Táríkh-i-Jadíd / Táríkh-i Badí‘-i Bayání

Báb on Pilgrimage

[How His Supreme Holiness (the lives of all beside him be his sacrifice!) made known his religion; how he sent faithful converts into the regions round about to announce his mission; how he bade Jenáb-i-Bábu‘l-Báb go to Isfahán; how Jenáb-i-Mukaddas of Khurásán, who was a professor at Isfahán and a leader of divine worship, believed on seeing God's revealed verses; how he was sent to Yezd and Kirmán, that after preaching the doctrine there he might come to Shíráz; and how His Holiness proceeded to Mecca and returned thence to Bushire.]

Now in the year A.H. 1261²³⁶, when the appearance of His Holiness the Báb (whom the Bábís call "His Supreme Holiness") had, by means of those learned men who had <199> charged themselves with the promulgation of his doctrines, been noised abroad throughout all the provinces, and had in Shíráz especially obtained the fullest notoriety, His Holiness returned from Mecca, whither he had gone to proclaim his religion, to the end that the fame of the Manifestation might be more fully diffused through all countries. Thus writes the late Hájí Mírzá Jání²³⁷:- "A certain pious and trustworthy person belonging to the mercantile class, and noted for his virtue and sincerity, on his return from Mecca related as follows: 'I beheld the Lord of the world performing the ceremony of circumambulation at the Holy Mosque with such an air of solemn ecstasy, reverence, and humility as filled me with amazement, so that I knew for a surety that this must be either He who is to arise out of the family of Muhammad²³⁸ or else one of the Guardians²³⁹ who shall accompany him. On returning to my lodging I related what I had seen to my companions, confirming it <200> with an oath, because of the fullness of my conviction. I subsequently enjoyed the privilege of meeting him at Medína, where, according to the measure of my fitness, I saw what I had to see, drew from it my own inference, and confessed the sufficiency of the proof revealed by His Holiness.'"

Báb Amends the Call to Prayer

To be brief, His Holiness returned by sea to Bushire. [He despatched a letter to Jenáb-i-Mukaddas of Khurásán, bidding him perform divine worship in the Sword-maker's Mosque at Shíráz and insert these words in the call to prayer:- "I bear witness that ‘Alí His servant is the Remnant of God²⁴⁰." This was at the time when Jenáb-i-Mukaddas, having met Jenáb-i-Bábu‘l-Báb at Isfahán²⁴¹, and having been converted by an examination of the sacred verses and prayers, had been commissioned by His Supreme Holiness to go to Yezd and Kirmán. There he attempted to convert Hájí Muhammad Karim Khán²⁴², who, by reason of his overweening pride and presumption, repelled his attempts, and issued orders for him and Mulla ‘Alí Akbar of Ardistán, who was in his company, to be killed. But the government protected them, as did also Áká Seyyid Jawád the mujtahid²⁴³, and they escaped to Níríz, and came <201> thence to Shiráz, where they awaited the arrival of His Holiness. As he had been commanded, Jenáb-i-Mukaddas used there to perform the prayers in the mosque which is situated near to the Báb's house in the sword-maker's bazaar, and Mullá ‘Alí Akbar used to act as mu’ezzin and to insert the new clause in the call to prayer. The clergy, greatly incensed, went before the governor and complained. He accordingly sent to summon the mu’ezzin into his presence, but Jenáb-i-Kuddús²⁴⁴ came first, and held a protracted discussion with him. The governor at length ordered him to be smitten with many blows and to be cast into prison. When the mu’ezzin was brought into the governor's presence, he saw them leading away Jenáb-i-Kuddús with a night-cap²⁴⁵ on his head to prison. On entering, he saw a number of the clergy and merchants sitting round. He took his seat on the bare ground without a carpet. The governor loaded him with reproaches, and bade him repeat the clause which he had inserted in the call to prayer. He did so. The governor then bade his servants lead him forth from the assembly, bind him to the triangle, and scourge him. So Mullá Muhammad Sádik received four hundred lashes with the whip²⁴⁶. One <202> of his friends named Mullá Abú Tálib, who had come to the garden²⁴⁷ to see what was taking place, was also seized, and scourged with four hundred lashes. Then they tied up Mullá ‘Alí Akbar and inflicted on him two hundred lashes, when, on the intercession of a certain merchant, they desisted. Then the governor ordered a lighted candle to be held under the beard of Mullá Abú Tálib (which was of great length and thickness) till it was burned, whereby his chin also was severely scorched²⁴⁸. They likewise burned the beard of Jenáb-i-Mukaddas, which was also very long. Then they were committed to prison.

Next morning four executioners led them forth from the prison, so that they were convinced that their martyrdom was at hand. Leading-ropes²⁴⁹ were attached to them, and, in the very height of summer, they were led barefoot round the bazaars and the different quarters of the town from morning till night, while the people spat on their faces. They were then expelled from the city, and twelve horsemen were sent by the governor to bring His supreme Holiness from Bushire.]²⁵⁰ His Holiness had already started from Bushire, and fell in with them on the road one dark night. They did not recognize him, and would have passed <203> him by, but he called to them, saying, "Since you have come in search of me, turn back, and let us go together." So the horsemen, observing his behaviour, escorted him with all respect to Shíráz, and made known all that had happened to the governor, who, abandoning certain ideas which he had entertained, issued orders that after three days all access to the Báb should be denied to his friends, and that he should be prevented from writing or receiving any letters. But however men may strive to hide the Sun of Truth with the clouds of formal restrictions, its radiance becomes but the more apparent; even as these people²⁵¹, the more they are arrested and slain, do but continue to multiply the more. So, although to all appearance the believers were denied access to their Master, they still continued to submit to him their questions and difficulties, and to receive replies, for it is incumbent on the generous to answer him who asks²⁵² more especially when his questions refer to religious matters, and his demands are for guidance and direction into the path of salvation. A number of people from the surrounding country also came to enquire into the matter, and these likewise submitted their questions, and received, each according to his own capacity, full and satisfactory answers, whereby they too were brought to believe.

The opponents of the Truth, however (according to the verse, "Verily the devils inspire their friends²⁵³" became cognizant of this, and informed the governor, who issued orders for the Báb's arrest; and on the eve of Ramazán <204> 21st ²⁵⁴ some of them [attacked]²⁵⁵ his house, seized him and his venerable uncle [Hájí Seyyid ‘Alí²⁵⁶ (an old man eighty years of age, very pious and enlightened, and greatly respected amongst his fellow merchants), and brought them before the governor²⁵⁷.]²⁵⁸ The governor addressed them most discourteously, confiscated all the Báb's property and household goods, and inflicted the bastinado on his uncle.²⁵⁹ Then he committed His Holiness to the custody of ‘Abdu’l-Hamíd Khán the chief constable²⁶⁰.