He [Baha'u'llah] became well-known
in regard to these qualities before the Báb appeared. Then Bahá'u'lláh declared
the Báb's mission to be true and promulgated His teachings. The Báb announced
that the greater Manifestation would take place after Him and called the
Promised One "Him Whom God shall make manifest," saying that nine
years later the reality of His own mission would become apparent. In His
writings He stated that in the ninth year this expected One would be known; in
the ninth year they would attain to all glory and felicity; in the ninth year
they would advance rapidly. Between Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb there was
communication privately. The Báb wrote a letter containing three hundred and
sixty derivatives of the root Baha. The Báb was martyred in Tabriz; and
Bahá'u'lláh, exiled into Iraq in 1852, announced Himself in Baghdad. For the
Persian government had decided that as long as He remained in Persia the peace
of the country would be disturbed; therefore, He was exiled in the expectation
that Persia would become quiet. His banishment, however, produced the opposite
effect. New tumult arose, and the mention of His greatness and influence spread
everywhere throughout the country. The proclamation of His manifestation and
mission was made in Baghdad. He called His friends together there and spoke to
them of God.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (From
a talk, 18 April 1912, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal
Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States
and Canada in 1912’)
