The Báb and His Teacher

A retelling based on The Dawn-Breakers (Nabíl's Narrative). The words in quotation marks are Shaykh 'Ábid's own account as Nabíl records it.

The Báb lost His father in early childhood and was brought up in Shíráz by His maternal uncle, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid 'Alí, who later died a martyr for the Faith. While the Báb was still a child, His uncle placed Him under a tutor named Shaykh 'Ábid, a man of piety and learning, known to his pupils as Shaykhuná. Shaykh 'Ábid had been a disciple of both Shaykh Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim. Nabíl says that the Báb, though not inclined to study, submitted to His uncle's wishes.

Shaykh 'Ábid later described what happened:

"One day I asked the Báb to recite the opening words of the Qur'án: 'Bismi'lláhi'r-Raḥmáni'r-Raḥím.' He hesitated, pleading that unless He were told what these words signified, He would in no wise attempt to pronounce them. I pretended not to know their meaning. 'I know what these words signify,' observed my pupil; 'by your leave, I will explain them.' He spoke with such knowledge and fluency that I was struck with amazement. He expounded the meaning of 'Alláh,' of 'Raḥmán,' and 'Raḥím,' in terms such as I had neither read nor heard. The sweetness of His utterance still lingers in my memory."

The words mean "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

Shaykh 'Ábid felt unworthy to teach so remarkable a child, and took Him back to His uncle. He told Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid 'Alí that He was not to be treated as a mere child. "It is incumbent upon you to surround Him with your most loving care," he said. "Keep Him in your house, for He, verily, stands in no need of teachers such as I."

The uncle sternly rebuked the Báb for not following His fellow-pupils' example of keeping silent and listening to every word the teacher said. Having obtained His promise to obey, he sent Him back to school. But, in Shaykh 'Ábid's words, "No discipline could repress the flow of His intuitive knowledge." At last the uncle took the Báb out of the school and brought Him into his own profession.

This is a retelling. For the fuller account, see The Dawn-Breakers, chapter 3.

Nabíl-i-A'ẓam. (1932). *The Dawn-Breakers*. Bahá'í Publishing Trust. https://bahai-library.com/nabil_dawnbreakers