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Origins In 19th-Century Shi'a Iran
- The Baha'i Faith emerged in 19th-century Iran within a Shi'a Islamic context.
- Understanding Shi'ism's view of authority helps explain Babi and Baha'i origins.
Shi'a Messianic Expectation
- Shi'ism emphasizes succession via the Prophet's family and the hidden 12th Imam (al-Mahdi).
- The Shi'a concept of a hidden messianic Imam shaped expectations that fed later movements.
Esotericism And Cyclical History
- Esoteric interpretation (tawil) reads scripture with outer (zahir) and inner (batin) meanings.
- Cyclical history and prophetic cycles were common in Shi'a esoteric thought.