308
WE SHALL KNOW
HIM THROUGH
HIS MESSENGERS
THE REVELATION OF BAHA’I
IN CONTEXT
KEY FIGURE
Baha’u’llah (Mirza Husayn-
‘A li Nuri)WHEN AND WHERE
From 1863, PersiaBEFORE
7th century Muhammad is
hailed as God’s final prophet,
bearing the message of Islam.
After his death, leadership
disputes cause a split between
Shi‘a and Sunni Muslims.1501 Shah Ismail I establishes
the Safavid dynasty, ruling
over a united Persia whose
state religion is Shi‘a Islam.1844 Siyyid ‘Ali Muhammad
Shirazi claims he is the Mahdi,
the redeemer predicted in
Shi‘a Islam. He adopts the title
Bab (Gate), and founds a new
religion to succeed Islam.AFTER
1921 In Lahore (modern
Pakistan), Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad claims to bring a new
message from God for Islam.Each of these divine
messengers revealed God
in a way that suited the
time and place......and prophesied
messengers yet to come....but will be followed by
other divine messengers
in a continuing and
progressive revelation.Baha’u’llah is the
most recent of these
messengers, revealing
religious truth for
modern society...Different religions have been established
in various places and at various times in history.These religions were founded by divine messengers
such as Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad.We shall know him
through his messengers.