The Excellency Mirza Muhammad believed that he is the deputy and gate for the 12th Imam of Shiites. Even, he claimed to be Imam of the time himself later on. (The summary of Nabil history/ Ishraq Khawari)
It is interesting to be noted that he repented after he was given eleven bastinados. The following is a part of the adventure by the greatest missionary of Baha’is (Mirza Abul Fazl Golpaygani in the book “Kashful Qita”:
“First, Hajj Mulla Muhammad asked: it has been heard that you’ve said you had been the deputy of Imam and the gate. You had said several words witnessing you were Imam; but prophet. He said and gate. What I have said is true. It is necessary for you to obey me… I swear by God that I am the one for whom you have waited.”
The continuation of the adventure after he was given eleven bastinados. I swear by God that I am too weak to act against God’s will.
… If I had done or written against God’s satisfaction, I wouldn’t have rebelled. Anyway I repent… The claim for being Imam of the time’s deputy is quite false…”
When the Excellency Mirza Ali Muhammad Shirazi has repented his extrobitant claims, why do Baha’is consider him as the annunciator of the Excellency Bahaullah?