Table of Contents
Section One: Key Events in Hujjat’s Life up to Early 1850
Hujjat’s Background
The people of his time knew him as Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí-i-Zanjání , although history will know him as Hujjat-i-Zanjaní . The title of Hujjat [Proof] was given to him by the Báb. 2_ACT14 He was the son of Mullá Rahím-i-Zanjání 3_ACT14 who in his time had been considered one of the leading mujtahids [learned judges that can pass religious rulings or fatwas] of Zanján. Born in 1812/1813, Hujjat from his childhood had displayed remarkable capacity and this was nurtured by his father. In time he was sent to Najaf and Karbalá’ to study under learned Islamic teachers. Soon Hujjat himself came to be recognized as a leading mujtahid. He eventually returned to his hometown of Zanján where he developed a very large following. His followers built for him and his congregation a large masjid [mosque] in Zanján.
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