A Bahá'í Glossary
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Bahá'í Chronology - The Ministry of Báb - 5 B.E. (A.D. 1848-1849)
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< 4 B.E. | 6 B.E. >
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[ 32 Articles ]
• Istijlál 10 Bahá 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 24 Rabī' ath-thānī
   A.H. 1264
• Thursday 30 March A.D. 1848
• Yom Chamishi 25 Adar Beit A.M. 5608
Mullá Ḥusayn departs for Mázindarán, setting out on foot as the Báb has directed. [DB260; MH144]
__________ __________
• Jamál 1 Jalál 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 5 Jumādá al-ūlá A.H. 1264
• Sunday 9 April A.D. 1848
• Yom Rishon 6 Nissan A.M. 5608
The Báb is removed from Máh-Kú.
  • Ḥájí Mírzá Áqásí is alarmed by the developments at Máh-Kú and orders that the Báb be moved to C̲h̲ihríq. [B131; DB259; GPB1920]
  • The Báb's presence in Máh-Kú, so close to the Russian frontier, is also a cause for concern for the Russian government. Prince Dolgorukov, the Russian Minister in Ṭihrán, asks that He be removed. It is likely that this request was made in 1847 but not carried out until now. [B131; BBR72; TN13]
  • The Báb had been in Máh-Kú for nine months. [DB259]
__________ __________
• Kamál 2 Jalál 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 5 Jumādá al-ūlá
   A.H. 1264
• Monday 10 April A.D. 1848
• Yom Sheni 7 Nissan A.M. 5608
The Báb is transferred to the fortress of C̲h̲ihríq, `Jabal-i-S̲h̲adíd' (the Grievous Mountain) into the custody of Yaḥyá K̲h̲án, a brother-in-law of Muḥammad S̲h̲áh. [BR72; BBRSM216; GPB19]
  • He remains here for two years. [BBD55; BBR73; GPB27]
  • He is subjected to a more rigorous confinement than He had been at Máh-Kú and the warden is harsh and unpredictable. [B135; DB302]
__________ __________
• Bahá / Kalimát 5 B.E.
• Rabī' ath-thānī / Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• April / July A.D. 1848
• Adar Beit / Av A.M. 5608
The presence of the Báb in C̲h̲ihríq attracts much notice. Eventually Yaḥyá K̲h̲án softens his attitude to the Báb. [B135; DB303]
  • Excitement among local people eclipses that of Máh-Kú. [GPB20]
  • Many priests and government officials become followers, among them Mírzá Asadu'lláh of K̲h̲uy, surnamed Dayyán. [B136; DB303; GPB20]
  • So many Bábís come to C̲h̲ihríq that they cannot all be housed. [B135]
  • See B136 for story of the inferior honey.
  • A dervish, a former navváb, arrives from India after having seen the Báb in a vision. [B137; DB305; GPB20]
  • The Báb reveals the Lawḥ-i-Hurúfát (Tablet of the Letters) in honour of Dayyán. [DB304; GPB27]
__________ __________
• Late Spring 5 B.E.
• Late Spring A.H. 1264
• Late Spring A.D. 1848
• Late Spring A.M. 5608
Mullá Ḥusayn goes to the house of Quddús in Bárfurús̲h̲, Mázindarán, and realizes that the `hidden treasure' is his recognition of the station of Quddús. [DB261-5; MH148-54]

Mullá Ḥusayn proceeds to Mas̲h̲had and builds a `Bábíyyih', a centre for the Bábís, as instructed by Quddús. He and Quddús take up residence in it and begin to teach the Bábí religion.

  • See DB288-90 and MH158-68 for the result of this effort.
  • Among those who come to the Bábíyyih is Sám K̲h̲án, the chief of police. [MH158]
  • See MH156 for a picture of the Bábíyyih.
__________ __________
• Summer 5 B.E.
• Summer A.H. 1264
• Summer A.D. 1848
• Summer A.M. 5608
Quddús leaves Mas̲h̲had for Badas̲h̲t. Mullá Ḥusayn is prevented from attending. He is invited to stay in the camp of the soldiers garrisoned in the area to control a local revolt. The invitation amounts to a confinement but he is able to teach the soldiers while so confined. [BKG50; DB290; MH165-6]
__________ __________
• c. Kamál 3 Ráḥmat / Kamál 5 Kalimát
       5 B.E.

