In the beginning of that same month [December 1848],
Bahá’u’lláh, faithful to the promise He had given to Mullá Husayn, set out,
attended by a number of His friends, from Núr for the fort of Tabarsí… [He was
accompanied by a number of Bábís including Mulla Baqir, one of the Letters of
the Living, and Mirza Yahya, His half-brother.] Bahá’u’lláh had signified His
wish that they should proceed directly to their destination and allow no pause
in their journey. His intention was to reach that spot at night, inasmuch as
strict orders had been issued, ever since ‘Abdu’lláh Khán had assumed the
command, that no help should be extended, under any circumstances, to the
occupants of the fort. Guards had been stationed at different places to ensure
the isolation of the besieged. His companions, however, pressed Him to
interrupt the journey and to seek a few hours of rest. Although He knew that
this delay would involve a grave risk of being surprised by the enemy, He
yielded to their earnest request. They halted at a lonely house adjoining the
road. [about nine miles to Fort Tabarsi] After supper, his companions all
retired to sleep. He alone, despite the hardships He had endured, remained
wakeful. He knew well the perils to which He and His friends were exposed, and
was fully aware of the possibilities which His early arrival at the fort
involved.
As He watched beside them, the secret emissaries of the
enemy informed the guards of the neighbourhood of the arrival of the party, and
ordered the immediate seizure of whatever they could find in their possession.
“We have received strict orders, they told Bahá’u’lláh, whom they recognised
instantly as the leader of the group, “to arrest every person we chance to meet
in this vicinity, and are commanded to conduct him, without any previous
investigation, to Ámul [a city in Mazindaran] and deliver him into the hands of
its governor.”
“The matter has been misrepresented in your eyes,”
Bahá’u’lláh remarked. “You have misconstrued our purpose. I would advise you to
act in a manner that will cause you eventually no regret.” This admonition,
uttered with dignity and calm, induced the chief of the guards to treat with
consideration and courtesy those whom he had arrested. He bade them mount their
horses and proceed with him to Ámul. As they were approaching the banks of a
river, Bahá’u’lláh signalled to His companions, who were riding at a distance
from the guards, to cast into the water whatever manuscripts they had in their
possession.
At daybreak, as they were approaching the town, a message
was sent in advance to the acting governor, informing him of the arrival of a
party that had been captured on their way to the fort of Tabarsí. The governor
himself, together with the members of his body-guard, had been appointed to
join the army of Prince Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá, [at Fort Tabarsi] and had
commissioned his kinsman to act in his absence. As soon as the message reached
him, he went to the masjid of Ámul and summoned the ‘ulamás and leading siyyids
of the town to gather and meet the party. He was greatly surprised as soon as
his eyes saw and recognised Bahá’u’lláh, and deeply regretted the orders he had
given. He feigned to reprimand Him for the action He had taken, in the hope of
appeasing the tumult and allaying the excitement of those who had gathered in
the masjid. [Mosque]
“We are innocent,” Bahá’u’lláh declared, “of the guilt they
impute to us. Our blamelessness will eventually be established in your eyes. I
would advise you to act in a manner that will cause you eventually no regret.”
- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)
