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Execution of the Báb

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On the morning of July 9, 1850 in Tabriz, a 30-year-old Persian merchant known as the Báb was charged with apostasy and shot by order of the Prime Minister of the Persian Empire.[1] The events surrounding his execution have been the subject of controversy among researchers, and are regarded as miraculous by followers of the Baháʼí Faith, who consider him to be a Manifestation of God.[2]

The Báb and one of his companions were suspended on a wall and a large firing squad prepared to shoot. When the smoke cleared after the first firing of bullets, the Báb was missing. Reports continue by stating that the Báb was found back in his prison room finishing dictation to his secretary.[3] Other sources, which include Persian and European reports, give a variety of accounts, some in agreement with the miracle-like Baháʼí story, and some indicating a less miraculous event. All agree that he survived the first firing squad, and was killed by the second.[1]

For many years after his death, the remains of the Báb were secretly transferred from place to place until they were brought to their final resting place at the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa on the middle terrace of the Baháʼí Gardens.[4]

The anniversary of this event is commemorated by members of the Baháʼí Faith at noon on Rahmat 16 (Sharaf) (of the Baháʼí calendar - i.e., July 9 or July 10). It is one of nine Holy Days when work is suspended.[5]

Execution order

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In 1850 a new prime-minister, Amir Kabir,[6] ordered the execution of the Báb; he was brought to Tabriz, where he would be killed by a firing squad. The night before his execution, as he was being conducted to his cell, a young man, Anís (sometimes called Mulla Muhammad Ali), threw himself at the feet of the Báb, wanting to be killed with the Báb. He was immediately arrested and placed in the same cell as the Báb.[3]

On the morning of July 9, 1850, the Báb was taken to the Tabriz courtyard filled with nearly ten thousand people wishing to watch his execution. The Báb and Anís were suspended on a wall and the firing squad of 750 rifles prepared to shoot.[7]

Baháʼí account

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Hasan M. Balyuzi, a prominent Iranian member of the Baháʼí Faith, gives a Baháʼíst account of the event in his biography of the Báb. Sam Khan, who bore no ill will toward the Báb, was ordered to carry out the execution. The Báb and his disciple were suspended from a wall by ropes from a nail and then fired upon by 750 troops from Sam Khan's Armenian regiment. When the gun smoke cleared, the Báb was missing and the disciple remained unharmed. The Báb was found in the room he had been housed in the night; he was finishing a conversation with his assistant that had been interrupted earlier in the day. After the conversation was complete, the Báb invited the farrash-bashi (attendant or footman) to carry out the execution; the terrified farrash-bashi abandoned their post instead. Sam Khan considered his duty fulfilled and refused to try again. A new firing squad was formed by Aqa Jan Khan-i-Khamsih's Nasiri regiment. The second execution attempt, with the Báb and his disciple suspended from the wall again, was successful.[3]

Observances

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Martyrdom of the Báb
Observed byBaháʼí Faith
TypeReligious
Date9 or 10 July
Frequencyannual

Báb is regarded a martyr by the followers of the Baháʼí Faith, and his execution anniversary on Baháʼí calendar is annually observed. The day correspondins to 9 or 10 July on the international Gregorian calendar.

Holy Days of the Baháʼí calendar[8]
Year Naw-Rúz 1st day of Ridván 9th day of Ridván 12th day of Ridván Declaration of the Báb Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Martyrdom of the Báb Birth of the Báb Birth of Bahá'u'lláh Day of the Covenant Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
2022 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 26 Oct 27 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2023 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 16 Oct 17 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2024 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 2 Nov 3 Nov 25 Nov 27 Nov
2025 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 22 Oct 23 Oct 25 Nov 27 Nov
2026 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 10 Nov 11 Nov 26 Nov 28 Nov
2027 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 30 Oct 31 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2028 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 19 Oct 20 Oct 25 Nov 27 Nov
2029 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 7 Nov 8 Nov 25 Nov 27 Nov


