There was, in the city of Najaf, among the disciples of the widely known
mujtahid, _Sh_ay_kh_ Murtada, a man without likeness or peer. His name was
Aqa Muhammad-i-Qa'ini, and later on he would receive, from the
Manifestation, the title of Nabil-i-Akbar.(1) This eminent soul became the
leading member of the mujtahid's company of disciples. Singled out from
among them all, he alone was given the rank of mujtahid--for the late
_Sh_ay_kh_ Murtada was never wont to confer this degree.
He excelled not only in theology but in other branches of knowledge, such
as the humanities, the philosophy of the Illuminati, the teachings of the
mystics and of the _Sh_ay_kh_i School. He was a universal man, in himself
alone a convincing proof. When his eyes were opened to the light of Divine
guidance, and he breathed in the fragrances of Heaven, he became a flame
of God. Then his heart leapt within him, and in an ecstasy of joy and
love, he roared out like leviathan in the deep.
With praises showered upon him, he received his new rank from the
mujtahid. He then left Najaf and came to Ba_gh_dad, and here he was
honored with meeting Baha'u'llah. Here he beheld the light that blazed on
Sinai in the Holy Tree. Soon he was in such a state that he could rest
neither day nor night.
One day, on the floor of the outer apartments reserved for the men, the
honored Nabil was reverently kneeling in the presence of Baha'u'llah. At
that moment Haji Mirza Hasan-'Amu, a trusted associate of the mujtahids of
Karbila, came in with Zaynu'l-Abidin _Kh_an, the Fa_kh_ru'd-Dawlih.
Observing how humbly and deferentially Nabil was kneeling there, the Haji
was astonished.
"Sir," he murmured, "what are you doing in this place?"