• c. Yawm al-Ithnayn 24 / Yawm al-Ithnayn
       15 Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• c. Monday 26 June / Monday 17 July
       A.D. 1848
• c. Yom Sheni 25 Sivan /
      Yom Sheni 16 Tammuz A.M. 5608
The Conference of Badas̲h̲t

Bahá'u'lláh, who hosts and directs the event, rents three gardens, one for Quddús, another for Ṭáhirih and the third for Himself. [B168; GPB31, 68; MF200]

The conference coincides with the removal of the Báb to Tabríz for interrogation in July.

It is held near the village of S̲h̲áhrúd in Semnan province. [BBRSM23; DB292]

  • `The primary purpose of that gathering was to implement the revelation of the Bayán by a sudden, a complete and dramatic break with the past — with its order, its ecclesiasticism, its traditions, and ceremonials. The subsidiary purpose of the conference was to consider the means of emancipating the Báb from His cruel confinement in C̲h̲ihríq.' [BBRSM23; BKG43; DB297-8; GPB31, 157]
  • B167 says that the Bábís did not come to Badas̲h̲t to make plans to rescue the Báb. It is attended by 81 believers and lasts 22 days. [BKG43-4, 46; DB292-3; GPB312]
  • Each day Bahá'u'lláh reveals a Tablet, and on each believer He confers a new name. Each day an Islamic law is abrogated. [DB293; GPB32]
  • See BKG44-5, DB293 and MF201 for the story of the central event, Ṭáhirih's confrontation with Quddús and removal of her veil.
  • Also see B167-9; BBD31-2; BBRSM46; BKG43-7; DB292-8; RB2:353.
__________ __________
• Ráḥmat / Kalimát 5 B.E.
• Sha'bān A.H.1264
• July A.D. 1848
• Tammuz A.M. 5608
After three months in C̲h̲ihríq, the Báb is taken under escort to Tabríz for trial. [B137; BW18:380; TN14]
  • En route He stops in Urúmíyyih where the governor tests the Báb by offering Him an unruly horse to ride. The local people take away His bath water. [B138; BBR74; DB309-11]
  • A sketch of the Báb is made there and later two copies of the portrait are made in water colour. The sketch and one of the water colours are now in the International Archives. [B138-9, Juhúrú'l-Ḥaqq by Asadu'lláh Fádil-i-Mázindarání p.48 quoted in World Order Winter 1974-95 p41]
  • See Trial of the Báb: Shi'ite Orthodoxy Confronts its Mirror Image by Denis MacEoin.
__________ __________
• c. Ráḥmat / Kalimát 5 B.E.
• c. Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• c. July A.D. 1848
• c. Tammuz A.M. 5608
Quddús is arrested and taken to Sárí where he is placed under house arrest in the home of Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí, a leading cleric. [B171; BKG50; DB300]

Ṭáhirih is arrested and is later taken to Ṭihrán where she is held in the home of Maḥmúd K̲h̲án, the Kalántar of Ṭihrán, until her martyrdom in August 1852.

Mullá Ḥusayn leaves the army camp near Mas̲h̲had where he has been a guest of a brother of the S̲h̲áh. He plans to make a pilgrimage to Karbalá. While making preparations for the journey he receives a Tablet from the Báb instructing him to go to Mázindarán to help Quddús, carrying a Black Standard before him. He is also instructed to wear the Báb's own green turban and to take the new name Siyyid `Alí. [B171; BKG50; DB324; MH174]

