... that day some of the friends presented 'Abdu'l-Baha with
some funds, but He did not take them in spite of their persistently begging Him
to accept them. He said:
"Offer it up to the poor on my behalf. It would be as
if I have personally given it to them. But for me the best gift is the unity
between the loved ones of God, their service to the Cause, the diffusion of
divine fragrances and their carrying out the teachings and exhortations of the
Blessed Beauty..."
On such occasions the believers became very sad, because
their offerings were not accepted by their Beloved. In spite of this, the
believers in New York, knowing that these were the last few days of His stay in
the United States, gathered some presents for the members of the Holy Family
(including the wife of 'Abdu'l-Baha, His sister, daughters and other female
members of His household) . .. . Some of the friends had vowed together that
they would persist in their request for acceptance of the gifts, that they
would cling to the hem of His garment and not leave His presence until He had
accepted their offerings. They presented their gifts and earnestly pleaded with
Him to take them. He then spoke to them in these words:
"I am very grateful for all your services. Truly you
have served me, offered hospitality, rendered your services day and night and
persevered in the diffusion of divine fragrances. I shall never forget your
devoted services, because you had no other motive but to attain the good
pleasure of God, and had desired no station other than entry into His Kingdom.
Now you have brought some gifts for my family. These gifts are very
praiseworthy, but more exquisite than these are the gifts of the love of God
which may be preserved within the treasure-house of the hearts. The former
gifts are transitory, but the latter are eternal. These gifts are to be kept in
boxes and upon the shelves and will eventually perish, but the other will
remain eternally in all the worlds of God, treasured within the heart.
Therefore I carry with me your love to them (i.e., the Holy Family) which is
the greatest gift of all. In our house there is no room for diamond rings or
other jewelry. That house is devoid of the vanities of this world.”
"Now, I accept these gifts, but I entrust them to you
to sell them and send the proceeds to Chicago for the construction of the
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar (Baha’i House of Worship)...”
The friends, with tearful eyes, were disappointed. 'Abdu'l-Baha
said:
"I want to take with me a gift from you which may
remain till eternity, the jewels which belong to the treasure-house of the
heart...”
- Adib Taherzadeh (‘The Revelation of Baha’u’llah, vol. 3’)