BAB

BAB may stand for *Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz, a Communaut� d'agglom�ration (metropolitan area) of south west France *British Aikido Board, the governing body of Aikido in Britain ---- B�b is a prophet of the Bah�'� Faith.

BAB

Bab

#REDIRECT B�b

Bab

#REDIRECT Talk:B�b

B�b

== New additions by 82.133.100.15 on the Martyrdom == I have asked User talk:82.133.100.15 for his reference on his addition. Given the discussion below on the martyrdom of the Bab showing that it would be best that the claimed supernatural event should not appear on the page given the conflicting resources, I will remove his additions if the source of the addition does not come up. -- User:Navidazizi 21:24, Jan 26, 2005 (UTC) == Questions about the execution == I just read the article and appreciate the education. This is quite new to me so pardon my naive and skeptical questions, but since this needs to be a neutral and balanced encyclopedia entry I hope you will agree such questions have to be asked and answered. Is the story of the execution considered factual (or at all embellished or mythical)? Are there some neutral POV external links to support it (ie, not originating from Bah�'� Faith sites). I Googled for a while with no luck. It would seem that with 10,000 witnesses (plus the soldiers and officials) that more non-Bah�'� observers would collaborate and report on such an amazing event. Perhaps newspaper reports? Please don't take this as disrespect for the Bah�'� Faith, but since this is an encyclopedia I'd like to ask if there exists strong evidence and neutral witnesses. Are there alternative explanations for these seemingly impossible facts: # 750 trained executioners fire and all miss both An�s and the B�b # the B�b vanishes and is found back in a cell # 10,000 witnesses to a seeemingly supernatural event in modern times I hope you entertain my desire for neutrality and evidence in this article. Thanks! --User:Ds13 20:55, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC) ::The BBC's series on Religion and Ethics [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/index.shtml] has an article on the B�b [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/bab.shtml] on the third page [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/bab3.shtml] it recounts the same story. I'll try to find more non-Bah�'� sources for it; if I recount correctly the accounts you stated above were published in newspapers of the time in the West (I think in London) and there was much interest in the Babis in general among the intellectual classes, but this interest died down significantly in the years after the B�b's martyrdom. -- User:Navidazizi 21:17, Jan 22, 2005 (UTC) ::The 1988 Encyclopedia Brittanica also has the same facts. Here is the section from the Encyclopedia "In 1850 he was brought to Tabriz, where he was suspended by ropes against a wall in a public square. A regiment of several hundred soldiers fired a volley. When the smoke cleared, the large crowd that had gathered at the place of execution saw ropes cut by bullets, but the B�b had disappeared. He was found unhurt in an adjacent building, calmly conversing with a disciple. The execution was repeated, this time effectively. There followed large-scale persecutions of the B�b�s in which ultimately more than 20,000 people lost their lives." Article ''Baha'i Faith'' 1988 Encyclopedia Brittanica. User:Navidazizi 22:00, Jan 22, 2005 (UTC) ::One final thing, while I haven't found precise references to the execution by western newspapers, this article gives references to a lot the western accounts of B�bism's early history and it implies that the execution was a topic that stayed in littery circles for a while [http://bahai-library.com/?file=momen_encyclopedia_western_accounts.html]. -- User:Navidazizi 22:20, Jan 22, 2005 (UTC) My (earlier) edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica makes no reference at all to this story. I shall check later ones, however I have looked at W.M. Miller's version of events in his book "The Baha'i Faith". It makes no mention of the improbably large 750 man firing squad, but instead gives the folowing account: :::The execution was carried out by firing squads of soldiers, who fired three volleys. The first firing party was composed of Christian soldiers, and the second of Muslims. :::In the presence of a great crowd Mirza Muhammad Ali was suspended by ropes from the parapet, and his body was riddled by the first volley of bullets. Then a second volley was fired by the same firing squad at the Bab, who was similarly suspended. When the smoke rolled away, "a cry of mingled exultation and terror arose from the spectators � for the Bab had disappeared from sight! It seemed, indeed, that his life had been preserved by a miracle, for, of the storm of bullets which had been aimed at him, not one had touched him; nay, instead of death they had brought him deliverance by cutting the ropes which bound him, so that he fell to the ground unhurt." :::Had the Bab been able to maintain his presence of mind and rush out alive and unhurt among the crowd, the spectators would without doubt have hailed his escape from death as a miracle of God, and would have eagerly espoused his cause. No soldier would have dared shoot at him again, and uprisings would have occurred in Tabriz which might have resulted in the overthrow of the Qajar dynasty. However, dazed by the terrible experiences he had passed through, the Bab took refuge in one of the rooms of the barracks. There he was soon found, "was seized, dragged forth, and again suspended; a new firing party was ordered to advance (for the men who had composed the first refused to