Among those who, in the city of Yazd, were awakened by the
message of that bearer of the light of God, was Hájí ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb, a man of
great piety, upright and God-fearing. He visited Shaykh Ahmad each day in the
company of a certain Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Kháliq-i-Yazdí, who was noted for his
authority and learning. On certain occasions, however, in order to talk
confidentially with ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb, Shaykh Ahmad, to the great surprise of the
learned ‘Abdu’l-Khaliq, would ask him to retire from his presence and leave him
alone with his chosen and favoured disciple. This marked preference shown to so
modest and illiterate a man as ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb was a cause of great surprise to
his companion, who was only too conscious of his own superiority and
attainments. Later, however, when Shaykh Ahmad had departed from Yazd,
‘Abdu’l-Vahháb retired from the society of men and came to be regarded as a
Súfí. By the orthodox leaders of that community, however, such as the
Ni’matu’lláh and Dhahábí, he was denounced as an intruder and was suspected of
a desire to rob them of their leadership. ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb, for whom the Súfí
doctrine had no special attraction, scorned their false imputations and shunned
their society. He associated with none except Hájí Hasan-i-Nayiní, whom he had
chosen as his intimate friend and to whom he confided the secret with which he
had been entrusted by his master. When ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb died, this friend,
following his example, continued to pursue the path which he had directed him
to tread, and announced to every receptive soul the tidings of God’s fast-approaching
Revelation.
(Chapter 1, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)
