Nabíl-i-Aʻzam

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Mulla Muhammad-i-Zarandi

Mullá Muḥammad-i-Zarandí (29 July 1831 – 1892), more commonly known as Nabíl-i-Aʻẓam (

The Dawn-Breakers, which stands out as one of the most important and extensive accounts of the ministry of the Báb
.

He learned about the Bábí Faith at the age of sixteen and met Baháʼu'lláh in 1851. He made several journeys on behalf of Baháʼu'lláh, was imprisoned in Egypt and is the only person known to have made the two pilgrimages to the House of the Báb in Shíráz and the House of Baháʼu'lláh in Baghdad in accordance with the rites set out by Baháʼu'lláh. After the passing of Baháʼu'lláh, and at the request of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he arranged a Tablet of Visitation from Baháʼu'lláh's writings which is now used in the Holy Shrines. Shortly afterwards, overcome with grief, love and longing for Baháʼu'lláh, he drowned himself into the sea.[2][3]

Background

Nabíl was born in Zarand, Iran on 29 July 1831. He was a shepherd but strove to overcome his meagre education. He would often go with his father to

madrisih as the transcriber of the Báb's writings; there he also met many Bábís who lived in or were travelling through the town, including Baháʼu'lláh.[4]

In 1852 there was an attempt on the life of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, which was followed by the persecution of the Bábí community. During this time, Nabíl put forward a claim to leadership of the Bábí community stating that he had received divine inspiration. Later, when he visited Baghdad and instead recognized Baháʼu'lláh's claim, he withdrew his own.[4]

Travels

From

Shiraz and the house of Baháʼu'lláh in Baghdad, making him the first to perform the pilgrimage according to Baháʼu'lláh's laws.[4]

In 1868 Nabíl was sent by Baháʼu'lláh to Egypt where he was imprisoned. When he was freed, Nabíl journeyed to

Mount Carmel and in Nazareth until he was able to enter ʻAkká.[4]
On his second attempt to enter the prison city he was able to stay 81 days, meeting Mírzá Áqá Ján and then Baháʼu'lláh.

After this, he was sent by Baháʼu'lláh again to Iran to confirm the belief of many of the Baháʼís.[4] In 1888 he began writing The Dawn-Breakers with the personal assistance of Mírzá Músá, the brother of Baháʼu'lláh. It was finished in about a year and a half, and parts of the manuscript were reviewed and approved, some by Baháʼu'lláh, and others by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.

Death

After his return from Iran, he lived in ʻAkká until Baháʼu'lláh's death in 1892. Overwhelmed with Baháʼu'lláh's death, he drowned himself in the sea and his dead body was found washed ashore near the city of ʻAkká.

Besides writing a lengthy history of the Baháʼí Faith, he wrote poetry about the historical events of the religion, which he would send to the Baháʼís of Iran.[4] His poetry, however, has not been published. A tablet by Baháʼu'lláh addresses him by name, describing him as "numbered with My favoured ones whose names the Finger of God hath inscribed."

Notes

  1. Arabic: النبيل الأعظم an-Nabīl al-Aʻẓam, meaning "Nabíl the Great" or "Nabíl the Greatest" (see elative
    for details on translation.) The given translation is from Memorials of the Faithful.
  2. ^ "Memorials of the Faithful | Bahá'í Reference Library".
  3. OCLC 42912735
    .
  4. ^ .

References

External links