Journey to a Mountain The Story of the Shrine of the Báb Volume 1 1850−1921
The Gate and the Glory, 1850−1892 The Mission of the Master, 1892−1921
Michael V. Day
GEORGE RONALD OXFORD
George Ronald, Publisher Oxford www.grbooks.com
© Michael V. Day 2017 All Rights Reserved A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978–0–85398– 603–4
Cover design: William McGuire and René Steiner
Contents Foreword Acknowledgements
xi xiii
THE GATE AND THE GLORY, 1850−1892 1 The Retrieval 2 Momentous Events 3 Looking for a Safe Place 4 The Holy Land 5 The Casket on the Move 6 The Site for the Shrine
3 8 10 13 15 17
THE MISSION OF THE MASTER, 1892−1921 7 Setting His Strategy 8 Concealment and Transfer 9 The Sarcophagus 10 The Foundation 11 Crisis and Construction 12 Enemies Step Up Attacks 13 The Building 14 Release and Aftermath 15 Interment of the Sacred Remains 16 Gatherings at the Oriental Pilgrim House 17 War, Tyranny and Liberation 18 Post-war Gatherings at the Shrine of the Báb 19 The Western Pilgrim House 20 Terraces and Lights 21 The Shrine Becomes the Tomb of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
23 29 38 41 45 50 59 72 76 85 90 102 111 115 120
ANNEXES 1 The Bรกb 2 The Spiritual Significance of the Shrine of the Bรกb 3 The Holy Land and Mount Carmel 4 The Tablet of Carmel 5 Tablets of Visitation
135 151 157 168 170
Bibliography References Index About the Author
173 183 233 240
journey to a mountain
2
Momentous Events The casket was to remain in the Shrine of Imám-Zádih Ma‘súm for the next 17 years, a period of momentous significance in the history of the Bahá’í Faith. After the execution of the Báb the persecution of His followers was horrific. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá1 described what happened: ‘Fire fell upon the households of the Bábís, and each one of them, in whatever hamlet he might be, was, on the slightest suspicion arising, put to the sword.’2 It became even worse. In 1852 persecution of the followers of the Báb exploded throughout the land following a hopelessly inept assassination attempt upon the Shah by two crazed Bábís. Urged on by the clergy, the mob put to death anybody remotely suspected of being a Bábí. Thousands upon thousands were killed. Sulaymán Khán was arrested, but as an influential person he had his case reviewed by the Shah, who decreed that his life would be spared if he recanted his faith. If not, he was to be executed in any way he himself chose.3 In a demonstration of his fidelity to the Báb, Sulaymán Khán refused to recant. He then announced how he wanted to die. The executioner did as he asked. He ordered his men to insert nine candles in Sulaymán Khán’s flesh. Then he lit them. Sulaymán Khán marched through the town to the place of execution, ‘erect as an arrow, his eyes glowing with stoic fortitude’.4 He addressed the crowd with these words: ‘Glorified be the Báb, who can kindle such devotion in the breasts of His lovers, and can endow them with a power greater than the might of kings!’5 As he arrived at the place of execution, Sulaymán Khán, the man whose name will be associated forever with the Shrine of the Báb, prostrated himself in the direction of the Shrine of Imám-Zádih Hasan, where the casket of the Báb had once been housed. The gallows only partially did its intended work. Still flickering with life, his tongue still praising the Báb, Sulaymán Khán was sawn in two. Each half of his
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