Siyyid Yahyáy-i-Darábí, the King’s special envoy

“This personage was, as his name indicates, born at Daráb near Shíráz; his father, Siyyid Ja’far, surnamed Kashfí, was one of the greatest and most celebrated ‘Ulamás of that period. His high moral character, his righteous ways had attracted to him universal esteem and consideration. His science had won for him the glorious name of Kashfí, that is to say, one who discovers and explains the divine secrets. Brought up by him, his son was not slow to equal him in every way and he enjoyed the public favor bestowed on his father. When he went to Tihrán, he was preceded by his fame and popularity. He became the regular guest of Prince Tahmásp Mírzá, Mu’ayyadu’d-Dawlih, grandson of Fath-‘Alí Sháh by his father Muhammad-‘Alí Mírzá. The government itself paid homage to his science and to his merit and he was consulted more than once in trying circumstances. It was of him that Muhammad Shahet Hájí Mírzá Aqásí thought when they wished to find an honest emissary whose faithfulness could not be questioned.” 

(A. L. M. Nicolas’ “Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad dit le Báb,” p. 233; Footnotes to Chapter 9 provided by Shoghi Effendi)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s reference to the King’s special envoy assigned to investigate the claims of the Báb

Concerning him [Siyyid Yahyáy-i-Darábí], ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written the following:

“This remarkable man, this precious soul, had committed to memory no less than thirty thousand traditions, and was highly esteemed and admired by all classes of people. He had achieved universal renown in Persia, and his authority and erudition were widely and fully recognized.” 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (From manuscript relating to martyrdoms in Persia; Footnotes for Chapter 9 of ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, provided by Shoghi Effendi)

Muhammad Sháh decided to send his “most learned, the most eloquent, and the most influential of his subjects, to interview the Báb” and inform the King of the results of his investigations

Muhammad Shah

Muhammad Sháh himself was moved to ascertain the veracity of these reports and to enquire into their nature. He delegated Siyyid Yahyáy-i-Darábí, the most learned, the most eloquent, and the most influential of his subjects, to interview the Báb and to report to him the results of his investigations. The Sháh had implicit confidence in his impartiality, in his competence and profound spiritual insight. He occupied a position of such pre-eminence among the leading figures in Persia that at whatever meeting he happened to be present, no matter how great the number of the ecclesiastical leaders who attended it, he was invariably its chief speaker. None would dare to assert his views in his presence. They all reverently observed silence before him; all testified to his sagacity, his unsurpassed knowledge and mature wisdom.

In those days Siyyid Yahyá was residing in Tihrán in the house of Mírzá Lutf-‘Alí, the Master of Ceremonies to the Sháh, as the honoured guest of his Imperial Majesty. The Sháh confidentially signified through Mírzá Lutf-‘Alí his desire and pleasure that Siyyid Yahyá should proceed to Shíráz and investigate the matter in person. “Tell him from us, commanded the sovereign, “that inasmuch as we repose the utmost confidence in his integrity, and admire his moral and intellectual standards, and regard him as the most suitable among the divines of our realm, we expect him to proceed to Shíráz, to enquire thoroughly into the episode of the Siyyid-i-Báb, and to inform us of the results of his investigations; We shall then know what measures it behoves us to take.” 

(Chapter 9, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)