» The Central Figures Of The Faith
The Báb (1819-1850)
Mirza Ali Muhammad, Who afterwards assumed the title of Báb (which means "Gate" in English), was born in Shiraz, in the south of Persia ( Iran ), on the 20th of October 1819 A.D. He was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
As a youth He was noted for great personal beauty and charm of manner, and also for exceptional piety, and nobility of character.
House of the Báb in Shiraz
He declared His Mission on May 23rd, 1844 in Shiraz in Iran. After six years of suffering and imprisonment, He was finally executed by firing squad on 9 July 1850 at Tabriz , Iran in a further attempt to suppress the new religion. The execution of the Báb did nothing to stop the growth of the movement to which he gave birth. His followers were persecuted and over 20,000 were executed.
Shrine of the Báb in Haifa
The Báb was the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh. He was also the Messenger of God Who prepared the people for the coming of Bahá'u'lláh Whose coming would fulfil the prophecies of all the great religions. He referred to this great Messenger as ‘He whom God shall make manifest' and spoke of him as one who would unit mankind and establish a just and lasting peace on earth.
The Báb's appearance marked the end of the "Prophetic Cycle" of religious history, and ushered in the "Cycle of Fulfillment."
The Báb announced: “I am – I am – I am the Promised One. I am the one whose name you have for a thousand years invoked, at whose mention you have risen, whose advent you have longed to witness, and the hour of whose revelation you have prayed God to Hasten. Verily, I say, it is incumbent upon the peoples of the both the East and West to obey My word and pledge allegiance to My person.”
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