Historical Personages Related to Early Tablets

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1.    Haji Mirza Kamalu'd-Din of Naraq
   
   This man was a Babi who became dissatisfied with the leadership of Mirza Yahya, and sought explanation of Baha'u'llah for a Qur'anic verse in late 1853 or early 1854. This was the first occasion of Baha'u'llah responding in writing to a question; the reply, "The Tablet of All Food," was revealed in Arabic. The recipient was so illumined, uplifted, and inspired by the tablet that he immediately recognized the station of Baha'u'llah as the Manifestation ['Him Whom God shall make manifest']. However, Baha'u'llah cautioned him to not divulge this truth at this time. He was a devoted follower until his death in 1881, and is credited as the first person to recognize the divinity of Baha'u'llah. It is also interesting to note that his great-grandfather, Haji Mulla Mihdi, wrote of the martyrdom of Imam Hysayn , which deeply touched the Bab.
   
   
2.    Mirza Aqa Jan
   
   He was the amanuensis (secretary or scribe) of Baha'u'llah, and served him for 40 years. He met Baha'u'llah at the age of 16, and was among the first to be aware of Baha'u'llah's station as Manifestation of God. Mirza Aqa Jan was honored to be present during the Revelations, and is described as writing so rapidly that the sound of the pen was shrill, and the ink was not dry when the page was completed. He is credited for recording and preserving many of the Writings, but after Baha'u'llah's death, he did not support the Covenant and turned against Abdul Baha; he died in 1901.
   
   
3.    Mirza Yahya
   
   Mirza Yahya, Baha'u'llah's younger half brother (also known as Subh-i-Azal) was appointed to serve as the leader of the Babis after the Bab's death. As he was a teenager, being 13 years younger than Baha'u'llah, this appointment was to divert attention from Baha'u'llah during the time of persecution. After Baha'u'llah went into exile from Persia to Iraq (Baghdad), Mirza Yahya followed to that city. However, the youth went into seclusion, kept his location and identity a secret, and failed to provide leadership for fear of persecution at a time many Babis were martyred. Mirza Yahya competed with Baha'u'llah by claiming prophethood for himself, attempted to murder Baha'u'llah with poison, and made false accusations against Baha'u'llah which lead to the imprisonment at Akka. Mirza Yahya died in exile in Cyprus in 1912.
   
   
4.    Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani
   
   This man influenced Mirza Yahya to oppose Baha'u'llah, and was known as the Antichrist of the Baha'i Revelation. He, as well as Mirza Yahya, married the Bab's widow for purposes of credibility. He was sent with the Baha'is to Akka, where he continued to plot mob attacks against Baha'u'llah, resulting in his murder by seven Baha'is, which caused further oppression to Baha'u'llah.
   
   
5.    Abdul-Q'asim-i-Hamadani
   
   He was a Muslim who was the only person to go with Baha'u'llah into the remote areas of Kurdistan during His time of retreat there. Hamadani brought Baha'u'llah money and supplies on occasion, and maintained the role of a merchant. When Hamadani was killed in 1855, while traveling to bring supplies to Baha'u'llah, news of his death indicated to the family the location of Baha'u'llah.
   
   
6.    Shaykh Ismail
   
   Shaykh Ismail was the leader of the Khaledi Sufis at Sulaymaniyyih, who recognized Baha'u'llah's unusual gifts. He received a long poem of which 127 of 2000 verses were preserved as the others identified Baha'u'llah's divinity too directly for this early time of the Revelation. This work, called Poem of the Dove, is an example of the Sufi style of writing used by Baha'u'llah until 1863 when His declaration was made.   
   
   
7.    Mirza Musa
   
   Mirza Musa was Baha'u'llah's younger brother, who helped to locate Him in Sulaymaniyyih for His return to Baghdad in 1856. Also known as Aqay-i-Kalim, he loyally served Baha'u'llah, hid the remains of the Bab in Tehran, lived in exile with Baha'u'llah, served as communicator with officials and religious leaders, and died in Akka in 1887.
   
   
8.    Shaykh Sultan
   
   This man, at the request of his son-in-law Mirza Musa, searched for Baha'u'llah for two months, and accompanied His return to the family and followers in Baghdad.
   
