Martyrdom of the Bab

On July 9, Bahá’ís celebrate the Martyrdom of the Bab from the evening until July 10. This holiday was established in memory of the execution of one of the founders of the Baha’i faith. During the holy day, believers suspend work and study.

History

On July 9, 1850, the 30-year-old Báb was accused of apostasy and sentenced to death by firing squad on the orders of the Prime Minister of the Persian Empire. Apostasy means giving up one’s religious faith. There are many mysteries and speculations around the execution of the Báb. Some reports state that the Báb was executed along with one of his companions by being hung from a wall, then they were shot. When the smoke from the shots cleared, the executed man was not at the wall. According to rumors, he was found in the prison room, busy dictating to his secretary. According to some stories, the Báb survived the first execution but was killed during the second attempt.

After his death, his body was transported by his followers to different places in order to avoid desecration of the remains. He was finally buried in the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa.

Interesting facts

• In 1844, the Báb declared himself a Gate, claiming to be a Messenger;
• Mirza Mihdi Khan Zaimud-Daulih published The Key to the Gates of the Gate in 1896, where he spoke in detail about the execution;
• In 1909, the remains of the Báb were moved to a tomb.

How to take part

To celebrate Martyrdom of the Bab, you need to learn more about the ancient belief of the Bahá’ís. There are many adherents of this pre-Islamic religion in the world, even in the USA. You can visit your local Baha’i center and interact with the people who regularly attend. In addition, you can personally observe the religious practices of the Baha’is, the various rites in the Baha’i temple, which is easy to find using a search engine.

When is Martyrdom of the Bab celebrated in 2024?

Martyrdom of the Bab is observed on July 9 each year.

Observations