Abstract
Mirza Ali Muhammad Bab Shirazi began his claim to Babism with the book “Tafsir Surah Yusuf.” Having spent some time in the Shaykhi school and in the classes of Karbala with Sayyid Kazim Rashti, he continued this thought and claim. He introduced himself as the successor, the Bab, and the next “Fourth Pillar” to Mulla Husayn Bushru’i.
The Baha’is claim that in the year 1260 AH, Mulla Husayn Bushru’i received this book from Bab during a meeting on the night of the 5th of Jumada al-Awwal, confirming the Bab’s claim. The important point is that Mirza Ali Muhammad himself only claimed to be the Bab of the promised Qa’im in this book, but the Baha’is insist on proving that he himself is the promised Qa’im. In this way, they aim to lay the foundation for the establishment of the Baha’i sect.
The characteristics of the book Qayyūm al-Asmā
The book Qayyūm al-Asmā is also known by other names such as “Ahsan al-Qisas” and “Tafsir Surah Yusuf.” The language of the book is Arabic.
Among the Baha’is, it is said that the Báb of Shiraz attempted to provide an interpretation of Surah Yusuf from the Holy Quran of Muslims. Therefore, he included 111 sections in this book. However, these sections neither in title nor in content have any relation to the mentioned verses in Surah Yusuf!
He also imitated the Quran by combining letters and inventing his own version of the disjointed letters found in the Quran!
The interpretation of Surah Yusuf by the Báb has been published by both Azalis and Baha’is. The Azali publication consists of 404 pages with linear offset printing in large format. However, the version by the Baha’i Publishing Institute was printed in Tehran in the year 132 Badi’ with 243 pages in large format. The Azali version is available on the bayanic website.
The value and significance of the Commentary on Surah Yusuf among Baha’is
The claim of Báb-hood by Mírzá ‘Alí Muhammad Shírází in the commentary on Surah Yusuf has been noted by Bahá’í leaders. Additionally, the book Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’ is mentioned as one of the works of the Báb, and famous quotes from this book are cited in the statements of Bahá’í leaders. Below, we mention a few instances:
1-Mirza Hussein Ali Noori named Bahaullah
In the book “Kitáb-i-Íqán,” page 180, while attempting to prove the Qa’im-hood of Mirza Ali Muhammad Shirazi to the uncle of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh speaks about the introduction and significance of the “Commentary on Surah Yusuf” as follows:
“Gracious God! In His Book, which He hath entitled “Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’”—the first, the greatest and mightiest of all books—He prophesied His own martyrdom. In it is this passage: “O thou the God’s Remained! I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee; I have accepted curses for Thy sake; and have yearned for naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy love. Sufficient Witness unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the Ancient of Days!” [1]
Therefore, Bahá’u’lláh, by stating this sentence, believes that the Twelfth Imam of the Shi’ites is someone other than the Báb himself, and the Báb introduces himself as a devotee of that person.
2-Abbas Effendi named ‘Abdu’l-Baha
“He, who is the son of Mirza Husayn Ali and the second leader of the Baha’is, describes the story from the beginning in his book, ‘A Traveler’s Narrative’:
“He began to speak and to declare the rank of Báb-hood. Now what He intended by the term Báb [Gate] was this, that He was the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the veil of glory, Who was the possessor of countless and boundless perfections, by Whose will He moved, and to the bond of Whose love He clung. And in the first book which He wrote in explanation of the Súrih of Joseph,[1] He addressed Himself in all passages to that Person unseen from Whom He received help and grace, sought for aid in the arrangement of His preliminaries, and craved the sacrifice of life in the way of His love. Amongst others is this sentence: “O the God’s Remained, I am wholly sacrificed to Thee; I am content with curses in Thy way; I crave naught but to be slain in Thy love; and God the Supreme sufficeth as an Eternal Protection.” [2]
Thus, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also believes, as inferred from the book ‘Commentary on the Surah of Joseph,’ that the Báb made the claim of being the Gate there and considers himself a devotee of a person who is absent.