__________ __________
• c. Kamál 5 Kalimát 5 B.E.
• c. Yawm al-Ithnayn 15 Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• c. Monday 17 July A.D. 1848
• c. Yom Sheni 16 Tammuz A.M.5608
The Bábís leave Badas̲h̲t for Mázindarán. They are attacked by a mob of more than 500 outside the village of Níyálá. [B170-1; BKG46-7; BW18:380; DB298; GPB68]
  • Bahá'u'lláh travels to Núr with Ṭáhirih. He entrusts her into the care of S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Abú-Turáb-i-Is̲h̲tahárdí, to be taken to a place of safety. [BKG48; DB299]
  • Bahá'u'lláh travels to Núr `in easy stages'. By September He is in Bandar-Jaz. [BKG48]
__________ __________
• Istiqlál 9 Kalimát 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 19 Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• Friday 21 July A.D. 1848
• Yom Shishi 20 Tammuz A.M. 5608
Mullá Ḥusayn and his 202 companions leave Mas̲h̲had for Mázindarán under the Black Standard. They will arrive in September. [BBRSM26, 216]
__________ __________
• last week in Kalimát 5 B.E.
• last week in Sha'bān A.H. 1264
• last week in July A.D. 1848
• last week in Tammuz A.M. 5608
The Báb arrives in Tabríz and is brought before a panel of which the 17-year-old Crown Prince Náṣiri'd-Dín Mírzá is the president. The Báb publicly makes His claim that He is the Qá'im. This claim has also been announced to those gathered at Badas̲h̲t. [B140-7; BBR157; BBRSM23, 216; BW18:380; DB314-20; GPB21-2; TN14]
  • This constitutes the formal declaration of His mission. [GPB22]
  • The purpose of the public forum is to force the Báb to recant His views; instead He takes control of the hearing and embarrasses the clergy. After considerable argument and discussion, they decide He is devoid of reason. [GPB22]
  • The Báb is bastinadoed. [B145; BBD44; DB320; GPB22; TN14-15] This is the first formal punishment He receives. [BBRSM20]
  • He is first attended by an Irish physician, Dr William Cormick, to ascertain His sanity and later to treat Him for a blow to the face that occurred during the bastinado. Cormick is the only Westerner to meet and converse with Him. [B145; BBR74-5, 497-8 DBXXXIL-XXXIII]
  • The clergy issue a fatwa or legal pronouncement against the Báb condemning Him to death for heresy, but to no purpose as the civil authorities are unwilling to take action against Him. [BBRSM19-20]
  • For an account of the life of Dr. William Cormick see Connections by Brendan McNamara.
__________ __________
• Ráḥmat / Mas̲h̲íyyat 5 B.E.
• Sha'bān / Dhū al-Qa'dah A.H. 1264
• July / September A.D. 1848
• Tammuz / Tishri A.M.5608
Mullá Ḥusayn and his companions, marching to Mázindarán, are joined by Bábís who had been at Badas̲h̲t as well as newly-converted Bábís. [B171-2]
__________ __________
• Kamál / Asmá' 5 B.E.
• Ramaḍān A.H. 1264
• August A.D. 1848
• Av / Elul A.M.5608
The Báb is taken back to C̲h̲ihríq, where He remains until June/July 1850. [B147; DB322; TN15]
__________ __________
• Asmá' / Mas̲h̲íyyat 5 B.E.
• Shawwāl A.H. 1264
• September A.D. 1848
• Elul / Tishri A.M.5608
Bahá'u'lláh is in Bandar-Jaz. An edict comes from Muḥammad S̲h̲áh ordering His arrest.
__________ __________
• Istiqlál 13 Asmá' 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah Shawwāl 2 A.H.1264
