Another dignitary of the realm who dispassionately investigated and ultimately embraced the Message of the Báb was Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí, [1] a native of Zanján, whom the Báb surnamed Hujjat-i-Zanjání. He was a man of independent mind, noted for extreme originality and freedom from all forms of traditional restraint. He denounced the whole hierarchy of the ecclesiastical leaders of his country, from the Abváb-i-Arbá’ih [2] down to the humblest mullá among his contemporaries. He despised their character, deplored their degeneracy, and expatiated upon their vices. He even, prior to his conversion, betrayed an attitude of careless contempt for Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá’í and Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí. [3] He was so filled with horror at the misdeeds that had stained the history of shí’ah Islám that whoever belonged to that sect, no matter how high his personal attainments, was regarded by him as unworthy of his consideration. Not infrequently did cases of fierce controversy arise between him and the divines of Zanján which, but for the personal intervention of the Sháh, would have led to grave disorder and bloodshed. He was eventually summoned to the capital and, in the presence of his opponents, representatives of the ecclesiastical heads of Tihrán and other cities, was called upon to vindicate his claim. Single-handed and alone he would establish his superiority over his adversaries and would silence their clamour. Although in their hearts they dissented from his views and condemned his conduct, they were compelled to acknowledge outwardly his authority and to confirm his opinion.
(Chapter 9, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’)
[1] He was styled Hujjatu’l-Islám
[2] Literally meaning “The Four Gates,” each of whom claimed
to be an intermediary between the absent Imám and his followers.
[3] He was an Akhbarí. For an account of the Akhbaris, see
Gobineau’s “Les Religions et Les Philosophies dans l’Asie Centrale,” p. 23 et
seq
