Mullá Ḥusayn, the First to Believe

"A secret lies hidden in that city," the Báb told Mullá Ḥusayn, referring to Tihrán, Iran. The secret "shall turn the earth into paradise."

The Báb was a Messenger of God Who taught that another Messenger would come to bring an age of peace. He sent Mullá Ḥusayn to teach the Bábí Faith in several cities, including Tihrán.

Mullá Ḥusayn was born in northeastern Iran in 1813. When he was a young student, his family thought he would become a famous Muslim leader. But Mullá Ḥusayn followed his own path. He found teachers who helped him prepare for the next Messenger of God. He was the first to believe in the Báb.

It was hard for Mullá Ḥusayn to leave the Báb and set out on his journey, but the Báb said that God's angels would be with him. In Tihrán, he learned of Mírzá Ḥusayn-'Alí of Núr, Who was known for His love and service to others. Mullá Ḥusayn sent Him the writings of the Báb, which Ḥusayn-'Alí immediately knew were inspired by God. He sent a gift of sugar and tea in return. Mullá Ḥusayn was filled with joy. Was this the secret the Báb had mentioned? Years later, Ḥusayn-'Alí became known as Bahá'u'lláh, the Messenger of God promised by the Báb.

Mullá Ḥusayn left Tihrán and continued teaching the Bábí Faith. Soon the Báb's enemies, upset about the new ideas He taught, complained to the government. The Báb was sent to Máh-Kú, a remote mountain prison. Mullá Ḥusayn decided to visit Him—a journey of 1,200 miles (1,931 km). Though friends offered him carriages and horses, he answered, "I have vowed to walk the whole distance that separates me from my Beloved." On the way, he met Bahá'u'lláh face-to-face, though no one knows what was said.

The Báb had not been allowed visitors, but the guard let Mullá Ḥusayn stay with Him for nine days. Mullá Ḥusayn later said that from the Báb's words, "I could, however dimly, perceive the glory of His Revelation and . . . the future ascendancy of His Cause."

When Mullá Ḥusayn left the Báb, he encouraged and strengthened the other Bábís. He traveled with them, sharing the Báb's message. They were often attacked and forced to fight for their lives. In one fierce battle, Mullá Ḥusayn cut through a tree, a gun, and an enemy soldier with one stroke of his sword.

In 1848, Mullá Ḥusayn asked the Bábís to build a fort around the Muslim Shrine of Shaykh Ṭabarsí to protect themselves. They were attacked by armies. Most of the Bábís were not trained soldiers. They had to eat leather to survive. Still, they defended themselves for seven months.

In 1849, Mullá Ḥusayn rode into his last battle. A soldier hiding in a tree shot him. The Bábís carried him back to the fort, where he died two hours later with a smile on his face.

"But for him," Bahá'u'lláh wrote, "God would not have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor have ascended the throne of eternal glory."

Source: Gail Radley and Tom Armistead, "Shining Lamp: Mullá Ḥusayn," Brilliant Star magazine, vol. 50, no. 1 (March–April 2018), drawing on The Dawn-Breakers (Nabíl) and the Kitáb-i-Íqán, via Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2024/07/shining-lamp-mulla-husayn.html).

Various. *Baha'i Stories for Children*. https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2024/07/shining-lamp-mulla-husayn.html