This is only a very brief history of the beginnings of our Faith. For the early history of the Faith in Worcester see The History of the Faith in Worcester
The Bahá'í Faith has a short but very rich history of sacrifice and triumph unparalleled in other world religion. On the eve of May 23, 1844 a young Iranian merchant, Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad (1819-1850), in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran) proclaimed the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God awaited by all the peoples of the world and predicted by many religious text and scholars. He adopted the title of Báb, which means "the Gate", and although He was by Himself the bearer of an independent revelation from God, He declared that His purpose was to prepare mankind for the advent of "Him Whom God shall make manifest".
This declaration, the great interest that it caused among the population, and the large number of followers (also called Bábís) that acknowledged the Divine message of the Báb, caused an angry reaction by the Muslim clergy and government officials of Persia. Ultimately, the Báb was arrested, beaten, imprisoned, and finally on July 9, 1850 executed in the public square of the city of Tabriz
One of the followers of the Báb, Mírzá Husayn-'Alí (1817-1892), later called by the title bestowed upon him by the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, became an enthusiastic supporter of the new teachings of the Báb in the first year of His mission. When the Bábís began to be persecuted, Bahá'u'lláh also suffered and was arrested several times and beaten. In 1852, Bahá'u'lláh was arrested and thrown into an underground pit called the Siyah Chal. While imprisoned in this terrrible place something wonderful happened! Bahá'u'lláh revealed to us the following
While engulfed in tribulations I heard a most wondrous, a most sweet voice, calling above My head. Turning My face, I beheld a Maiden—the embodiment of the remembrance of the name of My Lord—suspended in the air before Me.... Pointing with her finger unto My head, she addressed all who are in heaven and all who are on earth, saying: ‘By God! This is the Best-Beloved of the worlds, and yet ye comprehend not. This is the Beauty of God amongst you, and the power of His sovereignty within you, could ye but understand. This is the Mystery of God and His Treasure, the Cause of God and His glory unto all who are in the kingdoms of Revelation and of creation, if ye be of them that perceive.’ (Shoghi Effendi. God Passes By. 1979 ed.)
Eventually He was exiled from Iran to Baghdad, Iraq, and in the Spring of 1863 (April 21), in a beautiful rose garden by the shore of the Tigris river, called by Him "The Garden of Ridvan", He declared to His companions and family that This was the Day of Days that the Báb had prepared them for. The nature of His mission has been revealed! The new Manifestation of God for this age has finally come to us! This day marks the beginning of the Bahá'í Faith and it is the holiest and most significant of all Bahá'í festivals. Every year, Bahá'ís around the world celebrate this Festival of Ridvan by rejoicing in fellowship, electing local spiritual assemblies, giving roses to friends and families, etc.
Many more developments happened after Baghdad. Bahá'u'lláh was further exiled multiple times. To read more we invite you to visit Baha'i Topics.