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The house in Qazvin in which
Tahirih was born, had been and
during the vicious reactions following the killing of her uncle
was confined in its cellar.
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“In a Tablet which We yesterday revealed, We have explained
the meaning of the words, ‘Turn your eyes away,’ [1] in the course of Our
reference to the circumstances attending the gathering at Badasht. We were
celebrating, in the company of a number of distinguished notables, the nuptials
of one of the princes of royal blood in Tihrán, when Siyyid Ahmad-i-Yazdí,
father of Siyyid Ḥusayn, the Báb’s amanuensis, appeared suddenly at the door.
He beckoned to Us, and seemed to be the bearer of an important message which he
wished immediately to deliver. We were, however, unable at that moment to leave
the gathering, and motioned to him to wait. When the meeting had dispersed, he
informed Us that Táhirih had been placed in strict confinement in Qazvín, and
that her life was in great danger. We immediately summoned Muhammad-Hádíy-i-Farhádí,
and gave him the necessary directions to release her from her captivity, and
escort her to the capital. As the enemy had seized Our house, We were unable to
accommodate her indefinitely in Our home. Accordingly, We arranged for her
transference from Our house to that of the Minister of War, who, in those days,
had been disgraced by his sovereign and had been deported to Káshán. We
requested his sister, who still was numbered among Our friends, to act as
hostess to Táhirih.
“She remained in her company until the call of the Báb,
bidding Us proceed to Khurásán, reached Our ears. We decided that Táhirih
should proceed immediately to that province, and commissioned Mírzá [Musa] to
conduct her to a place outside the gate of the city, and from thence to any
locality she deemed advisable in that neighbourhood. She was taken to an
orchard in the vicinity of which was a deserted building, where they found an
old man who acted as its caretaker. Mírzá Músá returned and informed Us of the
reception which had been accorded to them, and highly praised the beauty of the
surrounding landscape. We subsequently arranged for her departure for Khurásán,
and promised that We would follow within the space of a few days.
“We soon joined her at Badasht…
- Baha’u’llah (Quoted by
Nabil in ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)
[1] According to Islámic traditions, Fátimih, Muhammad’s
daughter, will appear unveiled as she crosses the bridge “Ṣirat“ on the Day of
Judgment. At her appearance a voice from heaven will declare: “Turn your eyes
away, O concourse of people!”
