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laws and principles. In revealing his new code of laws (called the Bayán), the Báb pursued three major goals: (1) paving the way for the advent of the Promised One; (2) provoking the clerical establishment and shattering the foundations of their often-abused institutionalized authority; and (3) proving the independence of his own religion as distinct from Islam. Soon after the Báb publicly proclaimed his pro- phetic mission beginning on the evening of May 22, 1844, the Islamic government then in power in Persia began to suppress the movement and violence ensued. The Báb was arrested and executed by a firing squad of 750 musketeers on July 9, 1850, in Tabríz, Persia. See also: Baha’i Faith; Bahá’u’lláh; Subsequent to an unauthorized and ill-fated attempt of Bahá’u’lláh; Temples—Baha’i Faith. on the life of the shah of Persia in 1852, the dered the most brutal tortures and deaths of a great number of Bábís, with estimates ranging from around 5,000 to 20,000 martyrs. In the fall of 1852, in the wake of the Báb’s exe- cution, Bahá’u’lláh was imprisoned in the notorious Siyáh-Chál (Black Pit), during which time he experi- enced a series of visions that awakened him to his pro- phetic destiny. He was released, but banished—exiled successively to Baghdad (1853–1863), Constantino- ple/Istanbul (1863), Adrianople/Edirne (1863–1868), and finally to the prison-city of ‘Akká, considered the vilest penal colony of the Ottoman Empire. In 1892, Bahá’u’lláh passed away in Bahjí, near ‘Akká in Pal- estine (now Israel). In his article on “Bábism” published that same year, Professor Browne wrote: “I say nothing of the mighty influence which, as I believe, the Bábí faith will exert in the future, nor of the new life it may per- chance breathe into a dead people; for, whether it suc- ceed or fail, the splendid heroism of the Bábí martyrs is a thing eternal and indestructible.” The “Bábí faith” that Browne spoke of evolved into the Baha’i Faith, which has since spread worldwide to become the most widely diffused world religion next to Christianity, cording to the 2001 World Christian Encyclopedia. Today, Baha’is accept the Báb as a John the Baptist figure, whose words and actions heralded the Bahá’u’lláh. However, unlike John the Baptist, the Báb revealed much in substance, both in terms of doctrine and religious laws, that was subsequently revoiced and reenacted, with certain revisions, by Bahá’u’lláh. The Báb did not instruct his followers to formally observe the day of his birth; however, for that occa- sion, Bahá’u’lláh had revealed the Lawh-i Mawlúd, which awaits an authorized translation. Today, Baha’is worldwide annually celebrate the birth of the Báb on October 20 as a holy day, with work and school suspended for the day. There being no required obser- vances, Baha’is are free to creatively organize com- memorative activities which, although attended mostly by Baha’is, are open to people of all faiths and persuasions. J. Gordon Melton and Christopher Buck Birth/Ascension shah or- References Bahá’u’lláh et al. Twin Holy Days: Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh, Birthday of the Báb: A Compilation. Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 1995. Browne, Edward G. “Bábism.” In Religious Systems of the World: A Contribution to the Study of Comparative Religion, edited by William Sheow- ring and Conrad W. Thies, 333–353. London: Swann Sonnenschein, 1892. Eschraghi, Armin. “‘Undermining the Foundations of Orthodoxy’: Some Notes on the Báb’s Shar’ah (Sacred Law).” In A Most Noble Pattern: Essays in the Study of the Writings of the Báb, edited by Todd Lawson. Oxford: George Ronald, forthcoming. Keil, Gerald. Time and the Baha’i Era: A Study of the Badí’ Calendar. Oxford: George Ronald, 2008. Saiedi, Nader. Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2008. Walbridge, John. “The Birthday of the Báb.” In Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time, 217– 218. Oxford: George Ronald, 1996. ac- Birth/Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh arrival of The Baha’i Faith was founded by Mírzá Husayn-’Alí Núrí, known by his spiritual title, Bahá’u’lláh (1817– 1892), and by Sayyid ‘Alí-Muhammad of Shíráz (1819–1850), better known as the Báb (the “Gate”),

