The Rise of Baha
6. Alleged Baha’s leading role in the Badasht Conference
6.4 Mirza Jani’s History
According to Appendix II. Mirza Jani’s history, PP. 353-360, Tarikh-i-Jadid, Prof. Browne states: “Mirza Jani’s description of the meeting of Qurrat-al-Ayn with Quddus at Badasht is chiefly remarkable for a long homily on certain points of BÁBi doctrine. Unfortunately this MS is rather corrupt at this point, so that it is not quite clear whether this is intended to be a report of the address actually delivered by Qurrat-al-Ayn, or of an address delivered by Quddus, or whether it is merely one of Mirza Jani’s own dissertations on doctrine.” Prof. Browne then gives a translation of a typical passage from the concluding portion of the homily: “ … and I have only submitted to you these remarks that when people say, ‘A company [of BÁBis] went to Badasht and conducted themselves in an unseemly fashion’ “
“ ‘you may know that they were persons of no mean quality, but the elect of the world; that they did a great work; and that when men heap curses and censures on them, it is because of their own benighted condition.’ “
Prof. Browne observes: “Rumours of what had taken place at Badasht ‘partly true and partly false’ had however, preceded them, and from most places where they desired to halt they were expelled of the inhabitants.”
Prof. Browne maintains the same opinion in his Persian introduction to the Nuqta-al-Kaf, PP. 61-62.
Mirza Jani says nothing about alleged leading role played by Baha in the Badasht conference and Muhammad shah’s alleged warrant for Baha’s arrest.
In his reference to Baha’s meeting with Qurrat-al-Ayn and Quddus, ibid, appendix II. Mirza Jani’s History P. 374 Mirza Jani states: خدمت جناب طاهره (یعنی قره العین) رسیدند.. He [i.e. Baha] remained in Sabzawar till Hazrat-i- Quddus came thither, on whom he had the honour of waiting.”
These deferential expression point to the loftiness and superiority of Qurat-al-Ayn and to the inferiority and subserviency of Baha.
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