Birth of the Bab observed October 20th (testimony, punishment, Earth)

[arthra]

The Báb (1819-1850)

The Shrine of the Báb, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.

Báb, the Gate. The title assumed by Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, and Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith.
Born in shiráz on 20 October 1819, Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad was raised by His uncle Hájí Mirzá Siyyid 'Ali, a merchant. As a child, He showed uncommon wisdom, although He received little formal schooling. He became a merchant and earned a high reputation for fairness. In 1842 He married Khadíjih-Bagum and they had one son, Ahmad, who died in infancy. On May 23, 1844, He announced Himself to be the Báb, or "Gate of God" to the Shaykhí disciple Mullá Hussayn-i-Bushrú'í, the first of eighteen individuals who sought and discovered the Báb.
The Báb proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam, the Qá'ím, and said that the Mission of His Dispensation was to alert the people to the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God awaited by all the peoples of the world.
As the Báb gained followers, His doctrines inflamed the Shí'ih clergy, who determined to stamp out the new faith. Muhammad Sháh's Grand Vazier, Hájí Mírzá Aqásí, imprisoned the Báb in the fortress of Máh-Kú, then, when sympathy for Him spread there, moved Him to Chihríq. In 1848 the Báb was subjected to a trial before a Muslim divines of Tabríz and punishment by bastinado. While the Báb was imprisoned, a group of Bábís met at the Conference of Badasht. It was here that Táhirih boldly exemplified the break with Islám by appearing unveiled in public and that Bahá'u'lláh demonstrated His leadership.
The Báb's followers were subjected to swift and savage persecution at the hands of the dominant Muslim clergy, along with the forces of the Persian government throughout the country, notably in Mázindarán at the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí, Zanján, Nayríz and Tihrán. On July 9, 1850 the Báb was brought before a firing squad in the barracks square of Tabríz, along with a young follower. Some 20,000 of His followers perished in a series of massacres throughout Persia. His remains were hidden by His followers and in 1899 transferred to Palestine where in 1909 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself interred them in the sepulchre on Mount Carmel known as the Shrine of the Bab. Today, the majestic building with the golden dome, overlooking the Bay of Haifa, Israel, and set amidst beautiful gardens, is the Shrine where the Báb's earthly remains are entombed. Bahá'ís revere the Báb as the Forerunner or Herald of Bahá'u'lláh, but also as a Manifestation of God in His own right, considering His Writings to be Holy Scripture. The beginning of the Bahá'í Era is dated from the day of His declaration. The Declaration of the Báb, His birth and the day of His Martyrdom are observed as Bahá'í Holy Days on which work is suspended.

[arthra]

Feast of the Birth of the Báb
By BBC Team

Feast of the Birth of the Báb
Birth of the Báb
Thousands of Bahá'í followers around the world celebrate the birth of Báb on 20th October.

Báb, which literally translates as 'the gate', was a prophet and forerunner of the Bahá'í revelation. Likened to John the Baptist some two thousand years before, the Báb called on people to purify themselves for the coming of the messenger of God. This is asserted to be Bahá'u'lláh who was initially a follower of Báb and through him, the Bahá'í faith was founded.

Although there are many stories of the Báb's childhood and his many good qualities, very little is known of his birth.

He was born on 20th October 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran) as Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad. He was the son of a mercer of Shiraz, Siyyid Muhammad-Ridá, and his wife Fátimih-Bagum who were both decedents of the Prophet Muhammad. The Báb's father died when he was very young (when, exactly, is debated) and he was put into the care of his uncle, Hájí Mírzá 'Alí.

There is no established tradition in which his birth is celebrated except that this is one of the nine Holy Days on which work is to be suspended. The day is a simple and joyous event that will begin with prayers and devotional readings and develop into some kind of festive social gathering either at home or in a place of worship. The festival is celebrated, in the spirit of the Bahá'í, to be open to all.

Source:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religi...birthbab.shtml

[arthra]

"God beareth Me witness, I was not a man of learning, for I was trained as a merchant. In the year sixty [1260 A.H. (1844 A.D.)] God graciously infused my soul with the conclusive evidences and weighty knowledge which characterize Him Who is the Testimony of God--may peace be upon Him--until finally in that year I proclaimed God's hidden Cause and unveiled its well-guarded Pillar, in such wise that no one could refute it. 'That he who should perish might perish with a clear proof before him and he who should live might live by clear proof.' [Qur'an 8:44]"

- The Bab

[Booko]

Hi Art:

What did your community do in celebration of the Birth of the Bab?

