HE WHOM THEY SOUGHT
The gentle spirit of the Bāb is surely high up in the
cycles of eternity. Who can fail, as Prof. Browne says, to
be attracted by him?
--T. K. Cheyne, D.Litt., D.D.
Siyyid (or Mírzá) `Alí-Muḥammad, known to history as the Báb, was
the son of Siyyid (or Mír) Muḥammad-Riḍá, a mercer of
[_Sh_]íráz.[1] He was born on October 20th 1819 (Muḥarram 1st, 1235
A.H.). Through both His father and His mother He was descended from
Imám Ḥusayn,[AF] the third Imám. Thus He stood in direct line of
descent from the Prophet Muḥammad. According to Mírzá
Abu'l-Faḍl-i-Gulpáygání, Siyyid Muḥammad-Riḍá, the Báb's
father, died when his only child was an infant, unweaned. Then the
care of the child devolved upon a maternal uncle, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid
`Alí. He was the only relative of the Báb to espouse His Cause openly
during His lifetime and, as will be seen, to accept martyrdom for His
sake. But according to a manuscript history of the Bábí-Bahá'í Faith
in [_Sh_]íráz by Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh-i-Afnán,[AG] Siyyid
Muḥammad-Riḍá passed away when his son was nine years old, and
`Abdu'l-Bahá appears to confirm this account.[AH]
[Footnote AF: He was the son of Fáṭimih and `Alí.]
[Footnote AG: Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh's father, Áqá
Mírzá-Áqá, was a nephew of the wife of the Báb, and his
paternal grandfather, Áqá Mírzá Zaynu'l-`Ábidín, was a
paternal cousin of the father of the Báb. (See Foreword for
other details of the manuscript.)]
[Footnote AH: Browne (ed.), _A Traveller's Narrative_, Vol.
II, p. 2.]
Two of Siyyid Muḥammad-Riḍa's paternal cousins rose to eminence in the
ranks of the [_Sh_]í`ah divines, and both bore allegiance, in strict
secrecy, to their kinsman when His claim to be 'the Qá'im of the House
of Muḥammad' became publicly known. Of the two, the more famed and
distinguished was Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Ḥasan (1815-95), known as
Mírzáy-i-[_Sh_]írází, who, like all the leading [_Sh_]í`ah divines,
resided in `Iráq. He was the most influential ecclesiastic of his time,
powerful enough to wreck the Tobacco Régie, the monopoly concession
which Náṣiri'd-Dín [_Sh_]áh (reigned 1848-96) gave to Major Gerald F.
Talbot, a British citizen, in the summer of 1889.[2]
Mírzáy-i-[_Sh_]írází put the use of tobacco under an interdict and the
people of Írán, even the women in the [_Sh_]áh's harem, ceased to use
it. Náṣiri'd-Dín [_Sh_]áh was forced early in 1892 to cancel the
concession and pay the Tobacco Corporation an indemnity of £500,000. The
father of Mírzáy-i-[_Sh_]írází, named Mírzá Maḥmúd, was a noted
calligraphist, and was uncle to the father of the Báb.
The other celebrated ecclesiastic, cousin to Siyyid
Muḥammad-Riḍá, was Ḥájí Siyyid Javád, the Imám-Jum`ih[AI] of
Kirmán. It was Quddús who gave this dignitary the news of the advent
of the Báb. Ḥájí Siyyid Javád extended his protection to Quddús,
despite the clamour of his adversaries.
[Footnote AI: Literally, 'The Leader of Friday'--the leading
imám (he who leads the congregation in prayer) in a town or
city.]
The mother of the Báb was Fáṭimih-Bagum. She was the daughter of
Mírzá Muḥammad-Ḥusayn, a merchant of [_Sh_]íráz, and had three
brothers. Of these, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid `Alí became the guardian of
the Báb, while Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad and Ḥájí Mírzá
Ḥasan-`Alí, although not enlisted in the ranks of the followers of
their illustrious Nephew, feature in His story.
