Shaykh Sulṭán-i-Karbilá’í

Shaykh Sulṭán-i-Karbilá’í was an Arabic Bábí who resided in Baghdad during the time Bahá’u’lláh lived in the city and he notably accompanied Bahá’u’lláh when he returned to Baghdad from His sojourn in Sulaymániyyih.

Background

Sultan was an Arab who was descended from some of the leading clergymen of Karbila, Iraq, and he also became a mujtahid. At some point he became a Shaykhi and a close companion of Siyyid Káẓim. In late 1844 Mullá 'Alíy-i-Bastámí visited Karbila and proclaimed the claims of the Báb to the Shaykí community but Sultan was uncertain as Bastámí did not reveal the Báb's identity. He later learnt more about the religion from Ṭáhirih and became a Bábí, and also a close companion of Ṭáhirih later defending her from slander and opposition within the Bábí community.

In late 1845 Sultan traveled to Shiraz with Shaykh Ḥasan-i-Zunúzí to meet the Báb. When he first arrived in Shiraz he fell ill and the Báb visited him while he was bedridden. During their first Meeting the Báb alluded to His "Best-Beloved", referring to He whom God shall make Manifest, and He later entrusted Sultan with the task of transcribing some of His Tablets while Sultan was in Shiraz. He returned to Iraq at some point and when Ottoman authorities had Ṭáhirih deported from Iraq to Iran in March, 1847, Sultan was a member of a group of Bábís who accompanied her to Qazvin.

As of 1851 Sultan had returned to Karbila and he had become a follower of Siyyid-i-'Uluvv who had claimed to be the personification of the Holy Ghost, and Sultan believed to be the "Best-Beloved" referred to by the Báb, however in August that year Bahá’u’lláh visited Karbila and convinced Uluvv to renounce his claims resulting in Sultan returning to the Bábí Faith. In the 1850's he moved to Baghdad and became a supporter of Bahá’u’lláh, and at some point a daughter of his, Fatimih-Sultan Khanum, married Bahá’u’lláh's brother Mírzá Músá.

In 1854 Bahá’u’lláh departed Baghdad due to disunity in the Bábí community and in 1856 Sultan traveled from Baghdad to Sulaymániyyih at the request of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Mírzá Músá to ask Him to return. Bahá’u’lláh traveled back to Baghdad with Sultan accompanying him. Sultan later wrote a book about his journey to and from Sulaymániyyih.

While living in Baghdad Sulṭán purchased land outside the city which contained a garden. Shortly before Bahá’u’lláh moved to Constantinople in 1863 He instructed Sulṭán to construct a cottage on his land for Mírzá Yaḥyá who wanted to go into hiding and he began construction however Yaḥyá ultimately decided to go to Constantinople rather than remaining near Baghdad.