Chronology: Date 1853

date	event	tags	firsts	refs
1853 -1863	During this period Bahá'u'lláh revealed His mystical Writings.	* Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Mysticism; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1853 12 Jan	Bahá'u'lláh and His family departed for Baghdád after a one month respite in the home of his half-brother Mírzá Ridá-Qulí. During the three-month journey Bahá'u'lláh was accompanied by His wife Navváb (Who was six weeks from giving birth upon departure.) His eldest son 'Abdu'l-Bahá (9), Bahíyyih Khánum (7) and two of His brothers, Mírzá Músá and Mírzá Muhammad-Qulí. Mírzá Mihdí (2), was very delicate and so was left behind with the grandmother of the child, the mother of Àsíyih Khánum. They were escorted by an officer of the Persian imperial bodyguard and an official representing the Russian legation. [BKG102–5; GPB108; MM31; RoL165] In a letter sent on behalf of the Universal House of Justice dated 1998-10-14 it is stated that there is very little historical information on who took care of Mírzá Mihdí until he was transported to Baghdad to rejoin the Holy Family. CH44–5 says the family had ten days after Bahá'u'lláh's release to prepare for the journey to Iraq. 'Never had the fortunes of the Faith proclaimed by the Báb sunk to a lower ebb'. [DB651] This exile compares to the migration of Muhammad, the exodus of Moses and the banishment of Abraham. [GPB107–8] See BKG104 and GPB108–9 for conditions on the journey. During His crossing of the Atlantic on his way from Naples to New York He said the His feet had become frostbitten during the trip to Baghdad. [SYH52; Light of Faith: A collection of stories by Paris Sadeghzadeh and Behnam Golmohammadi p84-86] Bahá'u'lláh's black servant, Isfandíyár, who had managed to evade capture during this dark period, after he had paid all the debts to various merchants, went to Mazandaran where he was engaged by the Governor. Years later when his master made a pilgrimage to Iraq Isfandíyár met Bahá'u'lláh and stated his preference to return to His service. Bahá'u'lláh said that he owed his master a debt of gratitude and could not leave his employ without his permission. It was not granted and Isfandíyár returned to Mazandaran and stayed with the Governor until his passing. [PUP428; SoW IX 28 April, 1918 p38-39] Also see A Gift of Love Offered to the Greatest Holy Leaf (compiled and edited by Gloria Faizi, 1982), by Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, which includes a brief summary of the character of Isfandiyar and his services to the Holy Family on pages 14-16.	Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Mírzá Rida-Quli; Navvab (Asiyih Khanum); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Life of (chronology); Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Mírzá Musa (Aqay-i-Kalim); Mírzá Mihdi (Purest Branch); Mírzá Muhammad-Quli; Isfandiyar; Russian officials; Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Exile (banishment); Tehran, Iran; Iran; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1853 21 Mar	Bahá'u'lláh and His companions arrived in Khániqayn, just across the Iraqi border, where they rested in a beautiful orchard to observe Naw-Rúz. [BKG105] The Governor of Tehran had sent soldiers with the party of exiles to the frontier where they were met by Turkish soldiers who escorted them to Baghdád. [Ch47]	Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Naw-Ruz; Khaniqayn; Iraq
1853 26 Mar	Five Bábís, acting on their own initiative, murdered the governor of Nayríz, providing the spark for the second Nayríz upheaval. [BBR147]	Nayriz upheaval; Upheavals; - Governors; Persecution, Iran; Persecution; Assassinations; Nayriz, Iran; Iran
1853 8 Apr	Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád Bahá'u'lláh and His family arrived in Baghdád. [BBR177; BKG106; GPB109; TN38] See BBR177–83 for conditions in Baghdád during this period. Shoghi Effendi describes this as being the lowest period of the faith of the Báb. [DB651, GPB113-114] Shortly after the family's arrival in Baghdád Navváb gave birth to a son. [CB71; CH51–2]	Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; Navvab (Asiyih Khanum); Bahá'u'lláh, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1853	Shortly after Bahá'u'lláh's arrival in Baghdad, the first messenger to reach Him was Shaykh Salmán who returned to his native Hindiyan with Tablets addressed to the friends. This became his habit, once a year he would set out on foot to see Bahá'u'lláh bringing letters and leaving wth Tablets, faithfully delivering each on for whom it was intended. He visited Him in Baghdad, Adrianople and Akka, carrying Tablets to many cities, Isfahan, Shiraz, Kashan, Tehran... During the 40 years that he continued this service and never lost a single letter or Tablet. He always travelled on foot and ate noting but bread and onions. He earned the title "The Bábí's Angel Gabriel". After the passing of Bahá'u'lláh he continued to provide courier service between Persia and the Holy Land. See An Illiterate Genius: The Early Baha'i Shaykh Salman. See Bahá'í Chronicles . He died in Shiraz. [MoF13-16]	Shaykh Salman; India; Iran
