"A secret lies hidden in that city," the Báb told
Mullá Husayn, referring to Tihrán, Iran. The secret "shall turn the earth
into paradise."
Artistic conception of Mullá Husayn;
no known photos are available
The Báb was a Messenger of God Who taught that another Messenger would come to bring an age of peace. He sent Mullá Husayn to teach the Bábí Faith in several cities, including Tihrán.
Mullá Husayn was born in northern Iran in 1813. When he was a young student, his family thought he would become a famous Muslim leader. But Mullá Husayn followed his own path. He found teachers who helped him prepare for the next Messenger of God. He was the first to believe in the Báb.
It was hard for Mullá Husayn to leave the Báb on his journey, but the Báb said that God's angels would be with him. In Tihrán, he learned of a man named Husayn-'Ali, Who was known for His love and service to others. Mullá Husayn sent Him the writings of the Báb, which Husayn-'Ali immediately knew were inspired by God. He sent a gift of sugar and tea in return. Mullá Husayn was filled with joy. Was this the secret the Báb had mentioned? Years later, Husayn-'Ali became known as Bahá'u'lláh, the Messenger of God promised by the Báb.
Mullá Husayn left Tihrán and continued teaching the Bábí Faith. Soon the Báb's enemies, upset about the new ideas He taught, complained to the government. The Báb was sent to Máh-Kú, a remote mountain prison. Mullá Husayn decided to visit Him—a journey of 1,200 miles (1,931 km). Though friends offered him carriages and horses, he answered, "I have vowed to walk the whole distance that separates me from my Beloved." On the way, he met Bahá'u'lláh face-to-face, though no one knows what was said.
The Báb had not been allowed visitors, but the guard let Mullá Husayn stay with Him for nine days. Mullá Husayn later said that from the Báb's words, "I could, however dimly, perceive the glory of His Revelation and . . . the future ascendancy of His Cause."
When Mullá Husayn left the Báb, he encouraged and strengthened the other Bábís. He traveled with them, sharing the Báb's message. They were often attacked and forced to fight for their lives. In one fierce battle, Mullá Husayn cut through a tree, a gun, and an enemy soldier with one stroke of his sword.
In 1848, Mullá Husayn asked the Bábís to build a fort around the Muslim Shrine of Shaykh Tabarsi to protect themselves. They were attacked by armies. Most of the Bábís were not trained soldiers. They had to eat leather to survive. Still, they defended themselves for seven months.
In 1849, Mullá Husayn rode into his last battle. A soldier hiding in a tree shot him. The Bábís carried him back to the fort, where he died two hours later with a smile on his face.
"But for him," Bahá'u'lláh wrote, "God would not have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor have ascended the throne of eternal glory."
(by Gail Radley and Tom Armistead / Art by C. Aaron Kreader; Brilliant Star magazine, Vol. 5, No. 1)