   
9.    Haji Mirza Musay-i-Javahiri

10.    Haji Mirza Hadi
    
    Haji Mirza Hadi, father of Haji Mirza Musay-i-Javahiri, was a Persian nobleman who migrated to Baghdad and sat at the feet of Baha'u'llah in humility despite his wealth and position.
    
    Haji Mirza Musay-i-Javahiri, referred to as Letter of Eternity, provided the house of Baha'u'llah in Baghdad. This building, called the House of God or Most Great House is to be a site for pilgrimage
    
    
11.    Shaykh Muhyid-Din and

12.    Shaykh Abdur-Rahman
    
    Shaykh Muhyid-Din, a Sufi judge in Kurdistan, was in correspondence with Baha'u'llah upon His return to Baghdad . Baha'u'llah wrote The Seven Valleys in reply to his question.   
    
    Shaykh Abdur-Rahman, the leader of the Qadiriyyih Sufis, received the Four Valleys in correspondence from Baha'u'llah.   
    
    
13.    Mirza Aqay-i-Rikab-Saz
    
    This man, an early martyr of the Faith, was the recipient of the Tablet of the Verse of Light, as he had requested that Baha'u'llah interpret the isolated letters at the chapter beginnings of the Qur'an. He was devoted to the Bab, unshakable in his faith despite persecution, and did meet Baha'u'llah in Iraq.
    
    
14.    Shaykh Salman
    
    Shaykh Salman, a faithful disciple from the village of Hindiyan, received the tablet The City of Unity. His original name was Shaykh Khanjar prior to being named Salman by Baha'u'llah. This name was chosen in replication of Muhammad giving the name Salman to a beloved follower named Ruz-bih.
    
    Shaykh Salman had an important and essential role in dissemination of the Writings in Persia when Baha'u'llah was exiled to Baghdad in Iraq. This man, known as "Messenger of the Merciful," was the first messenger to come to Iraq from Persia, and continued the courier function for 40 years. He traveled thousands of miles on foot, delivering letters to Baha'u'llah and returning with tablets to the believers, despite active searches along the border to block the communication. In later years, he continued this function for Abdu'l Baha.
    
    Shaykh Salman had stamina, endured hardship and mistreatment, and lived in poverty. Although illiterate and unable to read the messages, he had spiritual depth and wisdom, and was known for his purity of heart. For protective reasons, the names of recipients of the tablets were not written on them. Shaykh Salman would have someone read the messages to him, and through understanding of the content, he would know the person to receive it. Throughout his years of service, this simple and primitive man never lost a single message to confiscation. His wisdom was so respected that his judgment was honored in decisions to allow audiences of the believers with Baha'u'llah. [Revelations of Baha'u'llah, vol. 1, pages 109-114]
    
    
15.    Mirza Muhammad-i-Vazir

16.    Maryam
    
    Mirza Muhammad-i-Vazir was a cousin of Baha'u'llah's. The tablet The Exalted Letters was written in his memory, for his grieving wife Havva and sister Maryam, for their consolation. This deceased cousin was "the very first among the family of Baha'u'llah to have been converted by Him to the Babi Faith in the province of Nur in 1844." [Revelations of Baha'u'llah, vol.1, pages 122-3] Maryam assisted in Baha'u'llah's care after His release from prison in the Siyah-Chal. She was active in His care, and was a devoted follower. Although family responsibilities prevented her from ever seeing Baha'u'llah again after His exile, He wrote to her with sincere affection, and named her Crimson Leaf. After her death, Baha'u'llah wrote a special tablet in her membory.
    
    
17.    Princess Shamsi-i-Jihan
    
    The Tablet of the Test was written in honor of Princess Shams-i-Jihan, also known as Fitnih. She came to be a believer through her friendship with Tahirih. She had an audience with Baha'u'llah, and was named The Leaf of Paradise.
    
