THE HISTORY OF THE BÁBÍ AND BAHÁ'Í FAITHS
INTRODUCTION
Bahá'u'lláh's family were kept for over two years in one tiny room of a prison reserved only for the worst of criminals. A number of Bahá'ís died from the appalling conditions in the prison. Epidemics of typhoid and cholera caused by dirty water and cramped living conditions were common. Moreover, Bahá'u'lláh was not allowed visitors and even letters had to be smuggled out of the prison with great care. Despite such difficult living conditions, it was here in 'Akká that Bahá'u'lláh wrote many of the important books and letters which form the basis of the Bahá'í Holy Writings.
As time passed , Bahá'u'lláh and his family earned the respect and trust of their jailers and of the local people. Conditions were gradually eased and Bahá'ís from Irán
were allowed to come and visit Bahá'u'lláh. Eventually he was allowed to leave the prison itself and live under house-arrest in a neighbouring building.
Towards the end of his life, Bahá'u'lláh concentrated on writing and left his eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá to deal with the day-to-day matters of the Bahá'í community. Bahá'u'lláh died from natural causes while still a prisoner in 1892. He was much loved and respected by all who knew him and mourned by many of Palestine's religious and political leaders.
AFTER BAHÁ'U'LLÁH'S DEATH
Bahá'u'lláh had clearly stated in His Will that after His passing, the Bahá'ís were to turn to his son 'Abdu'l-Bahá for guidance and clarification on His teachings. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has a very special place in Bahá'í history. He was only a small child when Bahá'u'lláh was first detained by the authorities and therefore spent most of his life in prison and exile with his father. From an early age, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had to help look after his younger brothers and sisters and as He grew up he was increasingly relied upon to organise the small community of Bahá'ís around Bahá'u'lláh.
'Abdu'l-Bahá is an example and role model for all Bahá'ís to follow. He was known as the 'father of the poor' in 'Akká and made it his business to help the needy and deprived in whatever way he could. Bahá'u'lláh had given 'Abdu'l-Bahá the authority to interpret His Holy Writings and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was able to explain to Bahá'ís how their religion was destined to develop.
After Bahá'u'lláh's death, 'Abdu'l-Bahá set about carrying out his father's wishes. These included the building of a shrine for the remains of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Israel. You can easily pick this out as the golden-domed building in photos of Haifa, the Israeli city which has grown up around the mountain.
'Abdu'l-Bahá also fulfilled a wish to travel to the West. He brought his father's teachings of world peace to Europe and America. 'Abdu'l-Bahá strengthened and encouraged the Bahá'í community until His death in 1921. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's successor was his grandson, Shoghi Effendi and named by him as Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.
It was Shoghi Effendi who guided the Bahá'í community through the difficult days of the Second World War. He nurtured and encouraged the infant Bahá'í communities which were springing up all over the world. By the time of Shoghi Effendi's death in 1957, the Bahá'í Faith had spread to all parts of the world and was becoming recognised as a major World Religion.
FURTHER ACTIVITIES
Who's Who? Construct a table of the major characters introduced in this unit which will, at a glance, remind you of their significance and where they fit into the history of the Bahá'í Faith. The first has been done for you. We have used their chronological order but you may prefer to arrange them alphabetically.
INTRODUCTION
This first unit of QUEST deals with the history of the Bahá'í Faith and also its predecessor, the Bábí Faith. The Bahá'í Faith was born out of the Bábí Faith and it would be impossible to consider a history of one without the other. Unless you are from a middle-eastern background, you may find some of the names, both of people and places, hard to remember. The main names which should be remembered from unit 1 are those of The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
BACKGROUND
To help us understand the events leading up to the birth of the Bahá'í Faith, we need to go back to early nineteenth century Irán, or Persia as it was then called. At the time, Persia was ruled by a king called Muhammád Sháh He was a weak and sickly king who was surrounded and controlled by cruel advisors. Persian society had become extremely corrupt - bribery was widespread. The ruling classes enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of the majority of the population who lived in poverty and ignorance. While Britain was at the height of its industrial revolution, Persia's economy was in desperate decline. Basic education and health care were only available to the rich elite. The state religion was then, as it is now, Shí'ah Islam. The clergy were extremely powerful and influential in determining local and national policies and held most of the important positions in the country. It was not unusual for priests to have their own private armies which they could use to reinforce and maintain their positions of power. It was into this situation that the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths were born.
