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LESSON SEVEN - THE BÁB

Preparation: Diagram for each child (the door to the Báb's house). Crayons.

Summary of the previous lesson: Quddus arrived in Shiraz and recognised the Báb by the way He walked. Although Quddus was only twenty-two years old, he was chosen by God to be the eighteenth Letter of the Living.

The Báb, who was called Siyyid Ah-Muhammad, was born in Shiraz. His father died whilst He was still a child, so He and His mother went to live with His uncle Haji Siyyid Ah. The Báb's family were related to Muhammad.

When lie was about six or seven, His uncle took Him to school. His teacher asked Him to recite some words from the Qu'ran, but the Báb first asked to know what the words meant. His teacher pretended not to know what the words meant, so the Báb asked politely if He could explain the meaning. The teacher was amazed at what he heard, for no-one had every explained the holy verses as the Báb did. The teacher decided to send the Báb home and to speak to His uncle. "I have brought Him back to you", he said, and told His uncle to take great care of Him because He was a special child who did not need a teacher. His uncle had already told Him that He should behave like the other pupils sitting quietly and listening to every word spoken by the teacher, and he made the Báb promise that He would return to school and remain quietly. After a few years His uncle did take Him from school and He helped in His uncle's business.

The Báb worked mostly in Bushihr, selling beautiful china ware and cloth for His uncle. When He was not working, He spent much time in prayer, often standing on the roof of the house for several hours in the hot summer sun. He was well known for being honest and was loved by everyone who met Him.

The Báb had a sweet and lovely cousin named Khadijih-Sultan-Bagum, and they often played together. As they grew up, they were not allowed to see each other, which was the way of life in Iran in those days. Khadijih had a dream in which she saw Fatimih, the daughter of Muhammad, who told her she wanted her to marry her son. That very day, the mother of the Báb came to say she wanted Khadijih to marry her son. Khadijih then knew that the Báb must be a special Person to have such a dream about Him. They were married, and had one son called Ahmad, who died whilst still a baby.

Kbadijih Bagum remembered one evening when all the house had gone to bed, how the Báb awoke and left the room. After a long time, when the Báb did not return, His wife went to look for Him. She thought lie might have left the house so she went to the door but it was locked. Then she saw a light on in the part of the house where the Báb went only if he had visitors. Khadijih did not think He had a visitor that night so she was very surprised. She started to climb the stairs until she could see Him in the room. His hands were raised in prayer and tears were streaming down from His eyes. There seemed to be rays of light around His face. Khadijih could not move at the sight of Him, until the Báb made a movement with His hands for her to go. She returned to bed but could not sleep for thinking about the Báb.

In the morning the Bab went to His mother’s room and Khadijih followed Him. He asked her what was troubling her and she told Him that He did not seem to be the same Person anymore.

The Báb told her that it was God's wish that she should have seen Him deep in prayer, so that she would be absolutely sure that He was God's Messenger whom all the people were waiting for. Khadijih believed Him and from that moment on she wanted to serve him.

(Note. This last story is not told in The Dawnbreakers, but was taken rom Khadijih Bagum, the Wife of the Báb).

Homework questions:

1.How were Khadijih and the Báb related to each other?

2.How did Khadijih find the Báb and what was He doing?

Give the children each the following sheet. Read the Words of the Báb.

Colour in carefully.

(Note. Encourage the children to learn some of the Writings by heart).