The Báb
Herald of the Coming Bahá’u’lláh
Several years before Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed His Mission, God sent a special messenger to announce His coming. This great messenger took 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.
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.
Many Bahá’is know this prayer of the Báb by heart and say it either aloud or mentally in times of difficulties.
Mount Carmel
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.
Today the twin cities of Haifa and ‘Akká form the spiritual and administrative world centre of the Bahá’í Faith - the spiritual centre because it is here that the Shrines of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, as well as many other Holy Places, are located, and the administrative centre because the Seat of the supreme governing body of the Faith, the Universal House of Justice, is also on Mount Carmel.