act again); and before the spectators had recovered from their first astonishment, or the Babis had time to attempt a rescue, the body of the young prophet of Shiraz was riddled with bullets." This version has the Bab's companion killed outright and the the Bab himself making an unsuccessful escape attempt. If members of the firing squad were either sympathetic to the Bab, or just frightened to kill a reputed holy man, the story seems somewhat less miraculous. It it easy to see how it can have grown in the telling, and the miraculous aspects increased, along with the creation of a fulfilled prediction by the Bab to make the escape attempt seem like a sign of holiness rather than self-preservation. I'm not saying that's what did happen, after all this version seenms to contain mistakes (referring to the Bab's companion by the actual name of the Bab himelf!), but we do need to qualify the presentation of the story. User:Paul Barlow 10:37, Jan 23, 2005 (UTC) Thanks PaulB for taking the time to research this. I'll spend some more time trying to find non-Baha'i sources as well. Just one point though is that while I accept that Baha'i sources are unacceptable as references, the Miller book is known to be have been written with a very anti-Baha'i POV and I would not call it encyclopedic. -- User:Navidazizi 14:52, Jan 23, 2005 (UTC) ::Yes, the Miller book is adopts an essentially Christian point of view. However I have just checked the latest edition of the Britannica. This is its version of the Bab's death: "a committee of mujtahids decided he was dangerous to the existing order and demanded his execution. On the first volley from the firing squad he escaped injury; only the ropes binding him were severed, a circumstance that was interpreted as a divine sign. On the second volley he was killed and his body disposed of in a ditch." This rather more sceptical that the account you cite, so I think some qualification is appropriate. :::Again, thanks Paul B for taking the time to do the research!!. I will rewrite the last part of the article to conform with the newest Britannica article, and remove the miraculous or spectacular point of view. The miracle, if it is true, itself is not really the important part of the Bab's life. -- User:Navidazizi 22:34, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) :::Paul B can you please tell me which year the Britannica article was and which particle article so that I can update the refences? Also can you please check the wikipedia article to see if the changes I have made are enough/ok etc? -- User:Navidazizi 22:42, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) ::::It's from the online Britannica, to which I have just taken out a subscription. According to the EB's bumf, it is regularly updated, but I assume that the majority of entries are identical to the latest printed version. I can't find any info online about the exact date of the latest printed edition, only information about how to buy it! User:Paul Barlow 13:33, Jan 26, 2005 (UTC) == A comment and question == 1) Why is it written here that the B�b was "traditionally" seen as an independent Manifestation of God (as opposed to what)? Ida know? Uh, as opposed to an Shi'a "Immam" or a political leader, or a heretical moslem? Probebly needs to go away. -- rboatright 2) The reference of the "Gate" for the B�b, though it may have been interpreted by some early on as having been a reference to the "gates" of the Hidden Im�m (the 12th Im�m), the B�b in fact refuted the claim to be (just) such a "gate" (see http://bahai-library.org/books/dawnbreakers/chapters/8.html#154 ) but rather claimed to be a full independent Manifestation of God (see http://bahai-library.org/books/dawnbreakers/chapters/18.html#315 ) (while He also still claimed to be a Herald to "Him Whom God would make manifest"). - User:Brettz9 07:07 Apr 11, 2003 (UTC) Nodnod. A decent discussion of this actually occurs in the article on the B�bi Faith where there is a discussion of the terms "gate" and "primal point". Admittedly, some of that content could come over here, but I have not had time to work on these recently. -- Rboatright okay...i changed it... - User:Brettz9 15:49 Apr 21, 2003 (UTC) == Education == I read in a book that Mirza Ali Mohamed was initially a Shi'a from the Shayki branch. This should be mentioned. -- User:Error ..So, that would require some extensive articles on twelver islam wouldn't it? Or, just add that line if you feel it's needed. howver, yes, your information is correct as far as it goes. Actually, nothing at all is known of the Bab's beliefs BEFORE he met Mullah Hussain Ali that night of May 23, 1844. But the PRESUMPTION is that he had prior knowledge of the Shayki branch of twelver Islam. nodnod --rboatright ::I didn't add it because I was unsereof the spelling. Wikipedia didn't recognze the links and I was quoting form non-English text. -- User:Error :: Well, the B�b was reported to have attended at least one lecture of Siyyid K�zim, the prominent Shaykh� scholar, before His Declaration to Mull� Husayn, but this scholar actually alluded to Him as being the Promised One at that time before his students. :::So, is Shaykhi a more frequent spelling? -- User:Error ::::Yes, at least within the (Bah�'�) literature I have read. "kh" is a distinct sound in Persian and Arabic (like "ch" in the Scottish "loch" or indicated in some transliteration systems by "x") and can indicate a different meaning than /k/. "Kh" (and "sh") would be properly underlined, and the "i" also would have the accent "�", but I think these could generally be intuited more easily. :: As far as His schooling, the B�b never really attended any school at all, let alone took