A Traveler's Narrative
page 19
Muhammad-`Alí of Mazindarán, who was the disciple of the
illustrious Siyyid (may God exalt his station) Hájí Siyyid
Kázim of Rasht, and who was the associate and companion of
the Báb in His pilgrimage journey. After a while certain
manners and states issued from him such that all, acting with
absolute confidence, considered obedience to him as an impregnable
stronghold, so that even Mullá Husayn of Bushrúyih,
who was the leader of all and the arbiter appealed to alike
by the noble and the humble of this sect, used to behave in his
presence with great humility and with the self-abasement of a
lowly servant.
This personage set himself to exalt the word of the Báb with
the utmost steadfastness, and the Báb did full justice to speech
in praising and glorifying him, accounting his uprising as an
assistance from the Unseen. In delivery and style he was
"evident magic," and in firmness and constancy superior to
all. At length in the year [A.H.] 1265 at the sentence of the
chief of lawyers the Sa'ídu'l-`Ulamá the chief divine of
Barfurúsh, he yielded his head and surrendered his life amidst
extremest clamor and outcry.
And amongst them was she who was entitled Qurratu'l-`Ayn
the daughter of Hájí Salíh, the sage of Qazvín, the erudite
doctor. She, according to what is related, was skilled in diverse
arts, amazed the understandings and thoughts of the most
eminent masters by her eloquent dissertations on the exegesis
and tradition of the Perspicuous Book, and was a mighty sign
in the doctrines of the glorious Shaykh of Ahsá. At the Supreme
Shrines she borrowed light on matters divine from the
lamp of Kázim, and freely sacrificed her life in the way of the
Báb. She discussed and disputed with the doctors and sages,
loosing her tongue to establish her doctrine. Such fame did
she acquire that most people who were scholars or mystics
sought to hear her speech and were eager to become acquainted
with her powers of speculation and deduction. She
had a brain full of tumultuous ideas, and thoughts vehement
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