Every account that we have of Siyyid `Alí-Muḥammad's childhood
indicates that He was not an ordinary child. When He was sent to
school, He so surprised the schoolmaster, [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid, with
His wisdom and intelligence that the bewildered man took the child
back to His uncle, and said that he had nothing to teach this gifted
pupil: 'He, verily, stands in no need of teachers such as I.' The
uncle had already noticed the remarkable qualities of his ward, and it
is recorded that on this occasion he was very stern with Him: 'Have
You forgotten my instructions? Have I not already admonished You to
follow the example of Your fellow-pupils, to observe silence, and to
listen attentively to every word spoken by Your teacher?' It was
totally alien to the nature of that gentle child to disregard the
wishes of His guardian. He returned to school and conducted Himself on
the pattern of other children. Nothing, however, could restrain the
superior mind and intelligence possessed by that exceptional boy. As
time went on, the schoolmaster became convinced that he could not help
his student; in the role of instructor he felt as the instructed.
It should also be said that schools such as that attended by Siyyid
`Alí-Muḥammad, which were common in those days, were one-man
affairs and matters taught were elementary, although pupils were
trained to read the Qur'án, even if they could not possibly understand
the meaning of the sacred text which is of course in Arabic. The Báb
did not go beyond this school nor the tuition of [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid.
Thus His schooling was meagre.
The Báb was only five years old when He was sent to receive tuition
from [_Sh_]ay[_kh _] `Ábid. Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh's narrative
contains an account of His first day at school, related by Áqá
Muḥammad-Ibráhím-i-Ismá`íl Bag, a well-known merchant of
[_Sh_]íráz, who was a fellow-scholar at the age of twelve. The Báb had
taken a seat, with great courtesy, in between this boy and another
pupil who was also much older than Himself. His head was bowed over
the primer put in front of Him, the first lines of which He had been
taught to repeat. But He would not utter a word. When asked why He did
not read aloud as other boys were doing He made no reply. Just then
two boys, sitting near them, were heard to recite a couplet from
Ḥáfiẓ, which runs thus:
From the pinnacles of Heaven they call out unto thee;
I know not what hath thee here entrapped.[3]
'That is your answer,' said the Báb, turning to Áqá
Muḥammad-Ibráhím.
Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh also tells us that, apart from teaching
boys, [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid had a regular class for theological
students. On one occasion some of these students posed a question
which after a long period of discussion remained unresolved.
[_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid told them that he would consult some
authoritative works that same night and on the morrow present them
with the solution. Just then the Báb, who had been listening, spoke
and with sound reasoning propounded the answer which they sought. They
were wonder-struck, for they had no recollection of discussing that
particular subject within earshot of the Báb, who might then have
looked up references in books and memorized them to repeat
parrot-wise. [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid asked Him where He had gained that
knowledge. The boy replied smilingly with a couplet from Ḥáfiẓ:
Should the grace of the Holy Spirit once again deign to assist,
Others will also do what Christ could perform.[3]
Not only did the mental faculties of the Báb astound the schoolmaster;
the nobility of His character impressed him even more. Indeed all
those who were close or near to His person could not but yield to the
charm of His being. Years later, when the Báb had raised the call of a
new theophany, the schoolmaster casting his mind over the past told
Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'í, a learned scion of a celebrated
priestly family (the Baḥru'l-`Ulúm[AJ]), that Siyyid
`Alí-Muḥammad was always dignified and serene, that He was very
handsome and cared little for the pastimes of other boys. Some
mornings, the schoolmaster recalled, He was late coming to school and
when asked the reason He remained silent. On occasions [_Sh_]ay[_kh_]
`Ábid sent other pupils to call at His home and ask Him to come to
school. They would return to say that they had found Him at His
devotions. One day, when He had come late to school and was questioned
by [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid, the Báb said quietly that He had been in the
house of His 'Grandfather'. Thus do the Siyyids refer to their
ancestor the Prophet Muḥammad. To the schoolmaster's remonstrances
that He was only a child of ten from whom such rigorous attention to
devotions was not demanded, He replied quietly again, 'I wish to be
like My Grandfather'. At that time, [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid said, he had
taken the words of Siyyid `Alí-Muḥammad as childish _naïveté_.[4]
[Footnote AJ: Literally, the 'Sea of All Knowledge'.]
