Frequently Asked Questions

Part  1

Here you can find our most Frequently Asked Questions about Bábism and Baha’ism Idea.

1- What is the origin of Baha’ism?

2- Who were Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i and Sayyid Kazim Rashti?

3- What is the fourth pillar?

4- Who is Siyyid `Ali Muhammad Shirázi, Báb?

5- What was Báb’s claim?

6- Who did Báb curse?

1- What is the origin of Baha’ism?

The idea of a Messiah rising and conquering the world to a ubiquitous justice has been present in all Abrahamic religions. In Islam, Prophet Muhammad talks about a ‘universal kingdom’, ‘the annihilation of oppression and tyranny’ and ‘filling the world with justice and fairness’¹. In Prophet Muhammad’s traditions he has introduced Imam Mahdi as the twelfth Imam and the eleventh son of Imam Ali and the ninth son of Imam Hussein which will have a long occultation². In the past 180 years, the belief of Mahdi has been attacked by some groups. Among these groups are Baha’ism.

2- Who were Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i and Sayyid Kazim Rashti?

In the 19th century, after the wars between Iran and the Russian government, there was a low morale among the people which made the government lose its people’s trust. People were all looking for a breakthrough.

It was then that Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i, who knew himself as a Muslim clergy³claimed that Islam has ‘four pillars’, Tawhid, Nubuwwah, Imamah and the fourth pillar and claimed to be the fourth pillar himself.

Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i appointed Sayyid Kazim Rashti as his successor, he continued the claim of Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i, though before his death he did not choose any successor for himself.

Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i

Sayyid Kazim Rashti

3- What is the fourth pillar?

Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i claimed that the fourth pillar was the intermediate between the occulted Imam (Imam Mahdi) and the people. This claim gathered attention because of the low morale of the society, since everyone was hoping that something good would happen.

Read More (link to The Four Special Deputies of Imam Mahdi which includes his Tawqee⁴ article)

4- Who is Siyyid `Ali Muhammad Shirázi, Báb?

Since Sayyid Kazim Rashti did not appoint any successor his disciples were all looking for a new leader, after a quarrel between his disciples, Siyyid `Ali Muhammad Shirázi who call himself the Báb⁵ of Imam Mahdi – by which he meant that he himself is the intermediate whom Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i was meant i.e. the fourth pillar – came out victorious over others.

`Ali Muhammad Shirázi (Báb)

5- What was Báb’s claim?

When Mulla Hussain Boshru’i was looking for the next gate, Báb brought the ‘Tafsir-i⁶Surah Yusuf⁷’ as a proof for being the gate of Imam Mahdi⁸ in 1844. Mulla Hussain Boshru’i went and spread the claim of Báb to other people.

6- Who did Báb curse?

After one of Báb’s disciples added a sentence to Azan⁹ on Báb’s order, the governor of Shiraz summoned Báb and once being slapped his face, he desisted from his initial claim and said:

Curse against anyone who knows me as the deputy of the occulted Imam. Curse anyone who knows me as the gate of Imam Mahdi… Curse anyone who thinks of me as denying Amir-al-Mo’menin and the other Imams.¹⁰

1- The reader must bear in mind that the magnitude of a universal kingdom with justice, cannot ever be achieved without divine aid. Applying this touchstone is a great measure for diving the truth from the lies.

2- Many prophets have had occultation. Prophet Idris, Prophet Joseph, Prophet Moses, etc. For more information please refer to the great book of Shaykh al-Saduq: ‘Kamal Al-Din wa Tamam Al-Ni’mah’

3- His belief was as any other Shi’a

4- letter

5- gate

6- exegesis

7- Surah Yusuf is the 12th surah (chapter) of the Quran

8- Rahiq Makhtum, Vol. 1, Page 22 ( 1st ed.), Asrar al-Asar, Vol. 2 appendix for Báb

9- Islamic call to prayer

10- Dawnbreakers, Pages 137-141

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