Imagine if you had been assigned the unpleasant duty of having to execute someone you believed was innocent. Then imagine that, just before you and your regiment of soldiers are about to shoot this condemned person, you confess your feelings to the prisoner that you don't want to carry out your task. He says to you: "Follow your instructions, and if your intention be sincere, the Almighty is surely able to relieve you from your perplexity." The prisoner is suspended to a wall together with another of his friends. With a crowd of about 10,000 people watching, you and 750 soldiers fire your rifles at the prisoners, and a huge cloud of smoke darkens the scene. When the smoke finally clears, everyone sees that the bullets have shattered the ropes holding the prisoners in place, one of them is alive, and the other has vanished from the scene. What would you do?
This is exactly the dilemma that faced Sam Khan, an army commander, in Tabriz, Persia on July 9, 1850. His response, and that of his entire regiment, was to immediately quit their jobs. The prisoner that Sam Khan had confessed his reluctance to execute was Siyyid Ali Muhammad, also known as "The Bab" or "The Gate," who had been condemned to die because he claimed to have brought a new message from the Creator to humanity. He was one of two Founders of the Baha'i Faith.
The barrack wall in Tabriz where the Bab was suspended to be shot.
The pillar on the right with an x shows where he was tied.
Just before the Bab was taken from his prison cell to be executed, he was in the middle of a conversation with his secretary. The head attendant of the prison came to escort him to be executed, interrupting the conversation. As he was being taken out, the Bab said to the prison official: "Not until I have said to him (the secretary) all those things that I wish to say, can any earthly power silence me." After the shots were fired and the ropes cut, he was eventually found back in the same prison cell calmly continuing the conversation with his secretary. He said to the same prison official who located him back in the cell: "I have finished my conversation. You may now proceed to fulfill your intention." Like Sam Khan, the official was so shaken that he immediately resigned his post.
An entirely new commander and regiment of soldiers was found and asked to try the execution again. Despite the events of the past hour or so, this commander had none of the same reservations as Sam Khan. This time, after the smoke cleared, it was clear that the bullets hit their target and the bodies of both prisoners had been melded into a single pile of flesh, with their faces intact. After this, a gale of exceptional severity swept over the city of Tabriz, and a whirlwind of dust obscured the light of the sun from noon until dusk. The bodies were dumped by the edge of a moat on the outskirts of the city, and were retrieved in the middle of the second night after the execution by some bereaved followers of the Bab despite armed guards having been assigned to watch the remains.
The bodies were hidden and transferred from place to place, until they were finally interred many years later in what is now Haifa, Israel. The contrast is striking: the remains that were harshly dumped by the edge of a moat outside of what is now Tabriz, Iran, became the center of a beautiful Shrine in Haifa, Israel, that is a world heritage site and a recognized symbol of the beauty that is the Holy Land.
The Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel
The second regiment of soldiers that carried out the execution were themselves soon all killed -- some because a wall collapsed on them during an earthquake, and the rest executed by firing squad for mutiny. The teachings of the Bab quickly spread around the world, and the dramatic circumstances of his death inspired many. For example, a Russian poet wrote a drama which was published in the major cities of Europe early in the 20th century and influenced Leo Tolstoy to become more familiar with the Bab's teachings. Another recent example is Grant Hindin Miller, a musician in New Zealand, who has written a beautiful song from the perspective of the mud on the bricks of the city of Tabriz, "dumb with despair" at the tragic event that stained the name of the city forever.
On July 9 this year, some 5 million members of the Baha'i community around the world will commemorate the Bab's last earthly moments with programs of prayers and readings. Anyone wishing to learn more about these dramatic events or the teachings of the Bab is most welcome to attend by contacting the Baha'is in your area.
Check out Baha'i gardens from around the world...
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One hundred years ago the "unsinkable" Titanic sank into the North Atlantic. The tragedy has made for some epic storytelling. One of the most extraordinary stories is that of a 68-year-old Persian who wasn't, it turns out, actually on the ill-fated vessel, but was supposed to be.
Political civility is not about being polite to each other. It's about reclaiming the power of "We the People" to come together, debate the common good and call American democracy back to its highest values amid our differences.
While in prison, I once had the extraordinary experience of meeting Fariba Kamalabadi. During that brief encounter I wasn't able to learn any of the specifics of Fariba's detention. When I was later released and did some research, I was astounded by Fariba's kindness and bravery that day.
