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.
Siyyid Husayn Yazdí (d. 1852): He accompanied the Báb as His
secretary during His imprisonment in Mákú and Chihríq and became known as Kátib
(the Amanuensis). He was later executed during an outbreak of persecutions in
1852 that followed an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the shah by a small
group of Bábís seeking revenge for the execution of the Báb.
Mírzá Muhammad Rawdih-Khán Yazdí (or Dhákir-i-Masá’ib): He
returned from Shiraz to Yazd and chose not to reveal his beliefs because of the
intense persecution of the Bábís in his hometown. He continued, however, to
teach the Bábí Faith covertly to the end of his life.
Sa’íd Hindí: He went to India and converted one or two
persons there before contact with him ceased.
Mullá Mahmúd Khú’í (d. 1849): Was killed at Shaykh Tabarsí.
Mullá Jalíl Urúmí (d. 1849): He taught the Bábí Faith
especially in the province of Azerbaijan and the town of Qazvin and was later
killed at Shaykh Tabarsí.
Mullá Ahmad Abdál Marághi’í (d. 1849): He was present at the
Conference of Badasht, and was subsequently killed at Shaykh Tabarsí.
Mullá Báqir Tabrízí (d. c. 1881): Earlier in his life while
he was in Karbala he assisted Táhirih and traveled to Iran with her. He was
present at the Conference of Badasht and later visited the Báb while He was in
prison in Azerbaijan, acting as an intermediary to carry His correspondence and
other items that He wished to be delivered to Bahá’u’lláh. He then became a
follower of Bahá’u’lláh after visiting Him in Baghdad and traveled twice to
Acre and with Bahá’u’lláh’s permission, spent his last years in Istanbul. He
was the last surviving Letter of the Living.
Mullá Yúsuf Ardibílí (d. 1849): noted for his learning and
eloquence; played an active and prominent role among the Bábís; killed at
Shaykh Tabarsí.
Mírzá Muhammad-‘Alí Qazvíní (d. 1849): He was the cousin and
brother-in-law of Táhirih and the son of a famious mujtahid (i.e., a preeminent
religious scholar) in Qazvin by the name of Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb. He was
closely associated with Tahirih while both were in Karbala Tahirih entrusted
him with a sealed letter and a verbal message to be delivered to the Promised
One whom they both sought. He was present at the Conference of Badasht and was
later killed at Shaykh Tabarsí.
Táhirih (c. 1814–52) (the Pure One), the title given to
Fátimih (Fatima) Baraghání, also known as Umm-Salamih. She is also known by the
titles Qurratu’l-‘Ayn (Solace of the Eyes) and Zarrín-Táj (Crown of Gold). She
was a prominent Shaykhí and an accomplished poet, who became the only woman
among the Letters of the Living. She is the only Letter of the Living who
didn’t meet the Báb personally and was accorded the distinction of becoming a
Letter of the Living on the basis of a message she sent via her brother-in-law
to the Báb. She was a very active participant at the Conference of Badasht,
appearing there without her veil to signal the dawn of a new era in religion
and humanity. During the persecutions that decimated the Bábí ranks after the
unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the shah she was executed in September
1852.
Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí Bárfurúshí (circa 1822–49), was the last
Letter of the Living. The Bab gave him the title of Quddús, which means the
Most Holy. He, accompanied the Báb on His pilgrimage to Mecca during 1844 to
1845). He was present at the Conference of Badasht and played a very active
role. He was subsequently arrested and detained in Sárí for more than three
months but was eventually released through the efforts of Mullá Husayn. Quddus
joined the Bábí forces at Shaykh Tabarsí in late 1848 and played a leading role
in the Bábí defense. He was taken prisoner on 10 May 1849, following the final
siege at Shaykh Tabarsí, savagely tortured, and killed on 16 May 1849 in Barfurush
(Babul), the town of his birth. According to Bahá’u’lláh he ranked second only
to the Báb, and is described by Shoghi Effendi as the first in rank among the
Letters of the Living.
(Adapted from The Baha’i Encyclopedia Project
site)
