Tarikh-i-Jadid / Tarikh-i Badi'-i Bayani

Bab to Tabriz

"'The instructions which I had received were to convey His Holiness to Tabriz, whence Prince Bahman Mirza was to send him to Maku. Now I hoped that the Prince would keep him at Tabriz, and that, should he decide to send him to Maku, I might be permitted to attend him thither. <222>

I made known this inward desire to His Holiness, who replied, "I do not wish that you should accompany me beyond Tabriz. I did desire inwardly that you should come from the capital to Tabriz, but from thence to Maku I desire it not, for it will be a journey of wrong, and I like not that you should enter into the company of the wrong-doers. [["Then he continued, "]] On our arrival within one stage of Tabriz [[do thou go on before us and explain the matter to the Prince, for if he can keep me in Tabriz it is better, while, if he will send me to Maku, God will take vengeance on him." Now when we were come within one stage of Tabriz]]²⁹⁷ I had a severe attack of fever, and while I was thus prostrate His Holiness summoned me and said, "Go on to Tabriz." I replied, "I cannot move while the fever in me runs so high." His Holiness, who was drinking tea, handed me his cup, saying, "Drink this." No sooner had I drunk it than I was restored to health. So I went that very night to Tabriz, and laid the whole matter before Prince Bahman Mirza, who replied "It has nothing to do with me; you must act according to the orders which you received in the capital." I therefore turned back to meet His Holiness with a heart exceeding sorrowful, and told him all that had happened. He heaved a deep sigh and said, "I acquiesce in God's decree, and submit to His command."

Bab to Maku

I brought His Holiness to my own house, situated outside the town, and there he tarried for some days. On the day fixed for his removal to Maku the horsemen appointed to attend him thither came to him, saying, "Come, mount!" He answered, "Let Muhammad Beg go once again to the Prince and complete the proof to him, telling <223> him that I do not wish to go to Maku, [[and bidding him fear God and not persist in this determination]]²⁹⁸." I accordingly went as he bade me, and represented the state of the case, but the Prince again refused to incur any responsibility, and I returned so grieved at heart that on reaching home I was once more prostrated with fever. The horsemen continuing to press for an immediate departure, His Holiness came into my private apartment to bid me farewell, and then mounted. I wept much at his departure, and was ill for two months.

"'After this I went to Maku for the express purpose of visiting His Holiness. On entering his presence I fell at his feet to ask for pardon, for I had seen how both Ashraf Khan the Governor of Zanjan and Prince Bahman Mirza, because they had been guilty of some slight disrespect , had in a little time been visited with severe punishment. Therefore was I much troubled, and entreated His Holiness, saying, "If I have inadvertently been guilty of any shortcoming in my service, or committed any fault by reason of which I merit reprobation and chastisement, forgive me!" He replied, "Muhammad Shah and his minister²⁹⁹ have dealt with me thus unjustly, yet have I not cursed them. I desire not evil for mine enemies, much less for my friends."

"'He then questioned me concerning Ashraf Khan the Governor of Zanjan, and I related to him in detail the indignities to which he had been subjected by the people of Zanjan. In brief, the history of these is as follows. Ashraf Khan had conceived a passion for a certain woman of Zanjan, and sent men to carry her to a place which he <224> had appointed. Her husband, being apprized of this, informed his relations and friends, who assembled in full force, attacked Ashraf Khan's house, and carried off as plunder the furniture and ornaments. Ashraf Khan himself, who was fair of skin and smooth of cheek, they entreated most foully, even making use of sticks;³⁰⁰ then they blackened his face, put a paper cap on his head, mounted him on a bare-backed ass, and thus ignominiously expelled him from the city. When His Holiness had heard this, he said, "I did not wish that it should be thus, or that he should be so grievously shamed." Then I related to him the punishment which had overtaken Bahman Mirza, and his disgrace, whereon he remarked, "The True Avenger will sooner or later, as His wisdom determines, take vengeance on such as contemn the Truth and slight or injure God's servants."'"

Mirza 'Abdu'l-Wahhab related as follows:- During the journey to Azarbaijan I, together with Mulla Muhammad 'Mu'allim', and Aka Seyyid Hasan, the brother of Aka Seyyid Huseyn the amanuensis, accompanied His Holiness with circumspection, following him, according to his instructions, at a distance of some two thousand paces. [And when we reached our halting-place, we used to take up our quarters near to his, but elsewhere.] But Aka Seyyid Huseyn and Aka Seyyid Murtaza with the twelve³⁰¹ <225> mounted guards always rode by him. And we, on reaching the end of our day's journey, used always to contrive some fresh excuse or pretext for approaching him, so that Muhammad Beg the Chaparchi-bashi and the other horsemen composing the escort might not notice it or perceive that we were the devoted followers of His Holiness. When we were within two or three stages of Tabriz, however, Muhammad Beg, who had charge of the escort, discovered by divers indications, both overt and covert, our deep devotion to the Master. One day, therefore, in the course of conversation he observed, 'During this journey I have come to regard myself as worse than Shimr and Yazid.' 'Why,' I asked, 'do you think thus, and [[in what connection do you say it?]]³⁰²' 'Because,' said he, 'they have commissioned me to do their work, and because I have witnessed on the part of this holy man things so passing strange that they cannot be uttered or heard.' ['What new thing have you seen,' I demanded, 'to cause you such astonishment?' He replied, 'Amongst other things which I have witnessed during these days was this. When we set out from the capital he entrusted to my keeping a box of gez³⁰³, which I consigned to the care of one of my men. Every morning he asks for it, and gives a piece to each of the escort, and to his own companions, and to my servants, in addition to which he generally bestows a piece on each of you. And throughout the whole journey that same box has been in my keeping!'"

Aka Mirza Muhammad 'Ali the martyr, who consummated his martyrdom in the presence of His Holiness at Tabriz, related as follows:- "When His Holiness reached <226> Tabriz he took up his abode in the house of Muhammad Beg, whose next-door neighbour had a garden adjoining his dwelling. One day His Holiness desired to take his afternoon tea in this garden. When, in accordance with the permission readily granted to him by the proprietor, he had gone thither, one Mash-hadi 'Ali by name entered the garden in a state of great trouble, saying, 'Three of my family are sick, and I despair of the lives of two of them, since there is no hope of their being restored to health; but the third, whose recovery appears possible, I pray you to heal.' 'Be of good cheer,' answered His Holiness, 'all three will get well.' After a while the man departed, but next morning he came to me, saying, 'On arriving at my house I beheld all three sitting up in perfect health, as though they had never been ill.' This man became a sincere believer, and was converted, and set himself to perform humble and devoted service. So likewise others who heard and understood were amazed at the might and spiritual virtues of His Holiness."