Bahá’í History: A Timeline
The Bahá’í Faith was born in Persia (now Iran) in the 1800s. Explore the milestones below, starting with the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
• 1817, November 12
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh in Tihrán, Iran
• 1819, October 20
Birth of the Báb in Shíráz, Iran
• 1844, May 23
The Báb declares His Mission as Prophet-Founder of the Bábí Faith in Shíráz. He teaches that another Messenger of God will soon appear.
• 1850, July 9
The Báb is martyred in Tabríz, Iran.
• 1852-1853
Bahá’u’lláh is imprisoned in the “Black Pit” of Tihrán. He is then is exiled to Baghdád, Iraq.
• 1863
Bahá’u’lláh declares His Mission as Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith and the Messenger of God foretold by the Báb. Bahá’u’lláh is exiled to Constantinople (Istanbul) and then Adrianople (Edirne), Turkey, and finally to the prison-city of ‘Akká, Israel.
• 1877-1879
Bahá’u’lláh is finally free to live in countryside homes of Mazra‘ih and then Bahjí, near ‘Akká.
• 1892, May 29
Bahá’u’lláh passes away at Bahjí. In His will, He names ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His eldest son, as leader of the Bahá’í Faith.
• 1911-1913
‘Abdu’l-Bahá makes historic journeys to Egypt, Europe, and North America.
• 1921, November 28
‘Abdu’l-Bahá passes away in Haifa, Israel. In his will, he names his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as leader of the Bahá’í Faith.
• 1957
Shoghi Effendi passes away while traveling in England.
• 1963
The first Universal House of Justice is elected, becoming the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith.
• Today
More than five million Bahá’ís live around the world, in nearly every country, representing over 2,000 ethnic groups.