Bábí faith
Quick Summary
The Bábí faith is a religion that originated in Iran around 1844. It was founded by Mírzá 'Alí Moḥammad, who claimed to be a báb, meaning "gateway," to divine truth. The Bábí faith emerged from an Islamic context, specifically drawing from Shaykhí beliefs within Shiʿi Islam.12
The Báb declared himself a messenger of God, foretelling the coming of a new prophet who would usher in a new era. This led to significant opposition from the Muslim clergy and government, resulting in the Báb's execution in 1850 and subsequent persecution of his followers.32
A major split occurred within the Bábí movement in 1863 when Mírzá Ḥosayn 'Alí Nuri, known as Baháʼu'lláh, declared himself the prophet foretold by the Báb. Most followers accepted Baháʼu'lláh, forming the Baháʼí Faith, while a minority remained loyal to the Báb's original teachings and his chosen successor, becoming known as Azalís. The Baháʼí Faith emphasizes the unity of religions and humanity.43
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
