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dismounted a distance away, called one of his attendants and told him to inform Mullá Husayn that if he wished to reach his destination safely, he should hand over both his sword and his horse. Mullá Husayn just ignored this and proceeded with his prayers. As all this was going on, Khusraw’s personal attendant was preparing the qalyán [smoking pipe, also called shíshá or hubble-bubble pipe] for Khusraw. One of the Bábí companions who had now reached Mullá Husayn told Khusraw’s attendant that he would take it to his master. Khusraw was not paying attention as the companion came right beside him pretending to start the fire in the qalyán. The companion reached and grabbing Khusraw’s own dagger from his belt, stabbed him. Mullá Husayn was still in the act of prayer, when he heard the cry of Yá Sáhibu’z-Zamán raised by the remaining companions, as they rode in and threw themselves at their treacherous assailants. All of Khusraw’s men were killed, except for his attendant who was left holding his master’s bejewelled qalyán. Mullá Husayn told him to return to Bárfurúsh and recount to ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán the treachery of his man, Khusraw. He added:
The night was approaching, so Mullá Husayn ordered the companions to stay the night at that very spot.
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