The Báb – Herald of the Bahá’í Faith: |21 October 2019

Seychelles Baha’is gear up for bi-centenary of The Báb’s birth

In the middle of the 19th century – one of the most turbulent periods in the world’s history – a young merchant announced at the young age of 25 that He was the bearer of a message destined to transform the life of humanity. His childhood was marked by extreme piety, charm, gentleness and innate knowledge. His teachers explained that as a child he was in no need of instruction. It was also a period of messianic zeal as both Christians and Muslim scholars expected that the time for fulfillment of prophecy was near. His message aroused excitement and hope among all classes, rapidly attracting thousands of followers. He took the name ‘The Báb’, meaning ‘the Gate’.

With His call for spiritual and moral reformation, and His attention to improving the position of women and the lot of the poor, The Báb’s prescription for spiritual renewal was revolutionary. At the same time, He founded a distinct, independent religion of His own, lasting only 19 years and inspiring His followers to transform their lives and carry out great acts of heroism.

“His life is one of the most magnificent examples of courage which it has been the privilege of mankind to behold…” Tribute to The Báb by the 19th century French writer A.L.M. Nicolas.

The Life of The Báb

It was a spring evening in 1844, a conversation took place between The Báb and his first disciple. 18 disciples ‘Letters of the Living’ would independently and in mystical ways accept this message including one woman. Great revolutions were under way. In parts of Europe and North America, time-worn social structures and relationships were being challenged by sudden and unprecedented changes in the fields of agriculture, industry, and economics. At the same time, throughout the world followers of both Christianity and Islam perceived that humanity was on the cusp of a new stage in its development, and many prepared themselves for the imminent coming of a Promised One, praying fervently that they would recognise Him. Some of them pitched their tent on Mount Carmel!

The Mission of The Báb

Born in Shiraz, a city in southern Iran, on October 20, 1819, The Báb was the symbolic gate between past ages of prophecy and a new age of fulfilment for humanity. His primary purpose was to awaken the people to the fact that a new period in human history had begun, one which would witness the unification of the entire human race and the emergence of a world civilisation of spiritual and material prosperity. This great day would be established through the influence of a divine Educator, whom The Báb referred to as “He Whom God shall make manifest”. It was His own mission, The Báb declared, to herald the coming of this promised Manifestation of God. The Báb explained that the new Manifestation would usher in an age of peace and justice, the ‘kingdom of God’ on earth that was the hope of every longing heart and the promise of every religion. The Báb instructed His followers to spread this message throughout the country and to prepare people for this long-awaited day. Although a number of prominent clerics accepted The Báb, many others felt insecure and threatened by His growing influence and feared their entrenched positions of privilege and authority would be threatened by the empowerment of the people. They denounced The Báb’s teachings as heretical and set out to destroy Him and His followers. Controversy raged in mosques and schools, in streets and bazaars throughout the land. Many of His followers – men, women and children, some 20,000 – were tortured and put to death in horrific ways if they did not recant their faith.

As a result, The Báb was banished – from city to city, from remote fortress prisons to prison, enveloped in darkness often without even a candle. He was subjected to the scourge of the bastinado in Tabriz. But none of the plans His enemies devised could prevent His influence from spreading. In every place He was sent, His grace and the magnetic attraction of His personality won the admiration of civic leaders and townspeople. Callous prison governors and soldiers guarding Him became His followers. Each time, believing they were extinguishing the flame of His influence, the authorities merely added fuel to His life-giving light. In time, The Báb’s popularity grew to such an extent that some prominent clergymen appealed to the government to have Him executed at the age of 31. The miraculous nature of the first attempt at his execution by a first regiment of 250 soldiers is documented in history. The Báb, shut off from their leader, boldly defended themselves against the full force of the state, which was summoned for their destruction.

The Shrine of The Báb

The Shrine of The Báb in Israel is one of the holiest places on earth and it is a place of quiet prayer and meditation where Baha’i pilgrims and visitors from around the world can come and pay their respects. The Shrine of The Báb is surrounded by beautiful hanging gardens, fountains and 19 terraces on the Mountain of Light and is listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco. His shrine bathed in light on Mount Carmel, crowned in glowing gold, robed in shimmering white, girdled in emerald green, enchanting every eye from air, sea, plain and hill, is a constant contrast to the darkness of his many years of imprisonment.

Some of the principles on which the Baha’i Faith is founded to establish world peace are:

• The oneness of God, Oneness of religion, Oneness of humanity.
• Abolition of all prejudices; race, colour, class, religion.
• One universal auxiliary language in addition to the mother tongue.
• Harmony between science and religion.
• Equality of men and women
• Redistribution of the world’s resources and spiritual solutions to economic problems.
• Independent investigation of truth.
• One World Parliament of Nations.
• One International military force.
• One world currency (free trade, free movement of labour..)
• Abolishment of extremes of wealth and poverty.
• An international tribunal for resolution of disputes among nations.