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Around this time, Hujjat got a Tablet from the Báb.12_ACT14 In this Tablet “the Báb conferred upon him one of His [the Báb’s] own titles, that of Hujjat, and urged him to proclaim from the pulpit, without the least reservation, the fundamental teachings of His Faith.”13_ACT14 The fearless Hujjat right away began to enforce the injunctions in that Tablet. He dismissed his disciples, told them to close their books and declared his intention to discontinue his courses of study. He then took over the Friday congregational prayer at the main mosque, a role which is reserved for the person designated as the Imám-Jumih by the ‘ulamá. When the ‘ulamá of Zanján protested that he did not have the religious right to do this, Hujjat’s challenging response was:
That right, has been superseded by the authority with which the Qá’im Himself has invested me. I have been commanded by him to assume this function publicly, and I cannot allow any person to trespass upon that right. If attacked, I will take steps to defend myself and to protect the lives of my companions.14_ACT14
And going up on the pulpit at the mosque, he announced to the gathered congregation:
The goal for which the world has been striving is now here, free from veils and obstacles. The Sun of Truth has risen and the lights of imagination and imitation have been extinguished. Fix your eyes upon the Báb, not upon me, the least of his slaves. My wisdom compared to his is as an unlighted candle to the sun at midday. Know God by God and the sun by its rays. So, today has appeared the Sáhibu’z-Zamán [Lord of the Age]. The Sultán of Possibilities is living.15_ACT14
Hujjat is summoned to the capital a second time [Spring 1847]
The ‘ulamá of Zanján were now truly outraged at Hujjat. They were also fearful that they would lose their power, especially seeing that the local populace was responding to the call of Hujjat and becoming Bábí. They again petitioned the
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