• Friday 1 September A.D. 1848
• Yom Shishi 3 Elul A.M.5608
Birth of August Forel, renowned entomologist and Bahá'í, in Switzerland.
__________ __________
• Kamál16 Asmá' 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Ithnayn 5 Shawwāl A.H. 1264
• Monday 4 September A.D. 1848
• Yom Sheni 6 Elul A.M.5608
The death of Muḥammad S̲h̲áh. [BBR153-4]
__________ __________
• Fidál 5 `Izzat 5 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 13 Shawwāl
   A.H. 1264
• Tuesday 12 September A.D. 1848
• Yom Shlishi 14 Elul A.M.5608
The accession of Náṣiri'd-Dín S̲h̲áh at Tabríz. [BBR482]
  • He is 17 years old. [BBR158; GPB37]
  • He ruled from 1848 to 1 May 1896 when he was assassinated on the eve of his jubilee. [BBD168; BBR482]
  • The first four years of his reign were marked by the `fiercest and bloodiest of the persecutions of the religion of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh'. During the whole of his reign there were `sporadic persecutions and, in at least some cases, he himself was directly responsible for the death of the martyrs'. [BBR157]
  • For the first time in the Faith's history the civil and ecclesiastical powers banded together in a systematic campaign against it, one that was to `culminate in the horrors experienced by Bahá'u'lláh in the Síyáh-C̲h̲ál' and `His subsequent banishment to Iraq'. [GPB37]
  • See BBRSM25 for an explanation of why the Bábí religion was a challenge to the secular regime.
  • See SB86 for a reason for Náṣiri'd-Dín S̲h̲áh's cruelty towards the Bábís and Bahá'ís.
  • See RB3:201 for an explanation of his lengthy reign.
  • He chose as his prime minister Mírzá Taqí K̲h̲án-i-Faráhání, known as a great reformer and a founder of modern Iran. [BBD221; BBR160]
  • It was not until the spring of 1849 that the new regime was in firm control.
__________ __________
• Fidál 14 Mas̲h̲íyyat 5 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 12 Dhū al-Qa'dah
   A.H. 1264
• Tuesday 10 October A.D. 1848
• Yom Shlishi 13 Tishri A.M. 5608
Mullá Ḥusayn and his company arrive near Bárfurús̲h̲. The Sa`ídu'l-`Ulamá, threatened by their presence, has stirred up the townspeople, who go out to meet them. Some three or four miles from the city they clash and seven of Mullá Ḥusayn's companions are killed. [B172; BW18:381; DB329-31; MH192-3]
  • MH188 says that the journey from Mas̲h̲had had taken 83 days.
  • In the ensuing battle, the townspeople are worsted. They beg for peace and a truce is agreed. [B172; DB336; MH197]
  • It was here that Mullá Ḥusayn cut a man, a musket and a tree with one blow from his sword. [B172; DB 330-1; MH193]
  • Mullá Ḥusayn and his companions take shelter in a caravanserai. Three young men who mount the roof to raise the call to prayer are each met with a bullet and killed. Mullá Ḥusayn gives the command to attack the townspeople, who are again routed. [BW18:381; DB337-8; MH201-5]
  • Mullá Ḥusayn and his companions are offered safe passage by the town's leaders if they will leave Bárfurús̲h̲. They agree but are attacked by their escort, K̲h̲usraw-i-Qádí-Kalá'í and his hundred men. [B172; DB338-42; MH206-9]
__________ __________
• Istijlál 16 Mas̲h̲íyyat 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 14 Dhū al-Qa'dah
