1.     Nabil’s Account
From the Dawn-Breakers, Nabil’s Narrative:
(P. 521) “… the bodies of the BÂB and his companion arrived [at Teheran]. Baha had in the meantime departed for Karbala, in pursuance of the instruction of the Amir-Nizam [the premier, Mirza Taqi Khan].”
The instructions are not disclosed by Nabil (P. 587) “Towards the end of Spring, in the early days of Sha’ban 1267 A.H (June 1851).
Baha left capital [i.e. Teheran] for Karbala.’

(P.593) “the month of Shawal, in the year 1267 (July-August 1851), witnessed the arrival of Baha at Karbala.On his way to that holy city, he tarried a few days in Baghdad …..It was during that visit to Karbala that Baha encountered, as he was walking through the streets, Shaykh Hasan-i-Zanuzi, to whom he confided the secret he was determined to reveal at a later time in Badasht. He found him eagerly searching after the promised Husayn, to whom the BÂB had so lovingly referred and whom he had promised he would meet in Karbala. We have already, in a preceding chapter [infra], narrated the circumstances to his meeting with Baha. From that day, Shaykh Hasan became magnetised to the charm of his newly found master, and (P. 594) would for the restraint he was urged to exercise, have proclaimed to the people of Karbala the return of the promised Husayn whose appearance they were awaiting.”

(PP. 31-32) Nabil quotes Shaykh Hasan-i-Zanuzi as saying to him: “the BÂB addressed me one day saying ‘But for my incarceration in the Jabal-i-Shadid, the fortress of Chihriq, it would have been incumbent upon me to lend my personal assistance to my beloved Quddus. Participation in the struggle [i.e. Shaykh Tabarsi engagement] is not enjoined upon you. You should proceed to Karbala and should abide in that holy city as you are destined to behold, with your own eyes, the beauteous countenance of the promised Husayn. As you gaze upon that radiant face, do also remember me. Convey to him the expression of my loving devotion.’ “

(P. 595) “The twenty-seventh day of the month of Jamad Awal, 1268 A.H. (March 1852) found Baha still in Iraq, engaged in spreading the teachings, and making firm foundations of the ‘New Revelation’”.

(P. 598) “Baha returned to Teheran in the month of Rajab, A.H. 1268 (April 21-May 21, 1852).”

2.     Shoghi Effendi’s Account
From Shoghi Effendi’s god passes by:
(P. 4) “The BÂB was the Primal Point from which have been generated all created things.”

(P. 28) “To Shaykh Hasan-i-Zanuzi he [i.e. the Primal Point] declared in Maku that would behold in Karbala the countenance of the promised Husayn.”

In 1851: Baha goes about in Iraq, runs into one Zanuzi in Karbala in whom he confides that he is to declare himself at a later time in Baghdad as the Imam Husayn returned again and warns him to keep his mouth shut for the time being. This was long before Baha is stated to have “received the first intimations of his divine mission, while confined in the Siyah-Chal of Teheran in 1852.”

Baha’s claim that “to Israel he was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the ‘Elevating Father’, the ‘hand of Hosts’, to Christians Christ returned, to Sunni Islam the descent of the ‘Spirit of god’ (Jesus Christ), to the Zoroastrians, the promised Shah Bahram, to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna, to the Buddhists the fifth Budha,” god passes by, p.94, are later additions to his basic claim to be the return of the Imam Husayn.

3.     The Bayan’s Verdict
Nabil, who himself pretended to be the Imam Husayn returned again prior to Baha quotes the Zanuzi story in his Narrative. Shoghi Effendi seizes on the Zanuzi’s story and produces it as a proof of Baha’s ‘divine mission’ “.

On the authority of the Persian Bayan, Wáhid (Unity) I, BÂB (Chapter) 2; I, 6; II, 8, by the Primal Point, whom Shoghi Effendi regards as one of the ‘co-founders’ of Bahaism, “the Imam Husayn, in his return,” was one of the 18 disciples called “Letters of the Living” who first believed in the Primal Point, “The Primal Point from which have been generated all created things”.

A letter of the living is one thing and He-Whom-God-Will-Make-Manifest, the promised One of the Bayan, the Primal Point of his own dispensation is an altogether different things.

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