Shaykh Ḥasan-i-Zunúzí

Shaykh Ḥasan-i-Zunúzí (d. c. 1868) was an early Bábí. He served as an amanuensis of the Báb and was notably among the first people to become aware of Bahá’u’lláh's station as a Manifestation of God.

Biography

Ḥasan was a Shaykhí from Persia. As of the 1840's he was residing in Karbilá where he was a close companion of Siyyid Káẓim. He notably accompanied Káẓim when he visited the Báb while the Báb was residing in Karbilá in approximately 1841 and he witnessed Káẓim drink from a silver cup given to him by the Báb in contradiction of Islamic law which Káẓim was aware of showing his deference to the Báb. After this meeting Ḥasan often sought out the Báb while He was in Karbilá and was impressed by His devotion while praying and when Ḥasan heard of Him publicly declaring His Mission in Mecca in December 1844 he became a Bábí.

In 1845 Ḥasan traveled to Shíráz from Iraq with Shaykh Sulṭán in order to meet the Báb and he settled in the city. In 1846 he moved to Isfahan on the instructions of the Báb who told him to await further instructions. While in Isfahan he received Tablets from the Báb which he was instructed to begin transcribing and when the Báb was exiled to Isfahan from Shíráz Ḥasan was one of three Bábí's who were allowed to meet with Him. In 1847 Ḥasan met with the Báb again when He camped briefly in a village near Tehran during His exile to Tabriz staying near His tent.

Shortly after the Báb was transferred to being imprisoned in Máh-Kú in July 1847 Ḥasan settled in a masjid outside the gate of the town near the fortress and he acted as an intermediary between the Báb and visiting Bábí's. He would receive messages which he conveyed to Siyyid Ḥasan who was able to enter the fortress where he conveyed the messages to the Báb Himself. After a short time the Warden of Máh-Kú relaxed the conditions of the Báb's confinement allowing Ḥasan to meet with Him directly again, and he served as His amanuensis for a time. In 1848 the Báb was moved to the Fortress of Chihríq and Ḥasan met with Him in the fortress and served as as His amanuensis. He was instructed to collect all of the Tablets revealed by the Báb in Máh-Kú and Chihríq and deliver them to Siyyid Ibráhím-i-Khalíl in Tabríz for safekeeping.

Sometime before the Báb was Martyred in July 1850 He instructed Ḥasan to return to Karbilá where He said he would meet the "Promised Husayn". When Bahá’u’lláh visited Karbilá in 1851 He met with Ḥasan and during His visit Ḥasan came to regard Him as the Promised One prophesized by the Báb however Bahá’u’lláh advised him not to share his views.

In approximately 1868 the Persian Consul-General in Baghdad decided to have all Bábí's exiled from Baghdad and neighboring cities and Ḥasan was one of three believers arrested in Karbilá for transportation to Baghdad to be exiled. They were placed under a chain while travelling and due to the harsh conditions Ḥasan passed away in Kirmanshah during the journey.