The Two Envoys of the Mujtahid

Bahá’u’lláh’s uncle ‘Azíz did everything possible to discredit Bahá’u’lláh and the truth of the Message He had brought. But when he realized he was incapable of doing so, he went to a well-known Muslim clergyman, the mujtahid of Núr, and pleaded for his assistance. He complained that Bahá’u’lláh had come to Núr and, although not of the clergy, was speaking on religious matters.

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He warned the theologian that everyone who entered Bahá’u’lláh’s presence fell under His spell and was overtaken by the power of His words. “I know not whether he is a sorcerer,” he said, “or whether he mixes with his tea some mysterious substance that makes every man who drinks the tea fall a victim to its charm.”

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Knowing that he could never succeed in challenging Bahá’u’lláh, the theologian did no more than send the uncle a brief written reassurance. But the Message of the Báb continued to spread like wildfire throughout the district. The followers of the theologian began to put pressure on him to take some form of action, and finally he decided to send two of his most outstanding disciples to visit Bahá’u’lláh and investigate the nature of the Message He was propagating. This is the story of what happened when those two representatives entered the presence of Bahá’u’lláh.

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On being told, upon their arrival in Tákur, that Bahá’u’lláh had left for His winter home, the representatives of the theologian decided to follow Him there. When they arrived they found Bahá’u’lláh engaged in revealing a commentary on the opening chapter of the Qur’an. As they sat and listened to Him, they were profoundly impressed by the eloquence of His presentation and the extraordinary manner in which He spoke.

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One of the representatives, Mullá ‘Abbás, unable to contain himself, arose from his seat and walked to the back of the room and, in an attitude of respect and submissiveness, stood still beside the door. Trembling and with eyes full of tears, he told his companion: “I am powerless to question Bahá’u’lláh. The questions I had planned to ask Him have vanished suddenly from my memory.

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You are free either to proceed with your enquiry or to return alone to our teacher and inform him of the state in which I find myself. Tell him from me that Abbas can never again return to him. He can no longer forsake this threshold.” But the other representative, Mírzá Abu’l-Qásim, was equally struck by Bahá’u’lláh’s words and followed the example of his friend. “I have ceased to recognise my teacher,” was his reply.

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“This very moment, I have vowed to God to dedicate the remaining days of my life to the service of Bahá’u’lláh, my true and only Master.”

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The news of the conversion of the theologian’s disciples spread rapidly throughout the district. Religious dignitaries, state officials, traders and peasants flocked to the residence of Bahá’u’lláh, and a considerable number among them embraced His Cause.

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