This distinguished man, Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí, [Nabíl of Qá’in
was his title] was one of those whose hearts were drawn to Bahá’u’lláh before
the Declaration of the Báb; it was then that he drank the red wine of knowledge
from the hands of the Cupbearer of grace. It happened that a prince, who was
the son of Mír Asadu’lláh Khán, prince of Qá’in, was commanded to remain as a
political hostage in Tihrán. He was young, far away from his loving father, and
Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí was his tutor and guardian. Since the youth was a stranger
in Tihrán, the Blessed Beauty showed him special kindness. Many a night the
young prince was Bahá’u’lláh’s guest at the mansion, and Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí
would accompany him. This was prior to the Declaration of the Báb.
It was then that this chief of all trusted friends was
captivated by Bahá’u’lláh, and wherever he went, spread loving praise of Him.
After the way of Islám, he also related the great miracles which he had, with
his own eyes, seen Bahá’u’lláh perform, and the marvels he had heard. He was in
ecstasy, burning up with love. In that condition, he returned to Qá’in with the
prince.
Later on that eminent scholar, Áqá Muhammad of Qá’in (whose
title was Nabíl-i-Akbar) was made a mujtahid, a doctor of religious law, by the
late Shaykh Murtadá; he left, then, for Baghdád, became an ardent follower of
Bahá’u’lláh, and hastened back to Persia. The leading divines and mujtahids
were well aware of and acknowledged his vast scholarly accomplishments, the
breadth of his learning, and his high rank. When he reached Qá’in, he began
openly to spread the new Faith. The moment Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí heard the name
of the Blessed Beauty, he immediately accepted the Báb. “I had the honor,” he
said, “of meeting the Blessed Beauty in Tihrán. The instant I saw Him, I became
His slave.”
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk; ‘Memorials of the Faithful’)
