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
_Kh_anum.(22) Later on 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.

The marriage proved exceedingly happy and harmonious. Of the children born
to them four daughters have survived the rigors of their long
imprisonment, and, through their beautiful lives of service, have endeared
themselves to all who have been privileged to know them.

Center of the Covenant

Baha'u'llah indicated in many ways the 'Abdu'l-Baha was to direct the
Cause after His own ascension. Many years before His death He declared
this in a veiled manner in His Kitab-i-Aqdas. He referred to 'Abdu'l-Baha
on many occasions as "The Center of My Covenant," "The Most Great Branch,"
"The Branch from the Ancient Root." He habitually spoke of Him as "The
Master" and required all His family to treat Him with marked deference;
and in His Will and Testament He left explicit instructions that all
should turn to Him and obey Him.

After the death of the "Blessed Beauty" (as Baha'u'llah was generally
called by His family and believers) 'Abdu'l-Baha assumed the position
which His father had clearly indicated for Him as head of the Cause and
authoritative Interpreter of the teachings, but this was resented by
certain of His relatives and others, who became as bitterly opposed to
'Abdu'l-Baha as Subh-i-Azal had been to B