BaB

Bab is a term with multiple meanings and uses in Persian and Arabic. In everyday usage, Bab simply means gate or door and appears in numerous toponyms and place-names across the Middle East and Central Asia. Historic gates in cities such as Sana’a and Cairo retain the word in their names, and Bab features widely in street, district, and landmark designations, signaling an entrance or threshold.

In religious history, The Báb (often written Báb) is a title meaning "the Gate" in Arabic and Persian. It refers to Siyyid ʿAlí Muḥammad Shirází (1819–1850), the central figure of the Bábí Faith and a forerunner to the Bahá’í Faith. In 1844 he proclaimed a new revelation in Shiraz and founded the Bábí movement, teaching that God would soon send a greater Manifestation of God. The Báb's writings and ministry attracted thousands but sparked a violent suppression by authorities. He was executed in 1850, an event that helped propel the Bábí movement toward its later evolution into the Bahá’í Faith.

In Bahá’í teachings the Báb is regarded as a Manifestation of God and the herald of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. His life and message are cited as foundational to concepts of progressive revelation, unity of humanity, and social reform that Bahá’ís emphasize today. Beyond religion, the word Bab continues to appear in place-names and architectural terms as a historical reminder of threshold and access.