THE HISTORY OF THE BÁBÍ FAITH
In the early years of the nineteenth century, several religious groups predicted that an important spiritual renewal was soon to take place. In the same way that Christians expect the return of Christ, Shí'ah Muslims believe in a Messiah-type figure called the Twelfth Imám who will return to earth and fulfil the prophecies of their Holy Book, The Qur'án (Koran).
Discussion – Do all major Faiths predict the coming of a 'Promised One'?
Comment – Yes, this certainly appears to be the case. The Jews are awaiting the Messiah, the Christians the return of Christ, Shí'ah Muslims the Twelfth Imám, Buddhists the return of the Maitrye Buddha and Hindus the return of Krishna.
One particular Persian religious group called Shaykhis, believed that the Twelfth Imám would be returning very soon (it is interesting to note that several Christian groups such as the Carmelites were expecting the return of Christ at about the same time). Followers of this group were encouraged to spread out across Persia to try to find the Promised One.
A leading clergyman called Mullá Husayn travelled to the city of Shíráz in the south of Persia. Here, on 23 May 1844, his search ended when he met a young man later known as the Báb. Mullá Husayn was immediately struck by the gentle and kind manner of this young nobleman. The Báb invited Mullá Husayn to His house, and announced that He was the Promised One, the Twelfth Imám, the Messiah.
During the course of the evening, the Báb answered Mullá Husayn's questions on difficult religious subjects with great clarity and insight. Mullá Husayn became convinced that the Báb was telling the truth and immediately became His follower. So was born the Bábí Faith. Within a few weeks several other people declared their belief in the Báb.
These disciples were called the Letters of the Living and were sent all over Irán by Him to tell the people that the Day of God mentioned in the Koran and Holy Books of other Faiths was here.
The main teachings of the Báb were very straightforward. His title-The Báb-is an Arabic word which means 'The Gate'. This was exactly what He claimed to be; the gate to a second Messenger who was to follow Him and bring a new message from God which would result in the birth of a world civilisation. The Báb spent much of His time and energy preparing people for this second Messenger. To this end, the Báb made several public announcements of His message. He was also very anxious to meet the king, Muhammád Sháh and explain the new Faith to him. His teachings proved to be very popular and people started to join the Bábí Faith.
As well as preparing people for the second Messenger, the Bábí Faith contained many teachings concerning everyday life. It had its own laws, its own Holy Days, its own Calendar and had no clergy. As you can imagine, the priests were extremely disturbed by the rising popularity of this young man whom people called the Báb.
To the Shí'ah Muslim clergy, the claims of the Báb were not only a heresy, but a serious threat to the distribution of power within the country. If people left Islám to become Bábís, the clergy would start to lose their power and with it the riches and advantages which they had enjoyed for so long. They were further angered by statements of the Báb where he blamed some of the country's problems on widespread corruption and ignorance among the clergy.
Throughout the country, priests arose against the Báb. Over the next eight years many of his followers were tortured, imprisoned and killed in attempts to get rid of his religion. The clergy were not the only people afraid of the growing popularity of the Báb. Equally anxious to get rid of him was the Prime Minister-the King's closest advisor.
The Prime Minister was alarmed at the personal charm of the Báb and his ability to win people over to Him. He wanted to prevent a meeting between the Báb and the King at all costs. The Báb was arrested by the Prime Minister and imprisoned in the fortress of Mah-kú, a bleak prison situated in the far north of Irán near the Russian border. Despite orders to his jailers that the Báb was to be treated harshly, the local people and the governor of the jail came to respect and love him and allowed him to continue spreading his message. The Prime Minister became angry and nervous about this turn of events and ordered the Báb to be moved to the equally remote castle of Chihríq.
When this failed to silence the Báb as well, the authorities obtained a death warrant for Him on a charge of heresy. Tragically, the Báb was killed by a firing squad in the city of Tabríz in the year 1850 at the age of only 31. The circumstances of His death were dramatic and horrified His many admirers and followers.
THE HISTORY OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH
The authorities hoped that this would be the end of the Bábí Faith. They were, however, very mistaken despite the fact that the Bábí community had lost many members in the massacres of recent years. The only real leader left among them was a young nobleman called Mírzá Husayn-'Alí. He later took the title 'Bahá'u'lláh' (we shall refer to him as Bahá'u'lláh from now on). Bahá'u'lláh was a dedicated and active Bábí who was liked by all.
After the execution of the Báb, along with some other well-known Bábís, He set about trying to raise the morale and enthusiasm of the Bábís, many of whom were now depressed and despondent. In yet another wave of persecution which took place in 1852, Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned and tortured in a notorious prison called the Black Pit of Tehran. It was in this dark, rat-infested place that God first revealed to Bahá'u'lláh that He was the One promised by the Báb.
