Secluded on the heights of a remote and dangerously situated
mountain on the frontiers of the Ottoman and Russian empires; imprisoned within
the solid walls of a four-towered fortress; cut off from His family, His
kindred and His disciples; living in the vicinity of a bigoted and turbulent
community who, by race, tradition, language and creed, differed from the vast
majority of the inhabitants of Persia; guarded by the people of a district
which, as the birthplace of the Grand Vizir, [Hájí Mírzá Aqásí] had been made
the recipient of the special favors of his administration, the Prisoner of
Máh-Kú [the Báb] seemed in the eyes of His adversary to be doomed to languish
away the flower of His youth, and witness, at no distant date, the complete annihilation
of His hopes. That adversary was soon to realize, however, how gravely he had
misjudged both his Prisoner and those on whom he had lavished his favors.
- Shoghi Effendi (‘God Passes By’)
