Tonight, May 23rd, marks the beginning of the Bahá'í holy day of the declaration of the Báb, who is viewed as a Messenger of God. The Báb, previously known as Siyyid Ali-Muhammad, was born on October 20, 1918, in Shiraz, Iran. He was the founder of Bábism, and one of the central figures of the Bahá'í Faith.
On May 22nd, 1844, at the age of twenty-four, he claimed to be a messenger of God and took the name “Báb”. In Arabic, "báb" means “gate” or “door”, and this name is thought to emphasize his role as the portal through which the revelation of God would enter. The Báb served as a herald for Bahá’u’lláh, the central prophet of the Baha’i faith.
Bahá'ís around the world will celebrate with prayers, storytelling, and reflection until the evening of May 24th.
Pictured above is the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa!
