Table of Contents
The Interrogation in Tabríz
The Grand Vazír had issued an order for the highest-level officials [religious and civil] of the region to form a panel and interrogate the Báb about His claims.30ACT7
The goal was that this elite powerful group of individuals should pressure the Báb into subservience and silence Him for good. The meeting was held at the Valí-‘Ahd’s official residence, and the Valí-‘Ahd himself [Násiri’d-Din Mírzá] would be present. The group of questioners included the Nizamu’l-‘Ulamá[head of the ‘ulamá] who was also the tutor of the Valí-‘Ahd.
When the proceedings were ready to start, the Nizamu’l-‘Ulamá asked for the Báb to be brought in. A multitude of people had meanwhile besieged the entrance of the hall and were impatiently awaiting the time when they could catch a glimpse of the Báb’s face. They were pressing forward in such large numbers that a passage had to be forced for Him through the crowd that had collected before the gate.
Nabíl records what happened next:
Upon His arrival, the Báb observed that every seat in that hall was occupied except one which had been reserved for the Valí-‘Ahd. He greeted the assembly and, without the slightest hesitation, proceeded to occupy that vacant seat. The majesty of His gait, the expression of overpowering confidence which sat upon His brow – above all, the spirit of power which shone from His whole being, appeared to have for a moment crushed the soul out of the body of those whom He had greeted. A deep, a mysterious silence, suddenly fell upon them. Not one soul in that distinguished assembly dared breathe a single word.
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Another seat had to be brought for the Valí-‘Ahd, such that the Nizamu’l-‘Ulamá was seated on the left-hand of the Valí-‘Ahd and the Báb was seated between them.
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