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Anís

Background
Bahá'ís follow the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, Who revealed Himself as a Manifestation of God in 1863 in (what was then) Persia. In 1844, another Manifestation of God revealed Himself. This was the Báb, whose name means The Gate. In addition to being a Manifestation in His Own right, He also had the role of announcing the coming of Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'ís often refer to The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh as the Twin Manifestations.

How Anís fits in
In 1850, the Báb was sentenced to death, as the government wanted to quell His influence. As He was led to prison, a young man, Mírzá Muhammad 'Alí, threw himself at His feet, begging the Báb to allow him to follow Him wherever He might go. Mírzá Muhammad 'Alí, who came to be known as Anís, was arrested as well, and put in the same cell as the Báb along with several other followers. That night, the Báb asked who among His followers was willing to take His life, rather than His being shot by His enemies. All were silent, except Anís, who out of obedience to the Báb, said he would carry out the task, if need be. The Bab allowed Anis, who was willing to comply with His wish, to be martyred with Him. My brother was named after this Anís, whose bestowed name means companion.

The next morning, July 9, 1850, the Báb was speaking with His secretary in His cell. An official came to lead Him outside. The Báb told the official that He was not yet finished and that until He was, He would not be silenced. The official ignored Him, and led him to the clergy, who signed His execution decree. The Báb and Anís were led into a courtyard, where they were attached to ropes driven into the wall with an iron nail. The commander of the soldiers who were to execute the Báb confided to Him that he did not desire to kill Him, and the Báb said that if his intentions were sincere, he would be freed of the obligation.

The 750 soldiers fired their rifles. When the smoke cleared, Anís was standing there, unscathed, and the Báb was not to be seen. The Báb was found back in His cell, continuing His conversation with His secretary. Once He had finished, He said the officials could carry out their intentions.

The commander was so spooked that he refused that his men try again. Another regiment came in to carry out the execution. The Báb and Anís were suspended again, and this time the bullets hit as intended. Their bodies were mangled, but their faces remained almost untouched.

Posted by Shokufeh at March 8, 2004 10:36 PM