National Consolidation Committee.

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Preparation: Children will need the maps they had from last week. Creative work: Diagram of the Bab's room in Shiraz, one per child. Crayons.

Summary of previous week: Mulla Husayn returned to Karbila after delivering messages to priests for Siyyid Kazim, to find that Siyyid Kazim had died. Mulla Husayn decided to go and search for the Promised One.

Story for this lesson:
After Mulla Husayn left the disciples he went to the mosque with his brother and his nephew to- spend forty days in prayer and fasting, in readiness for his holy adventure.
Another disciple of Siyyid Kazim arrived with twelve friends, and when he saw Mulla Husayn deep in prayer, he decided to pray and fast too and to search for the Promised One.
    After the forty days, Mulla Husayn and his two companions left and set out for Bushihr. Mulla Husayn felt that Bushihr was a special place, and it was, for the Bab had spent years in that town, but he decided not to stay very long before going to Shiraz.
    Do you remember how Shaykh Ahmad had visited Shiraz and had praised the city so much that it had surprised all the townsfolk?
    Arriving at the gate of the city, Mulla Husayn asked his companions to go to the mosque and, God willing, he would meet them there for evening prayers. Later, a few hours before sunset, a Young Man greeted Mulla Husayn as though they were old friends. The Youth, Who was wearing a green turban, must be a disciple of Siyyid Kazim, thought Mulla Husayn. He invited Mulla liusayn to His home to refresh himself after his long Journey. Mulla Husayn explained that he was with friends who were already finding a place for them to stay, but the Youth replied "Commit them to the care of God. He will surely protect them and watch over them".
    The home of the Youth was quite small and humble and a servant answered the door. The Youth invited Mulla Husayn in with these words from the Qu'ran, "Enter therein in peace, secure". Then the Youth offered to wash his hands and feet from the dust of the street and gave him a drink. Mulla Husayn hoped that his visit to this house would help him to find the Promised One, but after he had finished the drink he decided he should go and meet his companions at the mosque, for it was nearly time for evening prayers. The Youth said calmly, "You must surely have made the hour of your return conditional upon the will and pleasure of God. It seems that His will has decreed otherwise. You need have no fear of having broken your pledge". Mulla Husayn and the Youth then said evening prayers together, and Mulla Husayn prayed earnestly to God for the great longing in his heart, saying, "I have striven with all my soul, 0 my God, and until now have failed to find Thy promised Messenger. I testify that Thy Word faileth not, and that Thy promise is sure".
    One hour after the sun had set, the Youth began asking Mulla Husayn what Siyyid Kazim's dying message had been and who was the leader of the disciples now. Mulla Husayn explained that the Siyyid had told his disciples to scatter far and wide searching for the Promised One. Then the Youth asked if Siyyid Kazim had given a picture of what the Promised One would be like. Mulla Husayn replied that he had, and began to tell the Youth some of the signs. He would be young, a descendant of Muhammad, lie does not smoke, His knowledge comes from God, and many other signs.
     The Youth then said that He had all these signs. He was young, a descendant of Muhammad, He did not smoke, and He had not been taught at school. Mulla Husayn could not believe this at first so he decided to let the Youth tell him more so that he could see if this were true. Firstly he would ask the Youth some questions about the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad and Siyyid Kazim. They were very difficult and if the Youth could answer them then Mulla Husayn might accept Him. But before that, he wanted -the Promised One to explain a story from the Qu'ran without being asked.
     Mulla Husayn showed the questions, which he had written down, to the Youth, and in a short while even the most difficult one had been answered. Then, without being asked, He began to write down page after page, an explanation of the story in the Qu'ran. Mulla Husayn knew then that his search was over, and he was overjoyed.
The Youth said that He was to be called the Bab (the Gate), and Mulla Husayn was to be known as Babu'l-Bab (Gate of the Gate), and that he was not to tell anyone about this evening until seventeen other people had also accepted Him as the Promised One.
     MuIla Husayn was the first one to know that the Bab was God's Messenger, arid that night, 22 May 1844, is a very important occasion for the whole world.

Creative work:

Give the children each a diagram of the Bab's room.

Before colouring, ask a child to read the very important words of the Bab.

"This night, this very hour will in the days to come be celebrated as one of the greatest and most significant of all festivals". (The Bab.)