I have heard Mulla Abdu'l-Karim
recount the following incident:
"My companions and I were fast
asleep in the vicinity of the tent of
the Bab when the trampling of
horsemen suddenly awakened us. We
were soon informed that the tent of
the Bab was vacant and that those
who had gone out in search of Him had
failed to find Him. We heard Muhammad
Big remonstrate with the guards. `Why
feel disturbed?' he pleaded. `Are not
His magnanimity and nobleness of soul
sufficiently established in your eyes to
convince you that He will never, for the
sake of His own safety, consent to involve
others in embarrassment? He, no doubt,
must have retired, in the silence of this
moonlit night, to a place where
He can seek undisturbed communion
with God. He will unquestionably return
to His tent. He will never desert us.'
In his eagerness to reassure his colleagues,
Muhammad Big set out on foot along the
road leading to Tihran. I, too, with my
companions, followed him. Shortly after,
the rest of the guards were seen, each on
horseback, marching behind us. We had
covered about a maydan
when, by the dim light of the early dawn,
we discerned in the distance the lonely figure
of the Bab. He was coming towards us
from the direction of Tihran. `Did
you believe Me to have escaped?'
were His words to Muhammad Big
as He approached him. `Far be it from
me,' was the instant reply as he
flung himself at the feet of the Bab
, `to entertain such thoughts.'
Muhammad Big was too much awed
by the serene majesty which
that radiant face revealed that
morning to venture any further
remark. A look of confidence had
settled upon His countenance, His
words were invested with such
transcendent power, that a feeling of
profound reverence wrapped our
very souls. No one dared to question Him
as to the cause of so remarkable a
change in His speech and demeanour.
Nor did He Himself choose to allay
our curiosity and wonder."
(Dawn-Breakers)
