Bahá’ís across North Alabama and the world enjoying double holy days this week for the Birth of The Báb and the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh .

The “Twin Birthdays” of the religion’s founders are on two consecutive days, today, Nov. 1 and tomorrow, Nov. 2. The Huntsville Bahá’í community will hold commemorative events each evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Bahá’í Center, 3209 Pulaski Pike.

The Birth of The Báb, November 1, commemorates the 1819 birth in Shiraz, Persia, of The Báb (born Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, who later took the title “The Báb,” meaning “the Gate”).  The Báb was the herald who prepared the way for Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.  He called on people to purify themselves for the coming day of God.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 2, commemorates the 1817 birth of Bahá’u’lláh (born Mirza Husayn-‘Ali) in Núr, Persia. Bahá’u’lláh means the “Glory of God,” who announced in 1863 that he is God’s messenger for this age.  His teachings and sacred writings are the basis of the Bahá’í Faith, an inclusive monotheistic faith that’s grown to more than five million believers in nearly every country and territory across the globe.

House of Baha’u’llah in Tehran.

Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed that God, our loving creator, sends divine messengers or manifestations of God with teachings that enable humanity to know and to worship God.  These great manifestations have appeared throughout history every 500 to 1,000 years, bringing human civilization to ever higher levels of spiritual and material advancement. Bahá’u’lláh is the latest in this long line of divine messengers, which has included Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster and The Báb.

The birthdays of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh occur on consecutive days according to the “Badi” calendar, a lunar calendar.

The Bahá’í Faith has been active in Huntsville since 1957 and offers devotional programs, children’s classes and study circles for spiritual education for people of all backgrounds. For information, check huntsvillebahais.com or email hsvlsa9@gmail.com.  The faith is
represented in every state and thousands of communities throughout the United States.  To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith in America, visit www.bahai.us