The Báb’s first Tablet: ‘Risaliy-i-Fiqhiyyih’ [Epistle of Jurisprudence]

He was already predisposed to meditation and inclined to be silent, while his fine face, the radiance of his glance as well as his modest and contemplative mien drew, even at that early date, the attention of his fellow-citizens. Though very young, he felt an invincible attraction to matters of religion, for he was barely nineteen when he wrote his first work, the ‘Risaliy-i-Fiqhiyyih’ in which he reveals a true piety and an Islamic effusion, which seemed to predict a brilliant future within the law of Shí’ite orthodoxy. It is probable that this work was written at Búshihr, for he was sent there by his uncle at the age of eighteen or nineteen to look after his business interests. 

- A. L. M. Nicolas (“Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad dit le Báb,” pp. 188–189; Footnotes to Chapter 3 of the Dawn-Breakers provided by Shoghi Effendi)

“In the Báb physical beauty was joined to that of the spirit.”

In the Báb physical beauty was joined to that of the spirit. His hair was black and His dark brown eyes shone like stars. His features were symmetrical and His face most luminous. His carriage was majestic, yet simple and humble. The purity of His character was such that even His enemies could find no fault with Him. It would be hard to imagine a life more spotless, more devoted to love for humanity. He reflected the light of the spirit and radiated to those around Him such wonderful spiritual life that His superiority was generally recognized, and He was shown utmost honor and respect. When He entered a room He was given the seat of honor and others, involuntarily, waited for Him to speak first. He was full of happiness, contentment and resignation; so it seemed as if the Spirit of God were shining from that young body. 

- Jinab-i-Fadil (Star of the West, vol. 14, no. 7, October 1923)

An example of the Báb’s undeviating fairness in business transactions

His [the Báb’s] scrupulous attention to detail and His undeviating fairness in transactions became widely known in the region. A man who had consigned to Him some goods to sell was astonished to find, when he received his money, that it was more than could be obtained at current prices. He wanted to return some of it. The Báb told him that it was only fair and just that he should be given that particular sum, because his goods would have fetched exactly that amount had they been offered for sale when the market was at its best. 

- Hand of the Cause Balyuzi ('The Báb - The Herald of the Day of Days')

The Báb indicates that He “began the occupation of commerce…from the age of ten”

A.Q. Afnán suggests that based on extensive family correspondence examined by him, the Báb began to work in His uncle’s office at the age of ten, and it was at the age of fifteen—the age of maturity in Islamic law—that He moved to Bushihr.

The same information is provided by the Báb Himself in the Kitab-i-Fihrist:

“After My childhood had passed, by the will of God, I began the occupation of commerce as this was decreed by God, and I commenced this from the age of ten.” 

(Provisional translation, Footnotes to ‘The Báb in Shiraz, An Account by Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán’, provided by Ahang Rabbani)

 

At the age fifteen the Báb joined His uncle-guardian in business and afterwards moved to Búshihr

According to Hájí Mirza Habíbu’lláh’s narrative, He [the Báb] joined Hájí Mirza Siyyid ‘Ali, His uncle-guardian, in business when He was fifteen years old, [Islamic law specifies fifteen as the age of maturity] and shortly afterwards moved to Búshihr. Pages of commercial accounts which He kept put it beyond doubt that the Báb left Shiraz for Búshihr when He was nearly sixteen. There can be little doubt that at an early age the Báb took over the complete management of the trading-house in Búshihr. 

- Hand of the Cause Balyuzi ('The Báb - The Herald of the Day of Days')

The Báb leaves the school of Shaykh Abid and becomes business associate with His uncle

At last His uncle was induced to take Him away from the school of Shaykh Abid, and to associate Him with himself in his own profession. There, too, He revealed signs of a power and greatness that few could approach and none could rival.

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

The Báb left the school when He was thirteen years old

Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad [the Báb] had some six to seven years of schooling with Shaykh ‘Abid. In all probability He left the school… before He was thirteen. 

- Hand of the Cause Balyuzi ('The Báb - The Herald of the Day of Days')

The Báb’s genealogy

The Báb describes His own genealogy in Sahifih Baynu’l-Haramayn (The Treatise Between the Two Shrines):

“Say: My name is Muhammad after the word ‘Alí [i.e., ‘Alí-Muhammad]. And the name of My father, as hath been revealed in the Book of God, is Ridá after Muhammad. And the name of My grandfather in the Book of God is Ibráhím [Abraham], and his father is named Nasru’lláh as has been revealed in the Qur’án (Fathu’lláh)"

The same genealogy is given in the Qayyúmu'l-Asmá, Surih al-Qaribih, verses 14—15. (Provisional translation, Footnotes to ‘The Báb in Shiraz, An Account by Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán’, provided by Ahang Rabbani)

The Báb elaborates on His name: - Alí-Muhammad

In Qayyúmu’l-Asmá, Surih al-Qarabih [kinsmen], verse 14, tire Báb reveals:

“Verily, We have named this Remembrance by two Names from the divine Self, after two Beloved Ones among Our servants in the heavens.” 

