return to a state of quietude."

They proceeded to use violence toward Him to oblige Him to ask for
permission to leave Persia, thinking that by this means the light of His
truth would be extinguished, but the result was quite the contrary. The
Cause became magnified, and its flame more intense. At first it spread
throughout Persia only, but the exile of Baha'u'llah caused the diffusion
of the Cause throughout other countries. Afterward His enemies said,
"'Iraq-i-'Arab(20) is not far enough from Persia; we must send him to a
more distant kingdom." This is why the Persian government determined to
send Baha'u'llah from 'Iraq to Constantinople. Again the event proved that
the Cause was not in the least weakened. Once more they said,
"Constantinople is a place of passage and of sojourn for various races and
peoples; among them are many Persians." For this reason the Persians had
Him further exiled to Rumelia; but, when there, the flame became more
powerful, and the Cause more exalted. At last the Persians said, "Not one
of these places is safe from his influence; we must send him to some place
where he will be reduced to powerlessness, and where his family and
followers will have to submit to the direst afflictions." So they chose
the prison of Akka, which is reserved especially for murderers, thieves
and highway robbers, and in truth they classed Him with such people. But
the power of God became manifested: His word was promulgated, and the
greatness of Baha'u'llah then became evident, for it was from this prison
and under such humiliating circumstances that He caused Persia to advance
from one state into another state. He overcame all His enemies and proved
to them that they could not resist the Cause. His holy teachings
penetrated all regions, and His Cause was established.

Indeed, in all parts of Persia His enemies arose against Him with the
greatest hatred, imprisoning, killing and beating His converts, and
burning and razing to the ground thousands of dwellings, striving by every
means to exterminate and crush the Cause. In spite of all this, from the
prison of murderers, highway robbers and thieves, it became exalted. His
teachings were spread abroad, and His exhortations affected many of those
who had been the most full of hatred, and made them firm believers. Even
the Persian government itself became awakened and regretted that which had
arisen through the fault of the 'ulama.

When Baha'u'llah came to this pris