December 12. On this date in 1844, corresponding to the 1st of Dhu'l-Hijjah in the Hijri calendar, the Báb entered Mecca with his stalwart companion Quddús and an Ethiopian slave, and in front of the Kaaba declared himself the Qāʾim.

December 12. On this date in 1844, corresponding to the 1st of Dhu'l-Hijjah in the Hijri calendar, the Báb entered Mecca with his stalwart companion Quddús and an Ethiopian slave, and in front of the Kaaba declared himself the Qāʾim. One can only speculate how the other Muslim pilgrims viewed this group and their proclamation. The Báb and his followers would go on to lead violent insurrections throughout Iran.
Nineteen years later, Bahá'u'lláh entered Edirne after having lived in Baghdad and Istanbul subsequent to his exile from Iran along with the other Bábi leadership in the aftermath of the unsuccessful assassination attempt of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar by some Bábis. Bahá'u'lláh would spend over four years there where, among other activities, he publicly made his claim to be Him whom God shall make manifest and sent letters addressing several world leaders. Due to internecine violence between the followers of Bahá'u'lláh and Subh-i-Azal, including attempted assassinations of their leaders, the two would be sent to Acre, Palestine and Famagusta, Cyprus. Bahá'u'lláh continued his religious mission while in Palestine, where he resided in luxury in such abodes as the Mansion of Bahji and house of Mazra'ih.