In religion, a precursor, also known as forerunner, predecessor, harbinger or herald, is a holy person who announced the approaching appearance of a central figure of the religion or who identified a central figure of the religion during the latter's childhood. List of precursors Asita in Buddhism John the Baptist in Christianity Bahira or Sergius in Islam Shaykh Ahmad, forerunner of Bábism (in the Bábí-Bahá'í view) Sayyid Kazim Rashti, forerunner of Bábism (in the Bábí-Bahá'í view) Báb, forerunner and herald of the Bahá'í Faith (in the Bahá'í view) See also List of founders of religious traditions References