The Birth and Early Life of the Báb

Each year, on the first of the Twin Holy Birthdays, Bahá’ís celebrate the birth of the Báb in Shíráz, in southern Persia. J. E. Esslemont’s short account of His early life, in *Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era*, begins:

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> Mírzá ‘Alí-Muḥammad, Who afterwards assumed the title of Báb (i.e. > Gate), was born at Shíráz, in the south of Persia, on the 20th of > October 1819 A.D.

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He was a Siyyid, a descendant of the Prophet Muḥammad. *His father, a well-known merchant, died soon after His birth,* Esslemont writes, *and He was then placed under the care of a maternal uncle, a merchant of Shíráz, who brought Him up.* In childhood He learned to read, and received the elementary education customary for children.

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At the age of fifteen He went into business, first with His guardian uncle and afterward with another uncle who lived at Búshihr, on the shore of the Persian Gulf.

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Of His youth Esslemont writes:

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> He was noted for great personal beauty and charm of manner, and > also for exceptional piety, and nobility of character.

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His religious observance went beyond what was required of Him:

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> He was unfailing in His observance of the prayers, fasts and other > ordinances of the Muḥammadan religion, and not only obeyed the > letter, but lived in the spirit of the Prophet’s teachings.

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Esslemont adds:

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> He married when about twenty-two years of age. Of this marriage one > son was born, who died while still an infant, in the first year of > the Báb’s public ministry.

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Then, Esslemont continues, *on reaching His twenty-fifth year, in response to divine command, He declared that "God the Exalted had elected Him to the station of Bábhood."* That was in 1844.

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The Birth of the Báb is followed the next day by the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, and Bahá’ís keep the two Holy Days together each year.

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*A retelling based on **Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era** by J. E. Esslemont (Project Gutenberg eBook #19241). For the fuller account, see the original.*

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