religious higher training (including Shaykhi classes in a regular manner). His uncle did bring Him to classes as a Child, but His teacher soon returned Him back to His uncle (His caretaker as His father had passed on), stating that he had nothing to teach Him. The uncle insisted and returned Him to school for a time, but it soon became apparent that this was not to any purpose, as the Child was deemed to have nothing to learn. He also was an orphan and later made a living as a merchant, so He had not received an upper class exposure to scholars in this manner. ::Also, even after His Declaration, He continued to follow the Sh�'ah rites on His pilgrimge to Mecca and Medina, venerated the Twelve Holy Im�ms, and there were connections in His Faith to the Shaykh� tradition (though I am not aware exactly to what extent He endorsed all of the latter's tenets)...Though a materialist will probably insist that He would need to have learned His Knowledge of these traditions through study of some sort, to the B�b�s of that time (and Bah�'�s such as myself today), His knowledge was innate and He had His own independent connection to the Source of all knowledge. For this reason, I would suggest altering the statement in the article that He had been "educated" in this tradition, and rather state, if desired, perhaps simply that He had endorsed this tradition. I think this would be more neutral and acceptable to all poitns of view. - User:Brettz9 05:25 Apr 30, 2003 (UTC) :::Yeah... I think its fair to say the Dawn Breakers shouldn't be considered the authoritive documentation on the topic. I'm a Baha'i but I really don't know how much weight we can put on it particularly the story of the teacher sending him home etc. Correct me if I'm wrong but Nabil never met the Bab, and Baha'u'llah couldn't have spent long with him and I don't think they were recounting stories of what school was like. I've always considered the Dawn Breakers as fun stories to get the point across of what the early years were like. Remember it was written by a Persian for a very eastern culture - not aimed at western accademics etc. :::Or am I just taking this a little too seriously? -- User:Tomhab 00:01, 28 Jan 2005 (UTC) ---- Please do not erase links to other groups you may not agree with they are there to preserve the neutral point of view required by Wikipedia, and removal and erasier of links can result in permanently beign banned from wikipedia of the one removing them. == mangled bodies == Although I think its important to make sure that people understand the bodies could not be separated, mangled seems a little emotive. Ideas? I'm having trouble. -- User:Tomhab 13:50, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC) :Shoghi Effendi chose his words carefully. I understand that he used Webster's dictionary, but here is the first definition of the verb from the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: "To hack, cut or lacerate by repeated blows; to reduce thus to a more or less unrecognisable condition." Considering that the closest words in Roget's Thesaurus are "lame, limping, mangled, marred, mutilated", it is probably best to stay with mangled. User:Occamy 19:22, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) This debate is a little old. The problem with mangled is it is emotive. It has been changed anyway. In my opinion I'd have just quoted the original source which uses mangled now anyway. -- User:Tomhab 20:35, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Execution details == Just added a lot more detail about his execution and three different (opposing?) sources. Opinions? Not suitable? Its all sourced as you can see. -- User:Tomhab 17:40, 4 Mar 2005 (UTC) :Thanks. It is a fascinating and controversial subject that is worth being exposed to critical analysis. User:Occamy 18:59, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) ==Titles== These articles use the titles Baha'u'llah and Bab; should they refer to Subh-i-Azal too instead of Mirza Yahya? User:Occamy 18:59, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) :That may be more NPOV, I think - and certainly more respectful than using the names of both, which is the other option. User:Vadakkan 19:09, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) I'm not so sure. Although, it comes down to respect etc, I think we should refer to people by the name they're best known as. I was brought up as a Baha'i and always knew him as Mirza Yahya. Problem I guess is that one could say that's not NPOV. Might be interesting to find out what Azalis called him and using that. -- User:Tomhab 21:23, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) :I favour using Subh-i-Azal because that is what academics seem to do. EG Browne uses it, for example, and it seems to be how the folks at H-Bahai refer to him. Following established academic usage seems is probably the most failsafe way of avoiding PoV. --User:Vadakkan 20:51, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) == Contrary POV of Baha's claim == Also, should the section on "A Contrary Point of View of Bah�'u'llah's Claim" perhaps be expanded to recite all the arguments used against Bah�'u'llah's claim by dissenting Babis (with a statement that most Babis of the time accepted his claim to be HWGSMM)? User:Vadakkan 19:09, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) Just split up your question so they can be dealt with separately. Hmmm I've been curious about this for a while, but I don't like editting other peoples work just like that. ''Personally'' I don't like the fact that Baha'u'llah's claim takes up... around a quarter of the Bab's page. I reckon a better idea would be to start up a