The First Wave of Attacks1

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Section One: The First Wave of Attacks [November-December 1848]

The army, led by ‘Abdu’lláh Khán-i-Turkamán

, was camped on the hill overseeing Fort Shaykh Tabarsí. They set up barricades in front of the fort with orders to open fire on anyone leaving or entering the fort. The bread supply that was brought to the fort daily by some of the friendly neighboring villagers was the first thing that was cut-off. Next to be cut off was the water supply.

The prophecy of rain and snow

The companions in the fort would normally go and fetch water from near the fort. With the onset of the siege, Quddús forbade them to do so. Some of the companions who were worried about the low water supply expressed concern which was relayed to Quddús. It was the hour of sunset, and he was surveying the army of the enemy from the terrace of the fort. He turned to Mullá Husayn and said:

The scarcity of water has distressed our companions. God willing, this very night a downpour of rain will overtake our opponents, followed by a heavy snowfall, which will assist us to repulse their contemplated assault.

That very night, the army of ‘Abdu’lláh Khán was surprised by a torrential rain which overwhelmed that section which lay close to the fort. Much of the ammunition was irretrievably ruined. There gathered within the walls of the fort an amount of water which, for a long period, was sufficient for the consumption of the companions. In the course of the following night, a snowfall such as the people of the neighbourhood even in the depth of winter had never experienced, added considerably to hampering the besieging army.

The next day the companions launched a surprise attack on the army that beseiged them.

1 December 1848: ‘Abdu’lláh Khán and his army fall

It was two hours after sunrise. Quddús, Mullá Husayn and three others of the companions on horses marched out of the fort gate with the rest of the