A certain book-binder of [_Sh_]íráz named Siyyid Muḥammad, whose
house neighboured that of the Báb's, but who in later years removed to
Saráy-i-Amír[AK] in Ṭihrán to ply his trade, had heard
[_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid relate that it was customary, when the season was
clement, for the boys to invite their teacher and their fellow-pupils
on Fridays (the day of rest) to an outing in one of the numerous
gardens which bordered the city of [_Sh_]íráz. At times they would
find that the Báb had betaken Himself to a shaded, secluded spot in a
corner of the orchard to pray and meditate.
[Footnote AK: A well-known inn (caravanserai).]
Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'í had himself encountered the Báb in
the years of His childhood. He was normally a resident of Karbilá and
had attended regularly the discourses of Siyyid Káẓim-i-Ra[_sh_]tí,
eventually becoming one of his ardent disciples. But he was also a man
of travel who embarked now and then on long journeys. Twice he went
on pilgrimage to Mecca and spent some time there teaching and
discoursing. He visited India and stayed in Bombay for a while. One of
his journeys took him to [_Sh_]íráz, at a time when the Báb was about
nine years old. Being well acquainted with Ḥájí Siyyid Muḥammad
(one of the Báb's maternal uncles), Ḥájí Siyyid Javád visited him
occasionally. Decades later he recalled that on one of these visits he
could hear the intonations of a melodious, enraptured voice, coming
from the direction of the alcove reserved for devotions. Before long a
boy stepped out of the recess and Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad
introduced Him as his nephew who was orphaned. Another visit coincided
with the Báb's return from school. Ḥájí Siyyid Javád noticed that
He held a batch of papers and asked what they were. Very courteously
the boy replied that they were His calligraphic exercises. When
Ḥájí Siyyid Javád inspected them he marvelled at their excellence.
On yet another and later occasion, when the Báb was for a time engaged
in trading in the port of Bú[_sh_]ihr, Ḥájí Siyyid Javád spent six
months in that town, living in the same inn as the Báb. Thus they
often met. Still later, in Karbilá, Ḥájí Siyyid Javád again met the
Báb, who by then was in His early twenties.
When Mullá `Alíy-i-Basṭámí reached `Iráq with the tidings of the
advent of the Báb, the news spread rapidly among the divines and the
students of theology. Ḥájí Siyyid Javád was one of those
particularly attracted, and he often urged Mullá `Alí to divulge the
name of Him who had put forth such a tremendous claim. But the Báb had
emphatically forbidden Mullá `Alí to mention His name or give any clue
to His identity. To all insistent requests Mullá `Alí merely said that
before long His identity would be revealed to them. No one, according
to the testimony of Ḥájí Siyyid Javád, suspected that the Báb could
be the young merchant of [_Sh_]íráz who had only recently lived among
them. Most of the [_Sh_]ay[_kh_]ís believed that the Báb must be one
of the close disciples of Siyyid Káẓim.
Then it occurred to Ḥájí Siyyid Javád to invite Mullá `Alí to his
own home and question him more closely. Seated on the roof of the
house, in the neighbourhood of the Shrine of Imám Ḥusayn, the two
of them conversed at length about the 'Great Event', but no matter how
hard he tried, Ḥájí Siyyid Javád could not induce his guest to
disclose the secret which he had been bidden to withhold. So
frustrated did he feel that, on his own admission, Ḥájí Siyyid
Javád gripped the arms of Mullá `Alí, pushed him hard against the wall
and exclaimed: 'What am I to do with you, Mullá `Alí! Kill you? Won't
you say who that wondrous Being is? Won't you relieve us of this
misery?' Gasping for breath, Mullá `Alí replied: 'Siyyid Javád! It is
forbidden. You yourself are a man of learning. You should know better.
It is forbidden.' And then quite unexpectedly and without knowing why,
Mullá `Alí added that the Báb had specially mentioned that all His
letters extant in `Iráq, whoever the recipient might have been, ought
to be sent to [_Sh_]íráz. No sooner had Mullá `Alí spoken than Ḥájí
Siyyid Javád had, in a flash, a mental picture of Siyyid
`Alí-Muḥammad, whom he had known and admired since His childhood.
