‘Abdu’l-Bahá attending barbecue at the home of Persian Consul-General Topakyan in Morristown, New Jersey

‘Abdu’l-Bahá attending luncheon at the home of Persian Consul-General Topakyan.

The honors shown by the Persian Consul to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are particularly remarkable, given the posture of the Persian government towards the Bahá’í Faith and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá personally.

In the course of a major conference held during the previous month in New York City, Consul-General Topakyan had said, “Our guest of honor has stood as a Prophet of enlightenment and peace for the Persian Empire, and a well wisher of Persia may well honor Him… In closing, I am happy to say that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the Glory of Persia today.” (“‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst,” by Earl Redman (2011, George Ronald Publisher) p. 130)

Clockwise from the center: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Siyyid Asadu’llah-i-Qumi, Mirza ‘Ali-Akbar Nakhjavani, unknown, Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani, Mirza Valiyullah Varqa (partially visible at extreme left), Mirza Ahmad Sohrab (partially visible behind Mirza Mahmud’s cap), Dr. Aminu’llah Farid, and Persian Consul-General Haozoun Hohannes Topakyan.

This meal is described on pages 152-153 of “Mahmud’s Diary” (1998), published by George Ronald).