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| circa 1935, views of Babiyyih in Mashhad |
Mírzá Muhammad Báqir-i-Qá’iní, who, for the remaining years
of his life, had established his residence in Mashhad, was the next to embrace
the Message. The love of the Báb inflamed his soul with such a consuming
passion, that no one could resist its force or could belittle its influence.
His fearlessness, his unsparing energy, his unswerving loyalty, and the
integrity of his life, all combined to make him the terror of his enemies and a
source of inspiration to his friends. He placed his home at the disposal of
Mullá Husayn, arranged for separate interviews between him and the ‘ulamás of
Mashhad, and continued to endeavour, to the utmost of his power, to remove
every obstacle that might impede the progress of the Faith. He was untiring in
his efforts, undeviating in his purpose, and inexhaustible in his energy. He
continued to labour indefatigably for his beloved Cause until the last hour of
his life, when he fell a martyr at the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí. In his last days
he was bidden by Quddús, after the tragic death of Mullá Husayn, to assume the
leadership of the heroic defenders of that fort. He acquitted himself
gloriously of his task. His home, situated in Bálá-Khiyabán, in the city of
Mashhad, is up to the present time known by the name of Bábíyyih. Whoever
enters it can never escape the accusation of being a Bábí. May his soul rest in
peace!
(Chapter 6, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)
