the Name assumed by Mirza Ali Mohammad (1819-1850)
Persian religious leader, born in Shiraz, founder of Babism, an offshoot of Islam. In 1844 he proclaimed that he was a gateway to the Hidden Imam, a new messenger of Allah who was to come. He gained a large following whose activities caused the Persian authorities to fear a rebellion, and who were therefore persecuted. The Bab was executed for heresy.