The Message Spreads – Page 14

clergy of Shíráz intended to have the Báb executed in the near future. By chance, Siyyid Yahyá connected with an old friend surnamed ‘Azím

from Khurásán who had also come to Shíráz. ‘Azím had been taught by Mullá Husayn and had come to Shíráz and met the Báb. Siyyid Yahyá asked ‘Azím to arrange for a meeting with the Báb. Siyyid Yahyá also asked ‘Azím what he thought of the Báb. ‘Azím’s response was that he should meet the Báb and judge for himself. ‘Azím, himself being a learned mujtahid, was aware of the risk of pride in the highly learned and acclaimed Siyyid Yahyá. He cautioned Siyyid Yahyá: “As a friend, I would advise you to exercise the utmost consideration in your conversations with Him, lest you, too, in the end should be obliged to deplore any act of discourtesy towards Him.”

Siyyid Yahyá, we will call him Vahíd from now on, had three meetings one after the other with the Báb. Records indicate that Vahíd’s meetings with the Báb were in April/May 1846. Nabíl has recorded what happened at these three meetings as follows:

Vahíd’s First Meeting with the Báb

Siyyid Yahyá met the Bab at the home of Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí [the middle uncle of the Báb], … For about two hours he directed the attention of the Báb to the most abstruse and bewildering themes in the metaphysical teachings of Islam, to the obscurest passages of the Qur’án, and to the mysterious traditions and prophecies of the imams of the Faith. The Báb at first listened to his learned references to the law and prophecies of Islam, noted all his questions, and began to give to each a brief but persuasive reply. The conciseness and lucidity of His answers excited the wonder and admiration of Siyyid Yahyá. He was overpowered by a sense of humiliation at his own presumptuousness and pride. His sense of superiority completely vanished. As he arose to depart, he addressed the Báb in these words: “Please God, I shall, in the course of my next audience with You, submit the rest of my questions and with them shall conclude my enquiry.” As soon as he retired, he joined ‘Azím, to whom he related the account of his interview. “I have in His presence,” he told him, “expatiated unduly upon my own learning. He

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