When ‘Abdu'l-Bahá was saying farewell amid the tears,
lamentations and sadness of the friends and members of the Holy Family who
watched their beloved's departure, one of `Abdu'l-Bahá's daughters, Rúhá
Khánum, was seriously ill. It was evident that this deeply affected the Master.
It was in these circumstances that `Abdu'l-Bahá left Alexandria on the morning
of Monday, March 25, 1912. Although He had already bidden the friends farewell
and had embraced most of them, many accompanied Him to the ship, expressing
their sadness and anguish at their impending separation from Him. After
visiting, walking about the ship and receiving His cabin assignment,
`Abdu'l-Bahá went to the main hall where. He bestowed His love, affection and
assurance on each of the friends. After an hour, the friends left the ship in
tears. Then the S. S. Cedric, an Italian liner from the White Star Line, set
sail, honored to be the means of transporting the Most Holy Being and becoming
the focus of the envy of the whole earth.
The ship left the port of Alexandria with a burst of steam
and great fanfare. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá's companions numbered six: Shoghi Effendi,
Siyyid Asadu'lláh-i-Qumí, Dr Amínu'lláh Faríd, Mírzá Munír-i-Zayn, Áqá Khusraw
and this servant, Mahmúd-i-Zarqání. After the ship left, `Abdu'l-Bahá went to
the first class dining room and gave permission to His companions to have lunch
with Him.
(Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, ‘Muhmud’s Diary’)