(Provisional translation, Footnotes to ‘The Báb in Shiraz, An Account by Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán’, provided by Ahang Rabbani)

At the age of nine the uncle of the Báb once found Him “in consummate rapture voicing prayers and supplications” during a field trip

The Báb’s uncle recalled a group summer trip to a populous mountainous area about twelve kilometers from Shiraz when the Báb was about nine years old:

“When we arrived, being completely exhausted, we performed our ablutions, offered our late afternoon and the evening obligatory prayers, paid our homage of visitation, ate dinner, and went to bed. It was not long after, at midnight, that I awoke and noticed that He [the Báb] was not in bed. Deeply perturbed, I was overtaken with anxiety that perhaps He had fallen from the mountain. Finally, after searching extensively, I heard a voice raised in the obligatory prayer and prayers of glorification to the Lord, coming from the lower extremities [of the mountain]. When I followed the melody of that chant, I found the Child, standing alone and in private, in consummate rapture voicing prayers and supplications to the One Who transcends all mention, on the deserted mountainside and at that late hour of the night.” 

- Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán (‘The Báb in Shiraz, An Account by Mírzá Habíbu’lláh Afnán, translated and annotated by Ahang Rabbani)

The Báb's schoolmaster

The principal of the school that the Báb attended when He was almost five years old has left the following description about Shaykh ‘Abid, the Báb’s schoolmaster. It should be noted that in those years in Persia, the schools basically taught students how to read and write passages from the Qur’an.

“The honored Shaykh ‘Abid, a man of many qualities, was the schoolmaster and taught the children of the noblemen, the affluent, the merchants and other distinguished citizens. He was tall, ever-dignified man with a long beard. A follower of the late Shaykh Ahmad Ahsa’i and Siyyid Kazim Rashti, he ranked among the leading figures and divines in Shiraz. …. Those wishing for their youngster to receive tuition from him, had to come beforehand and meet with him in person. They would ask the Shaykh for a place either through a letter or through a distinguished intermediary. This was because the Shaykh did not accept the children of just anyone and was particularly reluctant to accept lads from the bazzari shopkeepers, because of all their ill manners and dirty clothing.”

- ‘Mirza Habibu’llah Afnan  (‘Tarikh Amr-i-Fars va Shiraz’, translated and annotated as ‘The Genesis of the Bábi-Baha’i Faiths in Shiraz and Fars’, by Ahang Rabbani)   

Calligraphic exercise of the Báb written before He was 10 years old

(The Báb – The Herald of the Day of Days, by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi)

The Báb's first day at school

The principal of the school that the Báb attended when He was almost five years old has left an account concerning His first day at school:

On the promised morning the Child arrived followed by a servant carrying a small [copper-tray] filled with sweets and a student’s version of the Qur’an, which is customary for the new pupil to read from in schools in Shiraz.

Because of Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Rida’s [the father of the Báb] descriptions of Him, the Shaykh, several of students who had reached the age of maturity, and I were thoroughly enthralled in watching Him. He came in, greeted [every one] and sat before Shaykh Anam [His teacher]. Soon after, His maternal uncle, Haji Mirza Siyyid Ali, arrived as well and sat next to the Shaykh. After the exchange of formal pleasantries, the Shaykh took the Qur’an from the tray of sweet-meats, opened it, and said [to the young Pupil], “Come Aqa, read.” He smiled and said, “As you please.” As was customary, the Shaykh told Him to read, “He is the Deliverer, the All-Knowing.” His Holiness remained silent. The Shaykh repeated the verse, but He kept His silence. The Shaykh persisted. He [the Bab] asked, “Who is ‘He’. Can you explain?” The Shaykh responded, “’He’ is God. You are still a child, and what concern of Yours is the meaning of ‘He’?” The Pupil responded, “I am the Deliverer, the All-Knowing!” The Shaykh was deeply enraged and picked up his stick and said to Him, “Do not utter such things here!” His Holiness commenced reading, and His maternal uncle smiled and ordered certain arrangements and then left.

- ‘Mirza Habibu’llah Afnan  (‘Tarikh Amr-i-Fars va Shiraz’, translated and annotated as ‘The Genesis of the Bábi-Baha’i Faiths in Shiraz and Fars’, by Ahang Rabbani)  

Two accounts of the Bab’s childhood days at school

There are some accounts left for posterity concerning the time that the Báb attended school in Shiraz, Persia. Such accounts are priceless because they help us understand how each Manifestation of God exhibits very special God given qualities even in their childhood.

