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When He was about six or seven years old the Báb’s uncle sent Him to a school run by Shaykh ‘Abid . The Báb was apparently not inclined to go to school but submitted to His uncle’s wishes.
The ruins of the school of Shaykh ‘Abid attended by the Báb as a child in Shíráz. The school was called Qahviyih-Awlíyá. Archival photo. 71ACT2
Shaykh ‘Abid was a learned and pious man and a follower of Shaykh Ahmad and Siyyid Kázim as well. He told this story about the young Child, the Bàb:
One day, I asked the Báb to recite the opening words of the Qur’án: Bismi’lláhi’r-Rahmáni’r-Rahím [means In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful]. He hesitated, pleading that unless He were told what these words signified, He would not wish to pronounce them. I pretended not to know their meaning, to which He responded: “ I know what these words signify, and by your leave, I will explain them.” He then spoke with such knowledge and fluency that I was awe struck. He expounded the meaning of Alláh [God], of Rahmán [Compassionate] and Rahím [Merciful] in terms such as I had neither read or heard. I felt impelled to take Him back to His uncle and deliver back the Trust he had committed to my care. I found His uncle alone in his office. “I brought Him back to you”, I said, “… He is not to be treated as a mere child, for in Him I can already discern evidences of that mysterious power which the revelation of the
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