SILENCE STARTED CREEPING ON US

Shrine of Bab     The writings of the Bab were voluminous (very lengthy and detailed), and the rapidity with which, without study or premeditation. He composed elaborate commentaries, profound expositions (intense explanation of an idea or theory) or eloquent prayers, was regarded as one of the proofs of His divine inspiration.     The purport (intention) of His writings has been summarized as follows:-         " Some of these (the Bab's writings) were commentaries on, and interpretations of, the verses of the Qur'an; some were prayers, homilies (a religious discourse which is intended primarily of spiritual intellectual instructions rather than doctrinal instruction), and hints of (the true significance of certain) passages; others were exhortations, admonitions (firm warning), dissertations (long essay) on the different branches of the doctrine of the Divine Unity..... encouragements to amendment of character, severance (disconnect) from worldly...

Bahai house of worship at Germany       After the Bab's martyrdom, His remains, with those of His devoted companion (Aqa Muhammad 'Ali), were thrown on the edge of the moat (a deep, wide ditch typically filled with water and intended as a defence against attack) outside the city wall. On the second night they were rescued at midnight by some of the Babis, and after being concealed for years in secret depositories in Persia, were ultimately brought, with great danger and difficulty, to the Holy Land. There they are now interred (buried) in a tomb beautifully situated on the slope of Mount Carmel, not far from the Cave of Elijah (where the prophet Elijah took shelter during a journey into the wilderness written in the Hebrew (is one of the old language spoken in ancient Israel which is an example of revived dead language) Bible), and only a few miles from the spot where Baha'u'llah spent his last years and where His remains now lie. Among the thousands of pilgrims from al...

Bahai house of worship at Samoa a country in Oceania     On the 9th of July 1850 (Friday, 28th Sha'ban, 1266 A.H.), the Bab Himself, who was then in His thirty-first year, fell a victim to the fanatical fury (extreme wild and violent anger) of His persecutors. With a devoted young follower named Aqa Muhammad 'Ali, who had passionately begged to be allowed to share His martyrdom, He was led to the scaffold (a raised wooden platform used formerly for public execution of people) in the old barrack square (a drilled ground) of Tabriz (most populated city in northwest Iran). About 2 hours before noon the two were suspended by ropes under their armpits in such a way that the head of Muhammad 'Ali rested against the breast of his beloved Master. A regiment (permanent unit of an Army) of Armenian soldiers was drawn up and received the order to fire. Promptly (with no delay) the volleys (number of bullets) rang out, but when the smoke cleared, it was found that the Bab and His compa...

Bahai House of Worship at Colombia.          In consequence of these declarations of the Bab and the alarming rapidity with which people of all classes, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were eagerly responding to His teaching, attempts at suppression became more and more ruthless and determined. Houses were pillaged (robbery with violence) and destroyed. Women were seized and carried off. In Tihran, Fars, Mazindaran, and other places great numbers of the believers were put to death. Many were beheaded (execute by cutting off ones head), hanged, blown from the mouths of cannon, burned or chopped to pieces. Despite all attempts at repression (suppression), however, the movement progressed. Nay (or rather), through this very oppression the assurance of the believers increased, for thereby many of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Mihdi were literally fulfilled. Thus in a tradition recorded by Jabir, which the Shi'ihs regard as authentic (genuine), we...

Bahai house of worship at Panama.          The hostility (opposition) aroused by the claim of Babhood was redoubled when the young reformer proceeded to declare that He was Himself Mihdi/Mahdi (in popular Muslim belief, a spiritual leader who will rule before the end of the world and restore religion and justice) whose coming Muhammad had foretold. The Shi'ihs identified this Mihdi with the 12th Imam ( The Imam of the Shi'ihs is the divinely ordained successor of the Prophet whom all the faithful must obey. Eleven persons successively held the office of Imam, the first being 'Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. The majority of the Shi'ihs hold that the 12th Imam, called by them the Imam Mihdi, disappeared as a child into an underground passage in A.H. 329, and that in the fullness of time he will come forth, overthrow the infidels (unbelievers) and inaugurate an era of blessedness) who, according to their beliefs, had mysteriously disappeared from the...

Bahai house of worship at Santiago, Chile.     The first 18 disciples of the Bab (with Himself as 19th) became known as "LETTERS OF THE LIVING." These disciples He sent to different parts of Persia and Turkistan to spread the news of His advent. Meantime He Himself set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where He arrived in December 1844, and there openly declared His mission. On his return to Bushihr(City in Iran) great excitement was caused by the announcement of His Babhood. The first of His eloquence (powerful speech), the wonder of His rapid and inspired writings, His extraordinary wisdom and knowledge, His courage and zeal(energy) as a reformer, aroused the greatest enthusiasm among His followers, but excited a corresponding degree of alarm and enmity among the orthodox Muslims. The Shi'ih doctors vehemently (forcefully) denounced (criticized and attacked) Him, and persuaded the Governor of Fars(Governor of Fars Province in Iran), named Husayn Khan, a fanatica...

Bahai house of worship at Papua New Guinea