Chapter Five

It was in Tihrán that Mullá Husayn discovered the "Mystery which is more holy than anything in Hijáz or Shíráz." This is the way it happened:

One day, while Mullá Husayn was talking to a great teacher of the Qur'án, one of his students overheard the conversation and came to see Mullá Husayn in his room in the middle of the night. Mullá Husayn asked the man, "What is your name,and which city is your home?"

"My name", he said. " is Mullá Muhammad, and my surname is Mu'allim. My home is Núr, in the province of Mázindarán."

"Tell me," said Mullá Husayn, "does the family of Mírzá Buzurg live there? And does any member of his family have as fine a character, intelligence, and charm as his late father?"

"Yes," said Mullá Muhammad, "among his sons now living there is One Who is very much like His father. He lives a beautiful life filled with love and kindness. He is generous and highly intelligent."

"What is His occupation?" asked Mullá Husayn.

"He makes sad people happy and feeds the hungry," was the answer.

"What about His rank or position?"

He has none," said the student. "He only helps the poor and makes friends with the stranger."

"What is His name?"

"His name is Husayn-'Alí."

"How does he spend His time?" asked Mullá Husayn.

"He walks in the woods, and enjoys the beauty of the countryside."

"What is His age?"

"Twenty-eight."

During this conversation, Mullá Husayn became more and more excited. Soon you will see the reason why. Before Mullá Muhammad left, Mullá Husayn asked, "I suppose you often see Him?"

"Yes," he answered, "I often visit His home."

"Then, will you deliver into His hands a parcel from me?"

"I would be happy to," he said.

Mullá Husayn then took some of the Báb's Writings which were rolled up in a piece of cloth. He asked Mullá Muhammad to give it to Husayn-'Alí in person at the hour of dawn. If Husayn-'Alí wanted to send a nessage back, Mullá Muhammad must bring it to him.

Of course, you know who Husayn-'Alí was. He was later known as Bahá'u'lláh.When Mullá Muhammad delivered the parcel to Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'u'lláh read the Báb's Writings, and turning to His brother, Mírzá Músá, said: "Verily, I say, whoso believes in the Qur'án and recognizes its Divine origin, and yet hesitates, though it be for a moment, to admit that these soul-stirring words are endowed with the same regenerating power, has most assuredly erred in his judgement and has strayed far from the path of justice." He said no more. But He sent Mullá Husayn a gift of a loaf of Russian sugar and a package of tea and a message of love and thanks. In those days, tea and sugar were very scarce in Írán. In this way, Bahá'u'lláh showed Mullá Husayn how precious He considered the Message which He had received.

When Mullá Muhammad returned to Mullá Husayn with the tea and sugar, Mullá Husayn understood. He jumped to his feet, received the gift with his head bowed low, and kissed it. Then, he took Mullá Muhammad into his arms, kissed his eyes, and said, "My dearly beloved friend! I pray that God will give you happiness forever, and fill your heart with a gladness that will never die."

A few days later Mullá Husayn left Tihrán for Khurásán. As he said goodbye to Mullá Muhammad, he said, "You must not tell anyone what you have seen and heard. let this be a secret in your heart. Do not tell anyone His name, because someone will try to hurt Him. When you are praying, pray that God will protect Him. Our duty is to tell everyone about this New day. Many people will die for this Cause in this very city. But that blood will water the Tree of God, will cause it to grow, and shelter all people in every part of the world."

Happy because of his experience with Bahá'u'lláh, Mullá Husayn taught the people of Khurásán even better than at any other time. He was such a strong teacher, that he even brought the chief of the Muslim religion in Khurásán into the Bábí Faith, as well as many, many others. for a while, it seemed as if the whole of Mashhad, the main city of Khurásán, would accept the Báb.

After a time, Mullá Husayn decided that it was time to send a message to the Báb telling Him everything that had happened on his first teaching trip for the Faith, and told the story about how the Message was delivered to Bahá'u'lláh.

When the Báb received the message from Mullá Husayn, it was one of the greatest holy days in the Muslim Faith. Only Quddús was with Him to share the news. Both Quddús and the Báb were filled with joy and happiness by the report. The Báb seemed to be the happiest Quddús had ever seen Him, and the reason was very clear. The Báb now felt sure that even if He were killed immediately, the Cause of God would continue and grow through the work of Bahá'u'lláh. From that moment on, the Báb was filled with a new sirit and new hope.

After receiving Mullá Husayn's letter, the Báb decided it was time for Him to make His pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. This was in September 1844.

Mullá Husayn continued his teaching in the city of Mashhad.