Trilogy of Consecration: The Courier, the Historian and the Missionary – A New Book by Boris Handal

Author, Boris Handal, whom you may recognize from his previous books, Mirza Mihdi: The Purest Branch, and Varqa and Ruhu’llah: 101 Stories of Bravery on the Move, has just authored a new historical book called Trilogy of Consecration: The Courier, the Historian and the Missionary.

This book presents the lives of three personages closely related to the early years of the Baha’i Faith in Persia: Shaykh Salman, Nabil-i-A’zam and Mulla Sadiq.

Curious to find out more, here’s what Boris shared with us about his new book:

Baha’i Blog: Hi Boris. Can you tell us a little bit about your book Trilogy of Consecration?

This centenary year of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha is an occasion for the celebration of His life and those of His closest devotees. Abdu’l-Baha always took pride in the believers’ achievements and was very generous in praising their qualities and spirit of service. In His talks and writings, Abdu’l-Baha referred from time to time to their sacrifices and how their detachment assisted in the growth of the Cause of Baha’u’llah. This book depicts the lives of three of these sixty-nine believers who were associated with Abdu’l-Baha at different stages of His life throughout the Heroic Age of the Baha’i Faith, namely, Shaykh Salman, Nabil-i-A’zam and Mulla Ṣadiq.

Baha’i Blog: Why was it important for you personally to write the book and to make this happen, and what was the inspiration behind it?

I was inspired by the lives of these three believers. Shaykh Salman was Baha’u’llah’s on-foot courier travelling annually between Persia and the Holy Land. Nabil-i-A’zam was the chronicler who carefully documented events of the Heroic Age of the Baha’i Faith and a talented poet. Mulla Ṣadiq stood out as the one who travelled broadly disseminating the new Faith with wisdom, dignity and grace. The first was illiterate, while the second was a self-made scholar who started out in life as a shepherd, whereas Mulla Ṣadiq came from an educated family of means. These three personages are closely related to the early years of the Baha’i Faith in Persia.

Baha’i Blog: What do you hope people will walk away with after reading the book?

To understand how these three men became a new creation, the like of whom we rarely see in human existence. To their wonder, amazing capacities and invincible powers became theirs, which made it possible for them to endure the most formidable vicissitudes with an ever-increasing spirit of faith and certitude. After glimpsing the greatness of such a Message, nothing had the power to deter them in their path of service – not age, nor lack of means, nor family circumstances, nor the constant danger of being beaten or killed.

Baha’i Blog: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Reading the three stories may prompt an inclination to reflect on profound existential questions: What is the spiritual reality shown to these men that spurred them to such heights of servitude? What is it like to be sustained by such superior forces? How can we access that reality and those forces and thus walk our own path of service with such love, excellence and free of all attachment to reward?

Baha’i Blog: Thank you, Boris, for taking the time to share this with us, and congratulations on your new book, Trilogy of Consecration.

You can purchase Boris Handal’s book from Amazon: A Trilogy of Consecration. You can also buy it from Baha’i distribution services such as Bahaibooks.com.au in Australia.

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Naysan Naraqi

Naysan is passionate about using the arts and media to explore the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. Back in 2011, Naysan started up the Baha’i Blog project, channeling his experiences in both media and technology companies to help create a hub for Baha’i-inspired content online.