The Martyrdom of the Báb
This month Bahá’ís mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb, one of the two central figures in the founding of their religion.
On 9 July 1850, at noon, the Báb was put to death by firing squad in the public square of Tabriz, Iran.
Six years earlier, He had declared that He was a messenger of God. His mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world. In 1863, Bahá’u’lláh announced publicly that He was that Promised One.
The Báb attracted tens of thousands of people to His teachings, thousands of whom were killed in persecutions that swept Iran. Finally, authorities had the Báb Himself put to death in an attempt to stamp out the new religion.
A half century after His execution, His sacred remains were brought to Haifa for entombment on Mount Carmel. Today His shrine is one of the most famous landmarks in Israel, and the Bahá’í Faith is established in virtually every country.
Adapted with permission from the Baha'i World News Service.
Related post: Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb.
Watch Dawn of the Light, a 50-minute movie which portrays several individuals from different continents as they relate their own personal search after truth and meaning. They share their discovery that God has sent two Divine Manifestations—the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh—Whose teachings are revolutionizing human thought and behaviour, changing darkness into light.
Dawn of the Light film opening title.