The Báb (1819–1850)
In 1844, in the city of Shiraz in Persia, Siyyid ‘Alí-Muḥammad declared that He was “the Báb”, meaning “the Gate” — the Herald of a new age whose mission was to prepare humanity for the coming of a great Messenger of God. His message spread rapidly and met with fierce persecution. In 1850 He was publicly executed in the city of Tabriz.
Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892)
“Bahá’u’lláh” means “the Glory of God”. Born Mírzá Ḥusayn-‘Alí into a noble family of Tehran, He was imprisoned for being a follower of the Báb and spent the next forty years in exile and imprisonment in Baghdad, Constantinople, Adrianople and ‘Akká. During these years He declared that He was the Messenger promised by the Báb and revealed many volumes setting out the foundations of the unity of humankind and of a new world civilization. He passed away in 1892 at Bahjí, near ‘Akká.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844–1921)
Bahá’u’lláh’s eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá — “the Servant of Bahá” — was appointed the authorized interpreter of His Father’s teachings and the perfect exemplar of the Bahá’í life. Between 1911 and 1913 He travelled through Europe and North America, proclaiming the message of peace, justice and the oneness of humanity.
Later leadership
After ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His grandson Shoghi Effendi (1897–1957) served as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. Since 1963 the Universal House of Justice has served as the supreme elected governing institution of the worldwide Bahá’í community.
Updated 12 October 2026