Chapter Eleven

Before Quddús arrived at the fort, Mullá Husayn called all his followers together and told them that Quddús was coming. He told them that the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh wanted Quddus to be there, and that they must behave toward Quddús as if he were the Báb Himself. 'As for myself,' he said, 'You must consider me his lowly servant. You must obey Quddús so completely that even if he were to tell you that you must all kill me, you must obey without hesitation. If you hesitate, you will be untrue to your faith. You must not talk to him inless he invites you to. You must give up your own wishes and desires, and follow his plans and his commands. You must act in such a way that I will be proud of you."

When a messenger brought word that Quddús was soon to arrive at the fort, Mullá Husayn jumped to his feet and took about a hundred of his companions to meet him. He placed two candles in the hands of each man, lighted them himself, and off they went marching into the night. In the forest, they met Quddús and lighted his way back to the fort, singing a hymn with the words, "Holy, Holy, the Lord our God, the Lord of angels and the spirit!"

When Quddús arrived at the fort, his first words were a prophecy of the Qur'án about the Promised One. Straight after that, he mentioned Bahá'u'lláh, and asked Mullá Husayn about Him. Mullá Husayn told Quddús that Bahá'u'lláh would return to the fort at a later time, if God willed.

From this point on in the life of Mullá Husayn, he became the simple servant of Quddús. Whatever Quddús wanted him to do, he did with great joy and without question. Many a night, Mullá Husayn would walk around and around the place where Quddús lay asleep, and he chanted special prayers for him. On one of those nights he told one of the companions, who had been quietly praying, not to try to become a martyr. "Then you will be able to understand, when the year'80 comes, the secret of the things which now lie hidden from you," said Mullá Husayn. The year'80 was 1863,*the year when Bahá'u'lláh made His declaration to the world. So great was Mullá Husayn's spirit and knowledge that he immediately swept away everyone's fears.

there were many reasons during those next few weeks for the companions of Mullá Husayn and Quddús to be afraid and to doubt. Sa'ídu'l-'Ulamá' wanted all the Bábís killed, so most people living near the fort would not help them. A few people did, however, help, but when the Sháh sent soldiers, the bread supply to the fort was cut off, and later, the water supply too. Many times, the Bábís were attacked, and many men died while defending the fort.

Prince Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá came with an army to the fort. He sent a messenger to ask Mullá Husayn why they had built the Fort. Mullá Husayn told the Prince, We have no thought of fighting the Government. Our Cause is a religious one, and we are being attacked by people who are being led by the ministers of religion. We can prove to anyone that our Message is the Truth from God. If you want to know the Truth, bring the leaders of religion from the towns of Sári and Bárfurúsh to this fort. We will prove everything to you from the Qur'án. Let the Prince himself decide if our Cause is true or false."

(At a later time, Bahá'u'lláh taught that it is no longer permitted to use the sword as a means of settling religious disputes. In fact, Bahá'is do not use weapons at all unless the Government requires them to. But, during the time of the Báb, it was permitted to defend oneself with weapons.)

But instead of bringing the religious leaders, the Prince attacked the fort.

With the signal "Mount your steeds, O heroes of God!," Quddús, followed by Mullá Husayn, led two hundred and two of their men into the fight. They rode in the direction of Vás-Kas, where the Prince was quartered. Although the enemy tried to stop them, the Bábís rode as though there were no one in the way. Mullá Husayn led the way, and rode right through the gate and into the private rooms of the Prince. The Prince was so afraid that he jumped out the back window and ran away without shoes! His men ran away, also, and two other princes were killed in the fighting. The Bábís found containers full of gold and silver, but did not touch them. All they took was a pot of gunpowder and the Prince's favourite sword. This was given to Mullá Husayn.

While the Bábís were reorganizing themselves on the field, Mullá Husayn watched the enemy in case of another attack. Suddenly, the enemy came riding toward them again. The men raised the cry of "Yá Sáhibu'z-Zamán!" and Mullá Husayn rode in one directions while Quddús and his companions rode in another. So well known was Mullá Husayn for his strength and courage in using the sword that the enemy turned from him and went to Quddús instead. All at once they fired a thousand bullets, and Quddús was hit in the mouth by one of them. As soon as Mullá Husayn heard the sound of the guns, he turned his horse in the direction of Quddús to help him. When Mullá Husayn saw that Quddús had been hurt and the blood was dripping from his mouth, he raised his hands and was about to beat himself, when Quddús made him stop. Then Mullá Husayn, filled with more strength than he had ever felt before, took the sword of Quddús in one hand and the sword of the Prince in the other. With a hundred and ten men behind him, he went into the battle swinging both swords. He fought so hard and so well that within thirty minutes, the entire army of the Prince was beaten and ran away.

