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boy was one of Zahrá Bagum’s two sons. Both sons had smallpox, when the Báb visited their household to say good-bye prior to leaving Shíráz. At that time, Mírzá Áqá, was four years old and his older brother, Mírzá ‘Alí-Ridá, was seven years old. The two children, both very ill, were asleep on a couch in the courtyard when the Báb visited to say farewell. The older child seemed to be doing much better than the younger one [Mírzá Áqá] who was so ill that everyone thought he would surely die. At the visit, the Báb lifted the sheet on the bed of Mírzá Áqá and prayed over him, but He paid no attention to the elder brother. The elder brother died that very night, and to everyone’s surprise, Mírzá Áqá recovered. He became the only surviving child of Zahrá Bagum.
The Báb leaves Shíráz
Once the Báb had completed His last few visits and farewells, which He did quite quickly, He left Shíráz. It is the end of summer of 1846. He had only one companion, Siyyid Kázim of Zanján, who had also been arrested that night by the chief constable and his men.
The Báb headed directly to the city of Isfáhán, where He had previously sent His amanuenses with instructions to await His arrival.