The Báb’s Tablet to Mullá á��asan Gawhar: A Provisional Translation and Notes

Abstract

Among the Writings of The Báb there are epistles and letters addressed to prominent Shaykhís during His ministry, including the infamous á��ájí Karím Khán Kirmání. When The Báb tasked one of His disciples, one of the Letters of the Living (á��urúf-i-á��ayy), Mullá 'Alí Bastámí to Iráq in 1846, he was apprehended and a forum consisting of both Shí'ih and Sunní clergymen, charged the author of the new religions dispensation with apostasy and deserving of death for the claims contained in His Writings. One of those present in the forum was a certain Shaykhí from Tabríz in Iranian ídhirbayján, Shaykh á��asan Gawhar, who had been a student of Siyyid Káá�"im Rashtí and had attempted to advance a claim of leadership among the Shaykhís after the former's death. In the late Abu'l Qásim Afnán's book, 'Ahd-i-'A'lá: Zindigáníy-i á��aá��rat-i Báb, there can be found many reproductions of original tablets and letters of The Báb and of important figures from the Bábí Dispensation in Iran, including passages from a letter addressed to Mullá á��asan Gawhar. In this presentation, a provisional English translation of the Arabic tablet will be presented, in addition to offering some thoughts and comments on the content of the letter and the manner in which it fits into the context of The Báb's revelation.