Even the Imams were secondary in importance to the "Point," from Whom they derived their inspiration and authority.

In assuming this title, the Bab claimed to rank, like Muhammad, in the series of great Founders of Religion, and for this reason, in the eyes of the _Sh_i'ihs, He was regarded as an impostor, just as Moses and Jesus before Him had been regarded as impostors.

He even inaugurated a new calendar, restoring the solar year, and dating the commencement of the New Era from the year of His own Declaration.
Persecution Increases In consequence of these declarations of the Bab and the alarming rapidity with which people of all classes, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were eagerly responding to His teaching, attempts at suppression became more and more ruthless and determined.

Houses were pillaged and destroyed.
Women were seized and carried off.

In Tihran, Fars, Mazindaran, and other places great numbers of the believers were put to death.