The first forty days of His [the Báb] sojourn in Isfáhán
were spent as the guest of Mírzá Siyyid Muhammad… the Imám-Jum’ih, one of the
principal ecclesiastical dignitaries of the realm, in accordance with the
instructions of the governor of the city, Manúchihr Khán… who had received from
the Báb a letter requesting him to appoint the place where He should dwell. He
was ceremoniously received, and such was the spell He cast over the people of
that city that, on one occasion, after His return from the public bath, an
eager multitude clamored for the water that had been used for His ablutions. So
magic was His charm that His host, [the Imám-Jum’ih] forgetful of the dignity
of his high rank, was wont to wait personally upon Him. It was at the request
of this same prelate that the Báb, one night, after supper, revealed His
well-known commentary on the súrih of Va’l-‘Asr. Writing with astonishing
rapidity, He, in a few hours... [revealed] verses that equalled in number a
third of the Qur’án, a feat that called forth such an outburst of reverent astonishment
from those who witnessed it that they arose and kissed the hem of His robe.
- Shoghi Effendi (‘God Passes By’)
