The Báb is a central figure in the Bahá’í Faith. In 1844, God sent a special messenger to announce the coming of Bahá’u'lláh. This great messenger toot the title “The Báb”, which means the gate.
He was indeed a gate to the knowledge of God and to a new era in human existence. For six years he taught ceaselessly that the appearance of the new Manifestation of God was near and prepared the way for His coming.
He told the people that they were witnessing the dawn of a new Age, the dawn of the promised Day of God. He called upon them to purify their hearts from earthly vanities so that they could recognise Him Whom God would soon manifest.
“The appearance of the Báb resembles the dawn, for the dawn holds the promise of the sun. The dawn of the Báb promised the rising of the Sun of Truth that is to envelop the wholde world.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Thousands upon thousands of people accepted the Message of the Báb and began to follow His Teachings. But the government of Iran and the powerful clergy who ruled over the masses rose against Him. His followers were persecuted and large numbers were put to death. The Báb Himself at the age of 31 was martyred by a regiment of soldiers who, at the orders of the government, suspended Him in a public square and opened fire on Him.
Below are two of the Bábs prayers
“Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding”
“Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth bt God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself, the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.”
Following His martyrdom, the remains of the Báb were recovered by His followers and taken from place to place, always hidden from the enemies of the Faith. Finally they were transferred to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, where they were interned in a great Shrine erected upon Mount Carmel overlooking the city of Haifa.
Today Haifa, and the city of Acre across the bay, are the spiritual and administrative centre of the Bahá’í Faith, the Shrines of both the Báb and Bahá’u'lláh are located in this area, and the supreme governing body of the Faith is located here on Mount Carmel.
Suggested Further Reading
