Before Mulla Husayn met the Báb and became His first
believer, he was a disciple of Siyyid Kázim, one of the two forerunners of the
Báb – the other was Siyyid Kázim’s teacher, Shaykh Ahmad.
The passing of his beloved master, Shaykh Ahmad, brought
unspeakable sorrow to the heart of Siyyid Kázim, who was his appointed
successor. Inspired by the verse of the Qur’án, “Fain would they put out God’s
light with their mouths; but God only desireth to perfect His light, albeit the
infidels abhor it,” Siyyid Kázim arose with unswerving purpose to consummate
the task with which his master Shaykh Ahmad had entrusted him. He found
himself, after the removal of so distinguished a protector, a victim of the
slanderous tongues and unrelenting enmity of the people around him. They
attacked his person, scorned his teachings, and reviled his name.
At the instigation of a powerful and notorious shí’ah leader
in Karbilá, Iraq, the enemies of Siyyid Kázim leagued together, and determined
to destroy him. Thereupon Siyyid Kázim conceived the plan of securing the
support and good will of one of the most formidable and outstanding
ecclesiastical dignitaries of Persia who lived in the city of Isfáhán and whose
authority extended far beyond the confines of that city. This friendship and
sympathy, Siyyid Kázim thought, would enable him to pursue unhampered the
course of his activities, and would considerably enhance the influence which he
exercised over his disciples.