   A.H. 1264
• Thursday 12 October A.D. 1848
• Yom Chamishi 15 Tishri A.M. 5608
The band of 72 Bábís take refuge in the shrine of S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Ṭabarsí which is located about 14 miles southeast of Bárfurús̲h̲ and prepare it for siege. [B173; BBRSM26; BW18:381; DB344-5]
__________ __________
• Mas̲h̲íyyat 5 B.E. / `Aẓamat 6 B.E.
• Dhū al-Qa'dah A.H. 1264 /
  Rajab A.H. 1265
• October A.D. 1848 / May A.D. 1849
• Tishri A.M. 5608 / Sivan A.M. 5609
The siege of the Shrine of S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Ṭabarsí.
__________ __________
• Istijlál 4 `Ilm 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 21 Dhū al-Qa'dah
   A.H. 1264
• Thursday 19 October A.D. 1848
• Yom Chamishi 22 Tishri A.M.5608
Entry of Náṣiri'd-Dín S̲h̲áh into Ṭihrán. [BBR482]
__________ __________
• late Qawl 5 B.E.
• early Muḥarram A.H. 1265
• early December A.D. 1848
• mid Kislev A.M.5609
Bahá'u'lláh sets out from Ṭihrán with 11 companions to reinforce the Bábís at S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Ṭabarsí. Nine miles from the fort they are arrested and taken to the town of Ámul, where they are held prisoner in the home of the deputy governor. This is Bahá'u'lláh's second imprisonment. He intervenes to spare His companions the bastinado and He alone receives it.
__________ __________
• Fidál 8 Masá'il 5 B.E.
• Yawm ath-Thulāthā' 23 Muḥarram
   A.H. 1265
• Tuesday 19 December A.D. 1848
• Yom Shlishi 24 Kislev A.M. 5609
The siege of the Shrine of S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Ṭabarsí begins in earnest with the arrival of `Abdu'lláh K̲h̲án's forces. [BW18:381]
  • DB361 says this was 1 December.
  • There are about 12,000 troops. [MH245]
  • The supply of bread and water to the fort is cut. A rainfall replenishes the water supply and ruins the munitions of the government forces. Snow further hampers the army's movement. [DB361, MH243]
__________ __________
• Istijlál 10 Masá'il 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 25 Muḥarram
    A.H. 1265
• Thursday 21 December A.D. 1849
• Yom Chamishi 26 Kislev A.M.5609
The Bábís, led by Quddús, make a mounted attack on the army. All of the officers are killed including `Abdu'lláh K̲h̲án. A number of soldiers are drowned as they retreat into the Tálár River. About 430 soldiers are killed but no Bábís; one Bábí is wounded. [BW18:381; DB361-3; MH243-6]
  • For the next 19 days the defenders dig a moat. [DB363]
__________ __________
• S̲h̲araf 5 B.E. / S̲h̲araf 6 B.E.
• Ṣafar A.H. 1265 / Ṣafar A.H. 1266
• A.D. 1849
• Tevet A.M. 5609 / Tevet A.M. 5610
Bahá'u'lláh marries his second wife, Fáṭimih K̲h̲ánum Mahd-i-'Ulyá (1828-1904), His cousin, the daughter of Malik-Nisá K̲h̲ánum (Mírzá Buzurg's sister) and Mírzá Karím-i-Namadsáb.
  • Note: According to one source, she was married to the famous cleric Mírzá Muḥammad Taqí 'Allámi-yi-Núrí and widowed before Bahá'u'lláh married her.
__________ __________
• S̲h̲araf 5 B.E.
• Ṣafar A.H. 1265
• early January A.D. 1849
• Tevet A.M. 5609
Arrival of Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá and 3,000 royal troops in the vicinity of the shrine of S̲h̲ayk̲h̲ Ṭabarsí. [B173-4; BW18:381; DB363]

