uth, in spite of the fact that the 'ulama of the state religion had
constrained the Persian government to oppose and resist Him and had
further issued decrees ordering the massacre, pillage, persecution and
expulsion of His followers. In all the provinces they began to kill, to
burn, to pillage the converts and even to assault the women and children.
Regardless of this, Baha'u'llah arose to proclaim the word of the Bab with
the greatest firmness and energy. Not for one moment was He in
concealment; He mixed openly with His enemies. He was occupied in showing
forth evidences and proofs and was recognized as the Herald of the Word of
God. In many changes and chances He endured the greatest misfortunes, and
at every moment He ran the risk of being martyred.

He was put into chains and confined in an underground prison. His vast
property and inheritance were pillaged and confiscated. He was exiled four
times from land to land and found rest only in the "Greatest Prison."(18)

In spite of all this He never ceased for one instant His proclamation of
the greatness of the Cause of God. He manifested such virtue, knowledge
and perfections that He became a wonder to all the people of Persia. So
much so that in Tihran, Ba_gh_dad, Constantinople, Rumelia, and even in
Akka, every one of the learned and scientific men who entered His
presence, whether friend or enemy, never failed to receive the most
sufficient and convincing answer to whatever question was propounded. All
frequently acknowledged that He was alone and unique in all perfections.

It often happened that in Ba_gh_dad certain Muhammadan 'ulama, Jewish
rabbis and Christians met together with some European scholars, in a
blessed reunion: each one had some question to propose, and although they
were possessed of varying degrees of culture, they each heard a sufficient
and convincing reply, and retired satisfied. Even the Persian 'ulama who
were at Karbila and Najaf chose a wise man whom they sent on a mission to
Him; his name was Mulla Hasan 'Amu. He came into the Holy Presence, and
proposed a number of questions on behalf of the 'ulama, to which
Baha'u'llah replied. Then Hasan 'Amu said, "The 'ulama recognize without
hesitation and confess the knowledge and virtue of Baha'u'llah, and they
are unanimously convinced that in all learning he has no peer or equal;
and it is also evident that he has never studied or acquired this
learning; but still the 'ulama say, 'We are not c