The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (318 page)

B
b
s
.

Followers of Sayyid ‘Al
Mu
ammad Sh
r
z
(1819–50), a merchant from southern Iran who ultimately claimed to be the bearer of a new religion in succession to Islam. His initial claim, made in the spring of 1844 after a series of revelatory visions, was that he was the
B
b
(‘gate’) to the
Hidden Imám
of Twelver Shi‘ism (see
ITHN
‘ASHAR
YA
). Later he claimed to be the Im
m himself, returned as
al-Mahd
at the end of the age. Finally he claimed to be the
Nuqta
(‘point’) of a new revelation from God. Teaching a complex combination of esoteric and messianic ideas, the B
b initially attracted many
Shaikh
s
to his cause, but the movement soon gained a wider following, becoming well established in many parts of Iran. Orthodox religious leaders sought to stem its growth, and in response to persecution the B
b