Báb, Bahá’u’lláh’s Predecessor, but very Different

Then Boshru’i set out for Shiraz and joined ‘`Ali Muhammad Shirázi’ where he could abuse the young man’s naiveté and conceit. He told him “You would soon be a man of great importance” who his master Rashti had informed him. Shirázi might be The Gate. Boshru’i even offered himself to be The Gate of the Gate (the Báb of the Báb), he continued to induce `Ali Muhammad Shirázi until 5 Jumadi I 1260 A.H (A.D 1844), in which Shirázi announced, he is the Gate of Imam Mahdi (he was then 25 years old). During the announcement of `Ali Muhammad Shirázi, 4 others devotees of Rashti, such as Mirza Shafee Tabrizi claimed as the new Gate of Imam Mahdi, but none of them were successful.

Russian Ambassador: the moving force behind the scenes

 Mulla Hussain Boshru’i hastened to announce the manifestation of Báb((a.k.a. Zuhur al-Báb)) to the rest of Rashti’s disciples, also indirectly to announce himself as the Gate of Báb. It was later revealed that one of the moving forces behind the curtain was the Russian ambassador in Tehran. The man who ostensibly accepted Islam, studied Arabic, Persian, and became a regular attendant of Rashti’s lectures. In fact he was implanting the misleading tree in the land of Islamic nation. He played an effective role in managing Sayyid Kazim Rashti and `Ali Muhammad Shirázi and Mirzá Husayn-Ali Núri Mazandarani (Bahá’u’lláh). For more info all readers could refer to memoirs of Kenyaz Dolgoruki.

`Ali Muhammad Shirázi announcing his claim, later repenting away (1st repent)

As mentioned above, through the enticement of Hussain Boshru’i and the machination of Russian spy, Kenyaz Dolgoruki, `Ali Muhammad Shirázi, declared that he was the Gate to the awaited Mahdi on 5 Jumadi I 1260 A.H. Boshru’i started to tell people that he had seen the Báb with his own eyes and called them to follow him, those who followed him were called Bábis. When the number of Bábis reached to nineteen, Báb called them ‘The Living Words'((Horuf-al-Hay)).

He even decided to divide the year into nineteen months, each month including 19 days. He designated the day which he announced his claim -5 Jumadi I 1260 A.H as the beginning of this calendar. After Báb’s claim, the governor of Shiraz had to order a detention for Báb.

However after a slap by the governor, Báb denied his claim and told to governor: “I am not the Báb of Imam Mahdi-Al Montazar…”

Support of Manucher Khan (the governor of Isfahan) – a Russian spy

After a while Báb left Shiraz to Isfahan and under the protection of a Russian spy called Manucher Khan (a Georgian, the governor of Isfahan whom the Russian government had instructed him to accept Islam, the Shah appointed him as the accredited representative of the state in Isfahan), Báb announced his claim again. The government ordered to put him in prison but at the instigation of Kenyaz Dolgoruki, Manucher Khan rather than delivering Báb to prison, took Báb to an unknown palace until Manucher Khan died and Gorgin Khan succeeded him. Gorgin saw the Báb roaming free in the yards of the palace, so he reported to Shah and Báb was exiled to the fort of Maku in Azerbaijan.

Táhirih declared the abrogation and supersession of Islam by the Báb’s faith

During the time Báb was in Maku,  Mirzá Husayn-Ali Núri Mazandarani (who was later entitled as Bahá’u’lláh), Muhammad Ali Barfurushi and Táhirih (Qurat-ul-Ayn) called Babi followers to gather in a conference in Badasht (around the city of Shahrud). The purpose of this conference was ostensibly to devise a way to free Báb from prison but their actual purpose was to announce the repeal of Islam. When a large enough crowd gathered, Qurat-ul-Ayn addressed to them: “You should know the provisions of Muhammad’s law (sharia) have now been repealed by the appearance of Báb”, and called them to obey him. After this summit the Shi’a scholars and the government of Iran became furious, The King asked his crown prince Naser al-Din who was in Tabriz to bring Báb to court of Ulama (clergy) for trial.

Second repent of Báb at the crown prince council

After some ambiguous and foolish talks, all the present people declared that he is a mad person, his feet were tied and after eleven times that he was struck with a rope, he began to repent and wrote a letter to the crown prince revealing his disgust. He declared that he had taken back his claims and repented for his past misdeeds.

Execution of Báb, not because of his belief but because of the wars he created

While Báb was in prison, some Bábis started three evil and bloody wars in Iran, which the total cost of the wars were about half of the cost of Iran’s war with Russia, meaning there was a significant chaos created in the nation. Most of the people were fooled and killed because they thought Báb was the gate of Imam Mahdi!
Therefore the prime minister, Amir Kabir decided to execute Báb for country’s security in Tabriz, this event happened on 28th Shaban, 1266 A.H (9th July 1850). At Báb’s execution, the Russian consul tried to save Báb by offering a large bribe, but he was not successful in this regard, so after execution of Báb the Russian consul took a photograph of the body to send to his government.