Azali-Bah�'� conflict (or alternatively Successorship of the B�b) which outlines their claims and counter claims etc. Also it means people can put as much in as they like. Thoughts? -- User:Tomhab 21:23, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) :Well, there's http://www.bayanic.com/ [http://www.bayanic.com/] which asserts itself as a Bayani web site. They state: ::''One may ask why responding to Bahai allegations and ignoring those made by others. The answer is simple. It is the view of the Bayanis that the harm made by Bahaism to the cause of religion of Bayan is far greater than the cruelty displayed by the tyrants of Qajar dynasty and those who have claimed to be followers of the Quranic faith and His Holiness Muhammad. ::''One of the main objectives is to defend the religion of Bayan against the massive misrepresentations and distortions promulgated by the Bahai hierarchy and to reassert the fact that BAHAISM SITS OPPOSITE TO THE RELIGION OF BAYAN AND NOT NEXT TO IT. '' :They appear to have been started, and funded by Nima Hazini, and you could go look up her discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bayan19/ [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bayan19/] but really, I think they have no "connectivity" to the older Azali group, and appear to have been started de-novo in late 2003. They are profoundly Azali tho, and if you want to be completist, you ought to mention them. User:Rboatright 22:17, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Someday I'll find out how the heck you know all you know Rick.... Why the persistent name changing though? Babi->Azali->Bayani? -- User:Tomhab 22:36, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) :::I'm ''really'' good at using the world-mind [http://www.google.com]. In this case searching for Bayani Bab works. You can get THERE if you search for Azali Bab - as to the name change, Azali is really a Baha'i term, one they never used. The Azali's used Bayani, since they belived that Azal had been tasked to complete the Bayan. User:Rboatright 22:45, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) :See, if you just said "dedicated my life to information and the Baha'i faith" I would be in awe right now... -- User:Tomhab 23:32, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) oh well. We'll save awe for another time. User:Rboatright 23:49, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC) :I like the idea. There were so many allegations and counter-allegations running around during that period that it'd be good to sort them out on a page of its own. Succession to the B�b is only peripheral to an article about his life. --User:Vadakkan 16:43, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) One problem is I'm not at all familiar with the Azali side and I don't think I'll have the enthusiasm to research it. Anyone know enough about it? -- User:Tomhab 17:15, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) :This letter from the UHJ[http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_vasaya_mirza_yahya.html], and particularly the attachments thereto, might be a good starting point. It's from the Baha'i POV, but it gives a decent sense of why Azalis said that HWGSMM was not yet to come, and the reference to the ''Nuqtatul qaf'' suggests that the idea that HWGSMM wouldn't come for many years yet had been around for some time. :If anyone here can read Persian, it would be a great help to know exactly ''what'' the B�b said to Azal in the Panj sha'n. --User:Vadakkan 21:03, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) Panj sha'n? Sorry don't know persian but if you're interesting in the will and testament check [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/notes/vol7/BABWILL.htm]. Its done by a Baha'i but very even handed in my opinion and quite informative. I've yet to read a baha'i discussion in this though about how it fits in with Abdul'Baha's traveller's narrative about Azal being a figure head so offer no answers. I'd like to hear suggestions though :) -- User:Tomhab 22:16, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) :Thanks - I've seen the comparative translation of the will. On the status it assigns to Azal, the UHJ has this to say in the letter I mentioned above: ::"It is important to call attention to the fact that, while in some quarters this Tablet has become known as the Will and Testament of the B�b, the Research Department has, to date, found no explicit evidence to suggest that the B�b, Himself, designated the Tablet as such. Indeed, from a perusal of the attached material, Mr. Villar will see that the Tablet bears no title. He will also see that, while the Tablet is addressed to Azal, there is nothing in its contents pertaining to questions of successorship and authority. Rather, the recipient is enjoined to promote and protect the Faith and to invite people to follow what has been revealed in the Bay�n." :which seems to be a fairly cogent defense of Abdul'Baha's account of the successorship to the B�b. :The Kitab-i panj sha'n[http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/notes/vol2/panjshn.htm],[http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/areprint/bab/M-R/panj/panjshan.htm] is one of the B�b's final works. There's a section addressed to Azal, which Ahang Rabbani has said uses a fairly reprimandary tone. It's never been translated, unfortunately, but it may cast some interesting light on exactly what the B�b intended of Azal. -- User:Vadakkan 00:04, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC) == Removal of Miller account == Would anyone like to comment on this[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=B%E1b&diff=11827178&oldid=11827166]? Basically