The Gate of Knowledge

Montreal, July 9, 2025 – Like in thousands of localities around the world, Bahá’ís from various neighborhoods of Montreal gathered today to commemorate a defining moment in their Faith: the martyrdom of the Báb, the prophetic figure and forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith.

Regarded as a herald of a new era, the Báb, in 1844, called for a profound transformation of society. His visionary teachings urged humanity to embrace a renewed perspective, equal to the sweeping changes brought about by scientific advancement, industrial evolution, and social reform. He laid the foundation for a world striving for unity, justice, and spiritual progress.

Barely four years after the beginning of His mission, the Báb was summoned to Tabriz—now in modern-day Iran—where He was interrogated by the religious and political authorities of the time. On July 9, 1850, by order of the Prime Minister of the Shah, the Báb was executed in the military barracks of Tabriz, alongside a devoted young follower, Anís. A regiment of 750 riflemen ended their earthly lives, but gave rise to an enduring legacy.

The Báb’s dramatic life and luminous character so captivated hearts that news of His martyrdom eventually reached Europe. His heroic story fascinated many, including leading intellectuals and writers of the 19th century. French literary critic Jules Bois later recalled the enduring impact of the Báb’s legacy on European thought, highlighting a spiritual influence that transcended both time and geography.

Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol College at Oxford, remarked that the Báb’s religion may have “the promise of the future,” which might prove, he said to a companion, “the most important religious movement since the foundation of Christianity.”

Others in the West talked and wrote about the moving story of the Báb in the salons and coffee houses of Europe as late as the 1890s, included among them Leo Tolstoy, Edward Granville Browne, A.L.M. Nicolas, Ernest Renan, Matthew Arnold, and George Curzon.

Today’s commemoration stands as both a tribute to a sacred destiny and a reminder of the transformative power of truth, even in the face of injustice.

Refer :

- Jules Bois quoted in: Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By

- Duncan Wu. William Hazlitt: The First Modern Man.

- The Bahá’í World, vol. 9, 1940-1944

• Photo: Shrine of the Báb