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Hájí Muhammad-Taqí
Hájí Muhammad-Taqí was a native of Nayríz. “He was a man of great wealth and culture, highly respected by his fellow citizens, who reposed such trust in him that they would deposit their savings with him and often exchange his receipts instead of money.”5PORT Taught about the Cause of the Báb by Vahíd, he became one of its foremost disciples in Nayríz. He put his wealth at the disposal of Vahíd for propagation of the Faith, and later it was his fortune that supported the defence of Fort Khájih, and food and other necessities for the Bábís in it. Without his material assistance, the Bábís would not have been able to defend themselves against the army. 6PORT
The greedy and cruel governor Zaynu’l-‘Ábidín, knowing the role that Hájí Muhammad-Taqí played in spreading the Cause of the Báb, confiscated all his properties and ordered him to be tortured daily. It was the depth of winter, and each day, being stripped of his clothes, he was thrown into a pond and lashed severely.7PORT One historian records:
Daily, he [Hájí Muhammad-Taqí] was conducted to the Governor’s mansion where, stripped of his clothes, he was flung into the pool. A number of men, placed around and armed with long sticks, would administer severe blows upon his body. The standing order was that the beating should be continued until the water around him turned reddish with blood. 8PORT
Fate of Siyyid Ja’far-i-Yazdí and Hájí Muhammad-Taqí
The torture of Siyyid Ja’far and Hájí Muhammad-Taqí continued until there were both close to death. One night the Governor’s wife had a dream, the details of which are not known, but it led her to work to free these victims. One historian records what happened thus:
She approached her husband with an earnest appeal to release these unfortunate victims, but her intercession proved of no avail. Moreover, she was rebuked for being too soft and sentimental. Undismayed by her husband’s ruthless attitude, she decided to work secretly towards that end.
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