some anon IP has removed a whole section about Millers report of the Bab's execution. I don't think its some Baha'i being protective as he's left the Maulana (which in my opinion a Baha'i would remove first). Is the article just too long with Miller you think? -- User:Tomhab 20:09, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Well, it's a clear copyright violation unless someone has gotten permission from the Miller estate. The copy of Miller's book at the christian university site is unauthorized, and the book does not carry a (PD) claim, and so for a 1974 book, this direct quote seems a clear violation of copyright. OTOH, I think that the Miller account deserves to be mentioned.... ::additionally, I would point out that this anon IP has been editing Baha'i pages since Feb, and posted a fairly long rant on Talk:Baha'u'llah signed " The Empyrean " User:Rboatright 22:08, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC) Hmmm good point about the copyright actually... Oh well. When I have time I'll collate a load of sources although I think I'm most impressed with the Amanat book at the moment -- User:Tomhab 22:49, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)

B�b

[[Image:Babshrinenight.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Shrine of the B�b at night from above in Haifa, Israel]] '''Siyyid Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad (میرزا علی‌محمد in Persian language) (October 20, 1819 - July 9, 1850), later to become known as the B�b''' ("باب" meaning "Gate" in Persian language and Arabic language;) was seen by B�b�s (and is seen by modern Bah�'� Faith) to be an independent Manifestation of the Cause of God, or Prophet on par with Moses, Jesus, or Muhammad. His claim was at first understood, by some of the public at the time, to be merely a reference to the Gate of the Muhammad al-Mahdi of Muhammad, which he publicly disclaimed. He later boldly proclaimed himself, in the presence of the Heir to the Throne of Persian Empire and other notables, to be the Mahdi or Q�'im to Sh�'ih Muslims. The B�b founded the B�b�s religion (sometimes refered to as the Bayani religion) which Bah�'� Faith claimed would become, in the days of Bah�'u'll�h and afterwards, the forerunning religion to theirs. His titles included, among others, the "Herald of the Faith" and the "Point of the Bayan (B�b)". ==The B�b's Life== ===Early life === Born on October 20 1819, in Shiraz, Iran to a well-known merchant of the city of Shiraz, his father died soon after his birth and the boy was raised by his uncle H�j� Mirz� Siyyid 'Ali, who was also a merchant. As a child he learned to read and write and was sent with other children to a teacher of religion. During these lessons the little boy showed uncommon wisdom and quickly attracted attention, since not only did he ask very difficult questions, but he answered them himself. He did this so well that his teacher was dumbfounded. Upon reaching manhood, he joined his uncle in the family business, a trading house, and became a merchant. His integrity and piety won the esteem of the other merchants with whom he came in contact. He was also known for his generosity to the poor. In 1842 He married Khad�jih-Bagum and they had one son, Ahmad, who died in infancy. ===Proclamation=== In the 1830's in Persia, Siyyid K�zim of Rasht was the leader of the Shaykhis, a sect of Shiite Islam. The Shayhkis were expecting the eminent appearance of the Q�'im of the House of Muhammad, also called the Mahdi. At Siyyid K�zim's death in 1843, he had counselled his followers to leave their homes to seek the Lord of the Age whose advent would soon break on the world. One of these followers called Mull� Husayn travelled to Shiraz, Iran. On his arrival on May 23, 1844, Mull� Husayn was approached by a young man wearing a green turban (an indication that the wearer was a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad). The stranger, the B�b, invited Mull� Husayn to his home. After being asked by the B�b of what he was doing in Shiraz, Mulla Husayn replied that he was searching for the Promised One. The B�b then asked how would the Promised One be recognized, to which Mulla Husayn replied "He is of a pure lineage, is of illustrious descent, is endowed with innate knowledge and is free from bodily deficiency". To the shock of Mulla Husayn, the B�b declared "Behold, all these signs are manifest in me.". Mull� Husayn had one more sign by which to identify the Promised One. He had been told by Siyyid K�zim that the Promised One would write a commentary on the Yusuf (sura) (a chapter in the Qur'an) without being asked. The B�b fulfilled this requirement as well, writing the commentary after making his declaration. The B�b then declared �O Thou who art the first to believe in Me!� and took the title the B�b. Mull� Husayn became the B�b's first disciple. Within a very short time, seventeen other disciples of Siyyid K�zim had independently recognized the B�b as a Manifestation of God, among them was one woman, a poetess, who later received the name of T�hirih (the Pure). These eighteen disciples were later to be known as the Letters of the Living To these first eighteen disciples the B�b gave the task of spreading the new Faith throughout the land. ===Travels and Imprisonment=== After the first eighteen Letters of the Living had independently recognized the B�b, the B�b and the eighteenth Letter of the Living, Qudd�s, left on a pilgrimmage to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of Islam. In Mecca, the B�b wrote to the Sharif of Mecca explaining his mission. After their pilgrammage, the B�b and Qudd�s, returned to Bushehr, Persia. After some time, due