Bahá’u’lláh’s Release and Banishment – Page 2

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Section B3

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The Leader of this community was none other than the Siyyid-i-Báb, who was slain in Tabríz, and whose martyrdom induced me to arise and avenge His death. I alone conceived this plan and endeavoured to execute it.

‘Azím was then handed over to the ‘ulamá for further questioning, but during that interaction, one of them took a club and smashed ‘Azím’s head. His example was followed by the rest of the crowd, who fell upon him with daggers, sticks and stones, leaving mutilated remains.

Bahá’u’lláh is released

The confession of ‘Azím freed Bahá’u’lláh. The Russian minister had been putting a lot of pressure on the Grand Vazír (Mírzá Áqá Khán-i-Núrí), that the authorities must acknowledge ‘Azím’s confession and free Bahá’u’lláh. The Grand Vazír therefore sent his own representative to the Síyáh-Chál to present the order for the release of Bahá’u’lláh. Nabíl records what happened:

Upon his arrival, the sight which the emissary beheld filled him with grief and surprise. The spectacle which met his eyes was one he could scarcely believe. He wept as he saw Bahá’u’lláh chained to a floor that was infested with vermin, His neck weighed down by galling chains, His face laden with sorrow, ungroomed and dishevelled, breathing the pestilential atmosphere of the most terrible of dungeons. … He removed the mantle from his shoulders and presented it to Bahá’u’lláh, entreating Him to wear it when in the presence of the minister and his counsellors. Bahá’u’lláh refused his request, and, wearing the dress of a prisoner, proceeded straightway to the seat of the imperial government.

The first word the Grand Vazír was moved to address to his Captive was the following: “Had you chosen to take my advice, and had you dissociated yourself from the faith of the Siyyid-i-Báb, you would never have suffered the pains and indignities that have been heaped upon you.” “Had you, in your turn,” Bahá’u’lláh replied, “followed my counsels, the affairs of the government would not have reached so critical a stage.”

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