Mullá ‘Alí Bastamí (d. 1846): the second to recognize the
Báb. According to Nabil, twelve of his companions, each independently, also
recognized the Báb soon after him and became among the Letters of the Living.
The Báb gave Mullá ‘Alí the title "the Second Who Believed" and
identified him in His Persian Bayan, in allegorical language, as the return of
the Imam Ali – indicative of his high station. Mulla ‘Ali was directed by the
Bab to go to the twin cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq and announce the
Advent of the Promised One. Tahirih (the Pure One), then known as Fátimih
Umm-Salamih Baraghání, was in Karbala at that time and therefore heard about
the claims of the Báb from Mulla ‘Ali. Mulla ‘Ali was subsequently arrested and
tried in Baghdad in January 1845 and later sentenced to work for life in the
imperial naval docks, where he died in an Istanbul prison. He is known to be
the first Bábí martyr.
Mullá Husayn’s younger brother, Mírzá Muhammad Hasan
Bushrú’í (d. 1849). He accompanied Mullá Husayn on his travels and became badly
wounded in Fort Tabarsi at the same time that his brother was killed. According
to some accounts, he then served as leader of the Bábí forces and was
subsequently killed at Shaykh Tabarsí.
Mulla Husay’s nephew, Mírzá Muhammad Báqir Bushrú’í (d.
1849). He is reported to have led the forces at Shaykh Tabarsí after his uncle
Mullá Mírzá Muhammad Hasan was wounded. He was subsequently killed at Shaykh
Tabarsí.
Mullá Khudá-Bakhsh Qúchání (later named Mullá ‘Alí Rází):
returned to Karbala from Shiraz and is reported to not have actively
participated in the Bábí community.
Mullá Hasan Bajistání: While active at first in propagating
the Bábí Cause, he later retired to Karbala and considered himself unworthy of
the station conferred on him by the Báb as one of the Letters of the Living. He
later visited Baha’u’llah in Baghdad, sometime between 1853 and 1863.
