Table of Contents
Section Three: Changes in the Land
The BĂĄb returns to ChihrĂq
With the bastinado punishment, the decision was made to send the BĂĄb back to ChihrĂq. The Grand VazĂrâs goal for these proceedings had been to silence the BĂĄb and His Message. Instead, it was like adding fuel to the fire.
No sooner had the BĂĄb returned to ChihrĂq than He wrote in bold and moving language a denunciation of the character and action of the Grand VazĂr [HĂĄjĂ MĂrzĂĄ ĂqĂĄsĂ]. In the opening passage of that epistle, which was given the name of Khutbiy-i-QahrĂyyih ] [Sermon of Wrath], the BĂĄb addresses the Grand VazĂr in these terms: âO thou who has disbelieved in God and hast turned thy face away from His signs!â
That lengthy epistle was forwarded to Hujjat who, in those days was confined in TihrĂĄn. Hujjat was instructed to deliver it in person to the Grand VazĂr, which he did.
Death of Muhammad ShĂĄh
The interrogation and bastinado of the BĂĄb in TabrĂz had occurred at the end of July/early August of 1848. The ShĂĄh [king] at that time was Muhammad ShĂĄh and the ValĂ-âAhd [heir to the throne] was NĂĄsiriâd-Din MĂrzĂĄ.NĂĄsiriâd-Din MĂrzĂĄ was only seventeen and had just been made the governor of ĂdhirbĂĄyjĂĄn, the province whose capital was TabrĂz. This is why he was present for the interrogation of the BĂĄb in TabrĂz and the decision-making to have Him punished. About four weeks later [on 4 September 1848], Muhammad ShĂĄh died, and the seventeen-year-old NĂĄsiriâd-Din MĂrzĂĄ became the ShĂĄh 53ACT7.He would henceforth be known as NĂĄsiriâd-Din ShĂĄh .
326 / 803