Máh-Kú 7 – Dawn Breakers

Antagonism melts away

As the months went past, the antagonism of the local villagers towards the Prisoner they called Siyyid-i-Báb changed. Nabíl records:

The turbulent spirits of this unruly people were soon subdued by the gentle manners of the Báb, and their hearts were softened by the ennobling influence of His love. Their pride was humbled by His unexampled modesty, and their unreasoning arrogance mellowed by the wisdom of His words. Such was the fervour which the Báb had kindled in those hearts that their first act, every morning, was to seek a place whence they could catch a glimpse of His face, where they could commune with Him and beseech His blessings upon their daily work. In cases of dispute, they would instinctively hasten to that spot and, with their gaze fixed upon His prison, would invoke His name and adjure one another to declare the truth. ‘Alí-Khán several times attempted to induce them to desist from this practice but found himself powerless to restrain their enthusiasm.

‘Alí-Khán himself never failed to visit and pay his respects to the Báb each Friday, and assure Him of his unswerving loyalty and devotion, which only grew day by day. Whenever possible, he would bring and offer the Báb the best fruit from the neighborhood of Máh-Kú or other delicacies – anything that might help ease the suffering of the confinement in the castle with its lack of basic amenities.

The gradual relaxation of the stern discipline imposed upon the Báb encouraged an increasing number of His disciples from different parts of the land to visit Him in the castle of Máh-Kú. The Báb would usually allow these visiting believers to stay in the area for only three days, after which they would be dismissed with instructions to return to their respective fields of service and resume their efforts for the expansion of His Faith.

Mullá Husayn heads to Máh-Kú

When the Báb was sent to Máh-Kú, Mullá Husayn was residing in Mashhad. While Màh-Kú is on the far western side of the country, Mashhad is on the far eastern side. Mashhad is in the province of Khurásán, and during this period, there was a rebellion brewing in this province against the Sháh and his Grand Vazír. These rebels had already defeated the first contingent of forces sent by the Sháh to stop them and were set on expanding their gains. The rebels decided they wanted the

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