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Baha'i
Baha'is around the world will observe the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab on next Saturday July 9th around noon.. Here is a brief summary of what occurred:
Martyrdom of the Bab
On the 9th of July, 1850,+F1 the Bab Himself, Who was then
in His thirty-first year, fell a victim to the fanatical fury of
His persecutors. With a devoted young follower name Aqa
Muhammad Ali, who had passionately begged to be allowed
to share His martyrdom, He was led to the scaffold in the old
barrack square of Tabriz. About two hours before noon the
two were suspended by ropes under their armpits in such a way
that the head of Muhammad Ali rested against the breast of
his beloved Master. A regiment of Armenian soldiers was
drawn up and received the order to fire. Promptly the volleys
rang out, but when the smoke cleared, it was found that the
Bab and His companion were still alive. The bullets had but
severed the ropes by which they were suspended, so that they
dropped to the ground unhurt. The Bab proceeded to a room
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1. Friday, 28th Sha'ban, 1266 A.H.
*18*
nearby, where He was found talking to one of His friends.
About noon they were again suspended. The Armenians, who
considered the result of their volleys a miracle, were unwilling
to fire again, so another regiment of soldiers had been brought
on the scene, who fired when ordered. This time the volleys
took effect. The bodies of both victims were riddled by bullets
and horribly mutilated, although their faces were almost untouched.
By this foul deed the Barrack Square of Tabriz became a
second Calvary. The enemies of the Bab enjoyed a guilty thrill
of triumph, thinking that this hated tree of the Bábí faith was
now severed at the root, and its complete eradication would be
easy! But their triumph was short-lived! They did not realize
that the Tree of Truth cannot be felled by any material ax. Had
they but known, this very crime of theirs was the means of
giving greater vigor to the Cause. The martyrdom of the Bab
fulfilled His own cherished wish and inspired His followers
with increased zeal. Such was the fire of their spiritual enthusiasm
that the bitter winds of persecution but fanned it to a
fiercer blaze: The greater the efforts at extinction, the higher
mounted the flames.
Tomb on Mount Carmel
After the Báb's martyrdom, His remains, with those of His
devoted companion, were thrown on the edge of the moat outside
the city wall. On the second night they were rescued at
midnight by some of the Bábís, and after being concealed for
years in secret depositories in Persia, were ultimately brought,
with great danger and difficulty, to the Holy Land. There they
are now interred in a tomb beautifully situated on the slope of
Mount Carmel, not far from the Cave of Elijah, and only a
few miles from the spot where Bahá'u'lláh spent His last years
and where His remains now lie. Among the thousands of
pilgrims from all parts of the world who come to pay homage
at the Holy Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh, none omit to offer a prayer
also at the shrine of His devoted lover and forerunner, the Bab.
- J. E. Esslemont Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 17
Martyrdom of the Bab
On the 9th of July, 1850,+F1 the Bab Himself, Who was then
in His thirty-first year, fell a victim to the fanatical fury of
His persecutors. With a devoted young follower name Aqa
Muhammad Ali, who had passionately begged to be allowed
to share His martyrdom, He was led to the scaffold in the old
barrack square of Tabriz. About two hours before noon the
two were suspended by ropes under their armpits in such a way
that the head of Muhammad Ali rested against the breast of
his beloved Master. A regiment of Armenian soldiers was
drawn up and received the order to fire. Promptly the volleys
rang out, but when the smoke cleared, it was found that the
Bab and His companion were still alive. The bullets had but
severed the ropes by which they were suspended, so that they
dropped to the ground unhurt. The Bab proceeded to a room
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1. Friday, 28th Sha'ban, 1266 A.H.
*18*
nearby, where He was found talking to one of His friends.
About noon they were again suspended. The Armenians, who
considered the result of their volleys a miracle, were unwilling
to fire again, so another regiment of soldiers had been brought
on the scene, who fired when ordered. This time the volleys
took effect. The bodies of both victims were riddled by bullets
and horribly mutilated, although their faces were almost untouched.
By this foul deed the Barrack Square of Tabriz became a
second Calvary. The enemies of the Bab enjoyed a guilty thrill
of triumph, thinking that this hated tree of the Bábí faith was
now severed at the root, and its complete eradication would be
easy! But their triumph was short-lived! They did not realize
that the Tree of Truth cannot be felled by any material ax. Had
they but known, this very crime of theirs was the means of
giving greater vigor to the Cause. The martyrdom of the Bab
fulfilled His own cherished wish and inspired His followers
with increased zeal. Such was the fire of their spiritual enthusiasm
that the bitter winds of persecution but fanned it to a
fiercer blaze: The greater the efforts at extinction, the higher
mounted the flames.
Tomb on Mount Carmel
After the Báb's martyrdom, His remains, with those of His
devoted companion, were thrown on the edge of the moat outside
the city wall. On the second night they were rescued at
midnight by some of the Bábís, and after being concealed for
years in secret depositories in Persia, were ultimately brought,
with great danger and difficulty, to the Holy Land. There they
are now interred in a tomb beautifully situated on the slope of
Mount Carmel, not far from the Cave of Elijah, and only a
few miles from the spot where Bahá'u'lláh spent His last years
and where His remains now lie. Among the thousands of
pilgrims from all parts of the world who come to pay homage
at the Holy Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh, none omit to offer a prayer
also at the shrine of His devoted lover and forerunner, the Bab.
- J. E. Esslemont Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 17