The Soldiers Who Would Not Fire
Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway, (1940), George Ronald · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
A retelling for children, based on The Chosen Highway by Lady Blomfield, with details from The Dawn-Breakers. The words in quotation marks are as those books record them.
On the 9th of July 1850, in the city of Tabríz, the Báb was brought out into the square of the army barracks. His enemies had decided to put Him to death. With Him was a young follower, Áqá Muḥammad-'Alí, who loved Him so much that he had begged to stay by His side.
The two of them were tied with ropes and hung against a wall. About ten thousand people crowded onto the roofs to watch. A regiment of seven hundred and fifty soldiers stood ready with their rifles. The order was given, the soldiers fired, and a great cloud of smoke hid the wall.
When the smoke cleared, the people could hardly believe their eyes. The young follower was standing there without a scratch. The bullets had cut only the ropes, and the Báb was gone. The crowd cried out, "The Siyyid-i-Bab has gone from our sight!"
Lady Blomfield writes that He was found in a room nearby, calmly writing. Soon He laid down His pen and said:
It is finished. I am ready.
Nabíl's book tells it a little differently. Earlier that morning the Báb had been talking with His secretary when an official interrupted them, and the Báb had told the official that no one on earth could stop Him until He had said everything He meant to say. After the soldiers fired, He was found back in the room where He had spent the night, finishing that talk.
The order to fire was given again, but the soldiers laid down their arms, saying, "This thing is of God, we refuse to obey." Their commander, Sám Khán, took his men away and promised never again to do anything that would harm the Báb. Another regiment had to be brought in to carry out the order, and that day the Báb gave His life.
This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "It Is Finished, I Am Ready".
Cite this story
Blomfield, L.. (1940). *The Chosen Highway*. George Ronald. https://bahai-library.com/blomfield_chosen_highway
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
It Is Finished, I Am Ready
On 9 July 1850 the Báb and His companion were suspended before a regiment in Tabríz. When the smoke of the first volley cleared, the Báb was gone from the wall, untouched.
Vaḥíd at Nayríz
Vaḥíd, the learned divine whom Muḥammad Sháh sent to investigate the Báb, became His follower. In 1850 he taught openly in Nayríz, was besieged in the Fort of Khájih, and was killed after his enemies broke an oath sworn on the Qur'án.
The Longing of Anís
Mírzá Muḥammad-'Alíy-i-Zunúzí, called Anís, was confined by his stepfather for his love of the Báb. In a vision the Báb promised that he would share His martyrdom, and on 9 July 1850 he died beside Him in Tabríz.
Siyyid Ḥusayn, the Báb's Amanuensis
Siyyid Ḥusayn-i-Yazdí, the Báb's amanuensis, spent His last night with Him in the barracks of Tabríz and was told not to confess his faith, so that he could later tell what he alone knew. In 1852 he was martyred in Ṭihrán.