The Tablet of the Verse of Light

*A retelling for children, based on **Bahá'í Chronicles**, checked against Adib Taherzadeh's *The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh* (vol. 1), H. M. Balyuzi's *Eminent Bahá'ís in the Time of Bahá'u'lláh*, Nabíl's *The Dawn-Breakers* and Shoghi Effendi's *God Passes By*.*

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Mírzá Áqáy-i-Rikáb-Sáz lived in the city of Shíráz. The name Rikáb-Sáz means "stirrup-maker." He was one of the early believers of Shíráz and became a follower of the Báb while the Báb was still in that city. He was devoted to the Báb, and he stayed firm in his faith even when the believers were persecuted. He was also a fine calligrapher, and a copy of Bahá'u'lláh's Kitáb-i-Íqán in his handwriting still exists.

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Some chapters of the Qur'án begin with single letters standing by themselves. These letters had puzzled many scholars of the Qur'án. Mírzá Áqá asked Bahá'u'lláh to explain a verse of the Qur'án and the meaning of these letters. He also travelled to Iraq, where Bahá'u'lláh was living, and met Him.

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In answer to his request, Bahá'u'lláh revealed a Tablet in his honour. It is called the Tablet of the Verse of Light, and it is also known as the Interpretation of the Isolated Letters.

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Years later, enemies of the Faith in Shíráz had Mírzá Áqá arrested and put in prison with other Bahá'ís. There, by order of a religious leader of the city, he and two other believers, Mírzá Rafí'-i-Khayyáṭ and Mashhadí Nabí, were put to death on the same night. He is remembered as one of the martyrs of the Faith.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Mirza Aqay-i-Rikab-Saz"](/stories/bc-mirza-aqay-i-rikab-saz).*

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