Baha'u'llah & the New Era
by
J. Esslemont
2 Paragraphs

He had already twice suffered imprisonment for the Cause, and on one occasion had undergone the torture of the bastinado, when in August, 1852, an event occurred fraught with terrible consequences for the Babis. One of the Bab's followers, a youth named Sadiq, had been so affected by the martyrdom of his beloved Master, of which he was an eyewitness, that his mind became deranged, and, in revenge, he waylaid the Shah and fired a pistol at him. Instead of using a bullet, however, he charged his weapon with small shot, and although a few pellets struck the Shah, no serious harm was done. The youth dragged the Shah from his horse, but was promptly seized by the attendants of his Majesty and put to death on the spot. The whole body of Babis was unjustly held responsible for the deed, and frightful massacres ensued. Eighty of them were put to death in Tihran with the most revolting tortures. Many others were seized and put into prisons, among them being Baha'u'llah.. (24:3)

"..We were in no wise connected with that evil deed, and Our innocence was indisputably established by the tribunals. Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and.. conducted Us, on foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet, to the dungeon of Tihran.. We were confined for four months to a place foul beyond comparison.. The dungeon was wrapped in thick darkness, and Our fellow-prisoners numbered nearly a hundred and fifty souls: thieves, assassins and highwaymen. Though crowded, it had no other outlet than the passage by which We entered. No pen can depict that place, nor any tongue describe its loathsome smell.. God alone knoweth what befell Us in that most foul-smelling and gloomy place." (Baha'u'llah) (25:1)

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