The Sháh was surprised by the news that the Prince had lost the fight, and so he sent another army to help him. This army built seven walls around the Fort of Shaykh Tabarsí. As the Bábís were running out of water, Mullá Husayn gave the order to dig a well. One the day they were to finish the well, Mullá Husayn said: "Today we shall all have enough water for a bath. We must make ourselves clean, because soon we shall taste the cup of martyrdom. All of you who are willing to die for the Almighty must now prepare yourselves and wait for the hour of attack. This night, before the hour of dawn, all those who wish may join me and rush forward to meet the enemy, and to return forever to our Beloved."

That afternoon, Mullá Husayn washed himself, put on new cloths, wrapped the Báb's green turban around his head, and waited for the final hour. He was completely happy, and spent the time with his companions giving them joy and courage. He spent some time alone with Quddús, and told Quddús all the things that were in his heart. Then, soon after midnight, as soon as he saw the morning star, he jumped to his feet, climbed on his horse, and gave the signal to open the gates of the fort. Behind him three hundred and thirteen men rushed out to meet the enemy. Once again, the cry of "Yá Sáhibu'z-Zamán!" filled the forest around them.

Mullá Husayn rushed forward and within a short time he and his men had ruined all seven of the walls built by the enemy. The three armies of the Sháh--- one led by the Prince and another by 'Abbás-Qulí Khán--- were both suprised and overcome. But 'Abbás-Qulí Khán had climbed a tree, and was waiting for his chance to kill whoever came near. He could see Mullá Husayn and the Bábís fighting because of the light which came from their guns. But no one could see 'Abbás-Qulí Khán in the tree because it was dark. Suddenly, the horse which Mullá Husayn was riding got caught up in the rope of a tent, and before the horse was able to get away, 'Abbás-Qulí Khán shot a bullet at Mullá Husayn's chest. Although 'Abbás-Qulí Khán did not know who he had shot, he was successful. Mullá Husayn got off his horse bleeding, tried to walk a few steps, but fell to the ground. Two of his companions saw him fall and carried him back to the Fort. he seemed to be unconscious.

As soon a Mullá Husayn was brought into the Fort, Quddús gave orders to be left alone with him. Everyone left Mullá Husayn and Quddús alone in his room, but they stood outside the door and waited. Soon they were suprised to hear Mullá Husayn answering questions asked by Quddús. One of the men had been looking through a crack in the door and saw Quddús call to Mullá Husayn. A soon as his name was called, Mullá Husayn rose up, and then sat himself on his knees in fron of Quddús as he usually did. With his head bowed and his eyes down, he listened to everything Quddús said. One of the bits of conversation which was overheard was this: Quddús said to Mullá Husayn, "You have hurried to leave this world, and you are leaving me alone against the enemy. If it pleases God, I will join you in a short time, and I shall also taste the sweetness of being in heaven." All that could be heard of Mullá Husayn's answer was: "May my life be given for you. Are you well pleased with me?"

For two hours, Mullá Husayn and Quddús conversed with each other, but no one knows what they said. After a long time, Quddús opened the door to his companions and said, "I have said my last goodby to Mullá Husayn. I have told him many things which I could not tell him before." When they went to where Mullá Husayn lay, he was dead, but there was a little smile still on his face, and he looked so peacefull it seemed as though he had only fallen asleep.

Quddús himself took care of Mullá Husayn's body. He put his own shirt on Mullá Husayn and gave the order for him to be buried to the south of, and next to, the Shrine of Shaykh Tabarsí. Quddús' last words to Mullá Husayn before he was buied were: "Well is it with you to have remained faithful to the Covenant of God to your last hour. I pray God that there will never be a division between you and me." He then kissed the eyes and forehead of Mullá Husayn, and laid the body in the grave himself. The seven believers standing near were so moved that they wept. He told everyone there that they must keep secret the place where Mullá Husayn was buried. He then commanded that the thirty-six men who had been martyred that day be buried on the north side of the Shrine---all in one grave. And his final word to them was: "Let the loved ones of God learn from the example of these martyrs of our Faith. Let them be and remain as united in life as these are now in death."

*The year 1280 ('80 for short) in the Muslim calendar is the year 1863-64 in the Christian calendar.