192. God hath laid hold on him who led thee astray.
A reference to Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani, who is described by Shoghi Effendi as the "Antichrist of the Baha'i Revelation". He was a man of corrupt character and great personal ambition who induced Mirza Yahya to oppose Baha'u'llah and to claim prophethood for himself (see note 190). Although he was an adherent of Mirza Yahya, Siyyid Muhammad was exiled with Baha'u'llah to Akka. He continued to agitate and plot against Baha'u'llah. In describing the circumstances of his death, Shoghi Effendi has written in God Passes By: (249:2)

A fresh danger now clearly threatened the life of Baha'u'llah. Though He Himself had stringently forbidden His followers, on several occasions, both verbally and in writing, any retaliatory acts against their tormentors, and had even sent back to Beirut an irresponsible Arab convert, who had meditated avenging the wrongs suffered by his beloved Leader, seven of the companions clandestinely sought out and slew three of their persecutors, among whom were Siyyid Muhammad and Aqa Jan. (249:3)

The consternation that seized an already oppressed community was indescribable. Baha'u'llah's indignation knew no bounds. "Were We", He thus voices His emotions, in a Tablet revealed shortly after this act had been committed, "to make mention of what befell Us, the heavens would be rent asunder and the mountains would crumble." "My captivity", He wrote on another occasion, "cannot harm Me. That which can harm Me is the conduct of those who love Me, who claim to be related to Me, and yet perpetrate what causeth My heart and My pen to groan." (249:4)

Get Next Page