Mirza Ali-Akbar-i-Nakhjavani by Ali Nakhjavani

Author:Ali Nakhjavani
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bahai Publishing
Published: 2018-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

Appendix II

Digest of Information from Ishráq-Khávarí’s Epitome of the History of the Bahá’í Faith in Bákú

At the time when Siyyid ‘Abdu’l-Karím was resident in Bákú, a number of persons became believers in the Cause of the Báb. After his passing, the believers of Bákú were left shepherdless, not knowing where to turn, until Mullá Ṣádiq the Martyr, who previously, whilst in Qazvin, had embraced the Cause of both the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, returned to Bákú. Even before his arrival, tidings of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh had reached that city, and a few persons had recognized His claim, among them ‘Abdu’l-Manáf, Mustafá Bik, Áqá Bikov, Zargaruf-i-Buzurg, Áqá Javád-i-Sulaymání, and several other souls—none of whom had a sufficient grasp of the Cause. When Mullá Ṣádiq the Martyr arrived in Bákú, he brought with him a copy of the Kitábi-Íqán and many other Tablets and Writings; and since, during his previous three-month sojourn in Qazvin, he had acquired from the Bahá’í teachers a sufficient understanding of the fledgling Faith, his arrival in the Caucasus was a great bounty for the believers.

Mullá Ṣádiq was immediately successful in convincing a number of persons of the truth of the Cause; among them Mullá Abú-Ṭálib-i-Karímov, ‘Abdu’l-Mu’min-i-Zargaruf, Mír ‘Allám, and Karbilá’í Áqá Kishíy-i-‘Alíov.1 In Ganjih, Kúk-Cháy,2 Salyán,3 and Bálá-Khánlí (Bálá-Khání) too the Faith was proclaimed, and a number of persons embraced it. Once the Faith was established in Bákú, and the friends became sufficiently informed of its nature, regular teaching activities were initiated, and inquirers would visit the homes of the friends in order to find out about the new Cause. In consequence, the Shí‘a ‘ulamá began inflicting harm and injury on those who had enlisted under its banner.

When Mír ‘Allám embraced the Cause, he made his home a “teaching house” (“bayt-i-tablígh”). Hence, from 1890 onwards the Bákú friends had a meeting-place of their own; and this house became subsequently the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Bákú. Then, in 1906 the friends set about constructing a purpose-built Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds—a development which caused an outcry from the local Muslims, who protested that the Bahá’ís were constructing a “mosque,” which it was incumbent upon them to destroy.

Ustád ‘Alí-Ashraf and Ustád Bálá were two brothers who were in charge of the building operations. The latter, who was something of a “strongman,” and quite intrepid, announced that he would kill whoever presumed to destroy the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Ustád Bálá, who was always present on the building site, had secured the services of a government agent in order to ensure that disorderly members of the populace should not create disturbances. A number of the Bahá’ís of Bálá-Khánlí, and the youth of Bákú, as well as a company of elders, were also continually present in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, keeping watch against the possibility of trouble. Ustád Ashraf and Ustád Bálá, moreover, in view of the building operations, always had on hand some fifty permanent workers and builders. This workforce too was on its guard lest anyone should attack the building; while Ustád Bálá had a license to bear small arms about his waist.

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