Stations of the Primal Point & Baha
3. Baha's Claim
Those are some of the documents of which Subh-i-Azal based his successorship to Primal Point. When the Primal Point was executed in July 1850 Subh-i-Azal took over the reins of administration of the BÂBi community as the Primal Point's legitimate and rightful successor. He received the unanimous recognition and homage of the BÂBi community. He set himself to the task of reorganizing the BÂBi community. His work was, however interrupted by the attempt on the Shah's life in August1852. The village of Takur, his ancestral home, was occupied by government troops and members of his family were taken prisoner. A reward was offered by the authorities for the capture of Subh-i-Azal. Disguised in the garb of a Dervish he fled the country and took refuge in Baghdad. He set up his headquarters in Baghdad, where he remained till 1863. Remnants of his prominent followers, also escaped the catastrophe consequent upon the attempt on the Shah's life, straggled to Baghdad and rallied themselves round Subh-i-Azal. During the whole period of the BÂBi exiles' sojourn in Baghdad Subh-i-Azal was the paramount authority. In 1863 there was a further exodus of the BÂBi exiles. They were removed to Istanbul and from there to Edirne, where they remained till 1868.
In Edirne Subh-i-Azal continued to wield his authority. During latter period of the BÂBis' sojourn in Edirne in 1866 an event occurred which sent the BÂBi cause in twain.
Baha suddenly pretended that he himself was Him-Whom-God-Will-Make-Manifest, and the Primal Point had been no more than his herald or precursor, and he called upon all BÂBis, including Subh-i-Azal, to acknowledge him. This, the latter refused to do, and Bayanis were now divided between those who remained Bayanis and Bahais, who acknowledged the Primal Point and his successor Subh-i-Azal and Bahais, or followers of Baha.
In 1868 Subh-i-Azal was exiled to Famagusta in Cyprus, and Baha to Acre, in Palestine.
This passage proves that Sayyid Ali Muhammad himself did not know the country in which Him-Whom-God-Will-Make-Make-Manifest is to appear. How can Sayyid Ali Muhammad be a herald or forerunner of, or co-founder with, Baha as alleged?