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Baha'u'llah: In the European histories, no doubt, you have read detailed accounts of the morals, customs and ideas of the Persians during the last centuries. It is useless to repeat them. Briefly, we will say that Persia had fallen so low that to all foreign travelers it was a matter of regret that this country, which in former times had been so glorious and highly civilized, had now become so decayed, ruined and upset, and that its population had lost its dignity (27:2) It was at this time that Baha'u'llah appeared. His father was one of the viziers, not one of the 'ulama. As all the people of Persia know, He had never studied in any school, nor had He associated with the 'ulama or the men of learning. The early part of His life was passed in the greatest happiness. His companions and associates were Persians of the highest rank, but not learned men (27:3) As soon as the Bab became manifested, Baha'u'llah said, "This great Man is the Lord of the righteous, and faith in Him is incumbent upon all." And He arose to assist the Bab and gave many proofs and positive evidences of His truth, 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
(27:4)
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