CHAPTER XVI THE CONFERENCE OF BADASHT |
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1 | SOON after Táhirih had started on her journey, Bahá'u'lláh instructed Aqáy-i-Kalím to complete the necessary preparations for His contemplated departure for Khurásán. He committed to his care His family and asked him to provide whatever might be conducive to their well-being and safety. |
2 |
When He arrived at Shah-Rud, He was met by Quddús,
who had left Mashhad, where he had been residing, and had
come to welcome Him as soon as he had heard of His approach.
The whole province of Khurásán was in those days
in the throes of a violent agitation. The activities which
Quddús and Mullá |
3 |
Their numbers soon swelled to such proportions as to
excite the apprehension of the authorities. The chief constable
viewed with concern and dismay the crowds of agitated
people who streamed unceasingly into every quarter of the
holy City. In his desire to assert his rights, intimidate Mullá
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4 |
Mullá |
5 | In the face of so solemn an assurance, his companions ventured no further remarks. Their hearts, however, burned with impatience to redress that bitter injury. A number of them eventually decided to band themselves together and loudly raise, through the streets of Mashhad, the cry of "Yá Sáhibu'z-Zamán!" [1] as a protest against this sudden affront to the dignity of their Faith. That cry was the first of its kind to be raised in Khurásán in the name of the Cause of God. The city re-echoed with the sound of those voices. The reverberations of their shouts reached even the most outlying regions of the province, raised a great tumult in the hearts of the people, and were the signal for the tremendous happenings that were destined to transpire in the future. |
6 |
In the midst of the confusion that ensued, those who
were holding the halter with which they dragged Hasan
through the streets, perished by the sword. The companions
of Mullá |
7 |
The city of Mashhad, which had just recovered its peace
and tranquillity after the rebellion that the Salar had provoked,
was plunged again into confusion and distress. Prince
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8 |
The prince, who knew full well how much he stood in
need of that officer, was greatly embarrassed at this unexpected
declaration. "I too have met Mullá |
9 |
On the receipt of this communication, Mullá |
10 |
Mullá |
11 |
That very night, Quddús summoned to his presence
Mírzá Muhammad-Baqir-i-Qa'ini, who had built the Bábíyyih,
together with a number of the most prominent among his
companions, and enjoined upon them to bear unquestioned
allegiance to Mullá |
12 |
With these words, Quddús bade farewell to his companions
and, accompanied by Mírzá Muhammad-'Aliy-i-Qazvini, departed
from Mashhad. A few days later, he encountered
Mírzá Sulayman-i-Nuri, who informed him of the circumstances
attending the deliverance of Táhirih from her confinement
in Qazvín, of her journey in the direction of
Khurásán, and of Bahá'u'lláh's subsequent departure from
the capital. Mírzá Sulaymán, as well as Mírzá |
13 |
No sooner had Bahá'u'lláh been informed by |
14 | It was then the beginning of summer. Upon His arrival, Bahá'u'lláh rented three gardens, one of which He assigned exclusively to the use of Quddús, another He set apart for Táhirih and her attendant, and reserved the third for Himself. Those who had gathered in Badasht were eighty-one in number, all of whom, from the time of their arrival to the day of their dispersion, were the guests of Bahá'u'lláh. Every day, He revealed a Tablet which Mírzá Sulayman-i-Nuri chanted in the presence of the assembled believers. Upon each He bestowed a new name. He Himself was henceforth designated by the name of Bahá; upon the Last Letter of the Living was conferred the appellation of Quddús, and to Qurratu'l-`Ayn was given the title of Táhirih. To each of those who had convened at Badasht a special Tablet was subsequently revealed by the Báb, each of whom He addressed by the name recently conferred upon him. When, at a later time, a number of the more rigid and conservative among her fellow-disciples chose to accuse Táhirih of indiscreetly rejecting the time-honoured traditions of the past, the Báb, to whom these complaints had been addressed, replied in the following terms: "What am I to say regarding her whom the Tongue of Power of Glory has named Táhirih [the Pure One]?" |
