Mullá Muḥammad-i-Mu‘allim

Mullá Muḥammad-i-Mu‘allim (d. 1849) was a Persian Bábí who notably played a crucial role in introducing Bahá’u’lláh to the Bábí religion.

Biography

Mu‘allim was from Núr in Mázindarán Province. He became a member of the Shaykhí movement and as of the 1840's he was living in Tehran where he studied under Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-i-Khurásání, leader of the Shaykhí's of Tehran.

Between July and August 1844 Mullá Husayn visited Khurásání in Tehran and attempted to teach him the Bábí Faith but was unsuccessful. Mu‘allim overheard their discussion and was impressed by Husayn prompting him to visit him privately. Mullá Husayn asked Mu‘allim about the family of Mírzá Buzurg and they discussed Bahá’u’lláh, who Mu‘allim often visited, and Mullá Husayn gave him a Tablet from the Báb requesting he deliver it to Bahá’u’lláh and return with a reply. Mu‘allim delivered the Tablet to Bahá’u’lláh who discussed it with His brother, Mírzá Músá, expressed His acceptance of the claims of the Báb, and gave Mu‘allim a loaf of Russian sugar and a package of tea as a gift to deliver to Mullá Husayn. Mu‘allim returned to Mullá Husayn who was overjoyed by the response and departed Tehran a few days later.

In 1848 Mu‘allim joined a company of Bábís assembled by Mullá Husayn which became besieged at the Shrine of Shaykh Ṭabarsí and he was martyred in the resulting conflict in 1849.