Regarding Nabil: He was born on the 18th day of the month of
Safar of the year 1247 A. H. in the village of Zarand in Persia. He was
thirteen years old when the Báb declared Himself. Though still young he himself
was preparing to leave for Shaykh Tabarsi and join the companions of Mulla
Husayn when the news of the treachery and massacre of the besieged companions
reached him. He met Bahá'u'lláh in Kirmanshah and Tihran before the latter's
banishment to Iraq. He was a close companion of the Báb's amanuensis Mirza
Ahmad. He subsequently met Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, Adrianople and 'Akká and was
commissioned by Bahá'u'lláh to journey several times to Persia in order to
promote the Cause and encourage the scattered and persecuted believers. He was
present in 'Akká when Bahá'u'lláh passed away in 1892 and soon after was so
overcome with grief that he drowned himself in the sea. His body was found
along the shore and was buried in the cemetery of 'Akká. 'Abdu'l-Bahá is
reported to have been struck with deep sorrow at the manner of his death. He
states in his narration that he met the maternal uncle of the Báb, Haji Mirza
Siyyid Ali who had visited his nephew in the Castle of Chihriq and had recently
returned to Tihran. He started writing his narrative in 1305 A.H. four years
before the passing of Bahá'u'lláh. It took him about a year and half to write
it. His chief informants were Mirza Ahmad the amanuensis of the Báb and Mirza
Musa the brother of Bahá'u'lláh. Parts of his narrative were read in the
presence of Bahá'u'lláh and approved by Him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá also went over
sections of his narrative....
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 30 November,
1930 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘The Unfolding Destiny, ‘The Messages
from the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith to the Baha’i Community of the British
Isles)
