Baha’s Date of Annunciation
Subh-i Azal’s Account of Baha’s Claim
1. Baha’s Date of Annunciation
1.3 Subh-i Azal’s Account of Baha’s Claim
Before proceeding to the subject, it should be borne in mind that the Bayani Era, as is explained in Bayani Calendar, starts not from the 5th Jamad-i-ul-Awwal, A.H. 1260 = May 23, 1844, the date on which the Point’s mission commenced but from the 5th Jammadi-ul-Awwal A.H. 1266 = 21st March 1850, the date on which the Primal Point declared himself to be the Point’ [Nuqta, i.e. the manifestation of the Primal Will].
Summarised with quotations from Subh-i Azal’s letter dated 21st March 1911 in reply to sundry questions addressed to him by [Mons. A. Bloche Wafraq] of La Bibliotheque Nationale, Pari, France concerning the Bayani religion and the schism:
‘The Pretender of Acre’ [i.e. Baha] had advanced his claim in about the fourteenth year “of the Bayani era. His first utterance was that “I have dreamt that there was no God but Me.” Several other ‘pretenders’ had already preceded him in identical claims (see 'Pretenders').”
“The notorious Mirza [i.e. Baha] by reason of his connection with ‘Subh-i Azal’ made out a stronger case” Baha wrought utter destruction of the Cause” [i.e. the Bayani religion].”
“At the outset, the Pretender’s [i.e. Baha’s] pretension was concealed although some were privy to it.” “In Edirne” Baha “sent Abu Jahl (Father of Ignorance) [i.e. Mirza Aqa Jan of Kashan, Baha’s amanuensis] [to Subh-i Azal] and summoned this servant [i.e. Subh-i Azal] to idolatry.” Baha then “set about murdering the friends [i.e. Bayani believers who adhered to Subh-i Azal] of whom he killed a great many.
In the end. Baha “passed away survived by his evil deeds.”
The main dispute arose out of Baha’s “claim” and his “utmost lie” that “he was God and that the Point was his herald.”
“For a time there was some doubt about this claim that it may be a lie. But he published there leaflets with the superscription that :there was no God but Me.”
“Despite this stupidity”, Baha wrote to say that “the person to appear in Ghiyath and Mustaghath” was to speak “on behalf of” Baha. (See 'Ghiyath & Mustaqath')
Baha’s “pretensions notwithstanding,” Subh-i Azal “would not suffer anything prejudicial to” Baha.
“I simply wanted him not to talk too much (or intrusively) and thereby compel me to denounce him.” But Baha “would not contain himself; and with the taking of an overdose of opium, he trumpeted the vessel of his pretensions on the roof-top of his house, gulled by the scald-headed [i.e. Mirza Aqa Jan of Kashan] and abetted by his brother’ [i.e. Mirza Musa entitled Kalim because he talked with God, to wit, Baha].”
In the end, Baha “repaired to his abyss” and “the scald-headed to his Gehenna.”
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