THE BÁB IS A MANIFESTATION OF GOD Grade 3 Lesson 11

THE BÁB IS A MANIFESTATION OF GOD

Introducing The Principal Theme

The purpose of this lesson is to provide you with the opportunity to reflect on the statement: “The Báb is a Manifestation of God.” Remember the themes we explored in the previous set of lessons?

We studied the lives of seven Manifestations of God and learned about some of their teachings. They each lived in one part of the world at a particular time. But their teachings gradually spread throughout the planet and lasted for centuries so that, today, we can know them and be uplifted by the beautiful Message each brought.

Do you remember the names of the seven Manifestations from the earlier lessons? We learned that, in addition to bringing their own laws and teachings, the Manifestations of God told their followers to look forward to the Day when all of humanity would become one family, living together in harmony. So, for thousands of years, humanity has waited for the Day when the peoples of the world would be united and peace would be established on earth.

We are fortunate to know that this new Day has dawned and that the time to build a new world has come. So special is this Day that God sent not one but two Manifestations to guide us. The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are the Twin Manifestations of God for today.”

What does it mean to say that the Báb is a Manifestation of God?

Remember we have talked before about the meaning of the word ‘manifestation’.

To manifest something is to show its qualities. The Manifestations of God reveal His qualities to humanity. For example, God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful; His Manifestations show forth Divine love, knowledge, and power. How do we recognize the Manifestations of God? By their Word and by their Person. As I mentioned earlier, the Báb is one of two Manifestations sent by God to educate us at this special time in history.

In the weeks to come, we will learn about the Báb, His life, and His teachings, which will cause their hearts to overflow with love for Him and that, by knowing Him, they will draw closer to God.

And as you study His teachings and episodes from His life you will get glimpses of God’s power and majesty, of His infinite wisdom and knowledge.

Note that from lessons 11 to 16 we will memorize the prayers below

1. Is there any remover of difficulties save God?  Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!

2. Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.

3. O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. Thou art He who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul.  O Lord! Grant deliverance through Thy mercy, and reckon me among such servants of Thine as have gained salvation.

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QUEEN OF CARMEL

GATE OF GATES

TEACH US THY ONENESS BY ANNA MCDONALD MASTER
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT
MUSIC FROM BRILLIANT STAR: MOUNT YOUR STEEDS

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In the following quotation, the Báb announces His appearance to the people of the world and calls upon them to recognize the Light that shines forth from His Holy Being. In helping the children to memorize it, you should be prepared to explain through concrete examples any words they may find difficult or unfamiliar. Some space is provided further below for you to write down any such words, along with your explanation for each one.

I am the Countenance of God Whose splendor can never be obscured, the Light of God Whose radiance can never fade

The Báb
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G3 L16 QUOTE

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Historical Episodes

The historical episode for this lesson tells the story of how the first and last of the Letters of the Living came to know the Báb and recognize His station.

STORY 1

You already know from an earlier class that, before the Báb declared His Mission, there were several people who knew deep in their hearts that the Promised Qá’im—He who ariseth—would soon appear. In that class, we learned about Siyyid Káẓim, a saintly person who had many students that he was preparing for the coming of the long-awaited Qá’im. When his work was done and the time had arrived for him to leave this world, he told his students that their preparation had ended, that the One for Whom they were waiting would appear, and that they should go forth and not rest until they reached His presence. After Siyyid Káẓim’s passing, many of his students set out in search of their heart’s Desire. Among them were two of the greatest heroes of the Bahá’í Faith, Mullá Ḥusayn and Quddús.

What would you do if you were a student of Siyyid Káẓim and wished to find the Promised Qá’im but did not know who He was or in which city He resided?

Mullá Ḥusayn’s first step was to spend forty days in prayer and meditation. He ate little, he slept little, and he hardly conversed with anyone; he prayed continuously and opened his heart to God’s inspiration. Then he set out on his search. It was as if a force were guiding him in a certain direction. So he followed the attraction he felt in his heart and kept going. He walked and he walked until he finally reached the city of Shíráz. In that city, God answered his prayers.

At the gate of Shíráz, a few hours before sunset on the eve of 23 May 1844, he met a youthful Personage Who welcomed him and invited him to His home to refresh himself after his long and difficult journey. So dignified and majestic was this extraordinary Youth that Mullá Ḥusayn accepted His invitation.

That evening his Host showered him with kindness. He poured water on his hands and feet so that Mullá Ḥusayn could wash away the dust from his journey. He Himself prepared tea and offered it to him and later stood next to him as they each said their evening prayer.

You have already figured out, of course, that this Holy Being was none other than the Báb Himself.

That evening while they were conversing, the Báb turned to Mullá Ḥusayn and asked,

“Whom, after Siyyid Káẓim, do you regard as his successor and your leader?”

Mullá Ḥusayn explained that Siyyid Káẓim had not named a successor, but had asked his students to set out in search of the Promised Qá’im.

“Has your teacher,” asked the Báb, “given you any detailed indications as to the distinguishing features of the promised One?”

Mullá Ḥusayn mentioned that He would have to be a descendant of the Prophet Muḥammad; that His age would be between twenty and thirty; that He would possess innate knowledge; and that He would be of medium height, would abstain from smoking and would have no physical defects.

The Báb paused for a while and then with a vibrant voice said,

“Behold, all these signs are manifest in Me!”