He ran down the stairs to the room where he kept his papers, gathered
up the letters he had received from Siyyid `Alí-Muḥammad and
hurried back to the roof. The moment Mullá `Alí caught sight of the
seal on those letters he burst into tears, and so did Ḥájí Siyyid
Javád. They wept for joy, and between his sobs Mullá `Alí kept
repeating: `Áqá Siyyid Javád! Áqá Siyyid Javád! I did not mention any
name to you. It is forbidden to mention His blessed name. Don't
mention His name to anyone.'[5]
Thus did Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'í find his new Faith, to which
he remained steadfastly loyal throughout his long life. We shall hear
later a good deal more of this remarkable man.
* * * * *
Siyyid `Alí-Muḥammad had some six to seven years of schooling with
[_Sh_]ay[_kh_] `Ábid. In all probability He left the school at the
Qahviy-i-Awlíyá' before He was thirteen. According to Ḥájí Mírzá
Ḥabíbu'lláh's narrative, He joined Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid `Alí, His
uncle-guardian, in business when He was fifteen years old,[AL] and
shortly afterwards moved to Bú[_sh_]ihr. Pages of commercial accounts
which He kept put it beyond doubt that the Báb left [_Sh_]íráz for
Bú[_sh_]ihr when He was nearly sixteen. There can be little doubt that
at an early age the Báb took over the complete management of the
trading-house in Bú[_sh_]ihr. His scrupulous attention to detail and His
undeviating fairness in transactions became widely known in the region.
A man who had consigned to Him some goods to sell was astonished to
find, when he received his money, that it was more than could be
obtained at current prices. He wanted to return some of it. The Báb told
him that it was only fair and just that he should be given that
particular sum, because his goods would have fetched exactly that amount
had they been offered for sale when the market was at its best.
[Footnote AL: Islamic law specifies fifteen as the age of
maturity.]
A.-L.-M. Nicolas maintains that the Báb was also engaged in writing
and composing, during this period of His sojourn in Bú[_sh_]ihr. He
mentions a treatise, the _Risáliy-i-Fiqhíyyih_, as having come from
the pen of the Báb during those years.[6] His statement is
corroborated by Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh's narrative:
One day in Egypt during the time when Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl
was occupied with writing his book, the _Fará'id_, we came
to talk about the early years of the Báb, prior to His
declaration, and the period when He was engaged in trading.
Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl related the following to me: 'I myself
heard the late Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'í say that
when the Báb was pursuing the career of a merchant in
Bú[_sh_]ihr, he ... because of his friendship with the
uncles of the Báb used to stay with them whenever he visited
either [_Sh_]íráz or Bú[_sh_]ihr. One day Ḥájí Mírzá
Siyyid Muḥammad came to him with a request. "Give some
good counsel to my nephew ... tell Him not to write certain
things which can only arouse the jealousy of some people:
these people cannot bear to see a young merchant of little
schooling show such erudition, they feel envious." Ḥájí
Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad had been very insistent that
Ḥájí Siyyid Javád should counsel the Báb to desist from
writing. Ḥájí Siyyid Javád had however replied with these
lines of verse: "The fair of face cannot put up with the
veil; Shut him in, and out of the window will he show his
visage," and had added: "We are earth-bound and He is
celestial. Our counsel is of no use to Him."'
Mullá Muḥammad-i-Zarandí, Nabíl-i-A`ẓam, lays particular stress
on the Báb's strict regard for His devotions on Fridays. Even the
torrid conditions of Bú[_sh_]ihr, he states, did not deter the Báb.
Writers of such histories as the _Nási[_kh_]u't-Tavárí[_kh_]_,[7]
hostile to the Báb, have alleged that long exposure to the severe heat
of the sun in that seaport, while engaged in prayers, affected His
mind. They have gone on to assert that it was this derangement of mind
which led Him to make extravagant claims. But Ḥájí Mírzá Jání of
Ká[_sh_]án refutes any suggestion that the Báb deliberately practised
austerities, or that He found Himself a 'mur[_sh_]id' (spiritual
guide) to direct Him along such lines.
