Subh-i Azal
Subh-i Azal’s Specific Nomination

 

On the authority of the Persian Bayan, Wáhid (Unity) VI, BÂB (chapter) 7 and II:3, Sayyid Ali Muhammad, the BÂB-ULLAH, the Primal Point, as the bearer of a new Revelation, retained the Imamate doctrine of specific nomination, whereunder a successor in-office owed his appointment to his predecessor in-office an appointee by specific nomination is the “Speaking Book’overriding the ‘Silent Book’, the Bayan. Upon cesser of specific nomination return is made to the ‘Silent Book’ which is maintained by the maintainer of the law, called witnesses until the advent of the next manifestation. Subh-i-Azal was the appointee by specific nomination. The relevant section of the Primal Point’s testamentary dispositions addressed to Subh-i-Azal runs as follows:

“Exhort to virtue those who believe in me and in my words, that they disgrace not touching the command of god, (for them) shall they stray away from the path, and if god cause one like unto thee to appear in thy days, then he it is to whom shall be bequeathed the command on the part of god, the Single, the One. But if [such an One] appears not, know for surely that god hath not willed to make himself known, and renders up the command to god, and the lord of the worlds, all, and to enjoin the witnesses who are god-fearing and do not overstep the bounds, set by god”. See also Prof. Browne’s article J.R.A.S July 1892, pp. 444-474).
Subh-i-Azal left no will and testament, and ordained no witness with his death specific nomination ceased and determined.

The Primal Point declared his mission on May 23, 1844 (Jamad-Awwal 5, 1260 A.H.) He was martyred on July 8, 1850 (Sha’ban 27, 1266 A.H).
5 Jamad Awwal 1260-1261May 23rd, 1844-18451st
1261-12621845-18462nd
1262-12631846-18473rd
1263-12641847-18484th
1264-12651848-18495th
1265-12661849-18506th

Quddus was martyred on Jamad Thani 29, 1265 A.H. (May 22, 1849). New History, Appendix II, P.366.

Subh-i Azal rose to prominence, after the martyrdom of Quddus in A.H. 1263 (1849), the first year (ibid, p.369). The Primal Point appointed him as his successor in A.H. 1266 (1850), the sixth year.

In his communication addressed to Mulla Shaykh Ali surnamed Azim the Primal Point informs him that the Bayan bore fruit in the year Waw (=6=1266).
The Point’s Five grades (Panj Sha’n) of 1850, p.255.
This is also confirmed by Subh-i Azal in his writings.

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