A Traveler's Narrative

page 8

Now when the news of the decisions of the doctors and the outcry and clamor of the lawyers reached Zanján, Mullá Muhammad-`Alí the divine, who was a man of mark possessed of penetrating speech, sent one of those on whom he could rely to Shíráz to investigate this matter. This person, having acquainted himself with the details of these occurrences in such wise as was necessary and proper, returned with some [of the Báb's's] writings. When the divine heard how matters were and had made himself acquainted with the writings, notwithstanding that he was a man expert in knowledge and noted for profound research, he went mad and became crazed as was predestined: he gathered up his books in the lecture-room saying, "The season of spring and wine has arrived," and uttered this sentence: "Search for knowledge after reaching the known is culpable." Then from the summit of the pulpit he summoned and directed all his disciples [to embrace the doctrine], and wrote to the Báb his own declaration and confession.

The Báb in His reply signified to him the obligation of congregational prayer.

Although the doctors of Zanján arose with heart and soul to exhort and admonish the people they could effect nothing. Finally they were compelled to go to Tihrán and made their complaint before the late king Muhammad Sháh, requesting that Mullá Muhammad-`Alí might be summoned to Tihrán. So the royal order went forth that he should appear.

Now when he came to Tihrán they brought him before a conclave of the doctors; but, so they relate, after many controversies