He then went on to explain to Mullá Ḥusayn great spiritual truths and even revealed the first chapter of one of His Holy Books in his presence. Can you imagine the joy that filled Mullá Ḥusayn’s heart that evening as he accepted the Báb and became the first to recognize His station? And this is what he was told by the Báb: “

Verily I say, I am the Báb, the Gate of God, and thou art the Bábu’l-Báb, the gate of that Gate.”

Mullá Ḥusayn wanted, of course, to share the news of this extraordinary event with others, especially with the students of Siyyid Káẓim. But the Báb instructed him not to do so. He explained that the first eighteen people had to find Him by themselves, guided to Him directly by their own spiritual insight, and only when that number was complete would the new Faith be taught to others. The Báb would call these eighteen blessed souls the Letters of the Living.

STORY 2

Gradually, in the weeks that followed, sixteen more people—some through dreams, some while praying, others while meditating—found the Báb and accepted Him. The number of the Letters of the Living was almost complete.

But who was to be the eighteenth Letter of the Living?

One day the Báb and Mullá Ḥusayn were walking down a street of Shíráz when Mullá Ḥusayn met his friend, that outstanding student of Siyyid Káẓim who was later given the title Quddús. Like Mullá Ḥusayn, Quddús had left his home and was traveling from city to city hoping to reach the presence of the Promised Qá’im. He, too, had spent hours and hours in prayer, asking God to lead him to the Object of his desire. He, too, had been led by the mysterious Hand of God to the city of Shíráz.

Quddús embraced Mullá Ḥusayn and asked him eagerly whether he had attained his goal. Mullá Ḥusayn did not know what to say. So he tried to calm his friend. He told him that, after such a long journey, he should rest and later they would discuss this matter. But Quddús could not be quieted so easily. His heart was leaping with joy. His gaze was fixed on the Báb Who was a few steps ahead of them. “

Why seek you to hide Him from me?” he said impatiently to Mullá Ḥusayn.

“I can recognize Him by His gait. I confidently testify that none besides Him, whether in the East or in the West, can claim to be the Truth. None other can manifest the power and majesty that radiate from His holy person.”

Mullá Ḥusayn went to the Báb and informed Him of his conversation with Quddús.

“Marvel not at his strange behavior,” was the Báb’s answer. “We have in the world of the spirit been communing with that youth. We know him already. We indeed awaited his coming. Go to him and summon him forthwith to Our presence.”

Mullá Ḥusayn gladly went back and called Quddús to the presence of the Báb. And this is how, on that historic day, the number of the Letters of the Living was completed. Soon the Letters of the Living would travel in all directions and spread the Message of the Báb.

What are some of the spiritual insights from the stories above?

Both Mullá Ḥusayn and Quddús spent hours in prayer before setting out on their search, turning their hearts to God and imploring Him to guide them to the Promised Qá’im,

This is how it is possible to draw on the great spiritual forces at work in the Faith.

Any Other spiritual insights you can think of?
STORIES FROM THE DAWNBREAKERS FOR CHILDREN: Read by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears
USE THE RESOURCES BELOW AS NEEDED
FACTS ABOUT THE BÁB
  • The Báb declared His Mission in 1844, on the eve of 23 May.
  • The Báb declared His Mission in the city of Shíráz in Persia.
  • Mullá Ḥusayn was the first to recognize the Báb.
  • The word “báb” means “gate”.
  • The Báb gave Mullá Ḥusayn the title, “Bábu’l-Báb”, which means “the gate of the Gate”.
  • The first eighteen people to believe in the Báb were called the “Letters of the Living”.
  • Quddús was the last of the Letters of the Living; he was twenty-two years old when he accepted the Báb as the Promised Qá’im.

Download the memorization aid cards FACTS ABOUT THE BAB HERE

SKIT BASED ON STORY 1

Recount one or both of the stories in your own words. Since so much of the episode is focused on the Person of the Báb, you may find it difficult to think of a drama that the children could easily perform without portraying the figure of the Bab Himself. The role of a Narrator can help with this.

treasure hunt

Searching for items hidden around the room can be a fun activity related to the story on search. Items can include numbers 1 to 18 with or without the names of the Letters Of The Living, A photo of a gate to represent the meaning of Bab’s Name etc.

mAKE AN i SPY BOTTLE

Based on the concept of search make an ISPY bottle. The filler can be uncooked rice or styrofoam balls. The item represents what we need while searching for truth, for example, a pure heart. Be creative with items. a coin for your expenses, a paperclip to hold your research together, etc. Create a tag with a list of the items in the bottle so friends can search also.

Do a science experiment to purify hearts

We have performed this experiment in previous lessons, where we purify the colored water with drops of bleach

Try filtering water to demonstrate how to “Purify hearts”
From the Delighted Heart Website

craft here

DAYSPRING

If you have not already tried the crafts in the Dayspring magazine, take a look! There is a lot of information about the Bab, as well as activities and crafts. Download here

Stained Glass window

Make a stained glass window with tissue paper and this template or a simple template

Primal point Craft

Use this PDF to help with a Primal point Craft

Make a Gate Card

All Done Monkey website has a Gate card to make

Write a poem about search or draw a picture

Using the material in the stories, write or draw how you feel, or about what happened, etc.

He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favor and the ways of His mercy


Bahá’u’lláh
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THE MEANING OF PRIMAL POINT

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VIDEO LIFE OF THE BAB

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