Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muḥammad.
Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God, what Baha’is call progressive revelation.
In October the Bahá’ís of the world commemorate the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, prophet founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings.
The start of Bahá’í faith dates back to 1844 when a young merchant from Shíráz declared that He was the Báb, which means gate and that he was preparing the way for the promised one, (Bahá’u’lláh) to appear. During October the Bahá’ís of the world commemorate the Holy Days of the Births of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. These successive days are called the Twin Holy Days by Bahá’ís.
The role of the Báb is described by Abdu’l-Baha, Son of Bahá’u’lláh as follows.
The Báb: “The Báb was a young merchant of the Pure Lineage(meaning descended from Muhammad), in 1819, and when after a few years His father Siyyid Muḥammad-Riḍá died, He was brought up in Shíráz in the arms of His maternal uncle Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí the merchant. On attaining maturity He engaged in trade in Búshihr, first in partnership with His maternal uncle and afterwards independently. He was noted for godliness, devoutness, virtue, and piety, and was regarded in the sight of men as so characterized. In 1844, when He was in His twenty-fifth year, He began to speak and to declare the rank of Báb-hood. Now what He intended by the term Báb [Gate] was this, that He was the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the veil of glory, Who was the possessor of countless and boundless perfections, by Whose will He moved, and to the bond of Whose love He clung.” Traveler’s Narrative-‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“As soon as the Báb revealed His Cause, Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed: “This great Man is the Lord of the righteous, and it is incumbent upon all to bear allegiance unto Him.” He arose to promote the Cause of the Báb.” Some Answered Questions-‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Bahá’u’lláh: “Born in Persia (Iran) in 1817, Bahá’u’lláh’s father was a court minister, not a divine, and it is well known throughout Persia that He never studied in a school or associated with the learned and the divines. He passed the early part of His life in the utmost comfort and happiness, and His companions and associates were Persians of rank rather than learned men.” Some Answered Questions-‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“Shoghi Effendi (Grandson of Abdu’l-baha and Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith) affirms that the prophetic statements concerning the “Day of God,” found in the Sacred Scriptures of past Dispensations, are fulfilled by the advent of Bahá’u’lláh: To Israel He was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the “Everlasting Father,” the “Lord of Hosts” come down “with ten thousands of saints”; to Christendom Christ returned “in the glory of the Father”; to Shí‘ah Islám the return of the Imám Ḥusayn; to Sunní Islám the descent of the “Spirit of God” (Jesus Christ); to the Zoroastrians the promised Sháh-Bahrám; to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists the fifth Buddha.” Kitab-i-Aqdas- Bahá’u’lláh
“Whatsoever was foretold in former times hath now been fulfilled.” Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh