. Initially Islamic clergy saw the followers as "Muslim Heretics". And from these "Heretics", the first phase of the Faith was laid down; it was to become known as the Bb Faith. The progenitors of the Faith were direct descendants of the Imams (Shiah chosen leaders). Tension grew between the Sunni and Shiah sects due to differences in belief of what leadership should prevail and rule after Muhammad's death. The first Sunni dynasty gained power twenty-nine years after Muhammad's death, and at once began putting the Imams to death, these descendents of Muhammad believed that it was them who should continue with Muhammad's teachings and assume the leadership of the people. With the persecution of the Imams, Shiah tradition says a young child, known as the twelfth Imam, was concealed to avoid execution. He was then to be known as the 'Hidden Imam'. For a period of sixty-nine years following his disappearance, the Hidden Imam was said to have communicated secretly with his followers through arbitrators, who took the title of bbs (gate). With the passing of the bbs, the title was passed on to a newly appointed one. The fourth and last bb refused or was unable to appoint a new successor and it was therefore implied that the matter to be left in the hands of God. On May 23, 1844 in the city of Shiraz, a man named Siyyid Ali Muhammad announced that he was the promised final Bb. To the Muslim clergy the claims made by this man were a threat to the foundation of Islam. The Bb's (Siyyid) mission was that he was the long awaited Imam Mahdi (the Guided One), the messenger of God, the one to free the Bb's (followers of the Shiah sect, awaiting for the new Imam) from the Islamic Shari'ah (canon law). With this threat, uneasiness occurred and outbreaks of violence ensued, armed forces were then sent to crush this Bb movement. The Bb was executed in 1852, and while thousands of Bb 's were also slaughtered at this time, the Faith at this po...
