Table of Contents
Section Seven: The Fourth of Seven
Siyyid Husayn-i-Turshízí – the newly converted mujtahid
The quality of faith is not dependent on time and space, as we will see with the life of Siyyid Husayn-i-Turshízí . Unlike the others arrested in Tihrán, Siyyid Husayn was a “young” Bábí, in that he only just learned about the Báb and become a Bábí. How did he land up in Tihrán, become a Bábí and get arrested?
Siyyid Husayn was a native of Turshíz [a village in the province of Khurásán; now called Káshmar], where he was highly esteemed for his piety and rectitude of conduct. He had gone to study with the leading mujtahids in Najaf and Karbalá’ [in Iráq], where he had been authorized as a mujtahid.68_ACT11 His plan was to go back to the province of Khurásán and spread his Islamic learning there. In preparation for this return to his home province, Siyyid Husayn had gone to Kazimayn [outside of Baghdád]. There he met an old acquaintance, Hájí Muhammad-Taqí of Kirmán, who was going to Tihrán. Hájí Muhammad-Taqí invited Siyyid Husayn to join him, as Tihrán was on the way to Khurásán, and Siyyid Husayn decide to do so. Hájí Muhammad-Taqí was a well-known merchant and a very good friend of the Báb’s middle uncle. When the Báb’s middle uncle had come to Tihrán after Chihríq, he had written to Hájí Muhammad-Taqí inviting him to come to Tihrán for a visit. What Siyyid Husayn did not know at first was that Hájí Muhammad-Taqí had already been taught the Faith by the Báb’s middle uncle and was a Bábí. 69_ACT11 It was here in Tihrán that Hájí Muhammad-Taqí finally disclosed to Siyyid Husayn the Báb’s teachings. Siyyid Husayn immediately became an ardent Bábí, and he was arrested together with his teacher Hájí Muhammad-Taqí and the Báb’s middle uncle. These three were destined to be three of the seven Martyrs of Tihrán: The Báb’s middle uncle being the first, Siyyid Husayn the fourth and Hájí Muhammad-Taqí the fifth of the seven martyrs.
Siyyid Husayn was among the Bábí prisoners who were not even brought in front of the Amír-Kabír. When Siyyid Husayn refused to recant, he was led out to the square to be executed. Facing the multitude that had now gathered at the square, he cried out to them:
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