Soon after, I journeyed to Karbilá and lived, as bidden, in
that holy city. Fearing that my prolonged stay in that centre of pilgrimage
might excite suspicion, I decided to marry. I started to earn my livelihood as
a scribe. What afflictions befell me at the hands of the Shaykhís, those who
professed to be the followers of Shaykh Ahmad and yet failed to recognise the
Báb! Mindful of the counsels of that beloved Youth, I patiently submitted to
the indignities inflicted upon me. For two years I lived in that city.
Meanwhile that holy Youth was released from His earthly prison and, through His
martyrdom, was delivered from the atrocious cruelties that had beset the
closing years of His life.
Sixteen lunar months, less twenty and two days, had elapsed
since the day of the martyrdom of the Báb, when, on the day of Árafih, in the
year 1267 A.H., [October 5, 1851 A.D.] while I was passing by the gate of the
inner courtyard of the shrine of the Imám Husayn, my eyes, for the first time,
fell upon Bahá’u’lláh. What shall I recount regarding the countenance which I
beheld! The beauty of that face, those exquisite features which no pen or brush
dare describe, His penetrating glance, His kindly face, the majesty of His
bearing, the sweetness of His smile, the luxuriance of His jet-black flowing
locks, left an indelible impression upon my soul. I was then an old man, bowed
with age. How lovingly He advanced towards me! He took me by the hand and, in a
tone which at once betrayed power and beauty, addressed me in these words:
‘This very day I have purposed to make you known as a Bábí throughout Karbilá.’
Still holding my hand in His, He continued to converse with me. He walked with
me all along the market-street, and in the end He said: ‘Praise be to God that
you have remained in Karbilá, and have beheld with your own eyes the countenance
of the promised Husayn.’ I recalled instantly the promise which had been given
me by the Báb. His words, which I had regarded as referring to a remote future,
I had not shared with anyone. These words of Bahá’u’lláh moved me to the depths
of my being. I felt impelled to proclaim to a heedless people, at that very
moment and with all my soul and power, the advent of the promised Husayn. He
bade me, however, repress my feelings and conceal my emotions. ‘Not yet,’ He
breathed into my ears; ‘the appointed Hour is approaching. It has not yet
struck. Rest assured and be patient.’ From that moment all my sorrows vanished.
My soul was flooded with joy. In those days I was so poor that most of the time
I hungered for food. I felt so rich, however, that all the treasures of the
earth melted away into nothingness when compared with that which I already
possessed. ‘Such is the grace of God; to whom He will, He giveth it: He,
verily, is of immense bounty.’
- Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunúzí (Quoted by Nabil; Chapter
2, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)
