Qahru’llah

Qahru’llah was an Indian dervish who became a Bábí while the Báb was imprisoned in Chihríq.

Biography

Qahru’llah was a noble in India who reportedly had a vision of the Báb directing him to renounce his position and travel to Chihríq to meet Him. When he arrived Chihríq village was unable to accommodate visitors due to the amount of people gathered to meet the Báb and he settled in Iski-Shahr, a nearby town, and he was eventually able to meet the Báb who granted him the title Qahru’llah.

After meeting the Báb Qahru’llah successfully taught the Bábí religion to the Kurdish population in villages across the Persian province of Adhirbayjan openly proclaiming the Báb to be the Mahdi. As a result he was imprisoned by the Governor of Khúy along with several other Bábí's and punished by being beaten and paraded through the streets riding a donkey.

The Báb sent his amanuensis, ‘Aẓím, to direct Qahru’llah to return to India to spread the Bábí Faith shortly before the Persian government sent an order for the Báb to be taken to Tabríz as a result of concerns about Qahru’llah's popularity and success propagating the Báb's claims in the region. Qahru’llah traveled to India on foot and declined to accept any provisions and refused to be accompanied.

Qahru’llah returned to Chihríq from India after a few months and when the Bab was taken to Tabríz for His martyrdom he followed Him on foot and was present when the Martyrdom took place. He was arrested after the Martyrdom and interrogated however he denied being a Bábí claiming instead to be a Sufi. He remained in Iran where he was ultimately killed in Tehran.