Table of Contents
idolized by him. Neither the Sháh nor his Grand Vazír are just or moral individuals. Muhammad Sháh is described as “bigoted”, “sickly” and “vacillating”, while Áqásí is stated as being “a vulgar, false-hearted and fickle-minded schemer”54ACT4 . We will see Hájí Mírzá Áqásí’s immense fear of the Bábí movement and his unrelenting efforts and scheming to kill it and silence the Báb. He succeeds in causing much suffering to the Báb and greatly fuels the fire of opposition towards the Bábís, but in the end [after Muhammad Sháh’s death in 1848] loses all his power and amassed wealth, and dies in poverty and disgrace. 55ACT4
Quddús spreads the Message
Before the Báb had returned to Shíráz, Quddús and Mullá Sádiq had both been tortured and then expelled from that city by the command of the rapacious governor Husayn Khán. 56ACT4 For a few days they continued to journey together, after which they separated. Quddús headed to Kirmán. His main aim in that city was to give a last chance to Hájí Muhammad-Karím Khán, 57ACT4 the self-appointed leader of the Shaykhí’s, to learn about and recognize the Báb’s Manifestation. Quddús’ efforts were to no avail. Karím Khán remained adamantly entrenched on his lost path of seeking power and vehement opposition to the Báb. Over the years that followed, Karím Khán and his followers are the cause of much suffering to the followers of the Báb.
And as always, for every adamantly lost soul, there also appear radiant ones. While in Kirmán, Quddús was hosted by the highly learned Hájí Siyyid Javád of Kirman at whose home he stayed. Siyyid Javád recognized the Message of the Báb and the station of Quddús. It is reported that at all the gatherings held in his home while Quddús was visiting, Siyyid Javád always accorded the young Quddús the seat of honour and treated him with extreme deference and courtesy. This aroused the wonder and jealousy of many of the others present and, in particular, that of Karím Khán. Karím Khán went to the governor of the city and demanded that Siyyid Javád
179 / 803