Shaykh Abu-Turab, who the Babi historian Nabil introduces as the “best-informed as to the nature of the developments in Badasht,” is reported to have related the following incidents:
Illness, one day confined Baha’u’llah to His bed. Quddus, as soon as he heard of His indisposition, hastened to visit Him… The rest of the companions were gradually admitted to His presence and grouped themselves around Him. No sooner had they assembled than…the messenger of [Qurrat al-`Ayn]…suddenly came in and conveyed to Quddus a pressing invitation from [Qurrat al-`Ayn] to visit her in her own garden. ‘I have severed myself entirely from her,’ he boldly and decisively replied. I refuse to meet her.’
…[S]uddenly the figure of [Qurrat al-`Ayn ], adorned and unveiled appeared before the eyes of the assembled companions. Consternation immediately seized the entire gathering. All stood aghast before this sudden and most unexpected apparition. To behold her face unveiled was to them inconceivable. Even to gaze at her shadow was a thing which they deemed improper, inasmuch as they regarded her as the incarnation of Fatimih, the noblest emblem of chastity in their eyes…That sudden revelation seemed to have stunned their faculties. [One of the participants] was so gravely shaken that he cut his throat with his own hands. Covered with blood and shrieking with excitement, he fled away from the face of [Qurrat al-`Ayn]. A few, following his example, abandoned their companions and forsook their Faith…
Historians fascinated by the cite/sight of Qurrat al-`Ayn’s unveiled appearance have either applauded this gesture as the originary moment of women’s liberation in Iran or in absolute disgust for this act of heresy claimed this gesture to be the foundation for, as well as the fundamental proof of, the deserved ill repute and false motives of the Babi movement. Seldom have they stayed in the garden to witness what Shaykh Abu Turab claims to have followed. Nabil’s informant goes on to report that Qurrat al-`Ayn who had seated herself next to Quddus:
…rose from her seat and, undeterred by the tumult that she had raised in the hearts of her companions began to address the remnant of the assembly. Without the least premeditation, and in language that bore striking resemblance to that of the Qu’ran, she delivered her appeal with matchless eloquence and profound fervor. She concluded her address with this verse from the Qu’ran: ‘Verily, amid gardens and rivers shall the pious dwell in the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King.’ … Immediately after, she declared: ‘I am the Word which the Qa’im is to utter, the Word which shall put to flight the chiefs and nobles of the earth.’
