The Second Wave of Attacks2

Village of Shír-Gáh [top] and village of Vás-Kas [bottom]. Archival photos.

On his arrival, the Prince sent a messenger to the fort to inform Mullá Husayn that they had been sent by royal command to put an end to this sedition. Mullá Husayn sent this response back:

Tell your master, that we utterly disclaim any intention either of subverting the foundations of the monarchy or of usurping the authority of Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh. Our Cause concerns the revelation of the promised Qá’im and is primarily associated with the interests of the ecclesiastical [means religious] order of this country. We can set forth incontrovertible arguments and deduce infallible proofs in support of the truth of the Message we bear.

Mullá Husayn then laid out a defence of the Báb’s Cause and its claims for the Prince’s messenger. His passionate sincerity touched the heart of the messenger, who then asked Mullá Husayn what did he suggest should be the path forward. Mullá Husayn asked that the Prince get the ‘ulamá of both Sárí and Bárfurúsh to come to the fort and have a large gathering with the Prince as the head and judge. The companions would lay out the claims of the Báb and His Message, and the ‘ulamá could ask any questions they had. The Prince using the Qur’án can be the judge of the truth of the matter based on that convocation. The messenger expressed his complete satisfaction with this and promised that before the lapse of three days, the gathering asked for by Mullá Husayn would be convened.

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