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’)
