Early life
Bahá'u'lláh's early life
Bahá'u'lláh, which means the glory of God in Arabic, was born Mirza Husayn Ali in 1817 into one of Persia's most noble and privileged families.
Education
In his early life he had a relatively limited education (which was normal for the class from which he came). He learned horsemanship (he was known as a fine horseman), swordsmanship, poetry and calligraphy (he was also renowned as an excellent poet and calligrapher).
His Islamic education was strictly non-technical, but despite this, his knowledge of Islam (and of other religions) was far beyond what could have been expected of someone from the wealthy governing class.
This is important because Bahá'u'lláh used his limited education to reinforce his claim to divine revelation. He argued that since he had not spent years studying the Qur'an and Arabic, how else could he be able to write as he did in Arabic? And there is no evidence to suggest that he devised his writings through his own intellectual thoughts.
Contact with the Báb
In 1844, just 3 months after the Báb's declaration, Mulla Husayn carried a scroll of the Báb's to Bahá'u'lláh.
On reading it, Bahá'u'lláh recognised the claims of the Báb and at the age of 27 became his follower.
From then on, although they never met, Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb were in constant correspondence and when the Báb knew that he would soon die, he sent his pens, seals and papers to Bahá'u'lláh.
It was at Bahá'u'lláh's explicit instructions that the remains of the Báb were removed from Tabriz to Tihran and hidden in a place of safety.
Imprisonment
Two years after the Báb's death, Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned in Tihran, accused of taking part in the attempted assassination of the Shah of Persia.
He was put in stocks and, for three days, given neither food nor water.
Other Bábis were imprisoned with him and as they sat in chains, Bahá'u'lláh taught them to chant prayers which were heard by the Shah.
The reasons for Bahá'u'lláh's arrest were not straightforward and included:
- his stature and influence as the leading member of the Bábi community
- the jealousy of the Grand Vizier
- the hatred of the Shah's mother, who levelled unjust accusations at Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh's own actions also contributed to his arrest:
- he ignored advice to keep himself hidden
- he went of his own volition to army headquarters to be arrested