Bahá'u'lláh survived his imprisonment, but on His release, He and His family were banished from Persia and sent to Baghdád in what is modern-day 'Iráq. They embarked in the middle of winter on this first leg of what was to be a long journey of exile and arrived in Baghdád in 1853. There followed years of hardships and problems of one kind or another for Bahá'u'lláh and the small colony of Bábís who had gathered round him in Baghdád. There was some argument and wrangling among them over who should succeed the Báb and take over the leadership of the Bábí community.
Although most of Bahá'u'lláh's family were loyal to him at this time, his half-brother was ambitious for power and caused a great deal of trouble, forcing Bahá'u'lláh' to leave and spend two years in the mountains of neighbouring Kurdistan. He lived the life of a hermit and spent his time there in prayer and meditation.
Research – Have any of the founders of other world religions had similar periods of seclusion?
Comment – There is evidence of similar periods in the lives of most of the Messengers from God. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Buddha all went into the wilderness for a time.
It would seem likely that Messengers from God require a period of solitude and meditation to prepare them for the great task ahead of them. Perhaps you can research details relating to one of them.
After two years, Bahá'u'lláh was persuaded to return and take charge of the Bábí community. His fame as a spiritual leader spread throughout the region and many important people came to see him. Bahá'u'lláh's popularity worried the Persian government who insisted that He should be banished further afield. So with little warning, after a stay of ten years, Bahá'u'lláh and His family were exiled to Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) in present-day Turkey.
It was while the family were preparing to leave Baghdád that Bahá'u'lláh made a momentous and historical announcement. He declared in 1863 that He was the new Messenger from God for whom the Báb had been preparing people.
With few exceptions the Bábís accepted Bahá'u'lláh and thereafter were soon to become known as Bahá'ís. Bahá'u'lláh stayed in Constantinople for only a few months before being moved on to Adrianople (in western Turkey). As a result He became the only Messenger of God in history known to have set foot on the European Continent. The family stayed in Adrianople for about 5 years, during which time Bahá'u'lláh established Himself as the leader of a universal religion.
He wrote a series of letters to the kings and rulers of the world, calling upon them to lay down their weapons and to stop fighting one another. He urged them to use their energy and resources to bring about world peace and work for the good of their subjects. Again, Bahá'u'lláh's popularity and growing fame unnerved the authorities who were persuaded to further exile Him to the prison city of 'Akká in Palestine (close to modern-day Haifa in Israel).
BACKGROUND
To help us understand the events leading up to the birth of the Bahá'í Faith, we need to go back to early nineteenth century Irán, or Persia as it was then called. At the time, Persia was ruled by a king called Muhammád Sháh He was a weak and sickly king who was surrounded and controlled by cruel advisors. Persian society had become extremely corrupt - bribery was widespread. The ruling classes enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of the majority of the population who lived in poverty and ignorance. While Britain was at the height of its industrial revolution, Persia's economy was in desperate decline. Basic education and health care were only available to the rich elite. The state religion was then, as it is now, Shí'ah Islam. The clergy were extremely powerful and influential in determining local and national policies and held most of the important positions in the country. It was not unusual for priests to have their own private armies which they could use to reinforce and maintain their positions of power. It was into this situation that the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths were born.
THE HISTORY OF THE BÁBÍ FAITH
In the early years of the nineteenth century, several religious groups predicted that an important spiritual renewal was soon to take place. In the same way that Christians expect the return of Christ, Shí'ah Muslims believe in a Messiah-type figure called the Twelfth Imám who will return to earth and fulfil the prophecies of their Holy Book, The Qur'án (Koran).
Discussion – Do all major Faiths predict the coming of a 'Promised One'?
Comment – Yes, this certainly appears to be the case. The Jews are awaiting the Messiah, the Christians the return of Christ, Shí'ah Muslims the Twelfth Imám, Buddhists the return of the Maitrye Buddha and Hindus the return of Krishna.
One particular Persian religious group called Shaykhis, believed that the Twelfth Imám would be returning very soon (it is interesting to note that several Christian groups such as the Carmelites were expecting the return of Christ at about the same time). Followers of this group were encouraged to spread out across Persia to try to find the Promised One.
