The Practice of Taqaiyyah (Dissimulation) in the Babi and Baha’i Faith- Part II

IMRAN SHAYKH

Taqaiyyah Amongst the Early Disciples:

Many of the Báb\'s loyal followers observed his instructions on the practice of Taqaiyyah and became the source of invaluable service to the new Cause. Others used Taqaiyyah to selfishly protect their livelihood. Some went further and actually provided assistance to the officials in persecuting the other Babis.

• \"Sayyed Hasan and Sayyed Husayn Yazdi both met the Báb whilst in Isfahan. Sayyed Husayn immediately became His scribe and recorded many of the divine tablets and letters revealed by Him. The two brothers continued to serve the Báb in this capacity until His exile to Maku. Sayyed Hasan was ordered by the Báb in Maku to recant his faith, retire from service and return. Sayed Husayn stayed until the end and similarly followed Báb\'s instructions, practiced Taqaiyyah and was saved from the enemies after His execution. A short time after the Báb\'s execution, Sayyed Husayn went to the Russian Consul General in Tabriz and conveyed certain information on the final hours of Báb\'s life and Babi teachings in general. The Russian Consul General took Sayyed Husayn to Tehran with himself under diplomatic protection. Sayyed Husayn was well respected in the Babi community as the only disciple who personally witnessed the final four years of the Báb\'s life and was a privy to the secrets of the Cause. He was known as Aziz (favourite) Katib (scribe) and Katib-ul-Bayan (scribe of Bayán).
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 3, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 459-460)
• \"Mírzá Mohammad Zakir (Rowza Khan) Yazdi was a leading Shaykhi student who had accompanied Mulla Husayn to Shiraz. He became one of the Letters of Living and was ordered to spread the new message in the city of Yazd. His arrival and initial enthusiasm was met with severe opposition by the intolerant Ulama who immediately issued a Fatwa to take his life. He became disillusioned and searched for means to save his life. He relied on his Shaykhi credentials and claimed to be a devoted follower of Haji Mohammad Karim Khan Kirmani. He even married a woman from the Kirmani clan. With a combination of Taqaiyyah and support from his new family he managed to save his life and maintain his reputation amongst the Mullahs. Privately he remained a Babi and taught the faith secretly to close confidants. He continued to practice Taqaiyyah until the end. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 3, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 458)
• \"Qahr\'ullah was a Dervish from India who had traveled to Persia and became a Babi. He met the Báb in Chihriq and was instantly transformed to such an extent that he openly declared the coming of Mahdi in various villages in Azarbaijan. His open proclamation caused a stir in the city of Khoy and as a result many Babis were persecuted. The Báb ordered him to leave Iran. He returned to India only to come back to Chihriq after a few months and sought refuge in close proximity to Báb\'s cell. When the Báb was taken to Tabriz for execution, Qahr\'ullah followed Him barefooted. He was present at the hour of execution. After the execution he was arrested and interrogated. During the process, he practiced Taqaiyyah and claimed to be a Sufi follower and was subsequently released. He was later killed in Tehran. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 3, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 458)
• \"Many of the Babi women who visited Tahera whilst she was held captive at the residence of Kalantar Khan observed Taqaiyyah. They pretended to be housemaids and carried back and forth correspondence between the Babis and Tahera. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 3, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 338)

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