ART. XXVI.-Personal Reminiscences of the Bábí Insurrection
at Zanján in 1850, written in Persian by ÁQÁ 'ABDU'L-
AHAD-I-ZANJÁNÍ, and translated into English by
EDWARD G. BROWNE, M.A., M.R.A.S.
Impressions of these seals were shown to me by Subh-i-Ezel, as well as the
original document in the Báb's handwriting nominating him successor and
vicegerent, of which the text and translation are given at p. 426 of my
translation of the New History. This document had, as I understood, been
photographed some time previously by M. Nicolas. Subh-i-Ezel also gave me one
of the charms or talismans distributed by the Báb amongst his followers.
This is a sheet of greenish paper, measuring 27.0 x 21.2 centimetres, on which
is imprinted in gold the talismanic figure, consisting of a central square of
forty-nine compartments surrounded by eight concentric circles (enclosing seven
zones), which are further divided by nineteen radial lines. All these
compartments contain writing (verses from the Qur'án, Names of God,
isolated letters, and cabbalistic characters). The writing contained in the
central ones is in black ink, and, according to Subh-i-Ezel's assertion, is
in the Báb's own hand. Another talisman (heykal), written in the
shape of a pentacle entirely in the Báb's hand, was given to me by
Sheykh 'Alí Bakhsh b. Hájí Muhammad Huseyn of
Zanján.
(II) From Rizván 'Alí, the son of Subh-i-Ezel
I obtained first a verbal, and later a written, list of Subh-i-Ezel's
writings. I here print the latter in the original, adding a few comments in
English from the former.
1) Kitab-i Divan al-Azal bar Nahj-i Ruh-i Ayat (Comprising 28 rúh./[Spirits].)
2) Kitab-i Nur (Arabic áyát arranged in súras like the
Qur'án, but four times as large. Revealed at Baghdad.)
3)Kitab-i `Aliyyin, Qavanin(Laws, in Arabic. Each súra is called [sifr]
4) Kitab-i Lam`at al-Azal (Ayat) (28 súras on the prophets from Adam.)
5) Kitab-i Hayat (Yak Surih, Ayat).
6) Kitab-i Jam` (Yak Surih, Ayat).
7) Kitab-i Quds-i Azal (Yak Surih, Ayat). (One súra of áyát, equal in size to the Qur'án.)
8) Kitab-i Avval, va Thani (Lawh, Ayat)
9) Kitab-i Mir'at al-Bayan 131 Bab va har babi mushtamil ast bar chahar sha'n (ya`ni ayat, munajat, khutbih, khitab).
10) Kitab-i Ihtiraz al-Quds (Tafsir-i Ash`ar-i `Arabi) (Commentary on his own Arabic poems.)
11) Kitab-i Tadli` al-Uns (Tafsir-i Ash`ar-i `Arabi). (Do.)
12) Kitab-i Naghmat ar-Ruh (Tafsir-i Ash`ar-i `Arabi). (Do.)
13) Kitab-i Bahhaj (Yak surih, ayat). (A small volume.)
14) Kitab-i Hayakil (1001 heykals, or talismanic figures, of áyát.)
15) Kitab fi Tadrib `add huwa bi 'smi `Ali (110 Munajat)
Sons. |
1.
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Núru'lláh,
aet. 48, now in Resht. His son, Hájí Seyyid Ahmad, called
Rúhu'lláh, happened to be at Famagusta when I was there
last, with his little boy, 'Ináyatu'lláh, aet. 7, and an
Isfahání lad named Muhammad 'Alí. He was a man of
remarkable ability and of very agreeable manners, and a physician by profession.
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2.
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Muhammad
Hádí, who died two years ago in the plague at Tihrán,
aet. 46.
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3.
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Ahmad
Bahháj, aet. 43. Resident in Constantinople for the last thirteen or
fourteen years.
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4.
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'Abdu'l-'Alí,
aet. 38. Resident at Famagusta.
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5.
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Rizván
'Alí, aet. 33. At present resident at Larnaca.
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6.
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Fu'ádu'lláh,
who died at Famagusta eight or nine years ago, aet. 20.
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7.
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Muhammad,
entitled Beyánu'lláh, Bahá'u'lláh,
and Jamálu'lláh, aet. 29.
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Daughters. | 8. |
'Abdu'l-Wahíd
(also called 'Abdu'l-Jalíl, Muhammad Jamíl), aet.
24.
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9.
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Taqí'u'd-Dín
(Muhammad Taqí), aet. 18.
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1.
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Hibatu'lláh
(Jazbatu'lláh), aet. 36. At Constantinople.
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2.
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tal'atu'lláh,
aet. 32. At Constantinople.
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3.
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Mushiyyatu'lláh,
who died twenty-one years ago, aet. 8.
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4.
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Bahjatu'l-Quds
(Raf'atu'lláh), aet. 35.
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5.
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Maryam
Sultán, aet. 20, who was married last year at Constantinople.
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1. |
Áyatu'lláh,
or 'Ádila Sultán, the only daughter of Ahmad
Bahháj.
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2.
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Wáhida
Sultán, daughter of 'Abdu'l-'Alí.
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3.
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'Ázima
Sultán, daughter of 'Abdu'l-'Alí.
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4.
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Sat.watu'lláh,
daughter of 'Abdu'l-'Alí.
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5.
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Another
daughter who died when 14 days old, daughter of 'Abdu'l-'Alí.
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6.
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Muhammad
Ziyá'u'lláh (Núru'd-Dín,
Kalimu'd-Dín, 'Izamu'd-Dín), dead.
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7.
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Fázila
Sultán.
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8.
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Ebediyya
Sultán, a little girl whom I saw repeatedly with Subh-i-Ezel. She
talks Turkish and a little French, but hardly any Persian. (The three
last-mentioned are children of Subh-i-Ezel's daughter
tal'atu'lláh.)
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