Unfortunately records of the years that the Báb spent in Bú[_sh_]ihr
are scant. We cannot be certain as to the exact dates when He took
over the complete management of the trading-house and when He
retired. Ḥájí Mu`ínu's-Salṭanih of Tabríz states in his
chronicle that the Báb assumed direct responsibility at the age of
twenty. If that statement be correct, the period during which He acted
on His own was quite brief. According to Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl of
Gulpáygán, He journeyed to the holy cities of `Iráq in the spring of
1841, stayed in `Iráq for nearly seven months and returned to His
'native province of Fárs' in the autumn of that year. Ḥájí Mírzá
Ḥabíbu'lláh states that the Báb's sojourn in Bú[_sh_]ihr lasted six
years. According to him, when the Báb decided to go on pilgrimage to
the holy cities of `Iráq, He wrote to His uncles in [_Sh_]íráz asking
them to come and take over the business from Him. His uncles, however,
procrastinated, whereupon the Báb settled all the outstanding matters
in Bú[_sh_]ihr Himself, brought His books up to date, locked and
sealed the door of the office and left the keys with the gatekeeper of
the caravanserai, to be handed over to any one of His uncles. He
informed His uncles of what He had done and explained that since they
had not heeded His repeated pleas He had no other alternative,
determined as He was to go on pilgrimage to the holy cities.[AM]
Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad was greatly perturbed lest their
credit be damaged and their clients suffer serious loss. But Ḥájí
Mírzá Siyyid `Alí assured him that their nephew would never do
anything to compromise them and that all accounts would be found in
perfect order. Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad hurried to Bú[_sh_]ihr
where a close inspection of the books satisfied him that nothing had
been left to chance.
[Footnote AM: The holy cities of `Íráq are: (1) Najaf and (2)
Karbilá (both already mentioned), which have within them the
shrines of the first and the third Imáms, respectively; (3)
Káẓimayn, in the close vicinity of Ba[_gh_]dád, which
harbours the shrines of Imám Músá al-Káẓim, the seventh
Imám, and Imám Muḥammad al-Taqí, the ninth Imám; (4)
Sámarrá, where the shrines of the tenth and the eleventh
Imáms, `Alí an-Naqí and Ḥasan al-`Askarí, are situated.]
While in Karbilá the Báb visited Siyyid Káẓim-i-Ra[_sh_]tí and attended
his discourses. But these occasional visits did not and could not make
Him a pupil or disciple of Siyyid Káẓim. His adversaries have alleged
that He sat at the feet of Siyyid Káẓim for months on end to learn from
him. But accounts that we have from close associates of Siyyid Káẓim all
indicate that the [_Sh_]ay[_kh_]í leader welcomed and received Siyyid
`Alí-Muḥammad, on every occasion, with great reverence. Here is a long
account by [_Sh_]ay[_kh_] Ḥasan-i-Zunúzí:
My days were spent in the service of Siyyid Káẓim, to
whom I was greatly attached. One day, at the hour of dawn, I
was suddenly awakened by Mullá Naw-rúz, one of his intimate
attendants, who, in great excitement, bade me arise and
follow him. We went to the house of Siyyid Káẓim, where
we found him fully dressed, wearing his `abá, and ready to
leave his home. He asked me to accompany him. 'A highly
esteemed and distinguished Person,' he said, 'has arrived. I
feel it incumbent upon us both to visit Him.' The morning
light had just broken when I found myself walking with him
through the streets of Karbilá. We soon reached a house, at
the door of which stood a Youth, as if expectant to receive
us. He wore a green turban, and His countenance revealed an
expression of humility and kindliness which I can never
describe. He quietly approached us, extended His arms
towards Siyyid Káẓim, and lovingly embraced him. His
affability and loving-kindness singularly contrasted with
the sense of profound reverence that characterised the
attitude of Siyyid Káẓim towards Him. Speechless and with
bowed head, he received the many expressions of affection
and esteem with which that Youth greeted him. We were soon
led by Him to the upper floor of that house, and entered a
chamber bedecked with flowers and redolent of the loveliest
perfume. He bade us be seated. We knew not, however, what
seats we actually occupied, so overpowering was the sense
of delight which seized us. We observed a silver cup which
had been placed in the centre of the room, which our
youthful Host, soon after we were seated, filled to
overflowing, and handed to Siyyid Káẓim, saying: 'A drink
of a pure beverage shall their Lord give them.'[AN] Siyyid
Káẓim held the cup with both hands and quaffed it. A
feeling of reverent joy filled his being, a feeling which he
could not suppress. I too was presented with a cupful of
that beverage, though no words were addressed to me. All
that was spoken at that memorable gathering was the
above-mentioned verse of the Qur'án. Soon after, the Host
arose from His seat and, accompanying us to the threshold of
