The “source of envy and the quintessence of mischief”: - Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahán: “The black-hearted scoundrel who befooled and manipulated” Mirza Yahyá

The black-hearted scoundrel who befooled and manipulated this vain and flaccid man [Mirza Yahyá] with consummate skill and unyielding persistence was a certain Siyyid Muhammad, a native of Isfahán, notorious for his inordinate ambition, his blind obstinacy and uncontrollable jealousy. To him Bahá’u’lláh had later referred in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas as the one who had “led astray” Mírzá Yahyá, and stigmatized him, in one of His Tablets, as the “source of envy and the quintessence of mischief,” while ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá had described the relationship existing between these two as that of “the sucking child” to the “much-prized breast” of its mother. Forced to abandon his studies in the madrisiy-i-Sadr of Isfahán, this Siyyid had migrated, in shame and remorse, to Karbilá, had there joined the ranks of the Báb’s followers, and shown, after His martyrdom, signs of vacillation which exposed the shallowness of his faith and the fundamental weakness of his convictions. Bahá’u’lláh’s first visit to Karbilá and the marks of undisguised reverence, love and admiration shown Him by some of the most distinguished among the former disciples and companions of Siyyid Káẓim, had aroused in this calculating and unscrupulous schemer an envy, and bred in his soul an animosity, which the forbearance and patience shown him by Bahá’u’lláh had served only to inflame. His deluded helpers, willing tools of his diabolical designs, were the not inconsiderable number of Bábís who, baffled, disillusioned and leaderless, were already predisposed to be beguiled by him into pursuing a path diametrically opposed to the tenets and counsels of a departed Leader. 

- Shoghi Effendi (‘God Passes By’)

Winds of dissension: Mirzá Yahyá and Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání

But winds of dissension were already blowing, and rifts were making their mark. Whilst bound in chains in the Siyáh-Chál of Tihràn, at a time when Mirza Yahya [half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh] was constantly running for shelter, Bahá’u’lláh had vowed to arise and regenerate the shattered community of the Báb. Now, from the obscurity he had chosen, Mirzá Yahyá was secretly engaged in engineering opposition to Bahá’u’lláh, in company with Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahání, who had established himself in Karbilá. 

- Hasan Balyuzi (‘Bahá’u’lláh King of Glory’)

Bahá’u’lláh “exhorted all men, and particularly this people, [the Bábís]" and “forbade them to engage in sedition, quarrels, disputes and conflict”; “all unseemly and unholy deeds”

After Our arrival, We revealed, as a copious rain, by the aid of God and His Divine Grace and mercy, Our verses, and sent them to various parts of the world. We exhorted all men, and particularly this people, [the Bábís] through Our wise counsels and loving admonitions, and forbade them to engage in sedition, quarrels, disputes and conflict. 

- Baha'u'llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

In that land We forbad all mischief, and all unseemly and unholy deeds. Day and night We sent forth Our Tablets in every direction. We had no other purpose except to edify the souls of men, and to exalt the blessed Word. 

- Baha'u'llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Visiting Bábís from Iranian cities met with Bahá’u’lláh and returned to their homes singing his praises to the Babi communities there

A number of the most influential Iranian and Arab Bábís in Kazimayn and Baghdad found the leadership that they sorely needed in Bahá’u’lláh and gathered around Him. Increasing numbers of Bábís also began to visit Baghdad from Iranian cities such as Kashan, Isfahan and Yazd. These met with Bahá’u’lláh and returned to their homes singing His praises to the Bábí communities there. One of those who joined the circle that was gathering around Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad was a youth, Mirza Aqa Jan, who arrived in Baghdad from Kashan in September 1853. He was in later years to become the principal secretary of Baha’u’llah. Azal [Yahyá] observed these developments from a distance. On the one hand, he had gone into hiding out of fear and had forbidden any Bábís from trying to seek him out. On the other hand, he was jealous of the fact that Bahá’u’lláh was the centre of a growing band of admirers. He therefore began to spread rumours about Bahá’u’lláh, causing dissension and disunity among the Bábís. He was aided in his scheming by a certain Siyyid Muhammad Isfahani, who had attached himself to Azal and was goading him into these actions. 

- Moojan Momen (‘Bahá’u’lláh, A Short Biography’)

Distinguished Persian and Arab followers of the Báb in Iraq and Kázimayn began rallying around Bahá’u’llah

One of the very first to recognize in Bahá’u’lláh that true mentor, counsellor and guide which the community of the Báb sorely needed, was Hàji Háshim-i-‘Attár, a wealthy Persian merchant who lived in new Baghdad. Having once attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, he became devoted to Him, and in the end gave Him his allegiance…Aqá Muhammad-Hasan, a merchant of Isfahan; Siyyid Muhammad-Ridá and Siyyid Muhammad-Taqi, two brothers, sons of Siyyid-i-Buká'; Haji ’Abdu’l-Majid-i-Shírází - the father of that glorious martyr, Mirzá ’Abdu’l-Vahháb and his brother, Mirza Hasan, who was known as ’Gul-i-Guláb’ (Red Rose, literally, ‘the flower of the rose-water') - all Persians who lived in Kázimayn - rallied round Him. And so did the Arab Bábis of Baghdad, notably Shaykh Sultán and Áqá Muhammad-Mustafá. Another veteran of the Faith of the Báb, who very soon came to see that the hopes of the Bábis must be centred in the person of Bahá’u’lláh, was Haji Siyyid Javád-i-Karbilá'i.

Shaykh-Ali Mirza of Shiraz, a distinguished figure related to the imám-jum’ih of Shiráz, as well as Siyyid ‘Abdu’r-Rahim of Isfahan (honoured in later years with the designation of Ismu'llahi'r-Rahim 1 the Name of God, the Merciful), and Mirza Muhammad-'Ali, the physician of Zanjan, who was to meet a martyr's death, were the most notable of the Babis in Iran who. from that early time, became convinced that only by turning to Jináb-i-Bahá could they find that sure anchor which could and would steady the storm-tossed ship of their Faith. 

- Hasan Balyuzi (‘Bahá’u’lláh King of Glory’)