Table of Contents
in this house imprisonment, at this location, until her eventual martyrdom in two years time, in 1852.
Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí – the Most Great Uncle
Of the three maternal uncles of the Báb, Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí was the second in age [hence our reference to him previously in this study guide as the Middle Uncle], but the title by which he is known is Khál-i-A’zam [the Most Great Uncle].24_ACT11 This uncle was the one who had taken care of the Báb, after the Báb’s father’s passing and the first amongst the three uncles to become a believer. He went to see the Báb, as prophesied, in the mountains of Adhirbáyján in Chihríq. 25_ACT11 From that visit, he eventually came to Tihrán in early 1850. Nabíl describes meeting him in Tihrán at that time:
One day Mírzá Ahmad 26_ACT11, winvited me to meet Hájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí, the Báb’s maternal uncle, who had recently returned from Chihríq and was staying in the home of Muhammad Big-i-Chapárchí , in the neighbourhood of the gate of Shimírán. I was struck, when I gazed at his face, with the nobility of his features and the serenity of his countenance. My subsequent visits to him served to heighten my admiration for the sweetness of his temper, his mystical piety and strength of character. I well remember how on one occasion Áqáy-i-Kalím urged him, at a certain gathering, to leave Tihrán, which was then in a state of great ferment, and escape its dangerous atmosphere. “Why fear for my safety?” he confidently replied. “Would that I too could share in the banquet which the hand of Providence is spreading for His chosen ones!”27_ACT11
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
435 / 803