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--THE TRANSLATOR.
[Illustration: MUHAMMAD-I-ZARANDI, SURNAMED NABÍL-I-`AZAM]
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1 |
IT IS my intention, by the aid and assistance of
God, to devote the introductory pages of this narrative
to such accounts as I have been able to
obtain regarding those twin great lights, Shaykh
Ahmad-i-Ahsá'í and Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí, after which it is
my hope to recount, in their chronological order, the chief
events that have happened since the year '60,
[1]
the year that
witnessed the declaration of the Faith by the Báb, until the
present time, the year 1305 A.H.
[2]
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2 |
In certain instances I shall go into some detail, in others
I shall content myself with a brief summary of events. I
shall place on record a description of the episodes I myself
have witnessed, as well as those that have been reported to
me by trustworthy and recognised informants, specifying in
every case their names and standing. Those to whom I am
primarily indebted are the following: Mírzá Ahmad-i-Qazvini,
the Báb's amanuensis; Siyyid Isma'il-i-Dhabih; Shaykh
Hasan-i-Zunúzí; Shaykh Abu-Turab-i-Qazvini; and, last but
not least, Mírzá Músá, Aqáy-i-Kalím, brother of Bahá'u'lláh.
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3 |
I render thanks to God for having assisted me in the
writing of these preliminary pages, and for having blessed
and honoured them with the approval of Bahá'u'lláh, who
has graciously deigned to consider them and who signified,
through His amanuensis Mírzá Áqá Ján, who read them to
Him, His pleasure and acceptance. I pray that the Almighty
may sustain and guide me lest I err and falter in the task I
have set myself to accomplish.
MUHAMMAD-I-ZARANDI.
[3]
Akká, Palestine,
1305 A.H.
[Illustration: SHAYKH AHMAD-I-AHSÁ'Í]
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