who claimed to be the Qá’im (Ariser/Resurrector), the on the evening of May 22, 1844 (but is dated May 23 messianic figure expected in Shia Islam, the majority since, in the Baha’i calendar, the new day begins at faith in Iran. Throughout his six-year ministry, the Báb sunset the previous day). heralded “Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest,” The birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh fall on whose advent was imminent. Most of the Bábís (fol- two consecutive days in the Islamic lunar calendar. “The lowers of the Báb) came to accept Bahá’u’lláh as that Birth of the Abhá Beauty [Bahá’u’lláh],” Bahá’u’lláh messianic figure. Most current Baha’i laws, in fact, wrote, “was at the hour of dawn on the second day of were originally instituted by the Báb and were subse- the month of Muharram, the first day of which mar- quently selectively ratified and revised by Bahá’u’lláh keth the Birth of His Herald [the Báb]. These two days and set forth in the preeminent Baha’i scripture, The are accounted as one in the sight of God.” The expla- Most Holy Book (Kitáb-i-Aqdas). The birth of nation for this statement is that, in the Muslim lunar Bahá’u’lláh and the birth of the Báb are therefore calendar, the birth of the Báb was on the first day of closely linked. the month of Muharram 1235 AH (October 20, 1819), Bahá’u’lláh was born on November 12, 1817, in while the birth of Bahá’u’lláh took place on the sec- Tehran, Persia (now Iran). As a young nobleman, he ond day of Muharram 1233 AH (November 12, 1817). became a prominent figure in the Bábí religion. In While the present Baha’i calendar (of 19 months 1852, while in prison during the unrest that followed of 19 days, plus intercalary days) is solar and roughly the Báb’s execution in 1850, Bahá’u’lláh experienced conforms to the Common Ear calendar), Baha’is in a series of visions and accepted his role as the Prom- many countries of the Middle East observe these two ised One foretold by the Báb and in the messianic texts Baha’i Holy Days according to the country’s Islamic of all religions. lunar calendar (which is incidentally how they were By imperial decree, Bahá’u’lláh was subsequently observed by Bahá’u’lláh himself), while Baha’is of exiled to Baghdad (1853–1863), to Istanbul (1863), to the West and elsewhere (such as among the Baha’is in Adrianople (1863–1868), then to ‘Akká (Acre) in Pal- Syria and Lebanon) celebrate these occasions by their estine (1868–1892), where he would spend the rest of corresponding Common Era calendar dates. In the fu- his life in custody, although the last years were in rela- ture, the Universal House of Justice (the institution that tive comfort under house arrest. Bahá’u’lláh died on guides the Baha’i community internationally) will de- May 29, 1892, in Bahji, Palestine. Today, members of termine whether these “Twin Days” will be celebrated the global Baha’i Faith commemorate both Bahá’u’lláh’s on a solar or lunar basis. birth and ascension. There is no prescribed ceremony or service for As the co-founders of the Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u’lláh celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh. and his predecessor, the Báb, are often referred to But it is common for Baha’is to meet together for col- as the “Twin Manifestations,” and the occasions of lective worship and fellowship, often through devo- their respective births are similarly called the “Twin tional meetings or musical programs. These programs Birthdays.” are open to all to would like to attend. In the Most Holy Book (Kitáb-i-Aqdas), Bahá’u’lláh The birth and ascension of Bahá’u’lláh are consid- established four great festivals of the Baha’i year: “All ered major holy days, during which work is suspended Feasts have attained their consummation in the two as well as school activities. Most Great Festivals, and in the two other Festivals Bahá’u’lláh passed away at 3:00 a.m. on May 29, that fall on the twin days.” The “two Most Great Festi- 1892, in Bahjí, near ‘Akká, in Palestine (now Israel). vals” are the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh (known as the A telegram bearing the news, “The Sun of Bahá’ has Festival of Ridván [Paradise]) from April 21 to May 2 set,” was immediately dispatched to Ottoman Sultan (commemorating Bahá’u’lláh’s initial proclamation of Abdul-Hamíd II (r. 1876–1909), with a request for his prophetic mission in Baghdad, April 21–May 2, permission to bury Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí, which was 1863), and the Declaration of the Báb, which occurred granted. After the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, his eldest

