Table of Contents
Section Six: Deception and Treachery
The Governor Plans Deceit
The Governor was now convinced of the futility of their efforts to compel, in an open contest, the submission of the BábĂs in Fort Khájih. They seemed to be reinforced by a supernatural power even though they were only “a handful of immature lads and decrepit old men”.43_ACT12
The Governor decided to do what the besiegers of Fort Shaykh TabarsĂ had done before him. He resorted to deceit. He ordered the troops to cease all manner of hostility against the fort. After the passage of a few days, he sent a written appeal to the fort to VahĂd, which in essence said:
Hitherto, as we were ignorant of the true character of your Faith, we have allowed the mischief-makers to induce us to believe that every one of you has violated the sacred precepts of Islám. Therefore did we arise against you, and have endeavoured to extirpate your Faith. During the last few days, we have been made aware of the fact that your activities are untinged by any political motive, that none of you cherish any inclination to subvert the foundations of the State. … All that you seem to uphold is the claim that a man has appeared whose words are inspired and whose testimony is certain, and whom all the followers of Islám must recognise and support. We can in no wise be convinced of the validity of this claim unless you consent to repose the utmost confidence in our sincerity, and accept our request to allow certain of your representatives to emerge from the fort and meet us in this camp, where we can, within the space of a few days, ascertain the character of your belief. If you prove yourselves able to demonstrate the true claims of your Faith, we too will readily embrace it, for we are not the enemies Truth, and none of us wish to deny it. Your leader we have always recognised as one of the ablest champions of Islám, and we regard him as our example and guide. This Qur’án, to which we affix our seals, is the witness to the integrity of our purpose. Let that holy Book decide whether the claim you advance is true or false. The malediction of God and His Prophet rest upon us if we should attempt to deceive you.44_ACT12
474 / 803