The Roots of the Baha'i Faith

In the mid 1800's there was an urgent sense of expectation among the followers of the world's major religions. Prophecies in the Holy Books of Christianity, Judaism and Islam foretold the coming of a new Day, a new message from God. In North America and Europe, scholars and religious leaders eagerly talked of the coming Messiah. Nowhere was this religious expectation more intense than in Persia, now Iran. It was here that a young man stepped forward to announce that He was the One promised in these Holy Books. His name is the Bab, which means "Gate." He declared that He was the forerunner of an even greater Messenger from God, Baha'u'llah, Who would usher in an age of peace for all humankind.