Dawn Breakers

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      intervene. They came to Mullá Husayn begging for a truce. They told Mullá Husayn that all the fault lay with the Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’ for inciting the people, and that Mullá Husayn should forgive the past, and in the interest of peace leave the area the next day and go to the town of Ámul. ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán and Hájí Mustafá Khán were among those present. They both arose and said they would order one of their men, Khusraw-i-Qádí
      46ACT8. together with a hundred horsemen to escort Mullá Husayn and his companions safely from Sabzih-Maydán through Shír-Gáh
      on their way to Ámul. Swearing on the Qur’án, they said:
      The malediction of God and His Prophets be upon us, both in this world and in the next, if we ever allow the slightest injury to be inflicted upon you and your party.47ACT8

      Mullá Husayn knew the insincerity of these people, but he consented. That evening, Mullá Husayn and his companions ate together with ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán and some other notables. It was the eve of Friday 10 October 1848. 

      In the middle of that same night, the Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’ secretly summoned Khusraw-i-Qádí. He told Khusraw that the following day as they travelled, Khusraw should put the entire company of Bábís to death and take all their property. Although Khusraw was not a particularly righteous person, he still raised some concern regarding this double-crossing, to which the Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’, as he pointed with his finger to his own neck, said:

      Slay them and be not afraid. I hold myself responsible for your act. I will, on the Day of Judgment, be answerable to God in your name. We, who wield the sceptre of authority, are surely better informed than you, and can better judge how best to extirpate this heresy.49ACT8

      “Mount your steeds, O heroes of God!”

      The next morning, at the hour of sunrise, ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán met with Khusraw, and repeated the instructions of giving utmost consideration and safe passage to Mullá Husayn and his companions through Shír-Gáh. In addition, he told Khusraw that he should not accept any reward that Mullá Husayn should offer him. The duplicitous Khusraw pretended submission to ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán and assured him that “neither

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