The Báb: The Herald of the Day of DaysBalyuzi, H. M.
Religion
The Báb: The Herald of the Day of Days
Balyuzi, H. M.
Bab, Ali Muhammad Shirazi, 1819-1850; Bahai Faith
It is strictly forbidden to any one of our subjects to utter
such words as would tend to detract from the exalted rank of
Siyyid Yaḥyáy-i-Dárábí. He is of noble lineage, a man of
great learning, of perfect and consummate virtue. He will
under no circumstances incline his ear to any cause unless
he believes it to be conducive to the advancement of the
best interests of our realm and to the well-being of the
Faith of Islám.[10]
Nabíl has also recorded that
Muḥammad [_Sh_]áh ... was reported to have addressed
these words to Ḥájí Mírzá Áqásí: 'We have been lately
informed that Siyyid Yaḥyáy-i-Dárábí has become a Bábí.
If this be true, it behoves us to cease belittling the cause
of that siyyid.'[10]
`Abdu'l-Bahá has stated that Siyyid Yaḥyá
wrote without fear or care a detailed account of his
observations to Mírzá Luṭf-`Alí, the chamberlain in order
that the latter might submit it to the notice of the late
king, while he himself journeyed to all parts of Persia, and
in every town and station summoned the people from the
pulpit-tops in such wise that other learned doctors decided
that he must be mad, accounting it a sure case of
bewitchment.[11]
At the bidding of the Báb, Siyyid Yaḥyá went first to Burújird in
the province of Luristán, where his father lived, to give that
much-revered divine the tidings of the New Day. The Báb expressly
told him to treat his father with great gentleness. Siyyid
Ja`far-i-Ka[_sh_]fí[CE] did not wholly turn away from the Faith which
his illustrious son was fervently professing and advocating, but
showed no desire to identify himself with it. Siyyid Yaḥyá, as
commanded by the Báb, did not burden his father more and went his own
way which he had gladly chosen--the way that was to lead him to
martyrdom. Siyyid Yaḥyá is known as Vaḥíd--the Unique One--a
designation given to him by the Báb.[CF]
[Footnote CE: 'The Discloser': he was called 'Ka[_sh_]fí'
because of the powers of divination attributed to him.]
[Footnote CF: A letter has survived in the handwriting of
Vaḥíd, addressed to Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad, the
uncle of the Báb. Therein Vaḥíd presents proof to convince
him of the truth of the claim of his Nephew. See Plate facing
p. 81 for an example of Vaḥíd's handwriting.]
The divines of [_Sh_]íráz were insistent that the Báb should attend a
Friday gathering in one of the mosques and clarify his position. What
they really demanded was the complete renunciation of any claim. This
attendance in a mosque on a Friday did take place, but the date of it
is not known.
Nabíl-i-A`ẓam thus describes the summoning of the Báb to the Mosque
of Vakíl:[12]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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