 Bahá 'í history follows a sequence of leaders , beginning with the Báb 's declaration in Shiraz , Iran on the evening of 22 May 1844 , and ultimately resting on an administrative order established by the central figures of the religion . The Bahá 'í community was mostly confined to the Persian and Ottoman empires until after the death of Bahá 'u'lláh in 1892 , at which time he had followers in 13 countries of Asia and Africa . Under the leadership of his son , `Abdu 'l @-@ Bahá , the religion gained a footing in Europe and America , and was consolidated in Iran , where it still suffers intense persecution . After the death of `Abdu 'l @-@ Bahá in 1921 , the leadership of the Bahá 'í community entered a new phase , evolving from a single individual to an administrative order with both elected bodies and appointed individuals . 
