Birth of the Báb
The middle of the 19th century was one of the most turbulent periods in the world’s history.Great revolutions were under way. In parts of Europe and North America, time-worn socialstructures and relationships were being challenged by sudden and unprecedented changes inthe fields of agriculture, industry, and economics. At the same time, throughout the worldfollowers of diverse religions perceived that humanity was on the cusp of a new stage in itsdevelopment, and many prepared themselves for the imminent coming of a Promised One,praying fervently that they would recognize Him.
In the spring of 1844, Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammadconfirmed that He was indeed the Bearer of a DivineRevelation destined to transform the spiritual life ofhumanity. He is known to history as the Báb(meaning “the Gate” in Arabic). Born in Iran in 1819,He was the symbolic gate between past ages ofprophecy and a new age of fulfilment for humanity.His primary purpose was to awaken the people tothe fact that a new period in human history hadbegun, one which would witness the unification ofthe entire human race and the emergence of a worldcivilization of spiritual and material prosperity. Itwas His own mission to herald the coming of adifferent divine Messenger, referred to as “He WhomGod shall make manifest.” The Báb instructed Hisfollowers to prepare the people for this long-awaited day.
Multitudes heeded the call for spiritual awakening,craving a society built on peace and justice. But the new religion was viewed with alarm bythe entrenched clergy who were notoriously corrupt and power hungry. During the sixyears of His ministry, thousands of Bábis were persecuted and slaughtered. Hoping toextinguish the religion, the Persian empire ultimately executed the Báb.
When “He Whom God shall make manifest” revealed His identity, the Báb’s followers wereamong the first to recognize Bahá’u’lláh as the Promised One.
For more information about the life and ministry of the Báb, visit The Báb | What Bahá’ís Believe.