He Would Not Leave His Friend

*A retelling for children of the story of Muḥammad-Ḥusayn-i-Marághi'í in Nabíl's **The Dawn-Breakers**, chapter 21, "The Seven Martyrs of Ṭihrán," as given on Bahá'í Chronicles.*

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Muḥammad-Ḥusayn came from Marághih, in Persia. He had become a follower of the Báb through Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl-i-Qumí, a devoted believer who had once been a student of Siyyid Káẓim, and he loved him dearly.

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Early in 1850, in the capital city of Ṭihrán, fourteen followers of the Báb were arrested and held in the house of the city's chief officer. Muḥammad-Ḥusayn and Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl were among them. Their captors tried by every means to make them give information. Muḥammad-Ḥusayn would not say a single word, and in the end his captors decided he could not speak at all.

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They asked Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl whether he could talk. "He is mute, but not dumb," he answered; "he is fluent of speech and is free from any impediment." As soon as Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl called him by name, Muḥammad-Ḥusayn answered and said he was ready to do whatever his friend wished.

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The Grand Vizier then ordered that any of the prisoners who would not give up their faith should be put to death. Seven gave in and were set free. The other seven refused. They are remembered as the Seven Martyrs of Ṭihrán, and Muḥammad-Ḥusayn and Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl were among them.

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Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl was put to death before him. Near the end, Muḥammad-Ḥusayn rushed forward and begged to be allowed to die at once, before his companions. Then he saw the body of Ḥájí Mullá Ismá'íl. He threw himself on it, held his friend in his arms and cried out:

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"Never will I consent to separate myself from my dearly beloved friend, in whom I have reposed the utmost confidence and from whom I have received so many evidences of a sincere and deep-felt affection!"

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The crowd was astonished to see the last three prisoners each so eager to give his life first. In the end all three died together, at the same moment.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Muhammad-Husayn-i-Maraghi'i"](/stories/bc-muhammad-husayn-i-maraghi-8217-i).*

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