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Emperor Nikolaevich Alexander II |
PART I
The Russian imperialism has no doubt, played an outstanding role in the formative years of Babi schism. Obviously, they would waste no opportunity to fish in troubled waters in a country where foreign forces could easily exhibit themselves. To this end, they would do their best to annihilate the only factor for the solidarity of the nation—religion. On the other hand, since the time of Peter the Great, the founder of imperialist Russia, the Russians in their drive to become the paramount colonial power far superior to their hegemonist rivals, they tried every stratagem to get access to the warm waters of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The basis for the Russian foreign policy in Asia, according to documentary evidence was grounded in Peter the great’s will who had recommended the following points to his successors:
“…Further approach towards Constantinople and India. Those who get hold of these regions would be the owners of the whole world. Therefore, to achieve this goal, permanent wars should be launched not only in Turkey but in Iran as well…”
After the overthrown of Czarist rule in Russia, Dolgorki, one of the suspicious Russian officials who later was appointed as the Soviet ambassador to Tehran, and who, as history bears witness, had made direct contacts with Bahai leaders, wrote articles titled ‘a clergyman politician’ in Sharq (East) magazine, the official publication of the Russian foreign commissariat in 1924 and 1925.(1) In his articles he has revealed that the first time he entered Iran in disguise as a clergyman and stayed for sometime in theological centers, he had collected the required information in this connection.
Seyyed Kazem Rashti
Since he knew that his real name would rouse suspicion among the people about him as an atheist Russian, he chose the forged name ‘Sheikh Ali Lankarani’ for himself. Later, he went to Iraq where, among all those religious personalities, he was attracted by Seyyed Kazem Rashti’s orations. He gradually penetrated the Sheikhiyeh and chose Mirza Ali Mohammad Shirazi as an appropriate person for his sinister objectives. At the beginning he would pretend that he had been impressed by Mirza Ali Mohammad and would be quite humble in front of him and would rush to see him on and off. He would implicitly inject the idea to Mirza Ali Mohammad that he was the Bab (gateway) to all divine sciences, that he was the Bab to the Awaited Imam, and that all should consider him as the Bab…!
A review of the ideology of Babism and Bahaism shows that they have always referred to Czarist Russia as their ultimate friend and refuge. The first signals of Russia‘s practical support for Bab was the case of the Christian governor of Isfahan, Manuchehr Khan Gorji, which was discussed earlier.
Mirza Ali Mohammad Shirazi
Abdolhussein Ayati on page 284 of his book Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh fi Ma’aser-ul Bahaiyeh, volume 1, writes: “When he (Bahaullah) was in Dargaz, one of the villages of Mazandaran, the Russian government servants and border guards showed devotion towards him to the extent that they managed to pave the way for his escape but he did not accept…Later, they were informed about Mohammad Shah’s death which pleased the Russian admiral and resulted in BahaoUah’s rescue. On this trip, Seyyed Basir Hendi accompanied him.” (2)
On page 49 of his book Maqale Shakhsi Sayyah, Abbas Afandi while describing the execution of Ali Mohammad Shirazi and Mohammad Ali Tabrizi in Tabriz writes:
“Then, they took the bodies away from the city square and placed them beside a ditch outside the city. The next day the Russian counsul inspected the bodies and drew a picture of the bodies as they were lying beside the ditch.”(3)
It should be noted that the writer of the book Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh on page 249 of the first volume of his book has explicitly noted that Ali Mohammad Shirazi’s body had been hidden by Ahmad Milani Babi who had been under the patronage of the Russian government.
Meanwhile, the writer of Noqtat-ul Kaaf on page 266 of his book writes:
“The Byzantine and Russian ambassadors have blamed Amir on the murder of the two masters and have said that it would be meaningless if a number of deprived people say something and you, with all the power you have, intend to annoy them…” (4)
A report prepared by the Russian ambassador, Prince Dolgorki, and sent to the the Russian Foreign Minister says:
“It would be excellent if Babism launches an opposition against Muslim ulema and accuses them of being deviated.” (5)
Shoghi Afandi, the second successor to Bahaullah in his book Qarn-e Badi under the title of ‘Exile of the master Bahaullah to Iraq’ writes:
“When the assassination attempt against Nassereddin Shah’s life occurred, Bahaullah was in Lavasan as a guest of the grand vizier. He was in Afjeh when he heard the news. The grand vizier’s brother Ja’afar Qoli Khan who was responsible for hosting Bahaullah, asked him to hide in one of the nearby places for a while until the situation is calm again. But the ‘blessed being’ not only did not accept the idea but dismissed even the trustworthy person assigned for his safety. The next day, he patiently proceeded towards the imperial camp in Niavaran. While in Zargandeh, Majid, Bahaullah ‘s brother-in-law, who was serving as a secretary at the Russian embassy met and invited him to his house which was next to the ambassador’s residence. Later, Haj Mohammad Ali Khan Hajeb-ud Doleh’s men reported Bahaullah ‘s arrival to him and he personally informed the Shah. The Shah was surprised by hearing such a news and dispatched his own reliable envoys to the embassy to demand his hand over since he was accused of being involved in the incident. The Russian ambassador declined to hand Bahaullah over and begged the master to move to the grand vizier’s house. He also explicitly and officially urged him to preserve and safeguard the trust they deposit with him…(6)
References :
1- Translations of his notes have been reprinted for several times. Later, they were published with an introduction by Khalessizadeh. See Mozdouran-e Este’mar, page 2, by Rowhani
.
