Mullá Zaynul-ʻÁbidín (May 1818 − 1903) was a prominent Iranian Baháʼí who served as a secretary to Baháʼu'lláh, was listed by Shoghi Effendi as one of nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh, and biographied by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in Memorials of the Faithful. With a background as an Islamic jurist, he posed the clarifying legal questions to Baháʼu'lláh about the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that became the supplement "Questions and Answers" now published along with the original text. His arrangement of the Hidden Words, another major work of Baháʼu'lláh, became the numbered order that is now currently used by Baháʼís. Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín was known for transcribing, illuminating, and copying numerous writings of Baháʼu'lláh. Baháʼu'lláh gave him the title Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín ('The Ornament of the Near Ones'), the name for which he is known to Baháʼís. He is sometimes referred to as Jináb-i-Zayn (The Excellent Zayn), or Harfu'z-Zá (the Letter Z). Background He was born in the month of Rajab 1233 AH (May 1818 AD) in one of the villages of Najafábád, Iran, near Isfahan, to a family of Muslim clerics. He himself became a preacher at a mosque in Najafábád. Life as a Bábí In 1851, Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín became a follower of the Báb, and began teaching his newfound faith in his hometown, causing opposition from his previous admirers. Under his leadership the Bábí faith grew in the area. Around August 1852, Shaykh ʻAzíz Alláh Núrí sent two letters to Nasír al-Dín Sháh with names of several prominent Bábís whom he considered dangerous and deserving of punishment, including his nephews Baháʼu'lláh and Azal, and Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín. According to the letters, several of the men claimed to be manifestations of various figures of the past, and he listed Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín as claiming to be the return of Imam Zayn al-ʻÁbidín. Sometime after 1852 Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín tried to visit Bábí leaders in Baghdad, but failed to find Subh-i-Azal and Baháʼu'lláh was away from Baghdad at the time. During that visit he met only with Kalím before going on to Kárbilá. On his return journey, while approaching Najafábád, Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín learned of violent persecution against Bábís there, and decided to return to Iraq. He arrived in Baghdad again in 1856, after Baháʼu'lláh had returned from Sulaymáníyyih, and was confirmed in his faith after meeting him. After returning to Najafábád, he accepted Baháʼu'lláh's claim of prophethood when it was announced in 1863. A transcribed 23-page letter he wrote to a fellow Bábí, inviting him to accept Baháʼu'lláh, was