1853 or 1854	Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Lawh-i Kullu't-ta'ám (Tablet of All Food). [BRSM:62; BKG112] The revelation of this Tablet pointed out Mírzá Yahyá's lack of ability. [BKG 112] This Tablet also describes five Worlds of God. It is an esoteric scriptural Tablet expository of Qur'an 3:87 [93] and incorporating issues of Bábi authority and religiosity. It is addressed to the Bábi believer Ḥajjī Mīrzā Kamāl al-Dīn Narāqī (d. Narāq c.1298/1881). An inadequate printed text is found in Ishrāq Khavari (comp.) Mā'ida-yi āsmani IV :265-276 and a slightly better one in Rahiq-i makhtum II :416-426. A superior photocopied ms. is to be found in INBMC 36:268-277. [U of Cal. MERCED] Tablet of All Food translated by Stephen Lamden.	Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Lawh Kullut-Taam (Tablet of All Food); Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1853 or 1854	Birth of Mírzá Muhammad-'Alí, first son of Bahá'u'lláh and His second wife, Mahd-i-'Ulyá. [CB 125] He was born in the first year of Bahá'u'lláh's arrival in Baghdád. CB125]	Mírzá Muhammad Ali; Births and deaths; Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; Bahá'u'lláh, Wives of; Bahá'u'lláh, Family of; Mahd-i-Ulya (Fatimih Khanum); Firsts, other; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq	First son of Bahá'u'lláh and His second wife, Mahd-i-‘Ulyá; first year of Bahá'u'lláh's arrival Baghdád
1853 4 May	An earthquake struck in Shiraz. It destroyed many homes and killed several thousand citizens. It also demolished the majority of the schools and mosques. The House of the Báb was severely damaged and the mosque next to it was completely demolished. At this time the House had been rented to Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn, who was occupying the House with no written documentation. A lease is dated January 1854 and it recognized the owner as Siyyidih Fatimih Bagum and stated that the repairs were to be made at the leasee's expense. After this document was signed, Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn realized the cost of the repairs was prohibitive. Consequently, he leased the House to two brothers, Samad and Ibrahim, who were bakers. They took up residence with no formal documentation. Gradually they took over all the affairs of the House and claimed sole ownership. [MBBA169]	Báb, House of (Shiraz); Shiraz, Iran
1853 (Summer)	Bahá'u'lláh revealed His station and mission to Mírzá Áqá Ján in Karbalá. He was the first person to believe in Bahá'ú'lláh as "Him Whom God shall make manifest." [BKG109–11; GPB115–16; CoB181] See a story about Mírzá Áqá Ján and his first inclination that Bahá'u'lláh was indeed the One promised by the Báb. See a letter from the Universal Housed of Justice dated 20 June 1991 para 7 where "the first person to recognize Bahá'u'lláh as a Manifestation of God" is discussed.	Bahá'u'lláh, Life of; Mírzá Aqa Jan; Karbala, Iraq; Iraq	the first person to believe in Bahá'ú'lláh as "Him Whom God shall make manifest."	a few newspaper stories in English mention 'A certain "Babee"'">a few newspaper stories in English mention 'A certain "Babee"'
1853	It was during the Baghdad period that 'Abdu'l-Bahá became conscious to the station of His Father. "The Bab states that the first one to believe in a Manifestation of God is the essence of the achievement of the preceding dispensation; and so, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the first to believe with His whole being in the Mission of His Father, was the most eminent representative of the virtues called forth by the Bab." [AB13] See a letter from the Universal Housed of Justice dated 20 June 1991 para 7 where "the first person to recognize Bahá'u'lláh as a Manifestation of God" is discussed.	`Abdu'l-Bahá, Life of (chronology); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1853 Oct	Second Nayríz upheaval. [BBR147–51; BBRSM:217; BW18:382; DB642–5;] The new governor of Nayríz, Mírzá Na'ím-i-Núrí, arrested a large number of Bábís and pillaged their properties. The Bábís retreated to the hills to take up defensive positions against hundreds and then thousands of troops that had been called in from the region by the governor in Shiraz. [BW18:382; GPB17] See BW18:382 for a chronicle of events by Moojan Momen. October: Mirza Na'im-i-Nuri, the new Governor, began to treat the Bábl's harshly, arresting a large number of them and pillaging their property. In response the Bábis fled to the hills and took up defensive positions there. mid—October: Mirzá Na'i'm's troops launched major attack on the Bábl' positions in the hills during the night but were thrown back in much confusion and with great loss of life. 31 October: Bábis asked to negotiate terms. early November: Bábis tricked into leaving their positions then attacked and over a hundred killed. Some 600 women prisoners, 80-180 male prisoners and the heads of some 180 martyrs were taken to Shiraz. See BBR147–51 for Western accounts.	Nayriz upheaval; Upheavals; Mírzá Naim-i-Nuri; Persecution, Iran; Persecution, Arrests; Persecution; Nayriz, Iran; Iran
1853 31 Oct	Some 600 female and 80 to 180 male Bábís are taken prisoner at Nayríz and marched to Shíráz, along with the heads of some 180 martyrs. This fulfilled an Islamic prophecy concerning the appearance of the Qá'im indicating that the heads of the followers would be used as gifts. [BW18:382; KI245; For17]	Persecution, Iran; Persecution, Arrests; Persecution, Deaths; Persecution; Prophecies; Nayriz, Iran; Shiraz, Iran; Iran
1853 24 Nov	The prisoners from Nayríz and the heads of the martyrs arrived in Shíráz. More Bábís were executed and their heads sent to Tihrán. The heads were later buried at Ábádih. [BW18:382]	Persecution, Iran; Persecution, Deaths; Persecution; Shiraz, Iran; Nayriz, Iran; Tehran, Iran; Abadih; Iran
1853 - 1854	The birth of Áqá Mírzá Muhammad-Taqí Abharí, (b. 1853-1854 in Abhar, d. 30 January 1919 in Tehran), also known by the designation Ibn Abhar [Ibn-i-Abhar]. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause in 1868 and was an Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh. [EB268; Bahá'í Encylopedia Project]	Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahá'u'lláh; Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; Ibn-i-Abhar (Mulla Muhammad Taqi); Abhar; Tehran, Iran; Iran
Try also a shorter date like 185 try also the Chronology Canada — 1853 or 185

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