During one of my [Mirza Habibu’llah Afnan] journeys to the sacred presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, He spoke one day about the time the Báb stayed [in Búshihr] and of his commercial activities. He stated:
“During His stay in Búshihr, the Báb achieved extraordinary things and thoroughly demolished the foundation of people's corrupt practices. The merchants of Búshihr had a custom that after a deal had been concluded they would renege and barter to receive a considerable discount. Some of them came to His Holiness, negotiated purchase of indigo dye, and bought a very large quantity. After they had
sealed the bargain and moved the lots of indigo to their own
office, they returned to renege and bargain. His Holiness did not accept and
said, “You made a bargain, signed papers, and the transaction has been
completed. I will not give a discount and will not renegotiate." They
insisted. He replied, "What I said is final.” They pleaded, “It is the
custom of the country.” He responded, “Many of these customs are wrong and will
soon be abolished.” No matter how much they insisted, He would not agree. The
merchants were obstinate, and at last He said, "[If] the price is high,
return the merchandise as I will not barter.” They insisted, “It is the custom
here.” He replied, “I wish to put an end to this custom." They insisted,
"If a merchant has bought commodities and moved them to his warehouse, and
then returns them, he will forfeit his standing with merchants.” "It is
your choice," He told them, "accept the terms and refrain from
re-negotiation.” Again they insisted, "But this is the custom of the
realm." Yet again. He reminded them, "I am ending this custom.””
‘Abdu’l-Baha continued relating:
“Eventually, He [the Báb] ordered the merchandise brought back to His shop and did not yield to their efforts at bargaining. He changed many of their unseemly practices during the period He was a merchant in Búshihr.
“Soon thereafter, one of His maternal uncles arrived at Búshihr, and the same merchants who had returned the indigo dye came to see the uncle and complained about His behavior, saying, "He has ruined our reputation. We had a deal on dyes, however, as customary, we wished to renegotiate, but He did not comply. He arranged for the goods to be brought back from our store. This is a great insult to us as merchants. You should counsel Him not to repeat such offenses."”
The maternal uncle approached the Báb advising Him, "Why do You refuse to yield to people’s wishes and disrupt the established customs of the realm?" He told him, "Even now, if they should wish to bargain after a transaction is completed, I would refuse again."
That was a very blissful day. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled unceasingly and repeated several times, "Prior to His declaration, the Báb announced that He would change many of the accepted ways."
- ‘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)