He was dictating His Tablets to His amanuensis when the governor, at the
head of his troops, with drawn swords, surrounded His house. The entire
populace, as well as the military authorities, were in a state of great
agitation. The shouts and clamor of the people could be heard on all
sides. Bahá’u’lláh was peremptorily summoned to the Governorate,
interrogated, kept in custody the first night, with one of His sons, in a
chamber in the _Kh_án-i-_Sh_avirdí, transferred for the following two
nights to better quarters in that neighborhood, and allowed only after the
lapse of seventy hours to regain His home. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was thrown into
prison and chained during the first night, after which He was permitted to
join His Father. Twenty-five of the companions were cast into another
prison and shackled, all of whom, except those responsible for that odious
deed, whose imprisonment lasted several years, were, after six days, moved
to the _Kh_án-i-_Sh_avirdí, and there placed, for six months, under
confinement.
“Is it proper,” the Commandant of the city, turning to Bahá’u’lláh, after
He had arrived at the Governorate, boldly inquired, “that some of your
followers should act in such a manner?” “If one of your soldiers,” was the
swift rejoinder, “were to commit a reprehensible act, would you be held
responsible, and be punished in his place?” When interrogated, He was
asked to state His name and that of the country from which He came. “It is
more manifest than the sun,” He answered. The same question was put to Him
again, to which He gave the following reply: “I deem it not proper to
mention it. Refer to the farmán of the government which is in your
possession.” Once again they, with marked deference, reiterated their
request, whereupon Bahá’u’lláh spoke with majesty and power these words:
“My name is Bahá’u’lláh (Light of God), and My country is Núr (Light). Be
ye apprized of it.” Turning then, to the Muftí, He addressed him words of
veiled rebuke, after which He spoke to the entire gathering, in such
vehement and exalted language that none made bold to answer Him. Having
quoted verses from the Súriy-i-Mulúk, He, afterwards, arose and left the
gathering. The Governor, soon after, sent word that He was at liberty to
return to His home, and apologized for what had occurred.
A population, already ill-disposed towards the exiles, was, after such an
incident, fired with uncontrollable animosity for all those who bore the
name of the Faith which those exiles professed. The charges of impiety,
atheism, terrorism and heresy were openly and without restraint flung into
their faces. Abbúd, who lived next door to Bahá’u’lláh, reinforced the
partition that separated his house from the dwelling of his now
much-feared and suspected Neighbor. Even the children of the imprisoned
exiles, whenever they ventured to show themselves in the streets during
those days, would be pursued, vilified and pelted with stones.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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