A leading clergyman called Mullá Husayn travelled to the city of Shíráz in the south of Persia. Here, on 23 May 1844, his search ended when he met a young man later known as the Báb. Mullá Husayn was immediately struck by the gentle and kind manner of this young nobleman. The Báb invited Mullá Husayn to His house, and announced that He was the Promised One, the Twelfth Imám, the Messiah.
During the course of the evening, the Báb answered Mullá Husayn's questions on difficult religious subjects with great clarity and insight. Mullá Husayn became convinced that the Báb was telling the truth and immediately became His follower. So was born the Bábí Faith. Within a few weeks several other people declared their belief in the Báb.
These disciples were called the Letters of the Living and were sent all over Irán by Him to tell the people that the Day of God mentioned in the Koran and Holy Books of other Faiths was here.
The main teachings of the Báb were very straightforward. His title-The Báb-is an Arabic word which means 'The Gate'. This was exactly what He claimed to be; the gate to a second Messenger who was to follow Him and bring a new message from God which would result in the birth of a world civilisation. The Báb spent much of His time and energy preparing people for this second Messenger. To this end, the Báb made several public announcements of His message. He was also very anxious to meet the king, Muhammád Sháh and explain the new Faith to him. His teachings proved to be very popular and people started to join the Bábí Faith.
The Shrine of the Báb on Mt Carmel, Haifa, Israel. |
To the Shí'ah Muslim clergy, the claims of the Báb were not only a heresy, but a serious threat to the distribution of power within the country. If people left Islám to become Bábís, the clergy would start to lose their power and with it the riches and advantages which they had enjoyed for so long. They were further angered by statements of the Báb where he blamed some of the country's problems on widespread corruption and ignorance among the clergy.
Throughout the country, priests arose against the Báb. Over the next eight years many of his followers were tortured, imprisoned and killed in attempts to get rid of his religion. The clergy were not the only people afraid of the growing popularity of the Báb. Equally anxious to get rid of him was the Prime Minister-the King's closest advisor.
The Prime Minister was alarmed at the personal charm of the Báb and his ability to win people over to Him. He wanted to prevent a meeting between the Báb and the King at all costs. The Báb was arrested by the Prime Minister and imprisoned in the fortress of Mah-kú, a bleak prison situated in the far north of Irán near the Russian border. Despite orders to his jailers that the Báb was to be treated harshly, the local people and the governor of the jail came to respect and love him and allowed him to continue spreading his message. The Prime Minister became angry and nervous about this turn of events and ordered the Báb to be moved to the equally remote castle of Chihríq.
When this failed to silence the Báb as well, the authorities obtained a death warrant for Him on a charge of heresy. Tragically, the Báb was killed by a firing squad in the city of Tabríz in the year 1850 at the age of only 31. The circumstances of His death were dramatic and horrified His many admirers and followers.
THE HISTORY OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH
The authorities hoped that this would be the end of the Bábí Faith. They were, however, very mistaken despite the fact that the Bábí community had lost many members in the massacres of recent years. The only real leader left among them was a young nobleman called Mírzá Husayn-'Alí. He later took the title 'Bahá'u'lláh' (we shall refer to him as Bahá'u'lláh from now on). Bahá'u'lláh was a dedicated and active Bábí who was liked by all.
After the execution of the Báb, along with some other well-known Bábís, He set about trying to raise the morale and enthusiasm of the Bábís, many of whom were now depressed and despondent. In yet another wave of persecution which took place in 1852, Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned and tortured in a notorious prison called the Black Pit of Tehran. It was in this dark, rat-infested place that God first revealed to Bahá'u'lláh that He was the One promised by the Báb.
Bahá'u'lláh survived his imprisonment, but on His release, He and His family were banished from Persia and sent to Baghdád in what is modern-day 'Iráq. They embarked in the middle of winter on this first leg of what was to be a long journey of exile and arrived in Baghdád in 1853. There followed years of hardships and problems of one kind or another for Bahá'u'lláh and the small colony of Bábís who had gathered round him in Baghdád. There was some argument and wrangling among them over who should succeed the Báb and take over the leadership of the Bábí community.
Although most of Bahá'u'lláh's family were loyal to him at this time, his half-brother was ambitious for power and caused a great deal of trouble, forcing Bahá'u'lláh' to leave and spend two years in the mountains of neighbouring Kurdistan. He lived the life of a hermit and spent his time there in prayer and meditation.
Research – Have any of the founders of other world religions had similar periods of seclusion?
Comment – There is evidence of similar periods in the lives of most of the Messengers from God. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Buddha all went into the wilderness for a time.
It would seem likely that Messengers from God require a period of solitude and meditation to prepare them for the great task ahead of them. Perhaps you can research details relating to one of them.
