Since the first days when Babism was announced by Ali Muhammad Khan Bab in Shiraz city, the word perseverance was totally meant by him when he was given the bastinado after a debate between him and the scholars and his false belief got obvious. When he was beaten by the first twig he meant perseverance and announced repentance:

-       May God damn a person who considers me as the deputy of Imam of the time (P.H.)

-       May God curse a person who considers me as the gate for Imam of the time (P.H.)

-       May God damn a person who says I reject monotheism.

-       May God curse a person who believes I reject the divine prophets.

-       May God damn a person who consider me as the denier of the Imamate of the holy Imams.

     This event happened in 1260 and has been stated in the book “the summary of Nabil Zarandi history” page 141.

     Well, we figured out the meaning of perseverance. This was neither first nor the last time when the word perseverance was meant by the Baha’ism leaders. The last time when Bab repented went back his debate with the scholars of Tabriz city when he wrote his famous letter of repentance to Qajar prince. He asked for forgiveness expressing his regret.

     Of course, the matter of  perseverance and the necessity believing in it isn’t restricted to the Excellency Ali Muhammad Bab Shirazi, the Excellency Hussein Ali Nouri exposed perseverance when he was active in the field of Babism leadership. In the Iranian history, we encounter Naseruddin Shah’s assassination. It was done by Babis. The government agents were dispatched to arrest Hussein Ali Nouri. In order to mean the word perservance, he sought asylum to the Russian embassy.

     O’Baha’is, which Baha’i leader’s behavior indicates his perseverance?

Hamed Mahmoudi