to opposition from the Islamic clergy (according to Bah�'�s), the Governor of Shiraz ordered the B�b's arrest. The B�b, upon hearing of the arrest order, left Bushehr towards Shiraz and presented himself to the authorities. The B�b was placed under house arrest at the home of his uncle. The B�b was released when a plague broke out in Shiraz. After his release in 1846, the B�b departed for Isfahan (city). During the B�b's stay in Isfahan, crowds of people came to see him every day. Due to pressure from the clergy of the province, the Shah Mohammad Shah Qajar ordered the B�b to Tehran. Before the B�b could meet the Shah, the Shah's prime-minister sent the B�b to Tabriz in the north of the country, where he was confined and was not allowed to see any visitors. The B�b was then transferred to the fortress of Maku in the province of Iranian Azarbaijan. During his time in Maku, the B�b wrote his most important work, the Persian Bayan, which he never finished before his death. Due to the B�b's growing popularity in Maku the prime minister transferred the B�b to the fortress of Chihriq. Once again, the B�b's popularity grew in Chihriq, and thus the prime-minister ordered the B�b back to Tabriz where the government would hold a meeting with the religious authorities to examine the B�b. At the meeting, when the officials asked the B�b who he claims to be, the B�b responded that he was the Promised One who the people of Islam were waiting for. He was then ordered back to the fortress of Chihriq. === Execution and Martyrdom === In 1850 a new prime-minister ordered the execution of the B�b; he was brought to Tabriz, where he would be killed by a Execution by firing squad. The night before his execution, as he was being conducted to his cell, a young man, An�s (sometimes called Mulla Muhammad Ali), threw himself at the feet of the B�b, wanting to be killed with the B�b. He was immediately arrested and placed in the same cell as the B�b. On the morning of July 9, 1850, the B�b was taken to a courtyard filled with nearly ten thousand people wishing to watch his execution. The B�b and An�s were suspended on a wall and the firing squad prepared to shoot. === Discrepant accounts of events === A range of descriptions of the execution of the B�b is available. What seems clear is that a first volley missed the B�b but somehow the rope tying him was cut and he was nowhere to be seen. Once he was found a short while later, a second volley killed him. ==== B�bi view, later adopted by Bah�'�s ==== Here is an account which is in line with common Bah�'� Faith view and paraphrased from "Release the Sun", by Hand of the Cause William Sears, a Hand of the Cause of God: :The firing squad was made up of 750 Armenian (people) soldiers, split into three rows and was under the command of Sam Khan. Sam Khan had become increasingly affected by his Prisoner and spoke with him privately telling Him that he was a Christian and had no ill-will against Him. Sam Khan said "If Your Cause be the Cause of Truth then enable me to free myself from the obligation to shed your blood." The Bab replied, "Follow your instructions and if your intention be sincere, the Almighty is surely able to relieve you of your perplexity." :The Bab and a young companion were suspended from a nail by ropes for execution by a firing squad of three ranks of 250 rifles each; a total of 750 rifles. Sam Khan, unable to avoid his duty, gave the order to fire. When the smoke cleared, the crowd of 10,000 persons was amazed to find the Bab's companion standing, alive and unhurt, the ropes severed by the bullets. The Bab was nowhere to be seen. He was found, back in His cell, finishing His business with His secretary. The Bab then said to the guard, "I have finished My conversation. You may now proceed to fulfill your duty." The guard, remembering the rebuke he had received earlier, resigned his post, shaken to the core and cut himself off from the enemies of the Bab. :Sam Khan, likewise removed himself and his regiment from this duty declaring, "I refuse ever again to associate myself and my regiment with any act which involves the least injury to the Bab." A colonel of the bodyguard then volunteered to carry out the execution. The Bab was again taken to the execution ground and suspended as before. Again the rifles fired. This time the bodies of the Bab and His companion were shattered by the blast. The bodies were thrown at the edge of a moat outside the city and guarded so that none of His followers could claim His remains. Two days after the execution His followers were able to recover the bodies, hid them in a specially made wooden case, and kept them in a place of safety.[http://www.lvbahai.org/bab.htm] There are claims that these events were witnessed by western journalists. Provided below is one source that is apparently attributed to Sir Justin Shiel, Queen Victoria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran and written to Lord Palmerston, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs July 22, 1850. This can be found in its original form as document F.O. 60/152/88 in the archives of the Foreign Office at the Public Records Office in London. :"The founder of the sect has been executed at Tabreez. He was killed by a volley of musketry, and his death was on the point of giving his religion a lustre which would have largely increased his proselytes. When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Bab was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies. The balls had broken the ropes by which he was bound but he was dragged [not literally, of course] from the recess where after some search he was discovered and shot. His death, according to the belief of