Chapter Three

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to be the first believer in a new religion? This is what Mullá Husayn felt. He said:

"This Message, which was given to me so suddenly and without any preparation, came like a clap of thunder. For a while I could neither see, nor feel, nor hear. It was too great to be true. I could not realize what had happened. I became excited and happy. Before, I had been weak and powerless. I became glad and strong. I felt that I had so much courage and power that, even if all the world were to rise up against me, I would be able to meet any attack or difficulty. The world and all things seemed like a handful of dust in my grasp." Mullá Husayn seemed to be like the voice of the angel Gabriel, calling all mankind to awake, because the morning light had broken, and telling them to arise, because His cause was made clear, and the gate of God's grace was wide open. Mullá Husayn seemed to be saying, "enter therein, O peoples of the world! For He who is your Promised One is come!"

This is the way Mullá Husayn felt when he left the home of the Báb on that wonderful day. It was in this condition that he joined his brother and his nephew at the mosque. A large number of people had gathered there to greet him, he obeyed the Báb's command and did not tell anyone of his experiences. Instead, he said his prayers and began to organize classes as he was told to do.

More and more people started to come to Mullá Husayn's classes. He did not tell them about the Báb, but he did tell them many other things to awaken their hearts. So beautilully did he speak that even the religious leaders and city officials came to hear him. He had never spoken so well. His speeches were filled with the new spirit which the Báb had given him.

During those days the Báb invited him to come and visit Him several times. The Báb would send His servant to the mosque with a loving message of welcome, and each time Mullá Husayn would spend the rest of the night with the Báb. While Mullá Husayn listened, the hours would fly by without notice, and daylight would come too soon.

On one of these nightly visits, the Báb said, "Tomorrow thirteen of your companions will arrive. To each of them extend the utmost loving-kindness. Leave them not to themselves, for they have dedicated their lives to the quest of their Beloved. Pray to God that He may graciously enable them to walk securely in that path which is finer than a hair and keener than a sword. Certain ones among them will be accounted, in the sight of God, as His chosen and favoured disciples. As to others, they will tread the middle way. The fate of the rest will remain undeclared until the hour when all that is hidden shall be made manifest."

On that same morning, at sunrise, soon after Mullá Husayn had arrived at the mosque, thirteen men came, as the Báb had promised.

One night a few days later, Mullá 'Alí, the leader of the group, could not keep quiet any longer. He said to Mullá Husayn, "You know how much we trust you. If you were to say that you were the Promised One yourself, we would certainly believe you. Because of you, we have left our homes in search of the beloved. You have set the example. We have followed in your footsteps. We have followed you to this place, and we are ready to accept whomever you accept as the Promised One, and we are ready for all the troubles it may bring to us. Now we are here with you, and we see you teaching the people and saying your prayers in perfect peace, and you do not seem to be looking for the Promised One any longer. Please tell us why, so that we may understand."

Mullá Husayn spoke to him gently, because he knew what was in their hearts. "Your friends," he said, " probably feel that I am at peace because I have become well known and successful in this city. The truth is far from that. Success in this world is of no interest to me. Mullá Husayn is only interested in his beloved. Ever since the beginning of my search, I have pomised God that I would give my life for His cause. Not until I shed my blood for His name will the fire that is within me be stopped. I pray to God that you will live to see that day. I wonder if your friends have not thought that perhaps God has opened the gate for Mullá Husayn, and because he is not able to tell anyone, he prays and holds classes."

These last words awakened the soul of Mullá 'Alí. He knew what they meant immediately.Tears filled his eyes, and he begged Mullá Husayn to tell him who the Promised One was. But Mullá Husayn said to him, "Please, you must not ask me this question. Let your trust be in God, for he will surely guide your steps,and satusfy the excitement in your heart."

Mullá 'Alí hurried to his friends and told them about his conversaation with Mullá Husayn. The news set their hearts on fire, and they immediately went to their rooms to fast and pray, so that they could be able to recognize their beloved.

On the third night of his prayers, Mullá 'Alí had a vision. Before his eyes came a light, and the light moved off ahead of him. As the light moved forward, he followed it, and in his dream he came to the arms of his promised Beloved. He awoke in the middle of the night from his dream, radiant with joy and gladness. He hurried to the room of Mullá Husayn and threw himself into his arms. Mullá Husayn lovingly embraced him and said: "Praise be to God Who hath guided us here. If God had not guided us, we would not have been guided."

At the break of day, Mullá Husayn and Mullá 'Alí hurried to the home of the Báb. The door of His house was already open, and the Báb's servant was there to greet them. he recognized them immediately and said, "Before the break of day, my Master told me to open the door of the house and stand ready at the entrance. 'Two guests', He said, 'are to arrive early this morning. Extend to them in My name a loving welcome. Say to them from Me: "Enter therein in the name of God." ' "

Mullá 'Alí was then brought into the presence of his beloved Báb for the first time, and his happiness and joy was as Mullá Husayn's had been a few days before. Everything in the room seemed to say, "Verily, verily, the dawn of a new Day has broken."

During the next few days each of the twelve companions of Mullá 'Alí looked for and found his Beloved. Some had experiences while asleep, some while awake, a few whilst in prayer, and others while in deep thought. Each in his own way was led to recognize the power of God's glory. Each of them came to Mullá Husayn with great joy and happiness, and he led them to the presence of the Báb.