…men’s interest increased, and in all parts of Persia some
[of God’s] servants inclined toward Him [the Báb], until the matter acquired
such importance that the late king Muhammad Sháh delegated a certain
person named Siyyid Yahyá of Daráb, who was one of the best known of doctors
and Siyyids as well as an object of veneration and confidence, giving him a
horse and money for the journey so that he might proceed to Shíráz and
personally investigate this matter.
When the above-mentioned Siyyid arrived at Shíráz he
interviewed the Báb three times. In the first and second conferences
questioning and answering took place; in the third conference he requested a commentary
on the Súrih called Kawthar [Qur’án 108], and when the Báb, without thought or
reflection, wrote an elaborate commentary on the Kawthar in his presence, the
above-mentioned Siyyid was charmed and enraptured with Him, and straightway,
without consideration for the future or anxiety about the results of this
affection, hastened to Burújird to his father Siyyid Ja’far, known as Kashfí,
and acquainted him with the matter. And, although he was wise and prudent and
was wont to have regard to the requirements of the time, he wrote without fear
or care a detailed account of his observations to Mírzá Lutf-‘Alí the
chamberlain in order that the latter might submit it to the notice of the late
king, while he himself journeyed to all parts of Persia, and in every town and
station summoned the people from the pulpit-tops in such wise that other
learned doctors decided that he must be mad, accounting it a sure case of
bewitchment. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, 'A Traveler’s
Narrative')