son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844–1921), was appointed, pur- Momen, Moojan. Bahá’u’lláh: A Short Biography. suant to Bahá’u’lláh’s will and testament and to provi- Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2007. sions of the Most Holy Book, as the appointed “Centre Walbridge, John. “The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh.” of the Covenant” (successor to Bahá’u’lláh), as the In Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time, perfect exemplar of Baha’i ethics and virtues, and as 242–244. Oxford: George Ronald, 1996. the infallible expounder of his father’s teachings. Walbridge, John. “The Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh.” Local Baha’i communities worldwide will there- In Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time, fore gather at that time (3:00 a.m.) to commemorate 231–232. Oxford: George Ronald, 1996. their founder with Baha’i prayers and scriptures, usu- ally culminating in the chanting in Arabic, or recita- tion in translation, of what is known as the “Tablet of Blavatsky, Helena P. Visitation,” a special prayer reserved for the com- 1831–1891 memoration of the Báb as well as Bahá’u’lláh. Some Baha’is arrange, through the Office of Pilgrimage at Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, usually called simply the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, to schedule Madam Blavatsky or her initials, H.P.B., was the pri- their pilgrimages around the time of the birth or ascen- mary theoretician of the Theosophical Society, co- sion of Bahá’u’lláh. founded by herself, Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), During their pilgrimage, Baha’is visit the shrine and William Quan Judge (1851–1896) in New York of the Báb in Haifa, and the shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in City in 1875. The Theosophical Society went on to Bahjí, near Acre, where Bahá’u’lláh lived the last years become one of the most influential Western Esoteric of his life. (On July 8, 2008, the UN Educational, Sci- organizations of the 20th century. It facilitated the entific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] World movement of Eastern religions to the West and gave Heritage Committee designated the shrine of the Báb birth to numerous additional Esoteric groups. on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, and the shrine of Blavatsky was born Helena Hahn, July 30, 1832, Bahá’u’lláh, located near Old Acre on Israel’s north- in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk), Ukraine. She ern coast as World Heritage sites—the first modern grew up in an affluent Russian family and came of age religious edifices to be added to the UNESCO List.) A as Spiritualism was spreading through segments of large gathering was held there in 1992 on the cente- Russian society. As a teenager, she was involved in nary of Bahá’u’lláh’s passing, following which the various spiritual experiences, including automatic writ- Universal House of Justice, the international govern- ing. Her teen years were spent with her grandfather ing body of the global Baha’i community, declared the who provided a home following her mother’s death in period from April 1992 to April 1993 as the second 1843. She was but 16 when she married a much older “Baha’i Holy Year” to mark both the centenary itself man, General N. V. Blavatsky. The marriage proved an and the inauguration of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh in unhappy experience for the young woman, and aban- November 1892. doning her husband, she moved to Constantinople. She J. Gordon Melton and Christopher Buck stayed in Turkey only a relatively short time. She pre- ferred travel and took the opportunity to roam through See also: Baha’i Faith; Bahá’u’lláh; Birth of the Báb; Asia and Europe. She traveled around the world twice Pilgrimage; Temples—Baha’i Faith. during the 1850s, and in 1856, while in India, made a References clandestine attempt to get into Tibet, then forbidden Bahá’u’lláh et al. Twin Holy Days: Birthday of territory to outsiders. Whether she succeeded in her Bahá’u’lláh, Birthday of the Báb: A Compilation. quest remains a debatable topic. In any case, investi- Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 1995. gating paranormal phenomena during her travels oc- Keil, Gerald. Time and the Baha’i Era: A Study of the cupied much of her time. She became a medium and in Badí’ Calendar. Oxford: George Ronald, 2008. 1871, in Cairo, she founded a Spiritualist society. The