TThe author of the present book is Mulla Ismail known as Mirza Mustafa Katib (the scribe) who was a dyer by occupation. His life was threatened by the incitement of (a local known as) Aqa Najafi and after seven of the Babis were brutally martyred in Sadeh of Isfahan. He was persecuted by the governor of Isfahan, his ear was cut off by order of the governor and was chained and dragged through the streets of Isfahan and was thrown out of the city.
By night, Babis brought him back to Isfahan and a few days later sent him to the village of Tar in the province of Natanz. There, he was received by Mulla Muhammad Baqir of Tar who was one of the learned Babi champions. Mulla Muhammad accommodated him in the basement of his brother's house where Mirza Mustafa this respectable scribe continued to scribe Babi works.
After a while, Aqa Najafi found out (about his whereabouts) and sought to move against Mulla Baqir, he was forced to flee. At this time the late Mirza Mustafa moved to Tehran to save his life and to continue his work. He changed his name to Mirza Mustafa and settled in Tehran where he continued to scribe the works of the Primal Point and Subh-i Azal for the rest of his life.
In 1901 with the intention to visit Subh-i Azal he travelled to Cyprus with his two daughters Hamideh Khanum & Muhtaram Khanum where he stayed close to Subh-i Azal for three years. There, Subh-i Azal's son Mirza Abdul-Wahid married one of his daughters. He returned to Tehran with his daughters after the death of Mirza Abdul-Wahid.
The late Mirza Mustafa was in correspondence with Professor Browne, in fact many of the manuscripts in his precious collection were scribed by him at his request. He spent nearly 30 years in reproduction of the Bayanic works. His death occurred at 30:30 PM on Thursday 28th July 1921 when he was over 80 years old. His remains were buried at Ibn-Babuyeh in Tehran where the late
Haji Mirza Hadi of Dowlat Abadi is also buried. Amongst his daughters and sons, Mirza Nurullah Tavangar was best known.
This book of Mirza Mustafa is in fact his Will & Testament which he wrote in submitting to this provision of the Bayan (5:13) which commands people of Bayan to write their testament to reach the promised One of Bayan. In a style similar to his response to Zayn-al Muqarrabin, he explains why Baha's claim is in direct conflict with Bayanic teachings. The introductory chapter contains his biography in his own words.
Please click here to view Mirza Mustafa's Will وصیت نامه میرزا مصطفی کاتب