Bayani, meaning "of the Bayán", more commonly known as Azalis, or Azali Bábís, are followers of the Báb. Bayanis believe that Siyyid `Ali Muhammad, known as the Báb, was a Manifestation of God and who claimed that position in 1848. Bayanis believe that earlier, from 1844 to 1848, he had progressively claimed the titles of Remembrance (dhikr), then Proof (hujjah), then the promised Qa'im or Mahdi and Báb'u'lláh (gate of God). The primary book of the Báb is called the Bayán. In Bábism, a Bayán (Arabic: ‎), or exposition, denotes the whole body of the works of the Báb, the central one being the Persian Bayán. ... Shrine of the Báb at night from above in Haifa, Israel. ... The Baháí Faith refers to what are commonly called Prophets as Manifestations of God, or simply Manifestations (mazhar) who are directly linked with the concept of Progressive revelation. ... Dhikr , ذکر (Zikr in Urdu and Zekr in Persian) (Arabic pronouncement, invocation or remembrance) is the remembrance of God commanded in the Quran for all Muslims. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Báb's followers were originally called Bábís. In the 1860s a split in the leadership caused those that followed Bahá'u'lláh to be called Bahá'ís, and those that followed Subh-i-Azal to be called Bábís, Bayanis, or popularly Azalis. Bahá'u'lláh made a claim to be the messianic Bábí figure, He whom God shall make manifest. Bahá'í texts indicate that Subh-i-Azal made the same claim.^[1] This is denied by modern Bayanis. The room where The Báb declared His mission on May 23, 1844 in His house in Shiraz. ... Shrine of Baháulláh Baháulláh (ba-haa-ol-laa Arabic: ‎ Glory of God) (1817 - 1892), born (Persian: ‎ ), was the founder and prophet of the Baháí Faith. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... Mirza Yahya Nuri (1831 - 29 April 1912) or often called Subh-i Azal (Morn of Eternity) was a Persian religious leader of the Bayani people (sometimes refered to as Bábís or Azalis). ... He whom God shall make manifest is a messianic figure predicted by the Báb within his book the Bayan that would come after him and lead the Babis. ...

Britannica Concise states that: "Now located almost exclusively in Iran, the Azalis probably number no more than a few thousand." ^[2] The Encyclopedia of the Orient states that: "The actual number of Babis is very small: their geography is now limited to Uzbekistan." [1]

Distinguishing characteristics

Taqiyya (Dissimulation) was practiced by some Bábís. It was justified by some as a response to the often violent oppression the community was faced with. However, prominent Bábí leaders never encouraged individuals to practice it; and some who had practiced taqiyya, later abandoned it, declared themselves openly, and were executed.^[3] Among Bayanis, however, the practice became ingrained and widespread. One historian has noted: In Islamic tradition, Taqiyya (التقية - fear, guard against)[1] is the dispensation allowing believers to conceal their faith when under threat, persecution or compulsion. ... Dissimulation is a form of deception in which one conceals the truth. ...

"The Azali Babis and in particular Mirza Aqa Khan Kirmani and Shaykh Ahmad Ruhi showed little hesitation in alteration and falsification of Babi teachings and history in their works. Azali Babi’s regarded taqiyyah as an imperative requirement.

"In contrast the Azali Babis glorified taqiyyah in their literature. Taqiyyah was considered a virtue and classified into various levels of concealment. Prominent Azali leaders openly recanted their faith and even abused [the] Bab and Azal in the process."^[3]

Recent developments

There was some dispute on the question of who was Subh-i-Azal's appointed successor.^[4] According to Bahá'í texts, one of these, his son, renounced his faith and become a Bahá'í, and another publicly recanted his faith in the Báb.^[5] After his death the Bayani community seems to have stabilized on mostly families and kin related to Subh-i-Azal or prominent early believers who had stayed in the fold and not converted to the Bahá'í Faith. There were two individuals that publically announced they were Azalis: the painter of Subh-i Azal's portrait hung in hs tomb (a British woman) and August Stenstrand (a Swedish immigrant and former follower of Dr. Ibrahim George Kheiralla). The writings of Stendtrand have been recently published by Chicago-based Magribine Press a link can be found at [2]. A more recent movement toward the Bayan's teachings was seen in early 2005 when a new website was launched claiming to represent the Bayani community at Bayanic.com. Mirza Yahya Nuri (1831 - 29 April 1912) or often called Subh-i Azal (Morn of Eternity) was a Persian religious leader of the Bayani people (sometimes refered to as Bábís or Azalis). ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ...

See also

• Bábís
• Bahá'í/Bábí split

The room where The Báb declared His mission on May 23, 1844 in His house in Shiraz. ... By Baháí/Bábí split is meant the process when most Bábís accepted the Baháí Faith as the fulfilment of their religion, leaving a remnant of Bábís who now refer to themselves as Bayanis. ...

Notes

1. ^ Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 167
2. ^ Azali. Britannica Concise. Retrieved on 2006-10-14.
3. ^ ^{a b} Manuchehri (1999). "The Practice of Taqiyyah (Dissimulation) in the Babi and Bahai Religions". Research Notes in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies Vol. 3 (No. 3). Retrieved on 2006-12-26. 
4. ^ Browne, Materials for the Study of the Bábí Religion, pp. 312-314
5. ^ Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 233 & Momen, The Cyprus Exiles, pp. 99

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ...

References

• Browne, E.G. (Ed.) (1918). Materials for the Study of the Babi Religion. Cambridge University Press. 

• Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877430209. 

• Manuchehri, Sepehr (1999). "The Practice of Taqiyyah (Dissimulation) in the Babi and Bahai Religions". Research Notes in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies Vol. 3 (no. 3). Retrieved on 2006-12-29. 

• Momen, Moojan (1991). "The Cyprus Exiles". Bahá'í Studies Bulletin V. 6 (No. 1). 

The last photograph of Shoghi Effendi, taken a few months before he died. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ...

External links

• The Religion of Bayan A website of the Bayani community.