his disciples, will make no difference as Bab must always exist." [Quoted in Ferraby, 1975] Shoghi Effendi also prints a large selection of western quotes in his book ''God Passes By'' (p55) however most are unsourced and cannot be confirmed. ==== Maulana ==== A non-Bah�'� account is recorded by the Ahmadi author Maulana Muhammad Ali in his book "History and Doctrines of the Babi Movement" (see external links): :Mulla Muhammad Ali was the only man who was executed along with him. It happened, however that when the smoke of musket fire cleared, Mirza Ali Muhammad [the B�b] was not there. The bullet[s] instead of hitting him hit the rope with which he was hung and Mirza Ali Muhammad fled to a closet from which he was brought again. Mirza Jani [an early Babi historian] is sure that the escape was due to the fact that he was not yet willing to be killed and therefore could not be killed, but willing or unwilling he had to submit to the same process a second time, and this time was killed. [Maulana Muhammad Ali, 1933] ==== Miller ==== - Another non-Bah�'� documentation was made by Miller--a Presbyterian missionary--in his book "The Baha'i Faith: Its History and Teachings" (see external links): - - :The execution was carried out by firing squads of soldiers, who fired three volleys. The first firing party was composed of Christian soldiers, and the second of Muslims. - - :In the presence of a great crowd Mirza Muhammad Ali was suspended by ropes from the parapet, and his body was riddled by the first volley of bullets. Then a second volley was fired by the same firing squad at the Bab, who was similarly suspended. When the smoke rolled away, �a cry of mingled exultation and terror arose from the spectators � for the Bab had disappeared from sight! It seemed, indeed, that his life had been preserved by a miracle, for, of the storm of bullets which had been aimed at him, not one had touched him; nay, instead of death they had brought him deliverance by cutting the ropes which bound him, so that he fell to the ground unhurt.� - - :Had the Bab been able to maintain his presence of mind and rush out alive and unhurt among the crowd, the spectators would without doubt have hailed his escape from death as a miracle of God, and would have eagerly espoused his cause. No soldier would have dared shoot at him again, and uprisings would have occurred in Tabriz which might have resulted in the overthrow of the Qajar dynasty. However, dazed by the terrible experiences he had passed through, the Bab took refuge in one of the rooms of the barracks. There he was soon found, �was seized, dragged forth, and again suspended; a new firing party was ordered to advance (for the men who had composed the first refused to act again); and before the spectators had recovered from their first astonishment, or the Babis had time to attempt a rescue, the body of the young prophet of Shiraz was riddled with bullets.� [Miller, 1974] == After the execution == For many years after his death, the remains of the B�b were secretly transferred from place to place until they were brought to their final resting place at the Shrine of the B�b on the side of Mount Carmel, Israel in Haifa on the middle terrace of the The Terraces (Bah�'�). The B�b named Mirza Yahya Nuri Subh-i Azal, to succeed him as head of the B�b�s. He also entrusted to finish his unfinished work the Persian Bayan. === Bah�'� view on the succesorship === Bah�'�s view Subh-i-Azal's leadership largely as a nominal head. This is explained below: :Mirza Yahya [Subh-i-Azal] came into prominence not because he possessed any outstanding qualities, but rather through his close link with Bah�'u'll�h. In order to divert the attention of the enemies of the Faith from the person of Bah�'u'll�h, Who had emerged as a focal point among the early believers, the B�b wholeheartedly approved the suggestion of nominating the youthful and relatively unknown Mirza Yahya as the chief of the B�b� community. This suggestion had come from Bah�'u'll�h and only two others were aware of the plan, namely, Bah�'u'll�h's faithful brother Mirza Musa (Aqay-i-Kalim) and a certain Mulla Abdu'l-Karim-i-Qazvini who had been entrusted by the B�b, shortly before His martyrdom, with the task of delivering His pen-case, seals and writings to Bah�'u'll�h; he was subsequently martyred in Tihran at the time of Bah�'u'll�h's imprisonment in the Siyah-Chal. :The advantages of this nomination were obvious and, as this system operated for some time, those who were endowed with insight and wisdom were able to see that Mirza Yahya was only a figure-head, and that it was the guiding hand of Bah�'u'll�h alone that was unobtrusively directing the affairs of the B�b� community after the martyrdom of the B�b.[Taherzadeh, 1987] This view is supported by the B�b's long time secretary Mulla Abdu'l-Karim-i-Qazvini, believed to be the only other person who participated in the conspiracy. John Walbridge writes: :In Qum, shortly before the Bab's martyrdom, he received a coffer from the Bab containing the last of his writings and his pen-case, seals, rings, and the famous pentacle tablet containing 350 derivatives of the word Baha. He left the same day for Tehran, explaining that the Bab's accompanying letter ordered him to deliver it to Baha'u'llah. (Mulla `Abdu'l-Karim Qazvini (Mirza Ahmad Katib) by John Wallbridge) [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/notes/qazvini9.htm] Qazvini himself wrote in a letter in 1851 describing the urgency that the friends do nothing to call attention to Baha'u'llah during his period of messianic secrecy: :May they never seek a proof from him, my good sir! For in a former time, in view of their perception of the