BAB

Siyyid Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad (میرزا علی‌محمد in Persian) (October 20, 1819 - July 9, 1850), was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia, who at the age of 25, claimed to be a new and independent Manifestation of God, and the promised Qá'im, or Mihdi. After his declaration he took on the title of the Báb (باب), meaning "Gate" in Arabic, and 6 years later was shot by a firing squad in Tabriz.

Successorship

He Whom God Shall Make Manifest

The Báb left a great deal of writings alluding to a Promised One, most commonly referred to as "He whom God shall make manifest", and that he himself was "but a ring upon the hand of Him Whom God shall make manifest."

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Within 20 years of the Báb's death, over 25 people claimed to be the Promised One, most significantly Bahá'u'lláh.

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Will and Testament of the Báb

Before the Báb's death, he sent a letter addressed to Subh-i-Azal, which is considered to be his will and testament. Translations and commentary on the document can be seen here.

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The letter is recognized as appointing Subh-i-Azal to be the leader of the Bábí community after the death of the Báb. He is also ordered to obey the Promised One when he appears.

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Bahá'u'lláh's Claim

Bahá'u'lláh claimed that in 1853, while a prisoner in Tehran, he was visited by a "Maid of Heaven", and given his task as a Messenger of God. Ten years later in Baghdad, he made his first public declaration, and became recognized by most Bábís as "He whom God shall make manifest". His followers began calling themselves Bahá'ís.

Related Topics:
Bahá'u'lláh - 1853 - Bahá'ís

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Subh-i-Azal's Involvement

Subh-i-Azal disputed the claim of Bahá'u'lláh, along with anyone who made the claim to be "He whom God shall make manifest". His followers became known as Bayanis or Azalis. For the Babis that did not recognize Baha'u'llah, Sub-i-Azal remained their leader, until he died in 1912 with no obvious successor.

Related Topics:
Subh-i-Azal - Bayani - 1912

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Results of Conflicting Claims

Bahá'u'llah came out far more successful in his claim following doctrinal conflict. The vast majority of the Báb's followers abandoned Subh-i-Azal and become Bahá'ís. Today Baha'is claim to have over 6 million followers, while estimates of Azali's are as low one thousand.

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Bahá'í sources report that 11 of the 18 "witnesses" appointed by Subh-i-Azal to oversee the Bábí community became Bahá'ís, as well as his son. The man appointed by Subh-i-Azal to succeed him, Hadiy-i-Dawlat-Abadi, later publicly recanted his faith in the Báb and Subh-i-Azal, although Bayanis claim he was using taqiyyih.

Related Topics:
Bayani - Taqiyyih

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