3-Shoghi Effendi named the Guardian of God
Shoghi Effendi, the last leader in the line of Guardians of the Bahá’í Faith, also considers the “Commentary on Surah Yusuf” to be a book written by the Báb in the presence of Mulla Husayn Bushru’i to assert his claim to the Báb-hood. In his book “God Passes By,” when he describes the history of the Bábí Faith, on page 77 (Persian manuscript version), he states:
“Indeed, the commentary on the blessed Surah Yusuf, named Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’, is considered the first, the greatest, and the mightiest of the books of the Bayán Dispensation. From the study of the initial pages of this magnificent journey, which the first Surah of it was revealed on the same night of the declaration of the blessed Cause, the pride of nights and days, and from the observation of the description and explanation issued from the tongue of Mulla Husayn, the greatness and exaltation of this noble proclamation become clear and evident.”
Therefore, Shoghi Effendi also introduces the “Commentary on Surah Yusuf” as one of the important works of the Báb and refers to his claim to the Báb-hood on the first night to Mulla Husayn Bushru’i.
Additionally, the name of the book Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’ is listed among the most important books and works of the Báb by the Bahá’í scholar Ahmad Yazdani. He mentions the name “Commentary on Surah Yusuf” in his book “A Brief Overview of the Bahá’í Faith.”
The content of Kitab-i-Tafsir Yousuf
In the book “Qayyūmu’l-Asmá’,” Mirza Ali Muhammad Shirazi introduces himself as the Báb of the Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him), the Twelfth Imam of the Shi’ites, whom he refers to as “the devotee of the God’s Remained” in this book. Therefore, the statement of Fazel Mazandarani, a Bahá’í scholar, confirms the Báb’s belief in the existence of the Hidden Imam, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan. Mazandarani, in his book “Asrár al-Áthár,” Volume 2, page 67, under the term “The God’s Remained,” says:
“Baqiyyatullah is one of the titles of the Twelfth Imam of the Twelver Shi’ites, and in the early works of the Point of the Bayán (the Báb), it is repeatedly mentioned: ‘Indeed, I am a servant of the God’s Remained.’”
This claim is seen in various sentences of the book “Tafsir Surah Yusuf” by the Bab.
However, another approach in this book that clearly defines the Bab’s thoughts for his followers at that time is the invitation to prepare for war and create chaos. Therefore, titles such as “Surah Al-Qital” and “Surah Al-Jihad” appear in the book “Qayyum al-Asma“. This issue is also confirmed by the third leader of the Baha’is, Shoghi Effendi, in his book, stating that the initiation of war and bloodshed in the fortress of Tabarsi, Neyriz, and Zanjan was the result of the followers of the Bab reading and acting upon this book [3] “Tafsir Surah Yusuf”. This has led the Baha’is to this day to link the sanctity of the Baha’i Faith to the blood of a number of anonymous Babis whose names are not mentioned in any history, and to remember them as their martyrs.
Conclusion
The Báb claimed to be the Gate (Báb) until the year 1264 AH and eventually renounced this claim, as evidenced by his letter of repentance. [4] How has the Bahá’í Faith built a lofty structure on such an illusory and non-existent foundation?
Notes:
[1]. Iqan, page 213, paragraph 258 [2]. A Traveler’s Narrative, page 1 [3]. Qarn-i-Badi, vol.1 p.147 [4]. The text of the Báb’s letter of repentance is recorded in the book “Kashf al-Ghita” by Mirza Abulfazl Golpayegani. This book was written at a time when the Bahá’í leader ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also endorsed it. On page 205 of this book, Ali Muhammad Báb Shirazi says:“The claim of specific deputyship of the Proof of God (Imam Mahdi) is purely false, and this servant has not made such a claim, nor any other claim.”
| Title: The Qayyūm al-asmā |
| Pages: 404 |
| Author: Ali Muhammad Báb Shirazi |
| Published By: Bayanic.com |
| Size of book: digital file |
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