15 | Each day of that memorable gathering witnessed the abrogation of a new law and the repudiation of a long-established tradition. The veils that guarded the sanctity of the ordinances of Islám were sternly rent asunder, and the idols that had so long claimed the adoration of their blind worshippers were rudely demolished. No one knew, however, the Source whence these bold and defiant innovations proceeded, no one suspected the Hand which steadily and unerringly steered their course. Even the identity of Him who had bestowed a new name upon each of those who had congregated in that hamlet remained unknown to those who had received them. Each conjectured according to his own degree of understanding. Few, if any, dimly surmised that Bahá'u'lláh was the Author of the far-reaching changes which were being so fearlessly introduced. |
16 | Shaykh Abú-Turáb, one of the best-informed as to the nature of the developments in Badasht, is reported to have related the following incident: "Illness, one day, confined Bahá'u'lláh to His bed. Quddús, as soon as he heard of His indisposition, hastened to visit Him. He seated himself, when ushered into His presence, on the right hand of Bahá'u'lláh. The rest of the companions were gradually admitted to His presence, and grouped themselves around Him. No sooner had they assembled than Muhammad-Hasan-i-Qazvini, the messenger of Táhirih, upon whom the name of Fata'l-Qazvini had been newly conferred, suddenly came in and conveyed to Quddús a pressing invitation from Táhirih to visit her in her own garden. `I have severed myself entirely from her,' he boldly and decisively replied. `I refuse to meet her.' [5] The messenger retired immediately, and soon returned, reiterating the same message and appealing to him to heed her urgent call. `She insists on your visit,' were his words. `If you persist in your refusal, she herself will come to you.' Perceiving his unyielding attitude, the messenger unsheathed his sword, laid it at the feet of Quddús, and said: `I refuse to go without you. Either choose to accompany me to the presence of Táhirih or cut off my head with this sword.' `I have already declared my intention not to visit Táhirih,' Quddús angrily retorted. `I am willing to comply with the alternative which you have chosen to put before me.' |
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18 | "Quietly, silently, and with the utmost dignity, Táhirih stepped forward and, advancing towards Quddús, seated herself on his right-hand side. Her unruffled serenity sharply contrasted with the affrighted countenances of those who were gazing upon her face. Fear, anger, and bewilderment stirred the depths of their souls. That sudden revelation seemed to have stunned their faculties. `Abdu'l-Kháliq-i-Isfahání was so gravely shaken that he cut his throat with his own hands. Covered with blood and shrieking with excitement, he fled away from the face of Táhirih. A few, following his example, abandoned their companions and forsook their Faith. A number were seen standing speechless before her, confounded with wonder. Quddús, meanwhile, had remained seated in his place, holding the unsheathed sword in his hand, his face betraying a feeling of inexpressible anger. It seemed as if he were waiting for the moment when he could strike his fatal blow at Táhirih. |
19 | "His threatening attitude failed, however, to move her. Her countenance displayed that same dignity and confidence which she had evinced at the first moment of her appearance before the assembled believers. A feeling of joy and triumph had now illumined her face. She rose from her seat and, undeterred by the tumult that she had raised in the hearts of her companions, began to address the remnant of that assembly. Without the least premeditation, and in language which bore a striking resemblance to that of the Qur'án, she delivered her appeal with matchless eloquence and profound fervour. She concluded her address with this verse of the Qur'án: `Verily, amid gardens and rivers shall the pious dwell in the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King.' As she uttered these words, she cast a furtive glance towards both Bahá'u'lláh and Quddús in such a manner that those who were watching her were unable to tell to which of the two she was alluding. Immediately after, she declared: `I am the Word which the Qá'im is to utter, the Word which shall put to flight the chiefs and nobles of the earth!' [8] |
