The Babi and Baha'i Religion — Page 103
THE B Ā B Ī AND BAH Ā ’ Ī RELIGION 103 SUMMARY The B a b i and the Bah a ’ i movement are develop ments out of the Ithn a Ashar i ah doctrine in regard to the Imam Gh a ib (Hidden Imam), Popular ideas and expectations connected with this doctrine have always had a deep political tinge in regard to aims, which those who held them kept carefully hidden from outsiders, from fear of getting into trouble with the administrative authorities. The movements started by Shaikh Ahmad Al- A h s a ’ i and K az im Rasht i shared this political tinge to the fullest And the same holds true in regard to the move- ments started by ‘Al i Muhammad B a b and Mirz a H usain ‘Al i Bah a ’ull a h. In fact the B a b i movement soon began to come into open clash with the rulers of Iran. Rebellion and blood shed led to strict measures against the B a b i s. which in turn drove the real aims and impulse of the movement more and more underground. Exasperated by the opposition of the Muslim Ulema, B a b and Bah a ’ull a h decided to cut themselves away from the Islamic Sharia. Each of the two manufactured a Sbariyah for himself.