Western accounts

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These events were recorded by western sources. Provided below is one source that is attributed to Sir Justin Sheil, Queen Victoria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran and written to Lord Palmerston, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, July 22, 1850. Note that this source does not claim to be an eyewitness account. [9][10]

The founder of the sect has been executed at Tabreez. He was killed by a volley of musketry, and his death was on the point of giving his religion a lustre which would have largely increased his proselytes. When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Báb was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies. The balls had broken the ropes by which he was bound, but he was dragged from the recess where after some search he was discovered and shot. His death, according to the belief of his disciples, will make no difference as Báb must always exist.

— Sir Justin Sheil, [9][11]

Shoghi Effendi also prints a large selection of western quotes in his book God Passes By (p. 55), however most are unsourced.[12]

Mírzá Mihdí Khán Zaímu'd-Dawlih

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Mírzá Mihdí Khán Zaímu'd-Dawlih was the son of a Shiʻite cleric who was present at the execution of the Báb and who took his son to the barracks square to review the events he witnessed. Zaímu'd-Dawlih recounted his father's version in a book, Miftáh-i-Bábu'l-Abváb ya Taríkh-i-Báb va Bahá (Key to the Gate of Gates, or the History of the Báb and Bahá), published about A.H. 1310 (about 1896). The work is a polemically anti-Baháʼí book. But the account of the execution (which is lengthy) includes the following details:[13]

1. The Báb and Anís were suspended about three meters (10') above the ground on a rope and fired on by a Christian regiment.
2. The bullets cut the rope and one bullet wounded Anís.
3. The Báb ran into one of the rooms in the barracks.
4. The Báb was brought back out and he and Anís were shot again, this time fatally.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b MacEoin, Denis (1989). "Bāb, Sayyed ʻAli Mohammad Sirazi". Encyclopædia Iranica.
  2. ^ Winters, Jonah (1997-09-19). "Background to Babism: A brief epitome of Babi history". Dying for God: Martyrdom in the Shii and Babi Religions. M.A. Thesis: University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  3. ^ a b c Balyuzi, H.M. (1973). The Báb: The Herald of the Day of Days. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 154–161. ISBN 0-85398-048-9.
  4. ^ Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. pp. 273–289. ISBN 0-87743-020-9.
  5. ^ Buck, Christopher (2011). Martyrdom of the Báb (July 9), in Religious Celebrations, pp. 73-76. Santa Barbara, CA. ABC-CLIO.
  6. ^ Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. p. 52. ISBN 0-87743-020-9.
  7. ^ Sears, W. (1995). Release the Sun. USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. p. 175. ISBN 0-87743-003-9.
  8. ^ Universal House of Justice (2014-07-10). "Regarding the Implementation of the Badi` Calendar". Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  9. ^ a b Sir Justin Sheil, Queen Victoria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran, wrote to Lord Palmerston, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on July 22, 1850 regarding the execution. The letter can be found in its original form as document F.O. 60/152/88 in the archives of the Foreign Office at the Public Records Office in London.
  10. ^ Momen, Moojan, ed. (1981). The Bábí and Baháʼí Religions, 1844-1944 - Some Contemporary Western Accounts. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-102-7.
  11. ^ Ferraby, John (1975). All Things Made New: A Comprehensive Outline of the Baháʼí Faith. Baháʼí Distribution Service. ISBN 81-86953-01-9.
  12. ^ Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. p. 55. ISBN 0-87743-020-9.
  13. ^ Mírzá Mihdí Khán Zaímu'd-Dawlih, extract from Miftah-i-Babu'l-Abvab ya Tarikh-i-Bab va Baha, quoted in Firuz and Kazem Kazemzadeh, "The Báb: Accounts of His Martyrdom," World Order, vol. 8, no. 1 (Fall, 1973), 23-26.

References

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Further reading

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