20 | "She then turned her face towards Quddús and rebuked him for having failed to perform in Khurásán those things which she deemed essential to the welfare of the Faith. `I am free to follow the promptings of my own conscience,' retorted Quddús. `I am not subject to the will and pleasure of my fellow-disciples.' Turning away her eyes from him, Táhirih invited those who were present to celebrate befittingly this great occasion. `This day is the day of festivity and universal rejoicing,' she added, `the day on which the fetters of the past are burst asunder. Let those who have shared in this great achievement arise and embrace each other.'" |
21 | That memorable day and those which immediately followed it witnessed the most revolutionary changes in the life and habits of the assembled followers of the Báb. Their manner of worship underwent a sudden and fundamental transformation. The prayers and ceremonials by which those devout worshippers had been disciplined were irrevocably discarded. A great confusion, however, prevailed among those who had so zealously arisen to advocate these reforms. A few condemned so radical a change as being the essence of heresy, and refused to annul what they regarded as the inviolable precepts of Islám. Some regarded Táhirih as the sole judge in such matters and the only person qualified to claim implicit obedience from the faithful. Others who denounced her behaviour held to Quddús, whom they regarded as the sole representative of the Báb, the only one who had the right to pronounce upon such weighty matters. Still others who recognised the authority of both Táhirih and Quddús viewed the whole episode as a God-sent test designed to separate the true from the false and distinguish the faithful from the disloyal. |
22 | Táhirih herself ventured on a few occasions to repudiate the authority of Quddús. "I deem him," she is reported to have declared, "a pupil whom the Báb has sent me to edify and instruct. I regard him in no other light." Quddús did not fail, on his part, to denounce Táhirih as "the author of heresy," and stigmatised those who advocated her views as "the victims of error." This state of tension persisted for a few days until Bahá'u'lláh intervened and, in His masterly manner, effected a complete reconciliation between them. He healed the wounds which that sharp controversy had caused, and directed the efforts of both along the path of constructive service. [9] |
23 | The object of that memorable gathering had been attained. [10] The clarion-call of the new Order had been sounded. The obsolete conventions which had fettered the consciences of men were boldly challenged and fearlessly swept away. The way was clear for the proclamation of the laws and precepts that were destined to usher in the new Dispensation. The remnant of the companions who had gathered in Badasht accordingly decided to depart for Mazindarán. Quddús and Táhirih seated themselves in the same howdah [11] which had been prepared for their journey by Bahá'u'lláh. On their way, Táhirih each day composed an ode which she instructed those who accompanied her to chant as they followed her howdah. Mountain and valley re-echoed the shouts with which that enthusiastic band, as they journeyed to Mazindarán, hailed the extinction of the old, and the birth of the new Day. |
24 | Bahá'u'lláh's sojourn in Badasht lasted two and twenty days. In the course of their journey to Mazindarán, a few of the followers of the Báb sought to abuse the liberty which the repudiation of the laws and sanctions of an outgrown Faith had conferred upon them. They viewed the unprecedented action of Táhirih in discarding the veil as a signal to transgress the bounds of moderation and to gratify their selfish desires. The excesses in which a few indulged provoked the wrath of the Almighty and caused their immediate dispersion. In the village of Níyálá, they were grievously tested and suffered severe injuries at the hands of their enemies. This scattering extinguished the mischief which a few of the irresponsible among the adherents of the Faith had sought to kindle, and preserved untarnished its honour and dignity. |
