To Mázindarán under the Black Standard8

Chashmih-‘Alí and Savád-Kúh: “Whoso is unable to renounce the world, let him now, at this very moment, depart.”

Mullá Husayn decided to take a break in the travel and the group camped a few days in Chashmih-‘Alí. Mullá Husayn told his companions:

We stand at the parting of the ways. We shall await His decree as to which direction we should take.

It was now nearing the end of September 1848. Mullá Husayn was encamped under a large tree by the side of a running stream. One day, a fierce gale arose, and it struck down a large branch of that tree, whereupon Mullá Husayn observed:

The tree of the sovereignty of Muhammad Sháh has, by the Will of God, been uprooted and hurled to the ground.

Three days later, a messenger, who was on his way to Mashhad arrived from Tihrán and reported the death of Muhammad Sháh.

The following day, Mullá Husayn, gathered the companions and told them the decision had been made: they would be heading to Mázindarán. As they arose to depart, Mullá Husayn pointing in the direction of Mázindarán said:

This is the way that leads to our Karbilá. Whoever is unprepared for the great trials that lie before us, let him now repair to his home and give up the journey.

As they journeyed into Mázindarán province, Mullá Husayn repeated this warning several times. When they got close to Savád-Kúh

, Mullá Husayn declared:

I, together with seventy-two of my companions , shall suffer death for the sake of the Well-Beloved. Whoso is unable to renounce the world, let him now at this very moment, depart, for later on he will be unable to escape.

Twenty of his companions chose to return, feeling themselves powerless to withstand the trials to which their chief continually alluded.

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