6.   Allegations against Mirza Muhammad Ali

6.12  Mirza Muhammad Ali in the Eye of Baha
Baha's laudatory tones which raised Mirza Muhammad Ali high above all mankind, Baha's provision in the Aqdas to the effect that "when the sea of union [with me] is dried up and the Book of the beginning is finished in the End, then turn to the One Whom God desires, the One who is a branch from the Ancient Root (E.T. P.50)", and Baha's provision in the Aqdas to the effect that "O People of Creation, whenever the dove flies from the forest of praise and makes for the furthermost hidden goal, then refer what you did not understand in the book to the Bough which branches from the Self Subsistent Stock (E.T. P.70)", which provisions do not indicate which son is intended, kept Sir Abbas Effendi, who expected to succeed to his father, in suspended animation, Sir Abbas Effendi might have thought that he was being bypassed in the appointment of a successor.

In fairness to Baha, in the end, he wrote out his Will and Testament, clarified the ambiguity in the provisions, appointed Sir Abbas Effendi as his successor, and Sir Abbas Effendi in turn to be succeeded by Mirza Muhammad Ali whose appointment is stressed in Baha's Will and Testament. (Text of Appointment, see Succession of Baha).

Baha delivered the document embodying his Will and Testament into the hands of Sir Abbas Effendi. But the damage was already done. With the document in his pocket, Sir Abbas Effendi nursed his grudge against Mirza Muhammad Ali and bided his time.

No sooner had Sir Abbas Effendi stepped into the shoes of his father than he began to assert himself. The first thing he did was to hold back part of Baha's Will and Testament (See allegation of tampering with the book). In the long run he wreaked vengeance on Mirza Muhammad Ali, whom he abuses in the most scurrilous language in his Will and Testament.

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