Mullá 'Alíy-i-Bastámí
Encyclopedia
Mullá 'Alí-i-Bastámí was the fourth (although second according to some sources) Letter of the Living
in the Bábí movement. He is also probably the first and one of the best known martyrs of the early Bábí period.
According to Bahá'í
tradition, Mullá 'Alí met Mullá Husayn
after the latter had discovered the Báb
and realised that he had discovered something. After three days of prayer and meditation, he had a vision and this was enough to convince Mullá Husayn to show Mullá 'Alí to the Báb. Mullá 'Alí accepted the Báb as the "promised one" on their first meeting.
The Báb gave him the very specific mission of leaving Persia and travelling to the holy Shi'a city of Najaf
in modern day Iraq. It was here he was to announce the Báb's mission to Shaykh Muhammad Hasan, a senior member of the Shi'a clergy. He was imprisoned for heresy, and in January 1846, he was sentenced to hard labour in Istanbul's docks. He died in prison later that year and is claimed to be the first Bábi martyr.
Bábis and Bahá'ís believe that it was his effort and sacrifice that paved the way for the Báb's "dramatic" pilgrimage where he made his first public appearance as the Báb.
Letters of the Living
The Letters of the Living was a title provided by the Báb to the first eighteen disciples of the Bábí Religion. In some understandings the Báb places himself at the head of this list...
in the Bábí movement. He is also probably the first and one of the best known martyrs of the early Bábí period.
According to Bahá'í
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
tradition, Mullá 'Alí met Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn-i Bushru'i , titled Jináb-i-Bábu'l-Báb , was a Persian religious figure, and the first Letter of the Living of the Bábí movement. He died at the Battle of Fort Shaykh Tabarsi, on February 2, 1849...
after the latter had discovered the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
and realised that he had discovered something. After three days of prayer and meditation, he had a vision and this was enough to convince Mullá Husayn to show Mullá 'Alí to the Báb. Mullá 'Alí accepted the Báb as the "promised one" on their first meeting.
The Báb gave him the very specific mission of leaving Persia and travelling to the holy Shi'a city of Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
in modern day Iraq. It was here he was to announce the Báb's mission to Shaykh Muhammad Hasan, a senior member of the Shi'a clergy. He was imprisoned for heresy, and in January 1846, he was sentenced to hard labour in Istanbul's docks. He died in prison later that year and is claimed to be the first Bábi martyr.
Bábis and Bahá'ís believe that it was his effort and sacrifice that paved the way for the Báb's "dramatic" pilgrimage where he made his first public appearance as the Báb.