On the night of May 22 this year, Baha'is around the world will hold celebrations to mark the 168th anniversary of that first evening in Shiraz when their Faith began.
Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice will take any decision according to its own concepts and opinions. God forbid! The Supreme House of Justice will take decisions and establish laws through the inspiration and confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
Baha'u'llah proclaims: "The Holy Spirit Itself hath been generated through the agency of a single letter revealed by this Most Great Spirit, if ye be of them that comprehend."
bahaiscience: Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice
“The cruelties inflicted by My oppressors have bowed Me down, and turned My hair white. Shouldst thou present thyself before My throne, thou wouldst fail to recognize the __Ancient_Beauty_, for the freshness of His countenance is altered and its brightness hath faded, by reason of the oppression of the infidels."
“Concerning the Manifestations that will come down in the future ‘in the shadows of the clouds,’ know, verily, that in so far as their relation to the Source of their inspiration is concerned, they are under the shadow of the __Ancient_Beauty_."
"In this wondrous Age, at this time when the __Ancient_Beauty_, the Most Great Name, bearing unnumbered gifts, hath risen above the horizon of the world ...."
"Consider these days in which He Who is the__ Ancient_Beauty_ hath come in the Most Great Name, that He may quicken the world and unite its peoples."
“Know verily that the veil hiding Our countenance hath not been completely lifted. We have revealed Our Self to a degree corresponding to the capacity of the people of Our age. Should the __Ancient_Beauty_ be unveiled in the fullness of His glory mortal eyes would be blinded by the dazzling intensity of His revelation.”
"Then will a world civilization be born, flourish, and perpetuate itself, a civilization with a fullness of life such as the world has never seen nor can as yet conceive."
bahaiscience: “The cruelties inflicted by My oppressors have bowed Me down,
Thank you so much for sharing this article. I love to help others investigate truth for themselves and this article helps others to start to do that. Thank you
ruths: Thank you so much for sharing this article. I love
I hereby raise the Cry for the destruction of all religions and faiths. Oh Atheists, Oh Atheists, where are you? Come forth, come forth, free us of slavery, free us from war.
bahaiscience: I hereby raise the Cry for the destruction of all
Are you a marxist, calling for the destruction of all religions? That is not very nice. I believe in religious freedom, the freedom to worship or not worship. After all, one of the religions could be true. Or we will find the true religion after we die, it is a secret before we die.
TomMartin: Are you a marxist, calling for the destruction of all
No that would contradict my desire to live up to the standards and qualification of a Baha'i. All I am saying is that religion must withstand scientific criticism. By turning its back on the scientific method mankind justifies religious persecution.
You are right, Anything is possible really. L. Ron Hubbard and DC Comics, Inc. may be right about dictator Xenu and planet Krypton, as may Richard Dawkins about the all-powerful spaghetti monster. Odin, father of Thor, may be the real ancient Norse God.
bahaiscience: No that would contradict my desire to live up to
Bahá’u’lláh is now summoning humanity to enter on its inheritance: “That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”
I challenge you to debate me
bahaiscience: Bahá’u’lláh is now summoning humanity to enter on its inheritance:
Bahá’u’lláh is now summoning humanity to enter on its inheritance: “That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”
I challenge you to debate me
--------------------------------
How would you prove something like that?
Abdul-Halim_Vazquez: Bahá’u’lláh is now summoning humanity to enter on its inheritance:
Hi! I think it is possible, but we'll need to take a few steps back in the process first. How do we know the Holy Qur'an is true? Is it because so many people follow it, because the miracles can be proven to have actually occurred, because the Qur'an is irreproducible, internal proofs within the Qur'an. Or do you think Islam is true for some people and false for others (i.e. True in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, but not so true in say Ethiopia, Germany, and Thailand -- or True for Muslims and not true for Christians and Hindus)?
bahaiscience: Hi! I think it is possible, but we'll need to
Baha'u'llah Has Appeared, To Abrogate Islam and The Qur'an, the Bible and Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, and to Defeat the powers of Secularism, Materialism, and Greed.
