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that all those who wished to obtain corn must first spit on Siyyid Ja’far’s face. Failure to do this would deprive them of their ration.
For hours this champion of the Cause of God, this once revered man of learning, stood by the door of the barn while hundreds of men and women spat upon his blessed face as they filed through that door, looking at him with bitter hate and prejudice. In the face of this dire humiliation, Áqá 2PORT Siyyid Ja’far’s feelings were not those of disgust, intolerance or indignation. On the contrary, he remained calm and resigned throughout his ordeal and manifested a spirit of sublime joy and love and thankfulness towards those who offended him.
Once during the ordeal, … he noticed several people who hesitated to come forward for their share. Apparently, the ghastly deed of spitting upon his face kept them away. With a face beaming with heavenly joy, he beckoned them and said: “You had better come and get your share before it is too late; it won’t matter if you spit upon my face; I’ll wipe it off with my handkerchief …”
… This monstrous treatment meted out to Áqá Siyyid Ja’far was but a prelude to a period of agonizing tortures for himself as well as his illustrious companion [Hájí Muhammad-Taqí, see story below]. Among other things, the ruthless Governor ordered that the bastinado be inflicted on Áqá Siyyid Ja’far in public. Each day he was conducted from the dungeon to the gate of the house of a well-to-do citizen where this heart-rending scene was staged. There he was beaten until, as was the fashion, the occupants of the house as well as passers-by would secure the victim’s temporary release by offering money to the torturers as a ransom. Then, the next day, the scene would be shifted to another point along the street. After a while, as a result of the daily torture, Áqá Siyyid Ja’far’s legs and feet became so horribly sore and swollen that they could no longer support his body. 3PORT
Siyyid Ja’far’s story is continued later below. 4PORT
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