The Babi and Baha'i Religion — Page 50
THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 50 rendered him great respect and thought very highly of him. The Governor of Palestine used to envy his position of respect and his influence. The Governor, Muta s arrif, generals, and prominent officers requested interviews with considerable humility, and even these were seldom granted" 66. Even before the long period of his life spent in Bhajah, the treatment given to him was such that ‘Abdul Bah a ’ says: "In spite of the harsh order of Sul ta n ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, which did not permit me to see him, I presented myself at the door in a carriage; and taking him with me I went to the palace (garden of Muhammad Pasha and the bungalow) and no one tried to stop me. I left him there, and returned to the town myself. He remained in this beautiful and lovely place for two years. Then it was decided that he should go to Bhajah" 67. On the same page ‘Abdul Bah a ’ describes life in Bhajah in the following words: "At that place the. doors of grandeur and majesty were opened on him. " The reason for the great courtesy and leniency shown by the local authorities was: "On account of the large number of presents received from his followers he had 66 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d , Urdu page 44. 67 ‘A s r-e-Jad i d, page 44.