The doctrines of a Muslim messianic Shiite sect. Founded in 1844 by the Persian Sayyid Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (1819–50) known as the Báb ed‐Din (the gate or intermediary between man and God), who declared himself to be the long-awaited Mahdi. For inciting insurrection the Báb was arrested in 1848 by the government and executed in 1850, his remains being interred (1909) on Mt Carmel, Palestine. In 1863 Baha’ullah and his son Abdul Baha declared themselves the new leaders, and their followers became known as the Baha’is.