ndred and stranger alike. He was one
of the earliest believers, and belonged to the company of the faithful. It
was in Persia that he won the honor of belief, and began to assist the
friends; he was a servant to every believer, a trusted helper to every
traveler. With Musay-i-Qumi, upon whom be the glory of God, he came to
'Iraq, received his portion of bounty from the Light of the World, and was
honored with entering the presence of Baha'u'llah, attending upon Him and
becoming the object of bestowals and grace.

After a time, Azim and Haji Mirza Musa went back to Persia, where he
continued to render service to the friends, purely for God's sake. Without
wage or stipend he served Mirza Nasru'llah of Tafri_sh_ for a number of
years, his faith and certitude growing stronger with every passing day.
Mirza Nasru'llah then left Persia for Adrianople, and in his company came
Jinab-i-'Azim, and entered the presence of Baha'u'llah. He kept on serving
with love and loyalty, purely for the sake of God; and when the convoy
departed for Akka, Azim received the distinction of accompanying
Baha'u'llah, and he entered the Most Great Prison.

In the prison he was chosen to serve the Household; he became the water
carrier both within doors and on the outside. He undertook many hard tasks
in the barracks. He had no rest at all, day or night. Azim--"the great, the
magnificent"--was magnificent as to character. He was patient,
long-suffering, forbearing, shunning the stain of this earth. And since he
was the family water carrier, he had the honor of coming into
Baha'u'llah's presence every day.

He was a good companion to all the friends, a consolation to their hearts;
he brought happiness to all of them, the present and the absent as well.
Many and many a time, Baha'u'llah was heard to express His approval of
this man. He always maintained the same inner condition; he was constant,
never subject to change. He was always happy-looking. He did not know the
meaning of fatigue. He was never despondent. When anyone asked a service
of him, he performed it at once. He was staunch and firm in his faith, a
tree that grew in the scented garden of God's tenderness.

After he had served at the Holy Threshold for many long years, he hastened
away, tranquil, serene, rejoicing in the tidings of the Kingdom, out of
this swiftly fading life to the world that does not die. The friends, all
of them, mourned his passing, but the Blessed Beauty eased their h