Mullá Khudá-Bakhsh-i-Quchání

Mullá Khudá-Bakhsh-i-Quchání
Declared	1844

Mullá Khudá-Bakhsh-i-Quchání was among the first eighteen Bábís and was named a Letter of the Living. He was later known as Mulla ‘Alí.

Background

Khudá was a Shaykhí who was originally from Quchan in Iran but lived in Karbila. After the passing of the head of the head of the Shaykhí school, Siyyid Káẓim, in 1843 many of the Shaykhí's dispersed to seek out the Qa'im as this was Káẓim's instruction upon his passing.

Some time between May and July 1844 Khudá came to Shiráz where prominent Shaykhí's Mullá Ḥusayn and Mullá 'Alíy-i-Bastámí had established themselves and become Bábís. They did not disclose the identity of the Báb however like the other Letters of the Living Khudá reportedly deduced the Báb's identity and station through prayer and meditation in early July, 1844, and Mullá Ḥusayn accompanied him to an individual audience with the Báb and he was appointed a Letter of the Living.

In late July the Báb instructed the Letters to leave Shiraz to teach the Bábí Faith to others and Khudá accompanied Bastámí to Iraq settling in Karbila, however he soon stopped being an active Bábí and fell into obscurity. He did teach the Bábí religion actively for at least a short time with his son, Mashiyatullah, and son-in-law, Darvish ‘Ali Akbar, accepting the religion through him in Quchan and later becoming Bahá’ís.