LESSON NINE  -  MULLA HUSAYN'S JOURNEY TO TIHRAN

 Preparation: The children will need: Their maps of the journeys of Mulla Husayn.  Crayons. Diagram for each child (gifts of Husayn-Ali to Mulla Husayn).

 Summary of previous work:  Mulla Aliy-i-Bastami was sent out from Shiraz by the Báb.  He was joined by a boy who pleaded to go with him.  The boy's father caught up with them and started to beat Mulla Ah.  Later he was imprisoned and was the first to suffer for the New Faith.

 Story for today:   After Mulla Ah  left Shiraz, the Báb called His disciples to tell them what He wanted them to do.  Before He sent them on their way He said ^"Let your light shine before the eyes of men.  Such must be the purity of your character and the degree of your renunciation, that the people of the earth may through you recognise and be drawn closer to the heavenly Father who is the Source of purity and grace...  Scatter throughout the length and breadth of this land, and, with steadfast feet and sanctified hearts prepare the way for His coming.  Heed not your weaknesses and frailty; fix your gaze upon the invincible power of the Lord, your God, the Almighty".

 Then fourteen Letters set out on their travels, leaving Mulla Husayn and Quddus in Shiraz.  Soon it was time for Mulla Husayn and the Báb to part.  The Báb told Him that He and Quddus were going on a pilgrimage, whilst Mulla Husayn should visit many towns, and in Tihran he was to deliver a gift to a special person.

 So Mulla Husayn left, and wherever he went, fearlessly he told people about the Promised One.  Arriving in Isfahan, he went to the religious school where many people recognised him as the messenger of Siyyid Kazim.  But now Mulla Husayn had a new message and nobody wanted to hear it, only one man, a sifter of wheat, accepted and became a follower.  He was so firm in his faith that the Báb wrote about him saying, "Of all the inhabitants of that seat of learning, only one person, a sifter of wheat, was found to recognise the Truth, and invested with the robe of Divine virtue."'

 Kashan was the next place to be visited and then Qum. Then to Tihran, where he had a special task to perform.  Mulla Husayn stayed in a room in the religious school.  One evening he spoke to the teacher of the school, who was not interested in the teachings of the Báb  but in the next room a young man was listening who was very excited by what he heard.  At midnight he decided to visit Mulla Husayn and knocked on his door.  Mulla Husayn invited him in and spoke very politely and with great tenderness, "Your teacher has contemptuously rejected this Message and despised its Author.  My hope is that his pupil may, unlike his master, recognise its truth".

 Then Mulla Husayn asked the youth about the family of Mirza Buzurg-i-Nuri. The young man replied that there was a son of that man who was well-known for his kindness and loving character, who spent much time with the poor or walking in the countryside.  His name was Husayn-Ali and he was 28 years old.  Mulla Husayn was pleased with this news and asked if the young man had ever met Husayn-Ali and would he deliver a gift to him.  It was a scroll wrapped in a piece of cloth and the young man promised to take it and tell Mulla Husayn if there was any reply from Husayn-Ali.

Mirza Musa, the brother of Husayn-Ali, was standing at the gate, and welcomed the young man into the house.  The scroll was placed in front of Husayn-Ali who asked them both to be seated, then He unfolded the scroll and began to read it aloud.  Finally, He asked His brother what he thought of the message, saying that it had the same power as the words of the Qur'an.  He gave the youth gifts for Mulla Husayn, some Russian sugar and a package of tea, and asked him to send His love and grateful thanks.

 Mulla Husayn joyfully accepted the gifts, which he kissed, and then he kissed the young man, saying he had made him so happy, and he prayed God would fill his heart with "imperishable gladness".  The young man did not know why Mulla Husayn was so happy to receive such a simple gift.

 When Mulla Husayn was ready to leave for Khurasan, he asked the youth not to mention to anyone what he had seen, but to pray that Husayn-Ali would be kept safe from His enemies.  Many people in that city would shed their blood to tell people about the New Message.  "That blood will water the Tree of God, will cause it to flourish, and to overshadow all mankind".

 Homework questions:

1. What was the name of the Person who received the gift Mulla Husayn brought from the Báb?

2. He was a special Person.  Who do you think He was?

 Creative work:

 Give each child a diagram.  Study the Words of the Báb. Carefully colour in the gifts and scroll.

"His almighty arms will surround you, and his unfailing Spirit will ever continue to guide your steps".