Káf and Rá are the first two consonants of Kirmán, the name of a city and province of Iran.
177. We perceive that which secretly and stealthily diffuseth from thee. [#164]
This passage is a reference to the intrigues of a group of Azalís, followers of Mírzá Yaḥyá (see note 190), associated with the city of Kirmán. They include Mullá Ja’far, his son S̱ẖayḵẖ Aḥmad-i-Rúhí and Mírzá Áqá Ḵẖán-i-Kirmání (both sons-in-law of Mírzá Yaḥyá), as well as Mírzá Aḥmad-i-Kirmání. They not only sought to undermine the Faith, but involved themselves in political intrigues which culminated in the assassination of Náṣiri’d-Dín S̱ẖáh.
178. Call ye to mind the s̱ẖayḵẖ whose name was Muḥammad-Ḥasan [#166]
S̱ẖayḵẖ Muḥammad-Ḥasan, one of the leading exponents of S̱ẖí’ih Islám, rejected the Báb. The author of voluminous writings on S̱ẖí’ih jurisprudence, he is reported to have died around 1850.
Nabíl, in The Dawn-Breakers, describes the encounter that took place in Najaf between Mullá ‘Alíy-i-Bastamí, one of the Letters of the Living, and S̱ẖayḵẖ Muḥammad-Ḥasan. During the meeting, Mullá ‘Alí announced the manifestation of the Báb and extolled the potency of His Revelation. At the instigation of the s̱ẖayḵẖ, Mullá ‘Alí was forthwith pronounced a heretic and expelled from the assembly. He was put on trial, transported to Istanbul, and condemned to hard labour.