to make ready the horses and I will go.” When all was ready,