Mulla Zaynu'l-'Abidin, surnamed Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin (the ornament of them that are nigh unto God) by Bahá'u'lláh. Before his conversion to the Bábí Faith, he was a learned mujtahid (doctor of Islamic law) and an outstanding figure in his native town of Najaf-Abad. He became an ardent Bábí about the time of the imprisonment of Bahá'u'lláh in the Siyah-Chal, and was bitterly opposed and persecuted by those very people who were once his admirers and followers. Later he travelled to Baghdad and eventually attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh after His return from the mountains of Kurdistan. As a result of this meeting and of receiving some Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh, his soul was transformed and attained such heights of faith and dedication that he is numbered among the outstanding Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. After his release from a long period of exile and imprisonment in Mosul, Iraq, he made his way to 'Akká where he spent the rest of his days in Bahá'u'lláh's service, mostly as a scribe.
He was meticulous in transcribing the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and took great pains to ensure that they were correctly recorded. Any Tablet in the handwriting of Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin is considered accurate. He has left to posterity, in his exquisite hand, many volumes comprising most of Bahá'u'lláh's important Tablets; today Bahá'í publications in Persian and Arabic are authenticated by comparison with these.
Another work associated with his inquisitive and brilliant mind is the book Questions and Answers by Bahá'u'lláh. Being a mujtahid and thus highly qualified in the application of Islamic laws, Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin received permission from Bahá'u'lláh to ask any questions he might have regarding the application of the laws revealed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. The answers given by Bahá'u'lláh provide further elucidation and expansion of His laws and this book is regarded as a supplement to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
The story, however brief, of the life of Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin will not be complete without referring to his great sense of humour which always cheered the believers. At times he used to make amusing remarks in the presence of Bahá'u'lláh, some of which are even recorded in certain narratives.
- Adib Taherzadeh (‘The Revelation of Baha'u'llah’ vol. 1)