Section Four: The First of Seven
HĂĄjĂ MĂrzĂĄ Siyyid âAlĂ
Of the three maternal uncles of the BĂĄb, he was the middle in age [hence we referred to him previously as the middle uncle], but the title by which he is known is KhĂĄl-i-Aâzam [the Most Great Uncle]. 41_ACT11
He was recognized as one of the leading merchants of ShĂrĂĄz, and highly respected. His own only child, named JavĂĄd, died in infancy. He was the uncle who took care of the BĂĄb, after the BĂĄbâs father died, and the first of the three uncles to accept the station of the BĂĄb. When the BĂĄb returned from His pilgrimage to HijĂĄz and was arrested by Husayn KhĂĄn, he was the one who stood as His guarantor. In the period that followed, he constantly and with utter devotion took care of the BĂĄb and His familyâs needs. During this period, he also acted as the intermediary between the BĂĄb and the many followers who flocked to ShĂrĂĄz, and was often the host, with the BĂĄb staying at his place. When the BĂĄb left ShĂrĂĄz to go to IsfahĂĄn, the BĂĄb knowing He would not be seeing His wife and mother again, assigned their care to this beloved uncle.42_ACT11 And it was to this beloved uncle, the BĂĄb, as He bade him farewell in ShĂrĂĄz, said:
I will again meet you amid the mountains of AdhirbĂĄyjĂĄn
, from whence I will send you forth to obtain the crown of martyrdom. I Myself will follow you, together with one of My loyal disciples, and will join you in the realm of eternity.
43_ACT11
He had come to TihrĂĄn after visiting the BĂĄb in ChihrĂq, in the mountains of AdhirbĂĄyjĂĄn. Though his friends had repeatedly appealed to him to leave and escape the turmoil that was fast approaching, he had refused. Upon his arrest, a considerable number of the affluent merchants who were his friends offered to pay a ransom for his release, but he refused these offers. When he was finally brought to the AmĂr-KabĂr for his judgement, the AmĂr-KabĂr referring to his noble lineage [the BĂĄbâs family were all siyyids, that is descendants of the Prophet Muhammad] said to him:
[I am] loth to inflict the slightest injury upon the Prophetâs descendants. Eminent merchants of ShĂrĂĄz and TihrĂĄn are willing, nay eager, to pay your
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