2. See Bahaian, pages 617-618
3. ibid
4. ibid
5. Bahaian, page 619. From Dalgorky’s reports Russian government
ambassador to Iran to Russian Foreign Minister Neselrud. File No. 133,
Tehran, June 10th, 1850, No. 48.
6, Qarn-e Badi, vol. 1, page 318, by Showqi, translated by
Nasrollah Mavaddat printed by Amri National Publications
PART II
It has been mentioned on page 284 of volume of Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh that the Russian government contacted Mirza Hussein Ali in Amol and promised to provide him with any kind of assistance and cooperation. In practice, the Russian government would observe such a commitment because when he was chased by Nassereddin Shah, the Russian embassy gave him shelter and informed the Iranian officials that the Russian government by no means would accept any harm to him and that he should be completely supported and protected and in case any harm threatens him, the Iranian government would be directly responsible. The relevant peace and tranquility that prevailed after the severe imprisonment of that master, Bahaullah, according to the Divine will was limited and lasted for a short period. Because, the master had not fully felt himself among his family that the Shah ordered his exile. According to the Shah’s decree, Bahaullah had to leave the country within a month. However, he was permitted to go wherever he wished. When the Russian ambassador was informed of the Shah’s decree, begged the master to allow him to provide the required facilities for his transfer to Russia under the patronage and safety of the Russian government. But, the invitation was not accepted by Bahaullah and instead he preferred to depart for Iraq and stay in Baghdad.
Emperor Nikolaevich Alexander II
Later, in a tablet written by the master’s pen in honour of the Russian Emperor Nicolovich Alexander II, the divine being praised the ambassador’s proposal and said:
“When this oppressed man (referring to him) was in captivity, the Russian ambassador did his best to release me and repeatedly urged my release but a number of ulema protested against his proposal. Finally, as a result of his Excellency’s insistence, I was released from captivity. His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, may the blessed and supreme God help him, continued his protection for me, only for the sake of God…”
Of course, the British imperialism did not lack behind in the nurturing of Babi schism. Heshmat Ali, one of the Bahai leaders on page 81 of his book Bahaullah ‘s Teachings which has been printed in Urdu in India writes:
“If the ambassadors of Russia and Britain had not mediated for the rescue of Bahaullah, the name of this great man had been eliminated from history forever.”
“…In January 12, 1853, that is nine months after the return from Karbala, master Bahaullah together with several members of his familv and the Iranian official and Russian ambassador, went for Baghdad…”(1)
Mirza Heydar Isfahani Bahai in his book Bahjatus Sodour (Gladness of hearts) writes:
“They finally arrested and imprisoned Baha and plundered his wealth and since the Russian government supported him, they could not martyr him and therefore sent him into exile to Baghdad .(2)
Abdolhussein Avareh in his book Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh on the release of Mirza Husseinali Bahaullah writes:
“It is noteworthy that all the inmates of the prison that Bahaullah was jailed were affected by the Shah’s anger. However, he was released from prison and perhaps the Russian consul helped his release.”(3)
Seyyed Hussein Yazdi, Baha’s secretary, was the only person who accompanied him everywhere until the time when the verdict for the execution of Bab was issued. Later, he found a better person and repented but after a while again joined the followers of Bab. There are documents which prove his secret contacts with the Russian embassy and the fact that he relayed the embassy’s instructions to Baha.
On page 217 of the book Noqtat-ul Kaaf which is highly respected by the Bahais themselves, it has been revealed that:
“The Russian ambassador would particularly come to Tabriz in order to visit Seyyed Hussein Yazdi.”
Czarist Russia, after the consolidation of the position of these mean spies and servants in Iran, decided to support them from Russia and therefore granted them a plot of land in Ashqabad where the Russian government with its own expenses and under the supervision of its own architects built a base and temple for the Bahais. If the Bolsheviks had not put an end to Czarist rule, Russia, like Israel, Britain and the U.S. would have been turned into a major base for this fabricated sect.
The late Abdolhussein Bafqi Yazdi in his book Kashf-ul Hayyal notes this point:
“The Russian government granted them land and sent them architects to set up a temple (Mashreq-ul Azkar in Ashqabad) and if the communists had not turned that place into a scene of their show, Babism and Bahaism would have been organized in Russia.”(4)
1. Page 41 onwards, vol. 2, Tehran, Amri National Publications.
2. Bahaian, page 126, see Behjatul-Sodar, page 128, printed in Bombay.
3. Bahaian, page 631, Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh, vol 1., page 336
4. Abdolhussein Bafqi Yazdi, a famous Iranian poet and writer was born in Taft, Yazd, in 1868. When he was 32, he joined the Bahais under their persuasion and thus was ostracized from Muslim community. He propagated Bahaism for 18 years. It was at the beginning of this era when he wrote Kavakeb-ud Dorriyeh on the history of this faith. Upon the orders of Abdol Baha, he would adopt ‘Avareh” as his pen name. After Abdol Baha’s death Ayati made a trip to Europe where he deeply found out futility of this fabricated sect and thus wrote Kashf-ul Hayyal (Exposing the Deceitful) on the deceitful nature of the Bahai leaders. The great Islamic encyclopedia, vol. 2.
