Tabríz9 – Dawn Breakers

chosen to subordinate himself to another person, I have ceased to have any confidence in his words and have refused to respond to his appeal.

The path that Mullá Muhammad-i-Mámáqání would follow because of his spiritual blindness was foreseen by Siyyid Kázim. Nabíl records an earlier incident related by the Báb’s amanuensis, Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunúzí, who had been a disciple of Siyyid Kázim, and very favoured by Siyyid Kázim [DB 1-2, Section 2]. Shaykh Hasan recalled how Siyyid Kázim had confidentially and “tearfully” deplored the unfaithfulness, insincerity and perversity of Mullá Muhammad-i-Mámáqání’s nature. Shaykh Hasan had been a bit surprised at the harsh words of Siyyid Kázim about this soul, and wondered at that time what would be the eventual steps that this soul would take. Shaykh Hasan was present in the crowd watching these proceedings in Tabríz. He told Nabíl, referring to Mullá Muhammad-i-Mámáqání :

Not until I discovered his attitude that day towards the Báb, did I realise the extent of his arrogance and blindness.

And this blindness of soul of Mullá Muhammad-i-Mámáqání will become even more apparent two years hence in Tabríz, when he without any hesitation affirms the death warrant that leads to the Báb’s Martyrdom.

The City of the Blind

Even as the noontide sun
Hath the True One brightly shined,
But alas that He hath come
To the city of the blind

The Báb’s proclamation had stunned the gathering in Tabríz in the presence of the Valí-‘Ahd. Nabíl records that no one ventured to say anything, except Mullá Muhammad-i-Mámáqání, who raised his voice saying:

You wretched and immature lad of Shíráz! You have already convulsed and subverted ‘Iráq; do you now wish to arouse a like turmoil in Ádhirbáyján?’

The Báb politely responded:

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