October 20, 2009
Source: TuscaloosaNews.com
On Oct. 20, 1819, a man known as the Báb was born in Shiraz, Persia.
Upon reaching the age of 25, the Báb, whose name means 'the Gate,' began declaring to the people of Shiraz that the appearance of a messenger of God was imminent.
For his teachings, the Báb was exiled to a mountain prison by the city's Muslim clergy until July 9, 1850, when he was executed by a firing squad of 750 Persian soldiers. Following his execution, about 20,000 of his followers were massacred throughout Persia.
On Monday, the Bahá'í Club of the University of Alabama celebrated the birth of the Báb at Gorgas Library with stories of the Báb's life, prayers and songs in English, Spanish, French and Farsi.