Book Review Exegesis of Josef Part of Quran (Ahsan – ul Ghesas)

Mirza Ali Mohammad Bab Shirazi in his youth life had spent some times in Karbala (Iraq) and studied in the schools of Shaykhieh Schools. He was affected by their teachings and believed that a permanent inductor (Bab=Gate) is necessary during the occultation of Imam Mahdi (a.s). Then he claimed that he is the Gate (Bab) of Imam Mahdi and the successor of his late teacher (Kazim Rashti) on 5th of Jamadi – ul Avval, 1260 (after hejrah-lunar calender) to one of his classmates named Mulla Hussein Boushroyei in Shiraz (South Iran). According to Baha’i sources, he offered the book of Ahsan ul Ghesas (Exegesis of Josef Chapter of Quran) to Mulla Hussein as a proof to his claim. The Baha’is celebrate that date as the annual ceremony of the being chosen of Mirza Ali Mohammad Bab as the new messenger of God. The general contents of that book consist of some interpretations of the sentences of the Josef Surah (chapter) and concentrated to his claim that he was the Bab (Gate) of Imam Mahdi (a.s) and he was encouraging his followers to try hard to preparing the appearance of Imam Mahdi.