The Cause Of the Banishment of Babis From Edirne to Palestine & Cyprus
2. Ottoman Archives
2.5 Text of the Interrogations
In his interrogations, Aqa Jan says: “According to my own investigation, people of Iran are all Babis. Even the Shah’s wives and the brother of the very Mushir-al Dowleh are amongst Subh-i Azal’s followers. Subh-i Azal is Bab’s successor. He is a man most knowledgeable; His calligraphy is most beautiful and writes nice poems. Mirza Hysayn Ali however, from what I have heard knows nothing and is considered a commoner compared to Subh-i Azal. … I know this much that all people of Iran will become subjects of your government if it supports Subh-i Azal.”
Of the four followers of Baha’ullah, three consider themselves as his subjects and called him (Mirza Husayn Ali) a Babi. Sayyah however insists that he belongs to a sect called Nemat’ullahi and has no claim of his own.
We now quote here a few of the questions and answers that are indicative of their thoughts and convictions towards their leaders:
From records of interrogations of Sayyah Effendi:
Q: Who is this Sheikh Effendi [followers of Baha’ullah called him Sheikh Effendi], where is he from and what is his name?
A: He is a Sheykh belonging to the sect of Nemat’ullahi; He is Iranian but has now taken up Turkish nationality. His name is Mirza Husayn Ali.
Q: Doesn’t this Sheikh Effendi follow the Babi sect?
A: We found him a follower of Nemat’ullahi.
Q: What is the sect of Nemat’ullahi?
A: It is an old sect similar to that of the Naqshiyya.
From records of interrogations of Darvish Ali:
Q: Which sect does this Sheykh Effendi follow?
A: He is a Babi.
Q: What does he do in Edirne and what is his claim?
A: He lives in Edirne, I have not however heard him making any claim?
Q: A copy of a small book was found with you in which Sheykh Effendi has called himself a Mahdi . Hasn’t he told you anything about this?
A: Well! Whatever the Sheykh writes is correct. I hold his statements for truth; He has not however told us anything concerning his Mahdi-hood.
Q: What is then his claim if he does not call himself Mahdi?
A: He tells us to perform our prayers, observe fasting, not trouble others, avoid what is not sanctioned, turn our other cheek if we are slapped in the face and such admonishes.
Q: Your Sheykh has a brother known as Subh-i Azal, what is his occupation? Does he live with Sheykh Effendi in one place?
A: Yes. Subh-i Azal is our Sheykh’s brother. They have however broken up and have not talked to one another for a while. I do not know what he does.
Q: This Subh-i Azal, is he literate enough to write a book?
A: He tells people that he is knowledgeable. His followers also believe he is knowledgeable, But I consider our own Sheykh as knowledgeable. I neither know whether or not Subh-i Azal is knowledgeable, nor know him.
Q: Is your Sheykh knowledgeable?
A: Of course he is.
Q: Is your Sheykh Mahdi?
A: God knows, I do not know. It is whatever he has written in his book. I love him and accept anything he says.
Q: Will you accept it if he says that he is a prophet?
A: Yes, I will. Whatever he says is right.
From records of interrogations of Muhammad Ali of Isfahan:
Q: Will you believe anything that Sheykh Effendi says?
A: I will believe him, if he says that there is only one god, the (past) prophets are true and talks about god’s commandments. But I will not believe him, if says that there are two gods and the prophets are not true.
Q: Will you believe him, if Sheykh Effendi calls himself Mahdi?
A: So far, he has not said anything like this. I will consider it when he says so. After all, his name is Husayn Ali, how can he be Mahdi?
Q: This Subh-i Azal, has he broken up with Sheykh Effendi?
A: Yes, they have. They do not talk.
Q: Why?
A: I do not know whether there was a difference or not. They are no longer talking any more.
Q: This Subh-i Azal, is he a very knowledgeable man?
A: I didn’t see in him knowledge. I do not know. He is not anything compared to our Sheykh.
From records of interrogations of Muhammad Baqir of Isfahan:
Q: What claim does Sheykh Effendi have?
Q: Whose is the book found with your friend Muhammad Ali?
A: It is one of our Sheykh’s books.
Q: Sheykh Effendi has called himself a Mahdi in his book, has he told you anything about this topic?
A: No, he has not told us anything about his Mahdi-hood.
Q: So, Who is the person who has made a claim to Mahdi-hood?
A: It was the founder of the Babi sect, Sayyed Mirza Ali Muhammad who was martyred.
Q: Isn’t your Sheykh his successor?
A: Yes. He calls himself as his successor and I love him.
Q: What did that Sayyed Mirza Ali used to say?
A: He said new revelations have been revealed to him.
Q: Have you seen any of those revelations?
A: Yes.
Q: What do those revelations say?
A: What does he say! I don’t know!
Q: You do not understand the meaning of any of them, how can you say that they are telling the truth?
A: I do not know their meanings but they are evidently true.
Q: How?
A: Many miracles of him have been seen and all confirm those miracles.
Q: Now, will you accept if Sheykh Effendi makes a claim to the Mahdi-hood?
A: He has not made this claim so far. I don’t know if he does that later.
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