in god passes by, shoghi effendi alludes to the protection the russian ambassador gave baháʼu'lláh on different occasions, first after the attempted assassination of naser al-din shah qajar and again after the decision to exile baháʼu'lláh from iran, expressing his "desire to take baháʼu'lláh under the protection of his government, and offered to extend every facility for his removal to russia." in his súriy-i-haykal, baháʼu'lláh included the lawh-i-malik-i-rús, praising czar alexander ii of russia in these terms: "when this wronged one was sore-afflicted in prison, the minister of the highly esteemed government (of russia)—may god, glorified and exalted be he, assist him!—exerted his utmost endeavor to compass my deliverance. several times permission for my release was granted. some of the ʻulamás of the city, however, would prevent it. finally, my freedom was gained through the solicitude and the endeavor of his excellency the minister. …his imperial majesty, the most great emperor—may god, exalted and glorified be he, assist him!—extended to me for the sake of god his protection—a protection which has excited the envy and enmity of the foolish ones of the earth." when baháʼu'lláh and his family traveled from iran to baghdad subsequent to his exile in 1853, they were accompanied by a representative of the russian legation.