Mirza Aqa Jan embraced the religion of the Báb when he was about
sixteen years old and became instantly “aflame with devotion.” He was neither learned nor rich
and made his living in his hometown of Kashan making and selling soap. Soap-making
was a humble trade in those days, often carried out at home by people who were
not well educated.
Mirza Aqa jan
was also a seeker of truth who had seen the Báb in his dreams and believed in
Him. He had also read the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and felt the urge to attain
His presence. He left his home in Kashan unexpectedly and traveled to
Iraq.
When he reached Baghdad, he learned that Bahá’u’lláh was
visiting the Babís in the neighboring town of Karbila and where He was the
guest of one of the resident Bábis. This was before Baha’u’llah’s Declaration
in the Garden of Ridvan. Mirza Aqa Jan followed Baha’u’llah to Karbila.
Bahá’u’lláh liked to spend the hot summer nights on the flat roof of the house, as people often
did. There He chanted His prayers under a canopy of stars and slept in the fresh
night air.
One night Bahá’u’lláh invited Mirza Aqa Jan who had just arrived in Karbala to join Him on the roof. Bahá’u’lláh was already sleeping when Mirza Aqa jan spread out his bedding nearby on a carpet and lay down for a brief rest.
Many
years later, Mirza Aqa jan related the following amazing account to the great
Baha’i historian, Nabil:
