particular effort to do so when the Báb was moved to Chihríq. Anís was young and his stepfather was a well-known mujtahid of Tabríz. The stepfather was not a believer in the Báb and knew what would happen to Anís if he continued on this path. So, he asked Anís to conceal his beliefs and give up efforts to go to meet the Báb. Finding that Anís was not cooperating, his stepfather confined him in his house and set a strict watch over him. This confinement situation went on for a while. Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunúzí, who was related to the stepfather, would visit them occasionally. The stepfather asked Shaykh Hasan to talk to Anís, reason with him and have him hide his convictions. But Anís was on fire with love for the Báb. Shaykh Hasan recounts that every time he visited Anís, he “witnessed the tears that continually rained from his eyes.” 49ACT7 This continued until after the Báb’s second visit to Tabríz [described in this Section], when Shaykh Hasan recounts:
… one day as I went to see him [Anís], I was surprised to note the joy and gladness which had illumined his countenance. His handsome face was wreathed in smiles as he stepped forward to receive me. “The eyes of my Beloved,” he said, as he embraced me, “have beheld this face, and these eyes have gazed upon His countenance.” 50ACT7
Anís then proceeded to tell Shaykh Hasan what had happened:
After the Báb had been taken back to Chihríq, one day, as I lay confined in my cell, I turned my heart to Him and besought Him in these words: “Thou beholdest, O my Best-Beloved, my captivity and helplessness, and knowest how eagerly I yearn to look upon Thy face. Dispel the gloom that oppresses my heart, with the light of Thy countenance.” …
Suddenly I heard the voice of the Báb, and, lo! He was calling me. He bade me arise. I beheld the majesty of His countenance as He appeared before me. He smiled as He looked into my eyes. I rushed forward and flung myself at His feet.
“Rejoice,” He said; “the hour is approaching when, in this very city, I shall be suspended before the eyes of the multitude and shall fall a victim to the fire of the enemy. I shall choose no one except you to share with Me the cup of martyrdom. Rest assured that this promise which I give you shall be fulfilled.”
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