Baha'u'llah expressed His willingness to accept the suggestion on certain conditions, declaring that if the Mullas would agree regarding some miracle to be performed, and would sign and seal a document to the effect that on performance of this miracle they would confess the validity of His mission and cease to oppose Him, He would furnish the desired proof or else stand convicted of imposture.

Had the aim of the Mullas been to get at the truth, surely here was their opportunity; but their intention was far otherwise.

Rightly or wrongly, they meant to secure a decision in their own favor.

They feared the truth and fled from the daring challenge.
This discomfiture, however, only spurred them on to devise fresh plots for the eradication of the oppressed sect.

The Consul General of Persia in Ba_gh_dad came to their assistance and sent repeated messages to the _Sh_ah to the effect that Baha'u'llah was injuring the Muhammadan religion more than ever, still exerting a malign influence on Persia, and that He ought therefore to be banished to some more distant place.
It was characteristic of Baha'u'llah that, at this crisis, when at the instigation of the Muhammadan Mullas the Persian and Turkish Governments were combining their efforts to eradicate the Movement, He remained calm and serene, encouraging and inspiring His followers and writing imperishable words of consolation and guidance.