the house, bade us farewell. I was mute with wonder, and
knew not how to express the cordiality of His welcome, the
dignity of His bearing, the charm of that face, and the
delicious fragrance of that beverage. How great was my
amazement when I saw my teacher quaff without the least
hesitation that holy draught from a silver cup, the use of
which, according to the precepts of Islám, is forbidden to
the faithful. I could not explain the motive which could
have induced the Siyyid to manifest such profound reverence
in the presence of that Youth--a reverence which even the
sight of the shrine of the Siyyidu'[_sh_]-[_Sh_]uhadá'[AO]
had failed to excite. Three days later, I saw that same
Youth arrive and take His seat in the midst of the company
of the assembled disciples of Siyyid Káẓim. He sat close
to the threshold, and with the same modesty and dignity of
bearing listened to the discourse of the Siyyid. As soon as
his eyes fell upon that Youth, the Siyyid discontinued his
address and held his peace. Whereupon one of his disciples
begged him to resume the argument which he had left
unfinished. 'What more shall I say?' replied Siyyid
Káẓim, as he turned his face toward the Báb. 'Lo, the
Truth is more manifest than the ray of light that has fallen
upon that lap!' I immediately observed that the ray to which
the Siyyid referred had fallen upon the lap of that same
Youth whom we had recently visited. 'Why is it,' that
questioner enquired, 'that you neither reveal His name nor
identify His person?' To this the Siyyid replied by pointing
with his finger to his own throat, implying that were he to
divulge His name, they both would be put to death instantly.
This added still further to my perplexity. I had already
heard my teacher observe that so great is the perversity of
this generation, that were he to point with his finger to
the promised One and say: 'He indeed is the Beloved, the
Desire of your hearts and mine,' they would still fail to
recognise and acknowledge Him. I saw the Siyyid actually
point out with his finger the ray of light that had fallen
on that lap, and yet none among those who were present
seemed to apprehend its meaning. I, for my part, was
convinced that the Siyyid himself could never be the
promised One, but that a mystery inscrutable to us all, lay
concealed in that strange and attractive Youth. Several
times I ventured to approach Siyyid Káẓim and seek from
him an elucidation of this mystery. Every time I approached
him, I was overcome by a sense of awe which his personality
so powerfully inspired.[8]
[Footnote AN: Qur'án lxxvi, 21.]
[Footnote AO: 'Siyyidu'[_sh_]-[_Sh_]uhadá'' can be variously
translated as the 'Head', the 'Chief', the 'Master' or
'Prince of the Martyrs'. It is applied to Imám Ḥusayn (the
grandson of the Prophet Muḥammad) who was the third Imám.]
[_Sh_]ay[_kh_] Ḥasan-i-Zunúzí has gone on to relate:
I often felt the urge to seek alone the presence of that
Há[_sh_]imite[AP] Youth and to endeavour to fathom His
mystery. I watched Him several times as He stood in an
attitude of prayer at the doorway of the shrine of the Imám
Ḥusayn. So wrapt was He in His devotions that He seemed
utterly oblivious of those around Him. Tears rained from His
eyes, and from His lips fell words of glorification and
praise of such power and beauty as even the noblest passages
of our sacred Scriptures could not hope to surpass. The
words 'O God, my God, my Beloved, my heart's Desire,' were
uttered with a frequency and ardour that those of the
visiting pilgrims who were near enough to hear Him
instinctively interrupted the course of their devotions, and
marvelled at the evidences of piety and veneration which
that youthful countenance evinced. Like Him they were moved
to tears, and from Him they learned the lesson of true
adoration. Having completed His prayers, that Youth, without
crossing the threshold of the shrine and without attempting
to address any words to those around Him, would quietly
return to His home. I felt the impulse to address Him, but
every time I ventured an approach, a force that I could
neither explain nor resist, detained me. My inquiries about
Him elicited the information that He was a resident of
[_Sh_]íráz, that He was a merchant by profession, and did
not belong to any of the ecclesiastical orders. I was,
moreover, informed that He, and also His uncles and
relatives, were among the lovers and admirers of
[_Sh_]ay[_kh_] Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim. I learned that
He had departed for Najaf on His way to [_Sh_]iraz. That
Youth had set my heart aflame. The memory of that vision
haunted me. My soul was wedded to His till the day when the
call of a Youth from [_Sh_]íráz, proclaiming Himself to be
the Báb, reached my ears. The thought instantly flashed
through my mind that such a person could be none other than
that selfsame Youth whom I had seen in Karbilá, the Youth of
my heart's desire.[9]
[Footnote AP: Há[_sh_]im was the great-grandfather of the
Prophet Muḥammad.]
