Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the Inaugurator of the most recent of the independent world religions, the Baha'i Faith, has been described by the Guardian of that Faith as 'One Whom posterity will acclaim, and Whom innumerable followers already recognize, . . . as the Establisher of the Most Great Peace . . . and the Inspirer and Founder of a world civilization'. Few there are in the West who have known even one person who saw Him or experienced the majesty and power, the compassion, humility and humour which characterized His earthly life.

Baha'is of the East are more fortunate, many having known those, often their relatives, who were in His presence as companions or pilgrims. Yet, as the editor of this book remarks, 'only a few recorded their observations for posterity'. It was in 1975 that 'the thought of collecting personal accounts' occurred to the Hand of the Cause 'Ali-Akbar Furutan. Through correspondence and the examination of numerous memoirs, published and in manuscript, he selected the stories in this enthralling collection.

'The day is approaching when God will have raised up a people who will call to remembrance Our days, ' wrote Baha'u'llah. The 144 stories in these pages make such remembrance both effortless and delightful. They come to mind whether one is far away or visiting the scenes in which they occurred. They describe Baha'u'llah in Iran, Baghdad, Constantinople, Adrianople, 'Akka and Bahji, and linger in memory to uplift and gladden both heart and mind.