command of God given to those who had attained the ocean of resignation and submission to the beloved Aqa Sayyid Husayn, the conceal matter should have been concealed--the matter that God has safeguarded until now, hiding it in his invisible gift. Nevertheless, it has become public, contrary to the intention, because of persons going back and forth from that place. Virtually the only news that was received was this disclosure! For that reason, the trusted ones of God are saddened and concealed. Indeed, that thing was almost revealed, which is beyond what existence can endure. Rather, it became visible, which was contrary to the intent. It will become manifest from the dwellers in the house of love. They hurried to send letters [or books: al-kutub] and repeatedly, among the means of disclosure. Then, this haste in that . . . [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/trans/vol1/qazvini/qazvini1.htm] (translation by Juan Cole) It is impossible to overstate the symbolism of the B�b sending to B�h�'u'llah not only all of his remaining writings, but his seals and his pens, literally handing over the instruments of revelation, along with the pentacle tablet written in his own hand confirming Baha'u'llah's station. The B�b's Will & Testament, which was unambiguously directed to Subh-i-Azal, makes it clear that he would not be the One promised by the B�b: :"We order you to obey Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest. He will verily appear amongst this people with a sublime reign in the final resurrection. Verily we are all servants and kneel down before Him. He shall carry out whatever He wishes, with permission from His Lord. He shall not be questioned for his actions. However all others are responsible for everything they do." [verses 27-29] === A Contrary Point of View of Bah�'u'llah's Claim === A contrary point of view is that the B�b's writings refers to Subh-i-Azal as "the One", "the Way" and "the Great Truth". Moreover, the B�b's writing do not refer to Bah�'u'll�h by name leading at least one author to state that Bah�'u'll�h was not considered an important person by the B�b. Bah�'u'll�h did however receive tablets from the B�b which addressed him at the brother of Azal, but most significantly the pentacle tablet. :"....This is a letter from God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting, to God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting.... This is a letter from Ali before Nabil, the Reminder of God for the worlds, to him whose name is equivalent to the name of the One, the Reminder of God for the worlds.... That, O thou, name of the One, guard what has been revealed in the Bayan and enjoin the same, for thou art surely the way, the great truth." (Quoted from the "History and Doctrines of the Babi Movement" who quotes Browne's "Introduction to Nuqtatul Qaf".)" === Summary === Bah�'u'llah came out far more successful in his claim following doctrinal and occasionally violent conflict. The vast majority of the B�b's followers abandoned Subh-i-Azal either to join the Bah�'�s or to become inactive. ==Writings== Excerpts from the following and other writings are printed in the only English language compilation of the Báb's writings, Selections from the Writings of the Báb *''Persian Bayan'' *''Kit�b-i-Asm�'' (The Book of Names) *''Dal�'il-i-Sab'ih'' (The Seven Proofs). *''Arabic Bayan'' *''Qayy�mu'l-Asm�'' (The Resurrection of Names, a.k.a. Commentary on the S�rih of Joseph) ==References== === Official Bah�'� resouces === * Available online [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/GPB/ here]. * * * available online [http://www.bahai-library.com/books/dawnbreakers here] === Other resources === *Britannica (Eds.) ''Bah�'� Faith'', 1988 Encyclopaedia Britannica. *British Broadcasting Corporation (2002). [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/ BBC Religion and Ethics Special: Bah�'�]. Retrieved January 22, 2005. *Gobineau, Conte (1864). Les Religions et les Philosophies dans l�Asie Centrale. *Browne, E.G. (1889) "The Babis of Persia" in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, pp. 485-526 and 881-1009. *[http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/diglib/books/A-E/B/browne/tn/tnfrnt.htm Browne, E.G. (1891). A Traveller�s Narrative. Cambridge.] *Browne, E.G. (translator) (1893). The New History of the B�b. Cambridge. *[http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/areprint/nk/nuqta.htm Kitab-i Nuqtat al-Kaf: Being the Earliest History of the Babis, ed. E. G. Browne. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1910] ==External links== *http://www.ibiblio.org/Bahai/Texts/EN/SWB/ *http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/tb/SWB/ Some Writings of the Bab *http://bahai-library.com/provisionals/qayyum.al-asma.html - the commentary on the Surih of Joseph revealed by the B�b *[http://aaiil.org/text/books/mali/historydoctrinesbabimovement/historydoctrinesbabimovement.shtml "History and Doctrines of the Babi Movement", Maulana Muhammad Ali; Lahore, India. (1933)] *[http://www.gospelcom.net/wclbooks/thebahaifaith "The Bahai Faith: Its History and Teachings", William McElwee Miller; William Carey Library. (1974)] *[http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/notes/vol7/BABWILL.htm "The Primal Point�s Will and Testament", Sepehr Manuchehri; Research Notes in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies,Vol. 7, no. 2 (September, 2004)] *[http://www.bayanic.com The Religion of Bayan] A website dedicated to the followers of the B�b who continued to support Subh-i Azal Bah�'� central figures 1819 births 1850 deaths nds:Bab

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