Bahai 101

Lesson 1: The Beginning Of The Bahai Faith

Major Events In The Babi Faith

Before The Bab declared His mission, there were several learned Islamic believers who were looking for the beginning of a new revelation. From their studies of the Quran and history, they believed that the prophecy of the 12th Imam's return was to be fulfilled at a certain time and certain place. They wandered from city to city, praying and fasting, looking for this Imam.

Mulla Husayn-i-Bushri was on such a mission when he found the Bab. He was led to The Bab's home on May 22, 1844. When he met the Bab, he at once knew that he was the promised one that Mulla Husayn had been looking for. The Bab revealed several tablets to Mulla Husayn as they sat up through the night. He wrote after that meeting:

"I felt possessed of such courage and power that were the world, all its peoples and its potentates, to rise against me, I would, alone and undaunted, withstand their onslaught. The universe seemed but a handful of dust in my grasp. I seemed to be the Voice of Gabriel personified, calling unto all mankind: 'Awake, for, lo! the morning Light has broken.'" (Mulla Husayn)

Mulla Husayn left the next day, the first devoted Babi. He was not to speak of the Bab's mission as a prophet, for the Bab wanted others to find him on their own.

In a matter of forty days, eighteen other people found the Bab as the prophet they had been searching for. Together, these nineteen people formed the nineteen letters of the living. They hold a special place in The Babi revelation because they were the first to recognize The Bab. Together, they spearheaded proclaiming The Bab's mission throughout the land.

When several believers became Babis in a short time, it caused fear in the leaders. This instantly caused a reaction from them. Three massacres occurred in a matter of six years. The first massacre took place at Fort Tabarsi from 1848-49. This followed with two others in Nayriz and Zanjan in 1850 in the town of Yazd. In all three of these battles, several Babis were murdered and tortured, up to 20,000 being killed. It is still looked at today by several writers and historians. The Babis were not only martyrs for their faith, but insurrectionaries of the culture of that time.

Another historical event, known as the conference of Badasht, happened in the year of 1848. All of the Babis were to meet in a garden for twelve days. It was said that the Promised One would be revealed during this time. There were twelve gardens reserved, where the Babis camped out, spending day and night in prayer, speaking with the Bab, and studying their new faith. The ninth day of the conference, The Bab grew ill and could not leave his bed. His closest companions stayed by his side, hoping he would grow better. During the second day of his illness, a woman believer by the title of Tahirih, also known as the "Pure One", came into his tent. This alone was forbidden. But beyond this, she had removed her veil, something unheard of during this time. When she walked into the room she announced that this was the time of the second trumpet blast and the time for a new day. The other members became very angry. Some left the conference completely; one man was so shocked by Tahirih's proclamation that he slit his own throat with his hands. After the conference ended, the believers left with a new understanding of how significant this time was, and a new zeal to proclaim their religion.

Tahirih was sent with a couple of guards in a different direction. Others had found out about the removal of her veil, which would mean death. She was a treasured member of the Babis. She was not only the first woman to believe, but also one of the nineteen letters of the living. She had not met the Bab, but had seen him in a dream. Recognizing the prophecy, she wrote him a letter to proclaim her faith. Soon afterwards, she left her husband and child to give her life as a Babi. She was eventually killed for her righteous movements for the advancement of women. Her last words were:

"You can kill me now, but you can never stop the emancipation of women."

The last event that occurred with the Babis was after The Bab's death, in 1852. A group of radical Babis attempted to kill the political leader of that time. This leader was the one who had ordered the persecution of The Bab. In August of 1852, an attempt at the life of the Shah occurred. This caused a reaction from the politicians and the last of the Babis were imprisoned or killed. Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Bahai Faith, was then named the Babi leader and imprisoned. His reaction was to tell the Babis to not engage in any more holy wars or in violent acts.

As The Bab was martyred, so was the faith of Babis. Those left after his martyrdom, if they were not imprisoned or killed, eventually founded Baha'u'llah as the one whom The Bab spoke of as the Promised One.

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