We had our observance, which consisted of readings, prayers, stories, and song, followed by a party that went on into the wee hours.

[Katzpur]

Báb, the Gate. The title assumed by Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, and Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Born in shiráz on 20 October 1819, Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad was raised by His uncle Hájí Mirzá Siyyid 'Ali, a merchant. As a child, He showed uncommon wisdom, although He received little formal schooling. He became a merchant and earned a high reputation for fairness. In 1842 He married Khadíjih-Bagum and they had one son, Ahmad, who died in infancy. On May 23, 1844, He announced Himself to be the Báb, or "Gate of God" to the Shaykhí disciple Mullá Hussayn-i-Bushrú'í, the first of eighteen individuals who sought and discovered the Báb.
The Báb proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam, the Qá'ím, and said that the Mission of His Dispensation was to alert the people to the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God awaited by all the peoples of the world.
As the Báb gained followers, His doctrines inflamed the Shí'ih clergy, who determined to stamp out the new faith. Muhammad Sháh's Grand Vazier, Hájí Mírzá Aqásí, imprisoned the Báb in the fortress of Máh-Kú, then, when sympathy for Him spread there, moved Him to Chihríq. In 1848 the Báb was subjected to a trial before a Muslim divines of Tabríz and punishment by bastinado. While the Báb was imprisoned, a group of Bábís met at the Conference of Badasht. It was here that Táhirih boldly exemplified the break with Islám by appearing unveiled in public and that Bahá'u'lláh demonstrated His leadership.
The Báb's followers were subjected to swift and savage persecution at the hands of the dominant Muslim clergy, along with the forces of the Persian government throughout the country, notably in Mázindarán at the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí, Zanján, Nayríz and Tihrán. On July 9, 1850 the Báb was brought before a firing squad in the barracks square of Tabríz, along with a young follower. Some 20,000 of His followers perished in a series of massacres throughout Persia. His remains were hidden by His followers and in 1899 transferred to Palestine where in 1909 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself interred them in the sepulchre on Mount Carmel known as the Shrine of the Bab. Today, the majestic building with the golden dome, overlooking the Bay of Haifa, Israel, and set amidst beautiful gardens, is the Shrine where the Báb's earthly remains are entombed. Bahá'ís revere the Báb as the Forerunner or Herald of Bahá'u'lláh, but also as a Manifestation of God in His own right, considering His Writings to be Holy Scripture. The beginning of the Bahá'í Era is dated from the day of His declaration. The Declaration of the Báb, His birth and the day of His Martyrdom are observed as Bahá'í Holy Days on which work is suspended.

Fascinating stuff! I didn't know any of this before now. I appreciate your posting it.

[arthra]

Thanks for your kind post Katspur!

Booko,

Yes well my community had their observance last night actually even though it should have been the evening before..but we got together anyway and one of the members of our community is something of an architect although not licensed as such and made a scale model of the Shrine of the Bab as it appears on Mount Carmel... It was really impressive and may attract attention in the future as we hope to display it publically.

Another Baha'i wants to teach us Farsi and was quoting Hafiz to me...another interesting thing he said was that the writings of Rumi are a kind of encyclopaedia of the BIbe and the Qur'an... very interesting. I will have to learn more!

- Art

[Booko]

Originally Posted by arthra

Thanks for your kind post Katspur!

Booko,

Yes well my community had their observance last night actually even though it should have been the evening before..

Yeah, we did too, but we started before sunset at least.

but we got together anyway and one of the members of our community is something of an architect although not licensed as such and made a scale model of the Shrine of the Bab as it appears on Mount Carmel... It was really impressive and may attract attention in the future as we hope to display it publically.

Sounds very neat. I'd love to have seen it, since I've done a few scale models before.

Another Baha'i wants to teach us Farsi and was quoting Hafiz to me...another interesting thing he said was that the writings of Rumi are a kind of encyclopaedia of the BIbe and the Qur'an... very interesting. I will have to learn more!

My son is very interested in linguistics, and last night a couple of the college students were there -- one is studying linguistics, and the other Japenese (the 2 things he want's to do as much as Physics), so I hardly saw him at all.

Yup, and we did some of that too!

[arthra]

I found this Youtube about the Bab and wanted to share it:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gLX6-021EWU