Page:Book of Ighan (1915).djvu/9

 During the time of residence in Baghdad the “Dwelling of Peace,” before He declared Himself to be the “Manifestation of God,” men of learning, including Jews, Christians, and Mohammedans visited Him, seeking answer to religious and scriptural questions. Among them was Haji-Mirza-Seyd-Mohammed of Shiraz, the maternal uncle of the, who in 1862-63 was making a pilgrimage to the holy sanctuaries of the Imams, located in that region. His questions concerned the signs and evidences of the Expected Manifestation from the standpoint of his own religion Islam. The Book of Ighan was revealed by in answer to his questions. According to the prevailing opinion of the Bahais, it was written in one night by the Supreme Pen.

It is certain that Persian pilgrims to the holy sanctuaries in Irak do not stop in Baghdad more than one day. Even if Haji-Seyd-Mohammed, as an exception to this custom, had remained in Baghdad a longer time, it is not probable that he could have attained to the presence of more than two or three times.

The Seyd submitted his questions through