In September 1846, after being banished from His home in Shíráz, Persia (now Iran), the Báb set out for Isfahán, a city known for its wise religious leaders. Its governor was Manuchihr Khán, a trusted friend of the sháh. As He neared the city the Báb wrote to the governor, who insisted He be warmly welcomed.
In Isfahán, visitors flocked to see the Báb, Who was a guest in the home of the chief priest. Even the governor met Him and was impressed by His wisdom and insight. But people’s respect and admiration for the Báb led to jealousy among many of Isfahán’s religious leaders. First, they began to spread false rumors about Him. Then they signed a letter calling for His execution.
When the governor learned of this threat to the Báb’s life, he created a plan to protect Him. He ordered 500 guards to escort the Báb to Tihrán. He wanted religious leaders, the people of Isfahán, and almost all of the guards to believe that the Báb was being exiled. But the governor never intended to send Him away. He told his 10 most trusted guards to bring the Báb back to Isfahán in secret.
The Báb stayed in Isfahán for several months as an honored guest of the governor, who became a Bábí. When he expressed concern about the Bab’s future safety, the Báb told him, "Fear not I have committed Myself into the hands of God. My trust is in Him."
The governor longed to help the Báb spread His message, but he became sick and passed away. The sháh learned that the Báb was still in Isfahán and asked to meet with Him.
But the sháh’s prime minister was afraid of losing his own power. He told the sháh that the Báb was dangerous, and convinced him to change his plans. The sháh exiled the Báb to Máh-Kú, an isolated castle in the mountains of Persia. These men thought that sending Him away would end His influence.
The long and challenging path to Máh-Kú took the Báb and His guards through the city of Tabríz. As the Báb entered, people crowded the streets in their eagerness to see Him. The city rang with their cries of ‘Alláh-u-Akbar," meaning ‘God is the Most Great.’
The Báb stayed in Tabriz for about 40 days before finishing His journey to Máh-Kú. He spent the final three years of His life banished to remote regions of Persia. Though He was in prison, the power of His message continued to spread as He revealed writings that guided His followers and prepared them for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh.
(Brilliant Star magazine, vol. 50, no. 4, 2018)
