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A Traveler's Narrativeby 'Abdu'l Bahá
Edition 1, (September 2006)
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CONTENTS
Baha'i Terms of Use A TRAVELER'S NARRATIVE WRITTEN TO ILLUSTRATE THE EPISODE OF THE BÁB [Pages 1 20] [Pages 21 40] [Pages 41 60] [Pages 61 80] [Pages 81 94]
A TRAVELER'S NARRATIVE WRITTEN TO ILLUSTRATE THE EPISODE OF THE BÁB
[Pages 1 20]
Touching the individual known as the Báb and the true nature of this sect diverse tales are on the tongues and in the mouths of men, and various accounts are contained in the pages of Persian history and the leaves of European chronicles. But because of the variety of their assertions and the diversity of their narratives not one is as worthy of confidence as it should be. Some have loosed their tongues in extreme censure and condemnation; some foreign chronicles have spoken in a commendatory strain; while a certain section have recorded what they themselves have heard without addressing themselves either to censure or approbation.
Now since these various accounts are recorded in other pages, and since the setting forth thereof would lead to prolixity, therefore what relates to the history of this matter (sought out with the utmost diligence during the time of my travels in all parts of Persia, whether far or near, from those without and those within, from friends and strangers), and that whereon the disputants are agreed, shall be briefly set forth in writing, so that a summary of the facts of the case may be at the disposal of those who are athirst after the fountain of knowledge and who seek to become acquainted with all events.
The Báb was a young merchant of the Pure Lineage. He was born in the year one thousand two hundred and thirty five [A.H.] on the first day of Muharram,(1) and when after a few years His father Siyyid Muhammad Ridá died, He was brought up in Sh íráz in the arms of His maternal uncle Mírzá Siyyid 'Alí the merchant. On attaining maturity He engaged in trade in Bú sh ihr, first in partnership with His maternal uncle and afterwards independently. On account of what was observed in Him He was noted for godliness, devoutness, virtue, and piety, and was regarded in the sight of men as so characterized.
In the year one thousand two hundred and sixty [A.H.], when He was in His twenty fifth year, certain signs became apparent in His conduct, behavior, manners, and demeanor whereby it became evident in Sh íráz that He had some conflict in His mind and some other flight beneath His wing. He began to speak and to declare the rank of Báb hood.(2) Now what He intended by the term Báb [Gate] was this, that He was the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the veil of glory, Who was the possessor of countless and boundless perfections, by Whose will He moved, and to the bond of Whose love He clung... Continue reading book >>
