Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Encyclopedia
The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is the last major work of Bahá'u'lláh
, founder of the Bahá'í Faith
, before his death in 1892. It is a letter written to a Muslim cleric, a violent opponent of the Bahá'ís who, along with his father (called by Bahá'u'lláh "the wolf"), also a Muslim cleric, had put to death a number of Bahá'ís. In this work Bahá'u'lláh quotes extensively from his own previously revealed scriptures. This makes a large portion of the work a summary of excerpts on critical concepts expressed in previous works in a condensed form.
and Muhammad-Hasan Nahrí
came from an aristocratic and established mercantile family in Isfahan. The Imám-Jum'ih
of the city owed the brothers money and – when the two asked for a payment – he devised a plan to rid his debt. After confronting Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir, another influential Muslim cleric of Isfahan; and Sultán-Mas'úd Mírzá
, the son of Násiri'd-Dín Sháh
of this issue, the three devised a plan to imprison the brothers on account of their Bahá’í religion. The two brothers were subsequently arrested, paraded around Isfahan with crowds jeering abuse, and publicly executed in a humiliating manner.
Bahá’u’lláh was heartbroken by the death of the brothers – he had met the two whilst a prisoner in Adrianople. He eulogized the two, naming them the King and Beloved of Martyrs, and the Twin Shining Lights. Bahá’u’lláh wrote the book in around 1891 to the son of the shaykh, named Áqá Najafí, whom he denounced as the wolf – hence the title Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Áqá Najafí was also known for his persecution of the Bahá’ís. Bahá’u’lláh calls for him to repent for his and his father's wrongdoings and to investigate the faith.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, founder of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, before his death in 1892. It is a letter written to a Muslim cleric, a violent opponent of the Bahá'ís who, along with his father (called by Bahá'u'lláh "the wolf"), also a Muslim cleric, had put to death a number of Bahá'ís. In this work Bahá'u'lláh quotes extensively from his own previously revealed scriptures. This makes a large portion of the work a summary of excerpts on critical concepts expressed in previous works in a condensed form.
History
Two brothers Muhammad-Husayn NahríNúrayn-i-Nayyirayn
Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn are two brothers who were followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. They were beheaded in 1879 as a result of being Bahá'ís...
and Muhammad-Hasan Nahrí
Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn
Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn are two brothers who were followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. They were beheaded in 1879 as a result of being Bahá'ís...
came from an aristocratic and established mercantile family in Isfahan. The Imám-Jum'ih
Khatib
Khatib or khateeb is an Arabic term used to describe a person who delivers the sermon , during the Friday prayer and Eid prayers....
of the city owed the brothers money and – when the two asked for a payment – he devised a plan to rid his debt. After confronting Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir, another influential Muslim cleric of Isfahan; and Sultán-Mas'úd Mírzá
Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan
Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan ("Mass'oud Mirza the Sultan's Shadow (5 January 1850-2 July 1918) was a Persian prince of the Qajar Dynasty; he was known as the "Yamin-al-Dowleh" ("Right Hand of the Government")...
, the son of Násiri'd-Dín Sháh
Nasser al-Din Shah
Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar was the King of Iran from September 17, 1848 to May 1, 1896 when he was assassinated. He was the son of Mohammad Shah Qajar and Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia and the third longest reigning monarch king in Iranian history after Shapur II of the Sassanid Dynasty and...
of this issue, the three devised a plan to imprison the brothers on account of their Bahá’í religion. The two brothers were subsequently arrested, paraded around Isfahan with crowds jeering abuse, and publicly executed in a humiliating manner.
Bahá’u’lláh was heartbroken by the death of the brothers – he had met the two whilst a prisoner in Adrianople. He eulogized the two, naming them the King and Beloved of Martyrs, and the Twin Shining Lights. Bahá’u’lláh wrote the book in around 1891 to the son of the shaykh, named Áqá Najafí, whom he denounced as the wolf – hence the title Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Áqá Najafí was also known for his persecution of the Bahá’ís. Bahá’u’lláh calls for him to repent for his and his father's wrongdoings and to investigate the faith.