Mirza 'Ali-Muhammad (Ibn-i-Asdaq) – Apostle of Baha’u’llah and Hand of the Cause; in a Tablet in his honor Baha’u’llah mentions for the first time the concept of the 'Hand of the Cause'

Mirza 'Ali-Muhammad was born in Mashhad in circa 1850. He was the youngest son of the Hand of the Cause Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas-i-Khurasani, who fought at Shaykh Tabarsi and was tortured with Quddus in Shiraz. Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas was given the title Ismu’llah’u’l-Asdaq by Baha'u’llah, and as his son showed many of his outstanding qualities, Mirza 'Ali-Muhammad became known as Ibn-i-Asdaq, son of Asdaq.

In 1861, while Ibn-i-Asdaq was still a young boy, he was taken by his father to Baghdad to see Baha'u'llah. The visit lasted two years and made a made a deep impression on him. During their stay in Baghdad Baha'u'llah revealed a prayer for Ibn-i-Asdaq:

'I ask Thee, O my God! to give him to drink of the milk of Thy bounty so that he may raise the standards of victory through Me, -a victory which is Thine - and arise to serve Thy Cause, when he groweth up, just as, when a youth, he hath arisen at Thy Command'. [1]

On his return to Iran Ibn-i-Asdaq and his father were arrested on the orders of the governor of Khurasan. They and two other Babis were chained and taken to Tihran. The intention was to execute them but the government ordered instead that they be imprisoned in the Siyah-Chal. Here they remained, chained together, for 28 months.

Alfred Eastman Lunt – “esteemed beloved Lunt”; “a precious, ardent and capable champion of our beloved Faith”; “the living embodiment of such a rare combination of qualities as few can display and none can surpass”

Alfred departed this life on August 12, 1937, at his home in Beverly, Massachusetts. His immediate family-a widow and five children, and a host of friends mourn his loss. His funeral was attended by his relatives, neighbors and visiting Baha'is from Green Acre and neighboring centers. The service in its simplicity, contained the solace of Heavenly Teachings and prayers, and proved to be a means of teaching others the Faith that he loved.

The National Spiritual Assembly, on August 16, 1937, received the following cablegram from the Guardian:

"Shocked distressed premature passing esteemed beloved Lunt. Future generations will appraise his manifold outstanding contributions to rise and establishment Faith Baha’u’llah American continent. Community his bereaved co-workers could ill afford lose such critical period so fearless champion their Cause. Request entire body their National representatives assemble his grave pay tribute my behalf to him who so long and since inception acted as pillar institution they represent. Convey Boston community assurance prayers, deepest brotherly sympathy their cruel irreparable loss."

He was for more than a generation one of the most distinguished and useful servants of Baha’u’llah. He was well prepared by college and legal education at Harvard University. As a student he heard the Great Message from Dr. 'Ali-Kuli Khan, lecturing in the University. He obtained from it a life and inspiration toward achievement. He had very unusual abilities which shone in the field of writing and in his chosen profession, the law.