September 1979: Demolition of the House of the Báb

PERSECUTION OF THE BAHA'IS, THE LARGEST RELIGIOUS MINORITY IN IRAN, HAS TAKEN A NEW TURN. EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING A CROWD OF OVER 100 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT FOR RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS IN SHIRAZ, AND ACCOMPANIED BY 25 REVOLUTIONARY GUARDSMEN AND 10 OTHER ARMED MEN, ATTACKED THE MOST HOLY HOUSE OF THE BAB WHICH WAS ORDAINED BY BAHA'U'LLAH, THE FOUNDER OF THE BAHA'I FAITH, TO BE A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE FOR HIS FOLLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IS REGARDED BY THEM AS THE MOST HALLOWED SPOT IN IRAN. THIS CROWD, WHICH HAD THE KEY TO THE HOUSE, SMASHED AND DISMANTLED DOORS AND WINDOWS, DESTROYED ORNAMENTAL PLASTERWORK, BREACHED THE WALLS AND HACKED TO PIECES A TREE IN THE COURTYARD. THIS MORNING THE WORK OF DEMOLITION IS BEING CONTINUED BY A GROUP OF WORKMEN AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PURPOSE IS TO RAZE TO THE GROUND THE HOUSE OF THE BAB AND TWO ADJACENT HOUSES WHICH ALSO BELONG TO THE BAHA'I COMMUNITY. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 9 September 1979 to all National Spiritual Assemblies; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986)

(The Baha'i International Community)

Historical Data Gleaned from Vol. II of Nabil’s Narrative Regarding Baha’u’llah – first year in Baghdad & almost two years at Sulaymaniyyih

Baghdad mid 19th Century

A. Baghdad

• Baha’u’llah’s arrival was in the latter part of Jamadiyu’th-Thani 1269 A.H. (March 12-April 10, 1853, A.D.)
• Baha’u’llah’s departure for Sulaymaniyyih took place on Wednesday, April 10, 18 54 A.D. (Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.)

Works revealed during this period:

• Qullu’t-Ta’am [also referred to as Kullu’t-Ta’am (Tablet of All Food)]

Houses occupied during this period:

• House of Haji Ali-Madad (in old Baghdad)

B. Sulaymani'yyih

• Before reaching Sulaymaniyyih, Baha’u’llah lived for a time on the Sar-Galu mountain.
• During His absence from Baghdad, His family transferred their residence from House of Haji 'Ali-Madad to that of Sulayman-i-Ghannam.
• Nabil arrived at Baghdad 6 months after Baha’u’llah’s departure for Sulaymaniyyih.

Works revealed during this period:

• Prayers
• Qasidiy-i-Varqa’iyyih
• Saqiyas-Ghayb-i-Baq

Houses occupied during this period:

• House of Sulayman-i-Ghannam

(The Baha’i World 1932-1934)

1850 - The “epic story of the Zanján upheaval”: - “a sombre glory unsurpassed by any episode of a like nature in the records of the Heroic Age of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Zanján circa 1930's

c1930's: views of the mosque built for Hujjat by his supporters

• We recall, likewise, the contrast between the disorder, the cursing, the ribald laughter, the debauchery and shame that characterized the camp of the enemy, and the atmosphere of reverent devotion that filled the Fort, from which anthems of praise and hymns of joy were continually ascending.
• Nor can we fail to note the appeal addressed by Hujjat and his chief supporters to the Sháh, repudiating the malicious assertions of their foes, assuring him of their loyalty to him and his government, and of their readiness to establish in his presence the soundness of their Cause;
• the interception of these messages by the governor and the substitution by him of forged letters loaded with abuse which he dispatched in their stead to Tihrán;
• the enthusiastic support extended by the female occupants of the Fort, the shouts of exultation which they raised, the eagerness with which some of them, disguised in the garb of men, rushed to reinforce its defences and to supplant their fallen brethren, while others ministered to the sick, and carried on their shoulders skins of water for the wounded, and still others, like the Carthaginian women of old, cut off their long hair and bound the thick coils around the guns to reinforce them;
• the foul treachery of the besiegers, who, on the very day they had drawn up and written out an appeal for peace and, enclosing with it a sealed copy of the Qur’án as a testimony of their pledge, had sent it to Hujjat, did not shrink from throwing into a dungeon the members of the delegation, including the children, which had been sent by him to treat with them, from tearing out the beard of the venerated leader of that delegation, and from savagely mutilating one of his fellow-disciples.