Baha is victorious over all mankind
bahaiscience: Baha'u'llah Has Appeared, To Abrogate Islam and The Qur'an, the
The Baha'i Faith is completely independent of Islam, don't confuse it for one of the 70 Islamic sects. We are kind and loving to all religions, Islam and Muslims are not special. If you attack the Bab again in text, I will immediately defend Him by exposing the violence of your Qur'an and Muhammad.
bahaiscience: Abdul-Halim: > The Baha'i Faith is completely independent of Islam,
No, Abdu'l-Baha would not do that, He was most kind, most gentle. But still, and again, the Baha'i Faith is NOT a sect of Islam. The Qur'an could be false, completely corrupt, and that would not affect the status of the Baha'i Faith. In Fact, if the Baha'i Faith is false, then Islam is false, not the other way around.
bahaiscience: No, Abdu'l-Baha would not do that, He was most kind,
My Tongue is my Sword, my Words are my Weapon, unlike what Islam teaches in the Qur'an. Just because the Qur'an is violent doesn't make it inauthentic or false, as Mr. Abdul Halim seems to imply.
Why doesn't Mr. Abdul Halim instead focus on helping Baha'is attain freedom in Islamic countries instead of quoting from anti-Bahai websites?
bahaiscience: My Tongue is my Sword, my Words are my Weapon,
Different Baha'is have different perceptions, feeling and opinions. One swallow doees not make summer. My humble opinion in this regard is that your perceptions of the Baha'i Faith should be the result of your own independent investigation of the teachings as revealed by Baha'u'llah and the Bab and as interpreted by Abdu'l-Baha and not be clouded by the overzealousness and perceptions of others. Please get a copy of the "Kitab-i-Iqan" and find out what Baha'u'llah Himself says about Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
prsamy: Different Baha'is have different perceptions, feeling and opinions. One swallow
Why don't you take my challenge and have a discussion with me. You are mistaking my KINDNESS for weakness, sir. I am not Weak, I am strong. You are using a very WISE strategy to silence me. But not even all the powers of the earth can Suppress me.
bahaiscience: Why don't you take my challenge and have a discussion
Yes, it's very interesting and fortunate that we have an account of the events by N.H. Anitchkov, Russian Consul in Tabriz at the time (and sent to the Russian Foreigh Ministery on 15 July 1850).
Jelle_NL: Yes, it's very interesting and fortunate that we have an
Aside: Between 2008 and 2011 the Shrine of the Bab underwent extensive restoration work. And that included the replacement of the almost 12,000 gilded tiles that covered its dome. So far the good news. --- The "bad" news is that I can no longer chauvinistically boast about the fact that the gilded tiles have been produced in my country, the Netherlands :)
Jelle_NL: Aside: Between 2008 and 2011 the Shrine of the Bab
Baha'u'llah proclaims: "The Holy Spirit Itself hath been generated through the agency of a single letter revealed by this Most Great Spirit, if ye be of them that comprehend."
“Concerning the Manifestations that will come down in the future ‘in the shadows of the clouds,’ know, verily, that in so far as their relation to the Source of their inspiration is concerned, they are under the shadow of the __Ancient_Beauty_."
"In this wondrous Age, at this time when the __Ancient_Beauty_, the Most Great Name, bearing unnumbered gifts, hath risen above the horizon of the world ...."
"Consider these days in which He Who is the__ Ancient_Beauty_ hath come in the Most Great Name, that He may quicken the world and unite its peoples."
“Know verily that the veil hiding Our countenance hath not been completely lifted. We have revealed Our Self to a degree corresponding to the capacity of the people of Our age. Should the __Ancient_Beauty_ be unveiled in the fullness of His glory mortal eyes would be blinded by the dazzling intensity of His revelation.”
"Then will a world civilization be born, flourish, and perpetuate itself, a civilization with a fullness of life such as the world has never seen nor can as yet conceive."
You are right, Anything is possible really. L. Ron Hubbard and DC Comics, Inc. may be right about dictator Xenu and planet Krypton, as may Richard Dawkins about the all-powerful spaghetti monster. Odin, father of Thor, may be the real ancient Norse God.
I challenge you to debate me
I challenge you to debate me
--------------------------------
How would you prove something like that?
Baha is victorious over all mankind
The Baha'i Faith is completely independent of Islam, don't confuse it for one of the 70 Islamic sects. We are kind and loving to all religions, Islam and Muslims are not special. If you attack the Bab again in text, I will immediately defend Him by exposing the violence of your Qur'an and Muhammad.
Would that be Abdu’l-Baha’s approach? I don’t think so.
Why doesn't Mr. Abdul Halim instead focus on helping Baha'is attain freedom in Islamic countries instead of quoting from anti-Bahai websites?
I thought all you Bahais were peaceful and respectful of all religions. I guess I was mistaken.
---
I see you're a Level 1 Crime Solver...so I'm interested in your opinion.