First Account:

A fellow student who was then twelve years old related the following account many years later concerning the Báb’s first day at school.

“The Báb had taken a seat, with great courtesy, in between this boy and another pupil who was also much older than Himself. His head was bowed over the primer put in front of Him, the first lines of which He had been taught to repeat. But He would not utter a word. When asked why He did not read aloud as other boys were doing He made no reply. Just then two boys, sitting near them, were heard to recite a couplet from Hafiz (a well-known Persian poet), which runs thus:

From the pinnacles of Heaven they call out unto thee;

I know not what hath thee here entrapped.

'That is your answer,' said the Báb, turning to …” the older boy who recalled this incident. (The Bab, 'The Herald of the Day of Days', by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi)

The thing remarkable about this account is that not only the Báb who was then only about five years old understood fully the meaning of this couplet, but that he equated himself with the phrase “thee”. To posses such keen understanding of such issues at such a young age is another proof of His innate and God given knowledge.

Outskirts of Shiraz where the Báb often walked

(The Baha'i World 1930-1932)

Some impressions about the Báb by His schoolmaster Shaykh ‘Abid

There are left for posterity some overall recollections about the Báb’s personality by His schoolmaster many years after he became aware that the Báb was the Founder of a new religion for humanity. These impressions were in addition to his shock and amazement concerning the Báb’s depth of intelligence and knowledge at such a young age.

One of the qualities that he noticed about the Báb was the nobility of His character and the charm of His personality. He recalled that the Báb was always very dignified, serene and calm. Although He was very handsome He did not show much interest in pursuing those activities that were common to boys His age.

Shaykh ‘Abid also remembered that every now and then the Báb used to come late to the school. When asked why He was late, the Báb would typically remain silent. On some occasions he would become worried about His absence and would end up sending some of His classmates to go and check on His whereabouts. They would come back and tell him that they had found the Báb at His own home engaged in prayers. This wasn’t commonly expected of children his age – He was about ten years old then.

The Báb’s father passed away early during His childhood

According to Mirza Abu'l-Fadl-i-Gulpaygani, Siyyid Muhammad-Rida, the Báb's father, died when his only child was an infant, unweaned. Then the care of the child devolved upon a maternal uncle, Haji Mirza Siyyid 'Ali. He was the only relative of the Bab to espouse His Cause openly during His lifetime and, as will be seen, to accept martyrdom for His sake. But according to a manuscript history of the Babi-Baha'i Faith in Shiraz by Haji Mirza Habibu'llah-i-Afnan, [1] Siyyid Muhammad-Rida passed away when his son was nine years old, and 'Abdu'l-Baha appears to confirm this account. [2] 

- Balyuzi  (‘The Báb, Herald of the Day of Days’)

[1] Haji Mirza Habibu'llah's father, Aqa Mirza-Aqa, was a nephew of the wife of the Bab, and his paternal grandfather, Aqa Mirza Zaynu'l-'Abidin, was a paternal cousin of the father of the Báb

[2] ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘A Traveller's Narrative’

The Báb was a young merchant of the Pure Lineage. He was born in the year one thousand two hundred and thirty-five [A.H.] on the first day of Muharram, [October 20, 1819] and when after a few years His father Siyyid Muḥammad-Riḍá died, He was brought up in Shíráz in the arms of His maternal uncle Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí the merchant. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)

Interior view of the bath the Báb went to when a Child

(The Baha'i World 1934-1936)

Father of the Báb describes some extraordinary qualities of his Son during his childhood

The principal of the school that the Báb attended when He was almost five years old has left an account concerning the meeting that took place between the father of the Bab, Aqa Mirza Muhammad Rida and His teacher, Shaykh Anam, before the Báb started His first day at school.

“‘After forty years, the Exalted Lord has graced me with a Child who has caused me to wonder over His behavior.’ The Shaykh asked him to explain further, but he only replied. ‘It is hard to say.’ [The Shaykh] insisted, to which [the father] offered:

O venerable Shaykh! Which of His amazing conditions should I recount? Such peculiar characteristics are manifest in Him that the people are astonished. Now, when He is five years old, He sometimes raises His hands to the threshold of the One God, and recites prayers. He wakes in the middle of the night and stands to offer His obligatory prayers, in the midst of which He weeps. Sometimes He is sad, on other occasions He is happy, or immersed in rapture, or preoccupied with the imaginary world. My astonishment and bewilderment prevents me from describing further. Were I to recount all that I have observed from the time of His birth until the present, it would make a thick book.