T IS my intention,
by the aid and assistance of God, to devote the introductory pages of this narrative
to such accounts as I have been able to obtain regarding those twin great lights,
Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsa'i and Siyyid Kazim-i-Rashti, after which it is my hope to
recount, in their chronological order, the chief events that have happened since
the year '60,(1) the year that witnessed the declaration of the
Faith by the Bab, until the present time, the year 1305 A.H.(2)
In certain instances I shall go into some detail, in others I shall content myself with a brief summary of events. I shall place on record a description of the episodes I myself have witnessed, as well as those that have been reported to me by trustworthy and recognised informants, specifying in every case their names and standing. Those to whom I am primarily indebted are the following: Mirza Ahmad-i-Qazvini, the Bab's amanuensis; Siyyid Isma'il-i-Dhabih; Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunuzi; Shaykh Abu-Turab-i-Qazvini; and, last but not least, Mirza Musa, Aqay-i-Kalim, brother of Baha'u'llah.
I render thanks to God for having assisted me in the
writing of these preliminary pages, and for having blessed
and honoured them with the approval of Baha'u'llah, who
has graciously deigned to consider them and who signified,
through His amanuensis Mirza Aqa Jan, who read them to
Him, His pleasure and acceptance. I pray that the Almighty
may sustain and guide me lest I err and falter in the task I
have set myself to accomplish.
MUHAMMAD-I-ZARANDI.(3)
Akka, Palestine, 1305 A.H.
lxiv
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