1.    Agsinst Subh-i Azal

1.1   "The Arch-Breaker of the BÂB’s Covenant"
In god passes by, P. 233, Shoghi Effendi says “Nor can this subject be dismissed without special reference being made to the Arch-Breaker of the Covenant of the BÂB, Mirza Yahya [Subh-i-Azal] who lived long enough to witness, while eking out a miserable existence in Cyprus, termed by the Turks “the island of Satan”, every hope he had so maliciously conceived reduced to naught. A pensioner first of the Turkish and later of the British Government, who was subjected to the further humiliation of having his application for British Citizenship refused. Eleven of Eighteen ‘witnesses’ he had appointed forsook him and turned in repentance to Baha. He himself became involved in a scandal which tarnished his reputation and that of his eldest son, deprived that son and his descendents of the successorship with which he had previously invested him, and appointed, in his stead, the perfidious Mirza Hadi Dowlat Abadi, a notorious Azali, who on the occasion of the martyrdom of the aforementioned Mirza Ashraf, was seized with such fear that during four consecutive days he proclaimed from the pulpit-top, and in the most vituperative language, his complete repudiation of the BÂBi faith, as well as Mirza Yahya, his benefactor, who had reposed in him such implicit confidence. It was the same eldest son who, through the workings of a strange destiny sought years after, together with his nephew and niece, the presence of Abdul Baha [i.e. Sir Abbas Effendi], the appointed successor of Baha, and Centre of his Covenant, expressed repentance, prayed for forgiveness, was graciously accepted by him, and remained, till the hour of his death, a loyal follower of the Faith which his father had so foolishly and so pitifully striven to extinguish.”

Mirza Yahya Subh-i-Azal was the Point’s rightful, legal and lawful successor and vicegerent. For Subh-i-Azal’s documents of title see tablet of vesayat. The shoe is, therefore, on the other foot. The Arch-Breaker of the Covenant of the Primal Point was Mirza Husayn Ali [Baha] himself. See witnesses of Bayan.

1.2   The Island of Cyprus
It is not true that Cyprus is termed by the Turks “the Island of Satan”. Shoghi Effendi’s patent lie is unfortunate.

1.3   Mode of Living
The fact that Subh-i-Azal led a frugal existence throughout his life is no reflection on him.

1.4   Pension
All the BÂBi Exiles in Edirne were put on Pension by the Ottoman Government. The payment was maintained by the Ottoman Government after their rustication to Famagusta in Cyprus, and to Acre, in Palestine. The British government in Cyprus maintained status quo ante occupation.

1.5   Request for British Citizenship or Protection
When Subh-i-Azal was informed by the British authorities in Cyprus in “1881” that he was “free to go where he pleased “ he applied for British Citizenship or protection” if it be possible so that he may with safety return to his own country or to Turkey. To this request, however, the government did not see fit to accede.” The Traveller’s Narrative, Vol. II. English Translation, Note W, P. 382, by Prof. Browne.

The application was apparently dictated by considerations of safety: In his autograph epistle addressed to Mirza Husayn Ali, sections 20 (link not currently available) and the land of Ta, the Primal Point held him personally responsible for the safety of Subh-i-Azal. Unfortunately obsessed with personality cult, Mirza Husayn Ali [Baha], sought to eliminate Subh-i-Azal. In Edirne, the order of banishment, Baha lodged an information against Subh-i-Azal with the Governor-General of the Edirne province in which he falsely accused him of having conspired to overthrow the established authority.

In Famagusta under the Ottoman regime, assassination plots against Subh-i Azal, Baha’s man Mirza Husayn, known as Mushkin Qalam, the Calligraphist, held out a threat to slay Subh-i-Azal.

With Famagusta under the Ottoman regime, section 12.4.4 (this link is not currently available), Baha had to recall and keep in leash, his men who had proceeded from Acre to Cyprus for the sole purpose of murdering Subh-i-Azal.

1.6   Witnesses of Bayan
Consequent upon the executionship of the Primal Point on the July 8, 1850, Subh-i-Azal, as the Point’s successor and vicegerent, withnesses of Bayan, assumed the leadership of the faith of Bayan. He appointed Witnesses to administer regional BÂBi affairs under his control. They included Sayyid Muhammad of Isfahan, murdered by Baha’s men in Acre, and Mulla Muhammad Jafar of Naraq entitled Raqib, who died in prison in Teheran. After the attempt on the then Shah’s life on August 15, 1852 Subh-i-Azal sought refuge in Baghdad.

During the Baghdad period of the BÂBi exiles Subh-i-Azal appointed Baha as a Witness to act for him, see delegation of authority from Subh-i Azal to Baha, in which it is quoted Subh-i-Azal’s delegation of authority to Baha, as appearing in Subh-i-Azal’s Kitab-i-Nur of the Baghdad period. Baha abused his powers. Towards the latter period of the BÂBi Exiles’ sojourn in Edirne Baha staked out his pretensions.

All those who adhered faithfully to Subh-i-Azal, were disposed by foul play on the part of Baha’s men. Others were won over by inducements held out to them by Baha. Baha was the first Witness to betray Subh-i-Azal, his benefactor.

---

Please select one of the following:
to view the next section on this topic,
to return to the main page, or
to close this window.

---