The Baha'i Faith was started in Persia (present-day Iran) in
1844. Siyyid Ali-Muhammad was 25 years old when he announced
that God sent him to prepare humanity for a new age. He
predicted that another messenger that was greater than he was
would be coming. He took on the title of "The Bab," which means
Gate in Arabic. His followers were called Babis. Until he was
executed in Tabriz, Iran in 1850, The Bab's teaching spread
quickly, but he was viewed by Muslims in the region as a
heretic. Another figure, Baha'u'llah, is considered the founder
of the Baha'i religion. His name means "Glory of God" in Arabic.
He was a member of a royal family, but he turned away from his
money and position to dedicate himself to his religion. He was
imprisoned for his beliefs, and while he was in prison he
received a Revelation that he was the messenger that The Bab had
promised his people. When he announced that he was the messenger
that the people had been waiting for, the religion began to be
known as the Baha'i Faith. The Baha