According to Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh's narrative, as the sojourn of the
Báb in the holy cities lengthened into months, His mother, anxious to
have her only son back in [_Sh_]íráz, asked her brother, Ḥájí Mírzá
Siyyid `Alí, to go to `Iráq and persuade Him to return. He could not
deny his sister's request, but when he reached `Iráq he found that his
nephew, who had once been his ward, was unwilling to leave the holy
cities. Thereupon he appealed to Ḥájí Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'í for help,
who was at first reluctant to lend his support, not wishing to lose the
company of the young [_Sh_]írází Siyyid whom he had over the course of
years so tremendously admired. However, when he learned that His mother
was greatly concerned, he consented to intervene. At last the Báb
complied with their request and agreed to return. After a few months in
[_Sh_]íráz He declared His intention of going once again to `Iráq. His
mother, alarmed and agitated by this decision, once more sought the aid
of her brother. Their efforts resulted in the marriage of the Báb to
[_Kh_]adíjih-Bagum, daughter of Ḥájí Mírzá `Alí,[10] the paternal uncle
of His mother. The marriage took place in August 1842.
[_Kh_]adíjih-Bagum had two brothers: Ḥájí Mírzá Abu'l-Qásim and Ḥájí
Mírzá Siyyid Ḥasan, and both of them, though not counted among His
followers in His lifetime, have a place in the story of the Báb. The
descendants of these two brothers-in-law of the Báb, and the descendants
of His maternal uncles, are known as the Afnán (the Twigs).
A son was born to Siyyid `Alí-Muḥammad and [_Kh_]adíjih-Bagum in
the year 1843, whom they named Aḥmad, but he did not live long.
Ḥájí Mírzá Ḥabíbu'lláh states that the child was still-born. The
Báb notes the birth of Aḥmad in the _Qayyúmu'l-Asmá'_, His
commentary on the Súrih of Yúsuf (Joseph). Speaking of His wedding
with His well-beloved, who was herself descended from the Well-Beloved
(Muḥammad is known as Ḥabíbu'lláh--the Well-Beloved of God), and
relating how He had called upon the angels of Heaven and the cohorts
of Paradise to witness that wedding, the Báb then addresses His wife:
O well-beloved! Value highly the grace of [_Dh_]ikr [the
Bab],[11] the Greatest, for it comes from God, the Loved
One. Thou shalt not be a woman, like other women, if thou
obeyest God in the Cause of Truth ... and take pride in
being the consort of the Well-Beloved, who is loved by God
the Greatest. Sufficient unto thee is this glory which
cometh unto thee from God, the All-Wise, the All-Praised. Be
patient in all that God hath ordained concerning the Báb and
His Family. Verily, thy son, Aḥmad, is with
Fáṭimih,[AQ] the Sublime, in the sanctified Paradise.[12]
[Footnote AQ: The daughter of the Prophet Muḥammad.]
And there is this further reference to Ahmad in the _Qayyúmu'l-Asmá'_:
All praise be to God Who bestowed upon the Solace of the
Eyes,[AR] in His youth, Aḥmad. We did verily raise him up
unto God.... O Solace of the Eyes! Be patient in what thy
God hath ordained for thee. Verily He doeth whatsoever He
willeth. He is the All-Wise in the exercise of His justice.
He is thy Lord, the Ancient of Days, and praised be He in
whatever He ordereth.[12]
[Footnote AR: The Báb refers to Himself time and again in
this Book as 'Qurratu'l-`Ayn'--the Solace of the Eyes.]