The Báb as a Guest in Iṣfáhán

A retelling for children, based on The Dawn-Breakers by Nabíl-i-A'ẓam, Chapter X, the Báb's stay in Iṣfáhán.

Near the end of the summer of 1846, the Báb left His home city of Shíráz and travelled to Iṣfáhán, one of the most important cities in Persia.

As He came near the city, the Báb wrote a letter to the governor, Manúchihr Khán, asking where He should stay. The letter was so polite, and written in such beautiful handwriting, that the governor asked the most important religious leader of the city, the Imám-Jum'ih, to welcome the Báb into his own home.

The Imám-Jum'ih went out himself to greet his Guest. From the very first night he loved Him. Even though he held a very high rank, he took the water jug from his servant and poured water over the Báb's hands himself, the way a servant would.

One night after supper, the Imám-Jum'ih asked the Báb to write a commentary, an explanation, of one of the chapters of the Qur'án, the one called Va'l-'Aṣr. The Báb called for pen and paper and began to write at once, very quickly and without stopping to plan, while His host watched. Near midnight He was still explaining the very first letter of that chapter. When the Báb chanted aloud the opening words He had written, everyone in the room stood up, and together with the Imám-Jum'ih they kissed the hem of His robe.

A learned scholar who was there said that to write so many verses so quickly, in such clear handwriting, as many as a fourth, even a third, of the whole Qur'án, was something no one could do without the help of God.

Soon people from all over the city were coming to see the Báb. One day the governor came with a gathering of learned men and asked the Báb to prove the truth of the mission of the Prophet Muḥammad. In less than two hours, the Báb wrote about fifty pages in answer. The governor told everyone there that until that day he had never been truly sure in his heart that Islam was true, and that this Youth had a power that no amount of learning could give.

After forty days the Báb went to live in the governor's home, and the governor himself served Him His meals. One day the governor told the Báb that he wanted to give all his riches to help His Cause, and to go to the Sháh, the king, to win him over to it.

The Báb thanked him, but said that God would not make His Cause win in that way. It would be kept safe and made strong through the poor and lowly people of the land, and through their sacrifice. He also told the governor that he had only three months and nine days left to live.

The governor died, as the Báb had said he would. The man who took his place told the Sháh where the Báb was, and the Báb was called away toward the capital city of Ṭihrán.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "The Báb's Sojourn in Iṣfáhán".

Nabíl-i-A'ẓam. (1932). *The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl's Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Revelation*. Bahá'í Publishing Trust. https://www.bahai.org/library/other-literature/historical/dawn-breakers/