The First Awakener – Page 5

The name ‘Alí
The name Husayn
The year 1817
The year 1819

Importance of Shíráz

One day, while visiting Shíráz (a city in south-eastern Írán), Shaykh Ahmad surprised the residents by lavishing praise on their rather modest town. He said: “Wonder not, for ere long the secret of my words will be made manifest to you. Among you there shall be a number who will live to behold the glory of a Day which the prophets of old have yearned to witness.”10

Importance of 1819 and the name ‘Alí

In 1819, Shaykh Ahmad’s son, ‘Alí, died. Shaykh Ahmad comforted his disciples, who mourned the loss of his son, with this riddle: “Grieve not, O my friends, for I have offered my son, my own ‘Alí, as a sacrifice for the ‘Alí whose advent we all await. To this end I have reared and prepared him.” 11

Importance of the name Husayn

Besides constant mention and praise of this unknown ‘Alí, Shaykh Ahmad also repeatedly referenced the name Husayn. His followers generally assumed he meant the Imám Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third of the Shí’a Imáms. 12 But the few who were astute realized that he was referring to a different Husayn who had yet to appear.

Importance of 1817 and the story of ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb and Hasan

A select few of Shaykh Ahmad’s disciples were spiritually awakened souls, even though they weren’t considered the most learned. One such person amongst the disciples in Yazd was ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb

. Even though ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb was an illiterate and simple man, Shaykh Ahmad treated him with great affection, and had

¹⁰ Dawn-Breakers Chapter 1, p4-5

¹¹Dawn-Breakers Chapter 1, p14

¹² See Appendix: Brief Background on Shí’a Islam.

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