Words Addressed to Muslim Ecclesiastics
Let us now consider more particularly the specific references, and the words directly addressed, to Muslim ecclesiastics by the Bab and Baha'u'llah. The Bab, as attested by the Kitab-i-Iqan, has "specifically revealed an Epistle unto the divines of every city, wherein He hath fully set forth the character of the denial and repudiations of each of them." Whilst in Isfahan, that time-honored stronghold of Muslim ecclesiasticism, He, through the medium of its governor, Manuchihr Khan, invited in writing the divines of that city to engage in a contest with Him, in order, as He expressed it, to "establish the truth and dissipate falsehood." Not one of the multitude of divines who thronged that great seat of learning had the courage to take up that challenge. Baha'u'llah, on His part, while in Adrianople, and as witnessed by His own Tablet to the Shah of Persia, signified His wish to be "brought face to face with the divines of the age, and produce proofs and testimonies in the presence of His Majesty, the Shah." This offer was denounced as a "great presumption and amazing audacity" by the divines of Tihran, who, in their fear, advised their sovereign to instantly punish the bearer of that Tablet. Previously, while Baha'u'llah was in Baghdad, He expressed His willingness that, provided the divines of Najaf and Karbila - the twin holiest cities next to Mecca and Medina, in the eyes of the Shi'ihs - assembled and agreed regarding any miracle they wished to be performed, and signed and sealed a statement affirming that on performance of this miracle they would acknowledge the truth of His Mission, He would unhesitatingly produce it. To this challenge they, as recorded by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His "Some Answered Questions," could offer no better reply than this: "This man is an enchanter; perhaps he will perform an enchantment, and then we shall have nothing more to say." "For twelve years," Baha'u'llah Himself has testified, "We tarried in Baghdad. Much as We desired that a large gathering of divines and fair-minded men be convened, so that truth might be distinguished from falsehood, and be fully demonstrated, no action was taken." And again: "And likewise, while in 'Iraq, We wished to come together with the divines of Persia. No sooner did they hear of this, than they fled and said: 'He indeed is a manifest sorcerer!' This is the word that proceeded aforetime out of the mouths of such as were like them. These (divines) objected to what they said, and yet, they themselves repeat, in this day, what was said before them, and understand not. By My life! They are even as ashes in the sight of thy Lord. If He be willing, tempestuous gales will blow over them and make them as dust. Thy Lord, verily, doth what He pleaseth." (87:1)

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