Table of Contents
When Siyyid Muhammad Báqir heard this report, he sent the attendant back to Mullá Husayn with a gift of a hundred túmáns (a large sum of money at that time) and sincere apologies for not extending worthy hospitality. When the attendant tried to give Mullá Husayn the money he smiled and said: “Return this money to your master and tell him that his real gift to me is the spirit of fairness with which he received me, and the open-mindedness which prompted him, despite his exalted rank, to respond to the message which I, a lowly stranger, brought to him.” Then he quoted this verse from the Qur’án: “We nourish your souls for the sake of God; we seek from you neither recompense nor thanks.”81ACT1. Mullá Husayn added: “My prayer for your master is that earthly leadership may never hinder him from acknowledging and testifying to the Truth.” With these words, Mullá Husayn departed.82ACT1 This great cleric of Isfáhán Hájí Siyyid Muhammad Báqir remained a staunch supporter of Siyyid Kázim for the rest of his days. Sadly, he died before the declaration of the Promised One.83ACT1.
Acts like this distinguished Mullá Husayn from other students of Siyyid Kázim. Even before this trip, Siyyid Kázim had permitted Mullá Husayn to answer questions on his behalf and to have his own students.
Mullá Husayn arrives in Karbalá’ after Siyyid Kázim’s death
Upon hearing the news of Siyyih Kazim’s death, Mullá Husayn set off for Karbalá’. He arrived on January 22, 1844, three weeks after the passing of his teacher.84ACT1 He summoned Siyyid Kázim’s disciples and asked what his final instructions were. They said that Siyyid Kázim had told them to leave their homes and scatter far and wide in search of the Promised One. Siyyid Kázim had also been clear that the Promised One was hidden by veils, and only their earnest search and purity of heart would lead them to Him. Then Mullá Husayn asked: “Why is it then that you have not dispersed and begun your search?” The students acknowledged that they had failed
33 / 803