  • He sets up camp and his headquarters in the village of Vás-Kas. [DB363]
__________ __________
• Istijlál 12 S̲h̲araf 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 16 Ṣafar A.H. 1265
• Thursday 11 January A.D. 1849
• Yom Chamishi 17 Tevet A.M. 5609
Quddús and Mullá Ḥusayn lead a night attack on the encamped army. Two hundred and two Bábís disperse the camp. [BW18:381; BD365; MH254]

DB 368 says this occurred on 21 December 1848.

  • Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá flees barefoot. [DB366]
  • Mullá Ḥusayn's sword is broken in the attack and he uses Quddús'. His companions bring him the abandoned sword of Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá. [DB367; MH257]

    At daybreak the soldiers mount a counter-attack. [DB367; MH258-9]

  • In this encounter Quddús is wounded in the mouth and is rescued by Mullá Ḥusayn who disperses the enemy using the sword of Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá in one hand and that of Quddús in the other. [B174; DB367; MH258-9]
__________ __________
• Jalál 9 Sulṭán 5 B.E.
• Yawm as-Sabt 3 Rabī' al-awwal A.H.1265
• Saturday 27 January A.D. 1849
• Yom Shabbat 4 Shevat A.M. 5609
The arrival of reinforcements for the besiegers under the leadership of 'Abbás-Qulí K̲h̲án-i-Láríjání. [BW18:381; DB378-9; MH263]
  • This is the third army to be mustered.
  • The water supply is again cut off and Mullá Ḥusayn orders that a well be dug and a bath constructed. [DB379; MH263]
__________ __________
• Istijlál 14 Sulṭán 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Khamīs 8 Rabī' al-awwal
   A.H.1265
• Thursday 1 February A.D. 1849
• Yom Chamishi 9 Shevat A.M. 5609
The well is completed. Mullá Ḥusayn performs his ablutions and puts on clean clothes and the turban of the Báb. [DB379; MH264-6]
__________ __________
• Istiqlál 15 Sulṭán 5 B.E.
• Yawm al-Jum'ah 9 Rabī' al-awwal
   A.H.1265
• Friday 2 February A.D. 1849
• Yom Shishi 10 Shevat A.M. 5609
Soon after midnight, Mullá Ḥusayn leads a charge of 313 men that again routs the king's army. He is struck in the chest by a bullet and dies. His body is carried back to the fort and buried. Ninety other Bábís are also wounded, about 40 of whom die. [B174; BW18:381; DB379-82; MH266-70]

  • Mullá Ḥusayn is 36 years old at the time of his death. [DB383; MH272]
  • See DB382-3 for an account of his life.
  • See DB415-16 for an account of the heroics of Mullá Ḥusayn.
  • See DB381-2 and MH265-70 for an account of the death and burial of Mullá Ḥusayn.
  • See SDH13-14 for an account of his death by Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá.
  • Seventy-two of the original 313 inhabitants of the fort had been martyred by this time. [DB382]
  • It takes the army 45 days to reassemble its forces. [DB384; MH277]
__________ __________
• c. Jamál 9 `Alá' 5 B.E.
• c. Yawm al-Aḥad 16 Rabī' ath-thānī
   A.H. 1265
• c Sunday 11 March A.D. 1849
• c. Yom Rishon 17 A.M.5609
On learning through a traitor of the death of Mullá Ḥusayn, 'Abbás-Qulí K̲h̲án launches a fresh attack on the fort. [DB384-6]
 
[ABBC Online] [ABBC 33-45]
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< 4 B.E. | 6 B.E. >
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Most of the Gregorian Calendar dates, A.H. 1166 (A.D. 1753) to 153 B.E (A.D. 1996), are from the original book, A Basic Bahá'í Chronology. From 153 B.E (A.D. 1996) to present the Gregorian Calendar dates are from A Basic Bahá'í Chronology online. The Hebrew, Islamic and Bahá'í dates were calculated by the ABG staff and may be subject to error, despite the great care that was taken. When the Gregorian date is "In the year", "c. Mar 1797", etc., we list the nearest approximate Hebrew, Islamic and Bahá'í dates.
 
Notes:
  • The dates in the left column do not always match the dates in the text. This is due to the plethora of calculations and calculators available. We use the calendar conversions from Calendar Home - Convert a date.
  • Continuous time periods, e.g., Monday thru Friday or June thru August, are annotated as Monday / Friday and June / August rather than Monday-Friday and June-August in all four calendars. This is to avoid confusion with Islamic days and months which contain a hyphen (or dash), e.g. Yawm ath-Thulatha', Jumadá al-akhirah.
  • Date Format = Day of the Week Name, Day of the Month Number, Month Name, Year Number -
  • c. = circa - meaning: "Around, round about, about. The prep. is often used in Eng. with dates, as circa 1400 (c 1400)." (Oxford English Dictionary)
  • Items with a greenish background are publications 
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© 156 - 181 B.E. (A.D. 1999 - 2024; A.H. 1419 - 1445; A.M. 5759 - 5784)
A Bahá'í Glossary
 
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