mawlid. This is perhaps the most famous of all the Madīnat al-Salām meaning 'City of Peace'. The city became the lth/17th century. Baghdad was heavily bombed in the 1991 Gulf

Bahā'is Members of new religion, deriving from Bā bism (q.v.), founded by Bahā'ullāh (q.v.), and propagated by the

Bahā'ullāh

latter's son 'Abd al-Bahā'. Bahā'Is believe in an utterly transcendent God who has, none the less, manifested Himself through a continuing chain of prophets who include many of the great figures familiar to adherents of the three major monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Bāb and Bahā'ullāh also have prophetic rank. The Bahā's believe that all the religions which have prophets possess an intrinsic truth. Because the Baha' īs, technically speaking, are an offshoot of an offshoot of an offshoot of the Ithnā 'Asharīs (q.v.) they have often been regarded as gravely heretical by Muslims, and sometimes subjected to persecution and execution. Bahā'ullāh (1233/1817-1309/1892) Founder of the Bahā'Is (q.v.). Born into an aristocratic family in Tehran, he became an early disciple of the Bāb, though he never actually met him. While in prison in Tehran he underwent a profound mystical experience. In 1279/1863 Bahā'ullāh announced himself as 'The Man whom God shall reveal', in fulfilment of a prophecy by the Bab; and later he openly announced his mission in Edirne. He is buried in Haifa in Israel. (See Bābism.) Bahlrā Name of a Christian monk and hermit encountered by Muhammad while on a trading expedition to Syria with his uncle Abū Talīb (q.v.); Muhammad at the time was aged about twelve. Bahīra recognized the seal of prophethood on Muhammad and he forecast great things for the Prophet.