1848: Muhammad Shah orders Baha’u’llah’s arrest and execution

Muhammad Shah

Those opposed to Baha’u’llah in Tihran, including the persistently hostile Prime Minister, were reawakening the suspicions of the gravely ailing Muhammad Shah by reporting Baha’u’llah to be the prime mover of the suspicious and incendiary Bábí gathering near Shahrud, and creator of the disturbance at Niyala. In the end they succeeded in stirring the sovereign's latent antagonisms into evil decision: 

'I have hitherto refused to countenance whatever has been said against him. My indulgence has been actuated by my recognition of the services rendered to my country by his father. This time, however, I am determined to put him to death.

To carry out his deadly intention, through Prime Minister Aqasi, he commanded an officer in Teheran to instruct his son in Mazindaran to arrest Baha’u’llah and accompany Him to the capital for execution. The officer's son received these orders in Bandar-Gaz on the day prior to his own planned reception for Baha’u’llah, for Whom he had a strong attachment. Sorely distressed, he was deeply reluctant either to tell the grim news or to carry out the order, although he knew he must obey his king. Baha’u’llah, however, observed the effect of the unknown message, and relieved the young man's acute apprehensions by advising that he put his trust in God.

Baha’u’llah travelled from Badash to Núr “village by village, town by town”

Bahá'u'lláh states in one of His Tablets that after leaving Badasht, He travelled to Nur by easy stages….'village by village, town by town' - until He arrived at Nur. It was probably while Bahá'u'lláh was at Bandar-Jaz during the course of this journey that the following incident occurred. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has related that when Bahá'u'lláh arrived at Bandar-Jaz, He was taken ill. In this sea-town lived a Bábí, named Mirza Masih, a man of superior qualities. 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes him as 'spirit personified', one who, 'having read just one verse from the pen of the Primal Point, observed: "Just let this Báb be mine; you may have everyone else"'. At this very time, while Bahá'u'lláh was at Bandar-Jaz, Mirza Masih passed away. Bahá'u'lláh held a memorial meeting for him, and also wrote a prayer of visitation for this, wonderful man. 

- Balyuzi  (‘Baha'u'llah - The King of Glory’)

Baha’u’llah arranged for the safe transfer of Tahirih to Núr in Mazindaran

With his characteristic presence of mind, the courageous Jinab-i-Baha [Baha’u’llah] had made the most of an ugly situation [the village of Níyálá], recovering some of the goods stolen from their camp and reestablishing the confidence of the people. Most important, he had sent the estimable Quddus in disguise to temporary safety in Barfurush and again rescued the noble Tahirih, symbol of all the brave women who would hereafter espouse the new Cause. Soon, wary that the beauteous Tahirih would be recognized and apprehended, he consigned that precious woman, with her attendant, to the protection of Shaykh Abu Turab, who was asked to escort her in safety to Nur. There she might live quietly, writing in relative obscurity, guarded by the faithful Babis, and under the protection of Jinab-i-Baha. She was now homeless, her beloved children stolen from her under Islamic law which mandated custody to her unworthy ex-husband. Plainly she was marked for grave new perils. Asylum was her present need. 

- David Ruhe  (‘Robe of Light’, vol. 1)

Baha’u’llah recalls the incident at the village of Niyala

We were all gathered in the village of Níyálá and were resting at the foot of a mountain, when, at the hour of dawn, we were suddenly awakened by the stones which the people of the neighbourhood were hurling upon us from the top of the mountain. The fierceness of their attack induced our companions to flee in terror and consternation. I clothed Quddús in my own garments and despatched him to a place of safety, where I intended to join him. When I arrived, I found that he had gone. None of our companions had remained in Níyálá except Táhirih and a young man from Shíráz, Mírzá ‘Abdu’lláh. The violence with which we were assailed had brought desolation into our camp. I found no one into whose custody I could deliver Táhirih except that young man, who displayed on that occasion a courage and determination that were truly surprising. Sword in hand, undaunted by the savage assault of the inhabitants of the village, who had rushed to plunder our property, he sprang forward to stay the hand of the assailants. Though himself wounded in several parts of his body, he risked his life to protect our property. I bade him desist from his act. When the tumult had subsided, I approached a number of the inhabitants of the village and was able to convince them of the cruelty and shamefulness of their behaviour. I subsequently succeeded in restoring a part of our plundered property. 

- Baha’u’llah  (Quoted by Nabil, ‘The Dawn-Breakers’; translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

Receiving severe injuries at the village of Niyálá - consequences of misconduct behavior of a few Babís who had attended the conference of Badasht

Following the conference of Badasht, Bahá’u’lláh, Táhirih, and Quddús decided to go to Mázindarán. Quddús and Táhirih seated themselves in the same howdah  which had been prepared for their journey by Bahá’u’lláh. On their way, Táhirih each day composed an ode which she instructed those who accompanied her to chant as they followed her howdah. Mountain and valley re-echoed the shouts with which that enthusiastic band, as they journeyed to Mázindarán, hailed the extinction of the old, and the birth of the new Day.

In the course of their journey to Mázindarán, a few of the followers of the Báb sought to abuse the liberty which the repudiation of the laws and sanctions of an outgrown Faith had conferred upon them. They viewed the unprecedented action of Táhirih in discarding the veil as a signal to transgress the bounds of moderation and to gratify their selfish desires. The excesses in which a few indulged provoked the wrath of the Almighty and caused their immediate dispersion. In the village of Níyálá, they were grievously tested and suffered severe injuries at the hands of their enemies. This scattering extinguished the mischief which a few of the irresponsible among the adherents of the Faith had sought to kindle, and preserved untarnished its honour and dignity.

(Adapted from ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, by Nabil; translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)