25 | I have heard Bahá'u'lláh Himself describe that incident: "We were all gathered in the village of Níyálá and were resting at the foot of a mountain, when, at the hour of dawn, we were suddenly awakened by the stones which the people of the neighbourhood were hurling upon us from the top of the mountain. The fierceness of their attack induced our companions to flee in terror and consternation. I clothed Quddús in my own garments and despatched him to a place of safety, where I intended to join him. When I arrived, I found that he had gone. None of our companions had remained in Níyálá except Táhirih and a young man from Shíráz, Mírzá `Abdu'lláh. The violence with which we were assailed had brought desolation into our camp. I found no one into whose custody I could deliver Táhirih except that young man, who displayed on that occasion a courage and determination that were truly surprising. Sword in hand, undaunted by the savage assault of the inhabitants of the village, who had rushed to plunder our property, he sprang forward to stay the hand of the assailants. Though himself wounded in several parts of his body, he risked his life to protect our property. I bade him desist from his act. When the tumult had subsided, I approached a number of the inhabitants of the village and was able to convince them of the cruelty and shamefulness of their behaviour. I subsequently succeeded in restoring a part of our plundered property." |
26 |
Bahá'u'lláh, accompanied by Táhirih and her attendant,
proceeded to Núr. He appointed Shaykh Abú-Turáb to
watch over her and ensure her protection and safety. Meanwhile
the mischief-makers were endeavouring to kindle the
anger of |
27 |
He accordingly commanded one of his officers in Tihrán
to instruct his son who was residing in Mazindarán to arrest
Bahá'u'lláh and to conduct Him to the capital. The son of
this officer received the communication on the very day
preceding the reception which he had prepared to offer to
Bahá'u'lláh, to whom he was devotedly attached. He was
greatly distressed and did not divulge the news to anyone.
Bahá'u'lláh, however, perceived his sadness and advised him
to put his trust in God. The next day, as He was being
accompanied by His friend to his home, they encountered a
horseman who was coming from the direction of Tihrán.
" |
28 |
Quddús had in the meantime fallen into the hands of his
opponents, and was confined in Sarí in the home of Mírzá
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1. ["O Lord of the Age!" one of the titles of the promised Qá'im.]
2. [Allusion to his own martyrdom.]
5. [According to the "Kashfu'l-Ghita'," a decision had been previously arrived at between Quddús and Táhirih, in accordance with which the latter was to proclaim publicly the independent character of the Revelation of the Báb, and to emphasise the abrogation of the laws and ordinances of the previous Dispensation. Quddús, on the other hand, was expected to oppose her contention and strenuously to reject her views. This arrangement was made for the purpose of mitigating the effects of such a challenging and far-reaching proclamation, and of averting the dangers and perils which such a startling innovation was sure to produce. (P. 211.) Bahá'u'lláh appears to have taken a neutral attitude in this controversy, though actually He was the prime mover and the controlling and directing influence throughout the different stages of that memorable episode.]
6. ["But the effect produced had been astounding! The assembly was as if struck by lightning. Some hid their faces with their hands, others, prostrated themselves, others covered their heads with their garments so that they could not see the features of her Highness, the Pure One. If it was a grievous sin to look upon the face of an unknown woman who might pass by, what a crime to let one's eyes fall upon her who was so saintly! The meeting was broken up in the midst of an indescribable tumult. Insults fell upon her whom they thought so indecent as to appear thus with her face uncovered. Some armed that she had lost her mind, others that she was shameless, and some, very few, took up her defense." (A. L. M. Nicolas' "Siyyid
7. [Daughter of
9. ["It was this bold act of Qurratu'l-`Ayn which shook the foundations of a literal belief in Islámic doctrines among the Persians. It may be added that the first-fruits of qurratu'l-'Ayn's teaching was no less than the heroic Quddús, and that the eloquent teacher herself owed her insight probably to Bahá'u'lláh. Of course, the supposition that her greatest friend might censure her is merely a delightful piece of irony." (Dr. T. K. Cheyne's "The Reconciliation of Races and Religions," pp. 103-4.)]
10. ["It has been suggested that the true cause of the summoning of that assembly was anxiety for the Báb, and a desire to carry him off to a place of safety. But the more accepted view--that the subject before the Council was the relation of the Bábís to the Islámic laws--is also the more probable." (Ibid., p. 80.) "The object of the conference was to correct a widespread misunderstanding. There were many who thought that the new leader came, in the most literal sense, to fulfil Islámic Law. They realised, indeed, that the object of