Sequential excerpts (including footnotes) from ‘The Dawn-Breakers’ by Nabil-i-‘Azam, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi

June 20, 2026

The rest of those followers of Táhirih who were arrested in Qazvín, sent to Tihran, and then sent back to Qazvín “were savagely put to death immediately after their arrival at Qazvín”

The rest of his companions, among whom were Mullá Táhir-i-Shírází and Mullá Ibráhím-i-Maḥallátí, both of whom were greatly esteemed for their learning and character, were savagely put to death immediately after their arrival at Qazvín. The entire population, which had been sedulously instigated beforehand, clamoured for their immediate execution. A band of shameless scoundrels, armed with knives, swords, spears, and axes, fell upon them and tore them to pieces. They mutilated their bodies with such wanton barbarity that no fragment of their scattered members could be found for burial. 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’ chapter 15)

June 14, 2026

One of the captives, Hájí Asadu’lláh, the brother of Hájí Alláh-Vardí, was “mercilessly put to death” by the relatives of Táhirih’s uncle, in Tihran before leaving for Qazvin

No sooner were the captives delivered into the hands of the mischief-makers than they set about gratifying their feelings of implacable hatred towards them. On the first night after they had been handed over to their enemies, Hájí Asadu’lláh, the brother of Hájí Alláh-Vardí and paternal uncle of Muhammad-Hádí and Muhammad-Javád-i-Farhádí, a noted merchant of Qazvín who had acquired a reputation for piety and uprightness which stood as high as that of his illustrious brother, was mercilessly put to death. Knowing full well that in his own native town they would be unable to inflict upon him the punishment they desired, they determined to take his life whilst in Ṭihrán in a manner that would protect them from the suspicion of murder. At the hour of midnight, they perpetrated the shameful act, and, the next morning, announced that illness had been the cause of his death. His friends and acquaintances, mostly natives of Qazvín, none of whom had been able to detect the crime that had extinguished such a noble life, accorded him a burial that befitted his station. 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’ chapter 15)

June 8, 2026

The “crafty” Sadr-i-Ardibílí,” one of the most arrogant among the ecclesiastical leaders of Persia” managed to get the Sháh’s approval to have the captive supporters of Táhirih returned to Qazvin, from Tihran, and receive public forgiveness from the relatives of Táhirih’s uncle

The Sadr-i-Ardibílí was sore afraid, and in his impotence sought to beguile his sovereign. He addressed the following request to Muhammad Sháh: “I would humbly implore your Majesty to allow the captives to accompany the heirs of that martyred leader on their return to Qazvín, that these may, of their own accord, forgive them publicly their action, and enable them to recover their freedom. Such a gesture on their part will considerably enhance their position and will win them the esteem of their countrymen.” The Sháh, wholly unaware of the mischievous designs of that crafty plotter, immediately granted his request, on the express condition that a written statement be sent to him from Qazvín assuring him that the condition of the prisoners after their freedom was entirely satisfactory, and that no harm was likely to befall them in the future. 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’ chapter 15)

June 2, 2026

Relatives of the Táhirih’s uncle unable to get the support from the Prime Minister to further avenge the death of Mullá Taqí turned to “the Sadr-i-Ardibílí, a man notoriously presumptuous and one of the most arrogant among the ecclesiastical leaders of Persia”

The unsatiable hatred that animated those who had been responsible for the martyrdom of Shaykh Sálih impelled them to seek additional instruments for the furtherance of their designs. Hájí Mírzá Aqásí, whom the Sáhib-Diván [local ‘Master of the Bureau’, or ‘Chief of the Secretariat’] had succeeded in convincing of the treacherous conduct of the heirs of Mullá Taqí, refused to entertain their appeal. Undeterred by his refusal, they submitted their case to the Sadr-i-Ardibílí, a man notoriously presumptuous and one of the most arrogant among the ecclesiastical leaders of Persia. “Behold,” they pleaded, “the indignity that has been inflicted upon those whose supreme function it is to keep guard over the integrity of the Law. How can you, who are its chief and illustrious exponent, allow so grave an affront to its dignity to remain unpunished? Are you really incapable of avenging the blood of that slaughtered minister of the Prophet of God? Do you not realise that to tolerate such a heinous crime would in itself unloose a flood of calumny against those who are the chief repositories of the teachings and principles of our Faith? Will not your silence embolden the enemies of Islám to shatter the structure which your own hands have reared? As a result, will not your own life be endangered?” 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’ chapter 15)