…I will relate the incident of His capture briefly.
One night we were asleep. [the year was 1846] Suddenly, the
chief of police, the accursed 'Abdu'l-Hamid Khan, entered with his men through the
roof of the house and seized the Báb, who was clad only in a thin robe. They
took Him away without any explanation. I never saw Him again.
I cannot describe the terrible trials, ordeals, and
difficulties that occurred after this. I did not see even one of His friends or
followers after his arrest. The doors were shut on all sides, and communications
were cut off completely.
One day I saw that Shiraz was in turmoil. [the year was 1850]
The populace was in an uproar and I could hear the loud noises of bugles and
trumpets. People were saying that the heads of the martyrs of Nayriz had been
brought into the city. The next day, with the same tumult and violence, those
captured at Nayriz were paraded through the city. How I longed to meet a
relative of one of those prisoners, but it was impossible. Two of the captives
came to our house in the guise of beggars, but no one dared speak to them.
But time passed and so did those events. Now [circa 1870] you
have come to visit us, and we can speak of any matter without fear.
(Khadijih
Bagum, quoted by Munirih Khanum, the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Munirih Khanum:
Memories and Letters’)
