The Commentary on the Súrih of Joseph had, in the first year
of this Revelation, been widely distributed. Nevertheless, when the people
realized that fellow supporters were not forthcoming they hesitated to accept
it; while it never occurred to them that the very Qur’án whereunto unnumbered
souls bear fealty today, was revealed in the midmost heart of the Arab world,
yet to outward seeming for no less than seven years no one acknowledged its
truth except the Commander of the Faithful [Imám ‘Alí]—may the peace of God
rest upon him—who, in response to the conclusive proofs advanced by God’s
supreme Testimony, recognized the Truth and did not fix his eyes on others.
(The
Báb, excerpt from Persian Bayan; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
