Muhammad Sháh

Muhammad Sháh Qajár
Portrait of Muḥammad Sháh.
Born	January 5 1808 Tabriz, Persia
Died	September 5 1848 Tehran, Persia
Predecessor	Fatḥ-‘Alí Sháh Qájár
Successor	Násiri’d-Dín Sháh Qájár
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Muḥammad Sháh Qajár (January 5, 1808 - September 5, 1848) was the third Sháh of Persia under the Qajar dynasty. He is notable in Bahá’í history for being the ruler of Persia in the early period of the Ministry of the Báb.

Muḥammad was the Shah from October 23, 1834 until his death on September 5, 1848. His father was ‘Abbás Mírzá, the crown prince and governor of Azerbaijan, who in turn was the son of Fatḥ-‘Alí Sháh Qájár, the second Sháh of the dynasty. However, after he died, the Sháh chose Muḥammad to be his heir. Muḥammad was described as "taciturn and timid" and "impressionable and tender-hearted"; throughout his life he suffered from chronic gout.

Upon his accession, Muḥammad Sháh initially appointed as his grand vizier Mírzá Abu’l-Qásim Faráhání, the Qá’im-Maqám, but the machinations of his rivals, including Ḥájí Mírzá Áqásí, eventually led to his arrest and murder on the Sháh's orders. The Sháh then appointed Áqásí, who had been his chief tutor as a youth and had become his chief spiritual advisor, as grand vizier.

After the declaration of the Báb, Muhammad Sháh confidentially sent Vahíd, one of his closest and most respected advisors, to inquire into the Báb's claims and assess their legitimacy. After meeting with the Báb three times, Vahíd became a Bábí. Later, when the Báb travelled to Iṣfahán, the governor, Manúchihr Khán, hosted the Báb in his home and declared his belief in His message. The governor told the Báb of his intention to arrange a meeting with the Sháh, who placed great confidence in him; the Báb, praising him for his noble intention, foretold that such a meeting would not take place, explaining that both their days were numbered and that the victory of His Cause would be achieved through other means. As the Báb predicted, the governor passed away several months later. Muhammad Sháh, upon discovering the late governor's intention, called for the Báb to be brought covertly to Tehran.

With the fame and influence of the Báb growing, Hájí Mírzá Áqásí became concerned that the Sháh might also accept His claims, thus replacing Áqásí as the man on whom the Sháh relied for spiritual power. When he learned of the Sháh's order, Áqásí arose and eventually convinced him to send the Báb instead to Mah-Kú.

Death and legacy

Muḥammad Sháh died at the age of 40 on September 5, 1848, after several years of deteriorating health. In the Kalímát-i-Firdawsíyyih (Words of Paradise), Bahá’u’lláh wrote:

“ His Majesty Muḥammad Sháh, despite the excellence of his rank, committed two heinous deeds. One was the order to banish the Lord of the Realms of Grace and Bounty, the Primal Point [the Báb]; and the other, the murder of the Prince of the City of Statesmanship and Literary Accomplishment [the Qá’im-Maqám].

The faults of kings, like their favors, can be great. ”

Muḥammad Sháh generally left affairs of state to Ḥájí Mírzá Áqásí, whose governance led to widespread corruption and a weakened military, and left Persia in an economic crisis. Shoghi Effendi designated Áqásí the Anti-Christ of the Bábí religion.

The reign of Muḥammad Sháh was followed by that of his son, Násiri’d-Dín Sháh Qájár, during which the persecution of the followers of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh increased significantly.