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

IMRAN SHAYKH

Cooperation with officials:

A number of Babis cooperated with the authorities in the identification, arrest and persecution of their fellow Babis in return for saving their lives. Such Babis had to prove their \'sincerity\' to the authorities by implementing tough sanctions against their colleagues. In certain instances it is difficult to ascertain whether their cooperation was done voluntarily or under duress.

• \"Vahid managed to convert many of the Ulama in the township of Istahbanat on his way to Nayriz. Many of them sensing that the government troops were planning an attack, joined forces and under the leadership of Haji Rasul Mehrizi - formerly a devout follower of Vahid - and attacked their fellow Babis. The same individual later provoked the Ulama in Yazd in organizing another persecution against the Babis. At least on one occasion he lashed the Babis with his own hands. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 4, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 110)
• \"Another Babi was Aqa Sayyed Ismail Maranjani. He initially requested Vahid for his consent to marry his daughter. When this was refused, Aqa Sayyed Ismail Maranjani attacked and looted the Babis, stole Vahid\'s horse and joined the opposition forces, eventually assuming the leadership of the hard line Mullahs in Nayirz. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 3, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 300)
• \"Following the ill-fated attempt on the life of Nasiru\'l Din Shah, prison officials were busily interrogating Azim. Mirza Mohammad Husayn Motavalli Qumi - a defected Babi - intervened saying \'there are souls greater that Azim under His shadow\' pointing to Bahá\'u\'lláh. On another occasion he cut off the ear of Azim to please his interrogators. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 4, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 113)
• \"In the year 1300 HQ two Babi defectors named Karbalai Mohammad and Mirza Qulam Husayn actually initiated the persecutions in Tehran. They visited Aqa Sayyed Sadiq Tabatabai the grand Mujtahid, formally made a number of complaints against the Babis and submitted a list of the names of more than 1000 Babis within the Tehran province to the Mullah. During the meeting they advised the Mujtahid that the Babis call him Dajjal (in Islamic tradition, the evil character who will oppose the promised Mahdi and attempt to take His life). This infuriated Aqa Sayyed Sadiq Tabatabai to such an extent that he immediately drafted a letter to Prince Kamran Mirza requesting the massacre of all Babis. He enclosed the list of Tehrani Babis with the letter. Following the receipt of the letter, Prince Kamran Mirza arranged a private meeting with the two Babis and questioned them about the activities of the Babis in Tehran and specifically about Sayyed Mahdi Dahaji. Finally he advised them to continue their associations with the Babis and Baha’is. They were to inform him of potential Bahai gatherings so he could dispatch his troops for their mass arrest.
• The Bahais learnt of the wickedness of Karbalai Mohammad and Mirza Qulam Husayn and refused to associate with them. After a short time Karbalai Mohammad again visited Aqa Sayyed Sadiq Tabatabai the grand Mujtahid complaining that \'the Prince has not acted on your earlier correspondence.\' The Mujtahid wrote a second letter to Kamran Mirza threatening that \'if you do not arrest and execute the Baha’is, the masses will take the initiative in to their own hands.\'
• Finally the government officials led by Karbalai Mohammad raided the houses of the Baha’is. Karbalai Mohammad started by questioning the owner and would go inside and collect the Baha’i literature as evidence. Amongst the seized items were the Bayán-i-Farsi, Commentary on the Surah of Kowthar, Commentary on the Surah of Baqarah, Tablets from Bahá\'u\'lláh and a photograph of Sutanu\'l Shohada. Karbalai Mohammad delivered these items directly to the house of the Mujtahid.
• Simultaneously Mirza Qulam Husayn led another group of government officials in another part of Tehran. He caused the capture of many including Mirza Abul Fadl Golpayegani. A total of 37 Babis and Bahais were arrested during this round of persecutions. 
  (Ref: Zuhur Al-Haqq Vol. 5, Fadil Mazandarani, p. 269)

Conclusions:

The Founders of Shaykhi school used Taqaiyyah to promulgate their anticipation for the coming of the \'Perfect Shi\'a\'. Shaykhi literature contains numerous references to \'secrets\' of resurrection and the inability of the common people to understand them.

§ The Báb even ordered many of his followers to practice Taqaiyyah in order to spread the cause and carry out importance services for the faith.

§ After the martyrdom of the Báb, the practice of Taqaiyyah became popular amongst the Babis. There were many instances of learned Babis concealing their faith and evidence of mass Taqaiyyah in a number of cities.

§ There are a number of treatises and compilations written by Babis who practiced Taqaiyyah.

§ Taqaiyyah was in many instances used to conceal one\'s faith from the threats posed by the immediate family members.

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