…there were amongst the inhabitants of Isfáhán two brothers,
Siyyids of Tabátabá, Siyyid Hasan and Siyyid Husayn, celebrated in those parts
for piety, trustworthiness, and nobility; men of wealth, engaged in commerce,
behaving towards all men with perfect kindliness and courtesy. And to all
outward appearance no one had observed in either of these two brothers any
swerving from what was best, much less any conduct or behavior which could
deserve torment or punishment; for, as is related, they were admitted by all
[preeminent] in all praiseworthy and laudable qualities, while their deeds and
actions were like exhortations and admonitions. These had transacted business
with Mír Muhammad Ḥusayn the Imám-Jum’ih of Isfáhán;
and when they came to make up their accounts it appeared that the sum of
eighteen thousand túmans was due to them. They [therefore] broke off [further]
transactions, prepared a bond for this sum, and desired it to be sealed. This
thing was grievous to the Imám-Jum’ih, so that he came to the stage of anger
and enmity. Finding himself in debt, and having no recourse but to pay, he
raised clamor and outcry saying “These two brothers are Bábís and deserve
severe punishment from the king.” A crowd at once attacked their house,
plundered and pillaged all their goods, distressed and terrified their wives
and children, and seized and despoiled all their possessions. Then, fearing
that they might refer the punishment to the step of the king’s throne and loose
their tongues in demand of redress, he [i.e., the Imám-Jum’ih] fell to thinking
how to compass their death and destroy them. He therefore persuaded certain of
the doctors to cooperate with him, and they pronounced sentence of death.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
