…Bahá’u’lláh, accompanied by a number of His companions,
proceeded immediately to the village of Mullá Muhammad, the chief divine of
Nur, whose two trusted envoys had already become followers of Bahá’u’lláh.
Mullá Muhammad most ceremoniously received Him. “I have not come to this
place,” Bahá’u’lláh observed, “to pay you an official or formal visit. My
purpose is to enlighten you regarding a new and wondrous Message, divinely
inspired and fulfilling the promise given to Islám. Whosoever has inclined his
ear to this Message has felt its irresistible power, and has been transformed
by the potency of its grace. Tell Me whatsoever perplexes your mind, or hinders
you from recognising the Truth.”
Mullá Muhammad disparagingly remarked: “I undertake no
action unless I first consult the Qur’án. I have invariably, on such occasions,
followed the practice of invoking the aid of God and His blessings; of opening
at random His sacred Book, and of consulting the first verse of the particular
page upon which my eyes chance to fall. From the nature of that verse I can
judge the wisdom and the advisability of my contemplated course of action.”
Finding that Bahá’u’lláh was not inclined to refuse him his request, the
mujtahid called for a copy of the Qur’án, opened and closed it again, refusing
to reveal the nature of the verse to those who were present. All he said was
this: “I have consulted the Book of God, and deem it inadvisable to proceed
further with this matter.” A few agreed with him; the rest, for the most part,
did not fail to recognise the fear which those words implied. Bahá’u’lláh,
disinclined to cause him further embarrassment, arose and, asking to be
excused, bade him a cordial farewell.
(Adapted from ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, by
Nabil, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)
