The Promise is Broken6 – Dawn Breakers

The story of the two sets of brothers from Sang-sar

The Prince now decided the fate of two sets of brothers from among the Bábís from the town of Sang-sar

in the Semnán

province. These were the two Karbilá’í

brothers, and the two remaining Siyyid brothers [the third Siyyid brother had already been killed at Tabarsí]. Each have their own story. Both pairs of brothers were brought to the Prince for interrogation.

The back-story of the two Karbilá’í brothers from Sang-sar was this: Their father was a pious man with great spiritual insight. Through his spiritual intuition he had come to realize that soon the Black Standard prophesied by the Prophet Muhammad would be raised from Khurásán going to Mázindarán. He had urged his two sons that this marked the advent of the promised One, and when it occurred, they should sacrifice everything and follow it. The father had died soon after giving his sons these instructions. When Mullá Husayn rode through the Semnán province, the brothers immediately recognized the Black Standard and the Cause of the Báb. They dropped everything and followed Mullá Husayn. Now they were prisoners of the Prince having survived the grueling siege of Fort Shaykh Tabarsí.

The Prince began his interrogation with the Karbalá’í brothers. He asked them:

“What is your belief concerning Hájí Muhammad-‘Alí [meaning the Báb]?”

One the Karbalá’í brothers on behalf of both replied:

We believe, Mullá Husayn to have been the bearer of the standard of which Muhammad has spoken: “Should your eyes behold the Black Standards proceeding from Khurásán, hasten ye towards them, even though ye should have to crawl over the snow.” For this reason we have renounced the world and have flocked to his standard, a standard which is but a symbol of our Faith. If you wish to bestow upon me a favour, bid your executioner put an end to me and enable me to be gathered to the company of my immortal companions. For the world and all its charms have ceased to allure me. I long to depart this life and return to my God.

The Prince did not like this answer and ordered that both Karbalá’í brothers be executed. They were immediately put to death. The prophecy and the wish of their father were fulfilled. The Prince then turned his attention to the Siyyid brothers from Sang-sar.

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