8.  Iran

8.3  Abbas Effendi’s Remark
According to Sir Abbas Effendi’s account, the Traveller’s Narrative, English Translation, Vol. II. PP. 102-106, “During the latter days [passed] in Edirne Baha composed a detailed epistle setting forth all matters clearly and eminently and expounded the main principals of the sect and made clear and plain its ethics, manners, cause, and mode of conduct; he treated certain political questions in detail, and adduced sundry proofs of his truthfulness; he declared the good intent, loyalty, and sincerity of the sect, and wrote fragments of prayers, some in Persian but greater part in Arabic. He placed it in a packet and addressed it address with the royal name of His Majesty the king of Persia, and wrote [on it] that some person pure of heart and pure of life dedicated to god, and prepared for martyrdom, must, with perfect resignation and willingness, convey this epistle into the presence of the king. A youth named Mirza Badi, a native of Khuzistan, took the epistle and hastened toward the presence of His Majesty, the king. The royal Train had its abode and station outside Tehran, so he took his stand alone on a rock in a place far off but opposite to the Royal Pavilion …The Royal personage was examining all quarters and directions with a telescope whom suddenly his glance fell on this man … the king commanded one of those in attendance at the court to inquire into the circumstances of this youth. On interrogation [it was found that] he carried a letter which he desired to convey with his own hand into the Royal presence.”

“On receiving permission to approach, he cried out before the pavilion with a dignity, composure, and respectfulness surpassing description, and in a loud voice “O king, I have come unto thee from Sheba with a weighty message! [In allusion to Quran, xx vii, 22]. The king commanded to take the letter and arrest the bearer. His Majesty the king wished to act with declination and desired to discover the truth, but those who were present before him loosed their tongues in violent apprehension … so the minister of the court signified [that he should suffer punishment and ordered the torture, the executioners tortured, and then slew and destroyed him”.
“Now, when His Majesty the king had perused certain passages and became cognizant of the contents of the epistle he was much affected at what had taken place and manifested regret, because the courtiers had acted hastily and put into execution a severe punishment …”
“Then the Royal Command was issued that their Reverences the learned doctors and accomplished divines should write a reply to that epistle. But when the most expert doctors of the capital became aware of the contents of the letter they ordained:
(that this person, without regarding [the fact] that he is at variance with the perspicuous Religion is a meddler with the custom, and creed, and a troubler of kings and emperors. Therefore to eradicate, subdue, repress and repel [this sect] is one of the requirements of the well-established past.

“[i.e. the Religion of Islam], and indeed the chief of the obligations.” “This answer was not approved before the royal presence.”
Here follows the content of the epistle, which contains the following passage: (P.146, ibid) “We are about to shift from the most remote place of banishment [i.e. Edirne] unto the prison of Acre.”
According to Sir Abbas Effendi’s account, Mirza Badi carried the epistle to the Shah from Edirne to Tehran and the Shah perused certain passages and became cognizant of the contents of the epistle.
Contradicting Sir Abbas Effendi, Shoghi Effendi in god passes by, P. 199, says: Aqa Buzurg of Khurasan, the illustrious “Badi (Wonderful), converted to the faith by Nabil; surnamed the pride of martyrs’; the seventeen-year old bearer of the tablet addressed to Nasir-al-Din Shah; in whom, as affirmed by Baha, ‘the spirit of might-power was breaded,’ was arrested” tortured and put to death. “After visiting Baha in the barracks [in Acre], during the second year of his confinement, he had arisen with amazing alacrity to carry that tablet, alone and on-foot to Tehran and deliver it into the hands of the sovereign. A four month journey had taken him to that city, and after passing three days in fasting and vigilance, he had met the Shah proceeding on a hunting expedition.”

“He had calmly and respectfully approached His Majesty, calling out, O king! I have come to thee from Sheba with a mighty message’; whereupon at the sovereign’s order, the tablet was taken from him and delivered to the Mujtahids of Tehran who were commanded to reply to that epistle. A command which they evaded, recommended instead that the messenger should be put to death.”
“That tablet was subsequently forwarded to the Shah to the Persian ambassador in Istanbul in the hope that its perusal by the Sultan’s minister might serve further influence their animosity.”

---

Please select one of the following:
to view the next section on this topic,
to view the next section on this topic,
to return to the main page, or
to close this window.

---