The Name That Sent Him Walking

A retelling based on The Dawn-Breakers by Nabíl-i-A'zam. Words in quotation marks are as preserved in that account.

In the early days of Sha'bán 1265 A.H. (the summer of 1849), word reached the Báb in the prison-castle of Chihríq of what had happened at the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí: the trials its defenders had faced, their sufferings, the betrayal, and the massacre with which it ended. Quddús and Mullá Husayn were dead, and most of their companions with them.

"The Bab was heart-broken," His amanuensis, Siyyid Husayn-i-'Azíz, later related. The news brought Him "a grief that stilled His voice and silenced His pen." For nine days He refused to meet any of His friends, and would not touch the food and drink they offered Him. From behind the curtain Siyyid Husayn heard Him pour out His sorrow, and tried to write down His words. The Báb, suspecting this, told him to destroy what he had written, and nothing of it remains. For five months He remained "immersed in an ocean of despondency and sorrow."

With the coming of Muharram He took up His work again. The first page He wrote was a visiting Tablet in memory of Mullá Husayn, praising his unswerving fidelity to Quddús throughout the siege and affirming their reunion in the world beyond. He too, the Báb wrote, would soon join those two. For a whole week He went on writing in praise of Quddús, of Mullá Husayn, and of the other companions who had won the crown of martyrdom at Tabarsí.

When He had finished, on the day of 'Ashúrá, He summoned Mullá Ádí-Guzal, one of the believers of Marághih, who for the last two months had been His attendant in place of Siyyid Hasan, the brother of Siyyid Husayn-i-'Azíz. He received him affectionately, gave him the name Sayyáh, the Traveller, placed the visiting Tablets in his care, and asked him to make a pilgrimage to that spot on His behalf.

"Arise, and with complete detachment proceed, in the guise of a traveller, to Mazindaran, and there visit, on My behalf, the spot which enshrines the bodies of those immortals who, with their blood, have sealed their faith in My Cause."

As he came near that ground, the Báb told him, he was to put off his shoes, bow his head in reverence to their memory, invoke their names, and walk prayerfully around their shrine. He was to bring back "a handful of that holy earth which covers the remains of My beloved ones, Quddus and Mulla Husayn."

"Strive to be back ere the day of Naw-Ruz," the Báb told him, "that you may celebrate with Me that festival, the only one I probably shall ever see again."

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Sayyáh set out as he had been instructed. He reached Mázindarán on the first day of Rabí'u'l-Avval, and by the ninth of that month, the first anniversary of the martyrdom of Mullá Husayn, he had made the visit and carried out his mission.

From there he went on to Tihrán. Bahá'u'lláh's brother, Áqáy-i-Kalím, received him at the entrance of Bahá'u'lláh's house, and Nabíl heard Kalím describe his arrival. "It was the depth of winter when Sayyah, returning from his pilgrimage, came to visit Baha'u'llah." In spite of the cold and snow he came in the garb of a dervish, poorly clad, barefoot and dishevelled. "His heart was set afire with the flame that pilgrimage had kindled."

Siyyid Yahyáy-i-Dárábí, known as Vahíd, a man of great learning and high position, was staying in the house as Bahá'u'lláh's guest. As soon as he heard that Sayyáh had returned from Tabarsí, he forgot the dignity to which a man of his rank was accustomed, rushed forward and threw himself at the pilgrim's feet. He took in his arms Sayyáh's legs, covered with mud to the knees, and kissed them.

Kalím was struck that day by the loving favour Bahá'u'lláh showed Vahíd, such as he had never seen Him extend to anyone. The way He spoke with him left Kalím in no doubt that Vahíd would soon distinguish himself by deeds no less remarkable than those of the defenders of Tabarsí.

Sayyáh stayed a few days in that house. He received every kindness there, but he did not perceive, as Vahíd did, the power that lay hidden in his Host. Nabíl later heard him recount his experiences, during his sojourn in Famagusta:

"Baha'u'llah overwhelmed me with His kindness. As to Vahid, notwithstanding the eminence of his position, he invariably gave me preference over himself whenever in the presence of his Host. On the day of my arrival from Mazindaran, he went so far as to kiss my feet. I was amazed at the reception accorded me in that home. Though immersed in an ocean of bounty, I failed, in those days, to appreciate the position then occupied by Baha'u'llah, nor was I able to suspect, however dimly, the nature of the Mission He was destined to perform."

A note to Nabíl's narrative gives his full name as Mírzá 'Alíy-i-Sayyáh-i-Marághih'í. He had served the Báb in Máh-Kú, the note says, ranked among His leading companions, and later embraced the Message of Bahá'u'lláh.

This is a retelling. For the fuller account, see The Dawn-Breakers by Nabíl-i-A'zam.

Nabíl-i-A'zam. (1932). *The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl's Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Revelation*. Bahá'í Publishing Trust.