Table of Contents
The subjects of your Imperial Majesty, regard you both as their temporal ruler and as the supreme custodian of their Faith. They appeal to you for justice, and look upon you as the supreme protector of their rights. Our controversy primarily concerned the ‘ulamá of Zanján only, and under no circumstances involved either your government or people. I myself was summoned by your predecessor to Tihrán and was requested by him to set forth the basic claims of my Faith. The late Sháh was entirely satisfied, and highly commended my efforts. … In the early days of your reign, the Amír-Nizám [the Amír-Kabír], while the Mázindarán upheaval was still in progress, suspected me of treason and determined to destroy my life. Finding no one in Tihrán able to protect me, I determined, in self-defence to flee to Zanján, where I resumed my labours and strove with all my might to advance the true interest of Islám. I was pursuing my work when Majdu’d-Dawlih [the governor of Zanján] arose against me. I several times appealed to him to exercise moderation and justice, but he refused to grant my request. Instigated by the ‘ulamá of Zanján, and encouraged by the adulation they lavished upon him, he determined to arrest me. My friends intervened and attempted to stay his hand. He continued to rouse the people against me, and they in their turn have acted in a manner that has led to the present situation. Your Majesty has until now refrained from extending his gracious assistance to us, who are the innocent victims of such ferocious cruelty. Our enemies have even sought to represent our Cause, in the eyes of your Majesty, as a conspiracy against the authority with which you have been invested. Surely every unbiased observer will readily admit that we cherish in our hearts no such intention. Our sole aim is to advance the best interests of your government and people. I and my principal companions hold ourselves in readiness to leave for Tihrán, that we may, in your presence as well as in that of our chief opponents, establish the soundness of our Cause. 56_ACT14
Hujjat also asked the other leading Bábís in the Fort to address similar appeals to the Sháh and stress their request of justice.
The Treacherous Governor alters Hujjat’s message to the Sháh
The governor of Zanján, Amír Aslán Khán [the Majdu’d-Dawlih], was a deceitful and vicious man with no morals. He was also one of the maternal uncles of the Sháh
524 / 803