Among the most eminent of those who left their homeland to join
Bahá’u’lláh was Mírzá Hasan, the great Afnán, who during the latter days won
the honor of emigrating and of receiving the favor and companionship of his
Lord. The Afnán, related to the Báb, was specifically named by the Supreme Pen
as an offshoot of the Holy Tree. When still a small child, he received his
portion of bounty from the Báb, and showed forth an extraordinary attachment to
that dazzling Beauty. Not yet adolescent, he frequented the society of the
learned, and began to study sciences and arts. He reflected day and night on
the most abstruse of spiritual questions, and gazed in wonderment at the mighty
signs of God as written in the Book of Life. He became thoroughly versed even
in such material sciences as mathematics, geometry, and geography; in brief, he
was well grounded in many fields, thoroughly conversant with the thought of
ancient and modern times.
A merchant by profession, he spent only a short period of
the day and evening at his business, devoting most of his time to discussion
and research. He was truly erudite, a great credit to the Cause of God amongst
leading men of learning. With a few concise phrases, he could solve perplexing
questions. His speech was laconic, but in itself a kind of miracle.
Although he first became a believer in the days of the Báb,
it was during the days of Bahá’u’lláh that he caught fire. Then his love of God
burned away every obstructing veil and idle thought. He did all he could to
spread the Faith of God, becoming known far and wide for his ardent love of
Bahá’u’lláh. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Memorials of the Faithful)
