Báb
A merchant turned prophet, his brief, explosive ministry ignited a new religious movement that challenged the foundations of 19th-century Persia.
1819–1850 (age 31)·Iranian prophet·Birthday: October 20
Biography
Born Siyyid ʻAlí-Muhammad in Shiraz, Iran, the man who would become known as the Báb began his adult life as a merchant. In 1844, at the age of 25, he made a startling declaration to a seeker, claiming to be the promised gate to a new divine revelation. His teachings, emphasizing spiritual renewal and social justice, spread rapidly, attracting both fervent followers and fierce opposition from religious and state authorities. His six-year ministry was marked by imprisonment, public interrogation, and finally execution by firing squad in Tabriz. The Bábí movement he founded, though brutally suppressed, laid the direct groundwork for the Baháʼí Faith, which sees his life as a pivotal moment in religious history, shattering old cycles and heralding a new age of unity.
#1 When Báb Was Born
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Báb's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1819Born
1824Started school
1832Became a teenager
1835Could drive
1837Could vote
1840Turned 21
1849Turned 30
1850Died at 31
Key Achievements
- Founded Bábism, a new religious movement that emerged in mid-19th century Persia.
- Authored numerous writings, including the Bayán, which outlined new laws and theological concepts.
- His claim to be a Manifestation of God directly challenged the prevailing religious orthodoxy of his time.
- His martyrdom in 1850 became a central event that galvanized his followers and shaped the future Baháʼí Faith.
Did You Know?
The name 'Báb' means 'Gate' in Arabic.
He was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
His remains are entombed in a shrine on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
The first person to believe in his mission was Mullá Husayn, who searched for the promised one.
“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.”
