6 On this point a historian remarks: “The belief of many people in the East, especially the believers in the Báb (now Bahá’ís) was this: that the Báb received no education, but that the Mullás, in order to lower him in the eyes of the people, declared that such knowledge and wisdom as he possessed were accounted for by the education he had received. After deep search into the truth of this matter we have found evidence to show that in childhood for a short time he used to go to the house of _Sh_ay_kh_ Muḥammad (also known as Abid) where he was taught to read and write in Persian. It was this to which the Báb referred when he wrote in the book of Bayán: ‘O Muḥammad, O my teacher! ...’ “The remarkable thing is this, however, that this _Sh_ay_kh_, who was his teacher, became a devoted disciple of his own pupil, and the uncle of the Báb who was like a father to him, whose name was Ḥájí Siyyid ‘Alí, also became a devout believer and was martyred as a Bábí. “The understanding of these mysteries is given to seekers after truth, but we know this, that such education as the Báb received was but elementary, and that whatever signs of unusual greatness and knowledge appeared in him were innate and from God.” 7 A Traveller’s Narrative Written to Illustrate the Episode of the Báb with an introduction by E. G. Browne, referred to subsequently as A Traveller’s Narrative (Episode of the Báb). 8 i.e. May 23, 1844 A.D. 9 The Imám of the _Sh_í’ihs is the divinely ordained successor of the Prophet whom all the faithful must obey. Eleven persons successively held the office of Imám, the first being ‘Alí, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. The majority of the _Sh_í’ihs hold that the twelfth Imám, called by them the Imám Mihdí, disappeared as a child into an underground passage in 329 A.H., and that in the fullness of time he will come forth, overthrow the infidels and inaugurate an era of blessedness. 10 Friday, 28th _Sh_a’bán, 1266 A.H. 11 Pronounced with the accent on the second and fourth syllables, the first syllable being almost mute and both l’s distinctly sounded. 12 2nd of Muharram, 1233 A.H. 13 This was early in the year 1853, or nine years after the Báb’s Declaration, thus fulfilling certain prophecies of the Báb concerning “the year nine.” 14 Pronounced Rizwán. 15 Author of an early history of the Faith, The Dawn-Breakers, Nabíl was a participant in some of the scenes he describes and was personally acquainted with many of the early believers. 16 The Aqdas, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The Book of Aqdas, and The Most Holy Book all refer to the same book.