In this most resplendent Dispensation, however, this most
mighty Sovereignty, a number of illumined divines, of men of consummate
learning, of doctors of mature wisdom, have attained unto His Court, drunk the
cup of His divine Presence, and been invested with the honour of His most
excellent favour. They have renounced, for the sake of the Beloved, the world
and all that is therein. We will mention the names of some of them, that
perchance it may strengthen the faint-hearted, and encourage the timorous.
Among them was Mulla Husayn, who became the recipient of the
effulgent glory of the Sun of divine Revelation. But for him, God would not
have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor ascended the throne of
eternal glory. Among them also was Siyyid Yahya, that unique and peerless
figure of his age, Mulla Muhammad Aliy-i-Zanjani, Mulla Aliy-i-Bastami, Mulla
Sa'id-i-Barfurushi, Mulla Ni'matu'llah-i-Mazindarani, Mulla Yusuf-i-Ardibili, Mulla
Mihdiy-i-Khu'I, Siyyid Husayn-i-Turshizi, Mulla Mihdiy-i-Kandi, Mulla Baqir, Mulla
Abdu'l-Khaliq-i-Yazdi, Mulla Aliy-i-Baraqani, and others, well nigh four
hundred in number, whose names are all inscribed upon the "Guarded
Tablet" of God.
All these were guided by the light of that Sun of divine
Revelation, confessed and acknowledged His truth. Such was their faith, that
most of them renounced their substance and kindred, and cleaved to the
good-pleasure of the All-Glorious. They laid down their lives for their
Well-Beloved, and surrendered their all in His path. Their breasts were made
targets for the darts of the enemy, and their heads adorned the spears of the
infidel. No land remained which did not drink the blood of these embodiments of
detachment, and no sword that did not bruise their necks. Their deeds, alone,
testify to the truth of their words.
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)