The Báb in His Twenty-Fifth Year
'Abdu'l-Bahá, A Traveler's Narrative, (1886), Cambridge University Press · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
Shíráz (today: Shíráz, Iran)
A Traveler's Narrative, which 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote and which Edward Granville Browne translated and published at Cambridge in 1891, begins its history with the Báb in Shíráz.
The Báb, it says, was "a young merchant of the Pure Lineage," born on the first day of Muḥarram, 1235 A.H. After His father, Siyyid Muḥammad-Riḍá, died, He was brought up in Shíráz by His maternal uncle, Mírzá Siyyid 'Alí. When He came of age He traded in Búshihr, first in partnership with His uncle and afterwards on His own, and He was known for godliness, devoutness, virtue and piety.
In the year one thousand two hundred and sixty [A.H.], when He was in His twenty-fifth year, certain signs became apparent in His conduct, behavior, manners, and demeanor whereby it became evident in Shíráz that He had some conflict in His mind and some other flight beneath His wing. He began to speak and to declare the rank of Báb-hood.
By Báb, meaning Gate, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains, He meant that He was "the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the veil of glory." In His first book, a commentary on the Súrih of Joseph, He addressed that unseen Person throughout. The narrative quotes one sentence:
"O Remnant of God, I am wholly sacrificed to Thee; I am content with curses in Thy way; I crave naught but to be slain in Thy love; and God the Supreme sufficeth as an Eternal Protection."
Because He was known to have had little schooling, people took this for something beyond nature. Some were drawn to Him, but most disapproved, and the leading doctors of the law were "unanimously agreed on eradication and suppression." The exception was a number of divines of the Shaykhí school, "anchorites and recluses" who had long been looking for some great and trustworthy person. Among them were Mullá Ḥusayn of Bushrúyih, Mírzá Aḥmad of Azghand, Mullá Ṣádiq Muqaddas, Mullá 'Alí of Basṭám and others, who "came out unto Him and spread themselves through all parts of Persia."
A retelling based on A Traveler's Narrative. For the fuller account, see the original.
Cite this story
'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1886). *A Traveler's Narrative*. Cambridge University Press. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19300
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