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Bahá’í World News Service

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Official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community

“Baha’i World” articles explore uniqueness and dramatic impact of the Bab

November 26, 2019
A series of articles focusing on the Bab, who was the Herald of the Baha’i Faith, is published online.

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In its latest articles, The Baha’i World focuses on the figure of the Bab, Who was born 200 years ago. The Bab is a divine Messenger and the Herald of the Baha’i Faith.

The distinctive nature of the Bab’s station and character, the extraordinary drama that unfolded as tens of thousands responded to His teachings, and the deep impact His life and message had on countless other people in His homeland and abroad—these themes are explored in three articles now available on the publication’s website, BahaiWorld.Bahai.org.

In “A Twofold Mission,” Elham Afnan looks at some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Bab’s life and Writings, highlighting the rare combination of qualities that have come to be associated with Him.

“Tales of Magnificent Heroism,” by Robert Weinberg, provides a survey of responses to the Bab by writers and artists of the time and over the subsequent century, revealing just how extensive was knowledge of the Bab and His new religion and how captivating the dramatic story of His life and the lives of His followers.

The article “Tales of Magnificent Heroism” includes a series of portraits of writers and artists who were impacted by the message of the Bab. The portraits shown here are (clockwise from top left) Isabella Grinevskaia, Jules Bois, Charlotte Despard, and Robert Hayden. Slideshow
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The article “Tales of Magnificent Heroism” includes a series of portraits of writers and artists who were impacted by the message of the Bab. The portraits shown here are (clockwise from top left) Isabella Grinevskaia, Jules Bois, Charlotte Despard, and Robert Hayden.

The site includes a special piece from the archives of The Baha’i World, an essay by Mary Maxwell—later known as Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum after her marriage to Shoghi Effendi in 1937. In the article, first published in the 1932–1934 volume, Ruhiyyih Khanum reflects on the dominant themes of The Dawn-Breakers, an early narrative of Babi history.

Over the course of this year, communities in every land have commemorated the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. The celebrations around the world have shed light on just how far-reaching has been the impact of the Bab’s mission in the world.

The Baha’i World volumes began in print form in 1926 under the direction of Shoghi Effendi, providing a remarkable historical record of the development of the Baha’i Faith. In May of this year, a website was launched for The Baha’i World, which periodically publishes new pieces and works from the archives. The Baha’i World has introduced an email subscription service, through which readers can be notified when new articles are published.