    
18.    Siyyid Jafar-i-Yazdi   

19.    Haji Muhammad-Taqi   

20.    Zaynu'l Abidin Khan   

21.    Shaykh Abdul Husayn-i-Tihrani

22.    Mirza Buzurg Khan
    
    The tablet Suriy-i-Nush was revealed in honor of Siyyid Jafar-i-Yazdi, who was a distinguished divine taught the Faith by Vahid, an early Babi. Since Siyyid Jafar was eloquent and highly respected, his public teaching resulted "in a great multitude" joining the Faith. Subsequently, the government and religious leaders joined in persecution with resulting martyrdom of many, including Vahid. Siyyid Jafar was captured and treated with disgrace, despite his position, by Zaynu'l Abidin Khan, the Governor of Nayriz, who was intent on torturing the remaining Babis.
    
    The military presence required for persecution of the Babi's had resulted in food shortage in the area. As the hungry people came to acquire their allotment of corn, they were required to spit on Siyyid Jafar's face. Despite this degradation, "he remained calm and resigned throughout his ordeal and manifested a spirit of sublime joy and love and thankfulness towards those who offended him." To those who hesitated to engage in this action against him, Siyyid Jafar encouraged them as he knew of their needs. Later, he was subjected to public beatings, which continued daily until observers contributed money as a "ransom" to temporarily stop the abuse. [Revelations of Baha'u'llah, vol. 1, pages 138-141]
    
    Siyyid Jafar's companion, Haji Muhammad-Taqi, was a wealthy and respected man from Nayriz. He served the function of a banker in his community, and provided funds for the Babis. He applied his funds for propagation of the message of the Bab and supported Vahid and his followers during the persecution of the Babi community. Although he survived the siege of the fort, his properties were confiscated, and he was tortured daily by being thrown into a pool and then beaten by sticks and poles until the water was red with blood. This continued until the governor's wife, after a significant dream, secretly arranged for their escape. They both later were able to visit with Baha'u'llah and receive His blessings directly.
    
    In the Suriy-i-Nush Tablet, Baha'u'llah refers to Shaykh Abdul Husayn-i-Tihrani, an evil and vindictive enemy who allied with Mirza Buzurg Khan, the Persian Consul in Baghdad. These men hired an assassin, who twice intended to shoot Baha'u'llah, but could not commit the murder and dropped the gun. These men also organizaed a meeting of the religious leaders in opposition to the Babi's , but were afraid to meet directly with Baha'u'llah themselves. In this Tablet, they are described as wicked and depraved. Their schemes eventually influenced the Shah to request the Ottoman government to move Baha'u'llah from Baghdad into further exile. [Revelations of Baha'u'llah, vol. 1, pages 143-147]
    
    
23.    Siyyid Mirza Husayn-i-Mutavalli
    
    Siyyid Mirza Husayn-i-Mutavalli was the recipient of the Tablet Shikkar-Shikan-Shavand. This man was a Babi who had been with 300 others under the leadership of Quddus at the Tabarsi fort, where they were attacked and starved. When the army was retreating, Siyyid Husayn betrayed the Babis by sending a message to the commander regarding their weakness and small numbers. As this resulted in resumption of attacks, he then deserted to the enemy. He is known for striking Quddus before the leader's martyrdom. However, he again rejoined the Babi's, was with Baha'u'llah in the prison of Siyah-Chal, came to Baghdad, and later was a supporter of Mirza Yaya.
    
    
24.    Siyyid Yusuf-i-Sidihi
    
    Siyyid Yusufi-i-Sidihi was a wise and learned religious leader of the Shi'ahs in Najaf. This man was honored by the Tablet The Essence of Mysteries, which was written in answer to a series of questions he posed regarding the fulfillment of prophesy of Islam. Based on this Tablet, he recognized the divinity of Baha'u'llah. The answers so impressed him, that upon a later meeting with Baha'u'llah he became a Babi, and was then rejected by his friends who threw him out of their house.
    
    
25.    Khal-i-Akbar or Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad
    
    The Book of Certitude was revealed in Persian and Arabic in 1862 in Baghdad to the eldest maternal uncle of the Bab, Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad, also known as Khal-i-Akbar. This man was not convinced that his nephew was the Promised One of Islam, and was not converted until Baha'u'llah answered his specific questions.
    
    

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