After two years, Bahá'u'lláh was persuaded to return and take charge of the Bábí community. His fame as a spiritual leader spread throughout the region and many important people came to see him. Bahá'u'lláh's popularity worried the Persian government who insisted that He should be banished further afield. So with little warning, after a stay of ten years, Bahá'u'lláh and His family were exiled to Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) in present-day Turkey.
It was while the family were preparing to leave Baghdád that Bahá'u'lláh made a momentous and historical announcement. He declared in 1863 that He was the new Messenger from God for whom the Báb had been preparing people.
With few exceptions the Bábís accepted Bahá'u'lláh and thereafter were soon to become known as Bahá'ís. Bahá'u'lláh stayed in Constantinople for only a few months before being moved on to Adrianople (in western Turkey). As a result He became the only Messenger of God in history known to have set foot on the European Continent. The family stayed in Adrianople for about 5 years, during which time Bahá'u'lláh established Himself as the leader of a universal religion.
He wrote a series of letters to the kings and rulers of the world, calling upon them to lay down their weapons and to stop fighting one another. He urged them to use their energy and resources to bring about world peace and work for the good of their subjects. Again, Bahá'u'lláh's popularity and growing fame unnerved the authorities who were persuaded to further exile Him to the prison city of 'Akká in Palestine (close to modern-day Haifa in Israel).
Bahá'u'lláh's family were kept for over two years in one tiny room of a prison reserved only for the worst of criminals. A number of Bahá'ís died from the appalling conditions in the prison. Epidemics of typhoid and cholera caused by dirty water and cramped living conditions were common. Moreover, Bahá'u'lláh was not allowed visitors and even letters had to be smuggled out of the prison with great care. Despite such difficult living conditions, it was here in 'Akká that Bahá'u'lláh wrote many of the important books and letters which form the basis of the Bahá'í Holy Writings.
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Towards the end of his life, Bahá'u'lláh concentrated on writing and left his eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá to deal with the day-to-day matters of the Bahá'í community. Bahá'u'lláh died from natural causes while still a prisoner in 1892. He was much loved and respected by all who knew him and mourned by many of Palestine's religious and political leaders.
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Bahá'u'lláh had clearly stated in His Will that after His passing, the Bahá'ís were to turn to his son 'Abdu'l-Bahá for guidance and clarification on His teachings. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has a very special place in Bahá'í history. He was only a small child when Bahá'u'lláh was first detained by the authorities and therefore spent most of his life in prison and exile with his father. From an early age, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had to help look after his younger brothers and sisters and as He grew up he was increasingly relied upon to organise the small community of Bahá'ís around Bahá'u'lláh.
'Abdu'l-Bahá is an example and role model for all Bahá'ís to follow. He was known as the 'father of the poor' in 'Akká and made it his business to help the needy and deprived in whatever way he could. Bahá'u'lláh had given 'Abdu'l-Bahá the authority to interpret His Holy Writings and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was able to explain to Bahá'ís how their religion was destined to develop.
After Bahá'u'lláh's death, 'Abdu'l-Bahá set about carrying out his father's wishes. These included the building of a shrine for the remains of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Israel. You can easily pick this out as the golden-domed building in photos of Haifa, the Israeli city which has grown up around the mountain.
'Abdu'l-Bahá also fulfilled a wish to travel to the West. He brought his father's teachings of world peace to Europe and America. 'Abdu'l-Bahá strengthened and encouraged the Bahá'í community until His death in 1921. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's successor was his grandson, Shoghi Effendi and named by him as Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.
It was Shoghi Effendi who guided the Bahá'í community through the difficult days of the Second World War. He nurtured and encouraged the infant Bahá'í communities which were springing up all over the world. By the time of Shoghi Effendi's death in 1957, the Bahá'í Faith had spread to all parts of the world and was becoming recognised as a major World Religion.
FURTHER ACTIVITIES
Who's Who? Construct a table of the major characters introduced in this unit which will, at a glance, remind you of their significance and where they fit into the history of the Bahá'í Faith. The first has been done for you. We have used their chronological order but you may prefer to arrange them alphabetically.
| NAME | NOTES |
| Muhammád Sháh | King of Persia at the time of the Báb |
| Shaykhis | |
| Twelfth Imám | |
| Mullá Husayn | |
| The Báb | |
| Mírzá Husayn-'Alí (Bahá'u'lláh) | |
| 'Abdu'l-Bahá | |
| Shoghi Effendi |