The station of Subh-i Azal, whose given name was Mirza Yahya, was that of the designated successor (wali) to the Bab following the Bab’s martyrdom in 1850.
He was the younger half-brother of Baha’u’llah. The Bab had bestowed upon him the name Subh-i Azal (“Morning of Eternity”) and granted him titles such as “Second Point” (Nuqtih-i Thani) and “Fruit of the Bayan.” He was initially recognized as the undisputed leader of the Babi community. However, he was an introverted youth inclined toward mystical withdrawal and was not equipped for the responsibilities before him.
What happened to him after Baha’u’llah gained power?
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Rivalry and Schism: Baha’u’llah, who was older, more capable, and possessed strong leadership qualities, increasingly gained influence, leading to an irreconcilable conflict between the brothers. Baha’u’llah eventually proclaimed Himself to be Man Yuzhiruhu’llah (the Promised One foretold by the Bab). Subh-i Azal and his followers (the Azalis or orthodox Babis) rejected this claim, arguing that such a revelation could not follow so soon (before 1,000 years had passed).
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Defeat and Exile: Subh-i Azal was able to retain only a small group of followers. The tensions and mutual accusations between the factions (Azalis and Baha’is) in Edirne (Adrianople) led the Ottoman authorities to separate the two leaders.
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Final Destination: Baha’u’llah was banished to the penal colony of Akka, while Subh-i Azal and his small group of followers were banished to Famagusta in Cyprus.
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Isolation: Subh-i Azal remained in Cyprus until his death in 1912. There he was largely cut off from his followers and isolated, partly due to Baha’i agents assigned to accompany him. His wing of the movement, the orthodox Babism, declined religiously, though the Azalis later retained some political influence among Iranian revolutionaries.
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