Table of Contents
The example of Hájí Sulaymán Khán
Among the many who were arrested and martyred in Tihrán during that period, was Hájí Sulaymán Khán . Nabíl gives a detailed description of accounts of eyewitnesses of Hájí Sulaymán Khán’s martyrdom, as an example of the fortitude and spirit the Bábís exemplified. 49_ACT15
Hájí Sulaymán Khán’s father50_ACT15 had been an attendant of ‘Abbas Mírzá [the father of Muhammad Sháh], and then of Muhammad Sháh. As such, Hájí Sulaymán Khán’s father was highly regarded in the court circles. However, Hájí Sulaymán Khán did not like the life in the court and in his youth had gone to Karbalá’ and become one of the followers of Siyyid Kázim. When he heard about the Message of Báb, he immediately embraced it. He eventually came to Tihrán from Karbalá’ to go to join Fort Shaykh Tabarsí, but by then it was too late. So, he stayed in Tihrán, where he was always actively teaching the Cause of the Báb. He also went to see the Báb in Chihríq, making the journey in disguise.51_ACT15 He and his father were so influential, however, that the Amír-Kabír, the Grand Vazír of Násiri’d-Dín Sháh at that time, decided to spare his life, and just ignore his acts.52_ACT15 He was highly trusted by Bahá’u’lláh. Just before the martyrdom of the Báb, Hájí Sulaymán Khán decided to go to Tabríz to save the Báb. He got there a day too late and instead helped rescue the holy remains, and on the instructions of Bahá’u’lláh arrange for their transport in secret to Tihrán [DB 23, Section 5].
53_ACT15
With the events of August 1852, Hájí Sulaymán Khán was not spared, especially because ‘Azím and his group used to sometimes meet in his house in Tihrán. When Hájí Sulaymán Khán was arrested, the Sháh asked one of the senior courtiers, Hájibu’d-Dawlih , to question him, and if he was innocent of involvement in the assassination plot to have him recant and be released. By the end of the questioning, the Hájibu’d-Dawlih was convinced of Hájí Sulaymán Khán’s innocence and told him that he would be free to go after recanting his Faith. To this Hájí Sulaymán Khán responded: “Never, so long as my lifeblood continues to pulsate in my veins, shall I be willing to recant my faith in my Beloved!” He was then asked how he wished to die, so he described what he wanted: nine holes to be cut
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