Bábís

The Bábís, or Bábí Faith, were followers of the Báb, a 19th‑century religious reform movement that arose in Persia (modern Iran) and spread to surrounding regions. The Báb, born Siyyid ʿAlí Muḥammad, proclaimed in 1844 that he was a herald preparing the way for a greater Manifestation of God and called for moral renewal, justice, and the abolition of certain clerical privileges. The movement grew rapidly despite strong opposition from the Persian authorities and clergy.

Beliefs and scriptures: Bábí teaching emphasized the unity of God, the divinity of successive Messengers, and the need for personal responsibility and independent investigation of truth. Central texts include the Bayán, in Persian and Arabic, which set forth laws, ethics, and expectations of a forthcoming Prophet who would complete and establish the revealed order. The Báb is regarded by adherents as a forerunner to the promised divine Revelation.

History and development: The Bábí movement faced severe persecution in Iran during the 1840s and 1850s. Many adherents were imprisoned or killed; the Báb himself was executed in 1850. After the Báb’s death, various Bábí communities persisted, some aligning with a later revelation proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.

Legacy: In the 1860s, Bahá’u’lláh, who had been a Bábí follower, declared his own revelation and founded the Bahá’í Faith. The Bahá’í Faith absorbed most Bábí adherents into a larger, global religion. Today, the term Bábí typically refers to the early followers and the movement preceding the Bahá’í Faith.