Faith at a glance:

Baha'i

Origins

• Originated on 23rd May 1844, in Persia, when Ali-Muhammad (1819-1850) declared himself as the Messenger of God and announced the coming of a "Greater One" who would lead the way to world peace.

• Ali-Muhammad became known as the Báb, which means Gate or Door.  His message caused great controversy, and he was executed in 1850, charged with heresy against Islam.

• His early followers were known as Bábis. In 1863, Husayn Ali (1817-1892), known as Baha’u’llah, the Glory of God, claimed to be the Greater One and the bringer of divine revelation fulfilling the promises made by previous Messengers in other religions. For four decades he proclaimed his message of peace and unity. Exiled to Palestine in 1868, he died in Akka in 1892.

• 'Abdu'l-Bahá (1844-1921), or the Servant of the Glory, was appointed in Bahá'u'láh's will as the authorised interpreter of Bahá'í teachings.

• 'Abdul Bahá's grandson, Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957), succeeded his grandfather and became the Guardian of the Faith and Interpreter of Scripture.

• From 1963, the Universal House of Justice, based at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa in Israel was established as the body which offers guidance to the contemporary Bahá'í community. Members are elected every five years.

Scripture and Tradition

• Bahá'ís believe all documents that are handwritten by the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá; all documents signed by them; and all directly or indirectly authenticated records of their spoken words, to be revealed by God.

• Bahá'u'lláh's Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book) is the foundation of Bahá'í moral principles and institutions.

• Doctrinal beliefs are contained in The Kitáb-i-Iqán (The Book of Certitude), whilst Bahá'u'lláh's Hidden Words is a collection of ethical sayings.

Teaching and Beliefs

A summary of the main Bahá'í beliefs are:

• belief in one God
• the unity of humankind
• independent investigation of truth
• the common foundation of all religions
• the essential harmony of science and religion
• equality of opportunity for men and women
• elimination of prejudice of all kinds
• universal compulsory education
• abolition of extremities of poverty and wealth through international legislation
• the establishment of universal peace by world government with international courts of justice and an international military force
• progressive revelation – the revelation of God to humanity in stages by a succession of divine messengers, teachers and prophets.

Unity and Progressive Revelation

• Each Messenger, including Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Muhammad, is a "Manifestations of God"; Bahá'u'lláh is the Manifestation of God for the present time,

• Unity, based upon the oneness of God, is a central theme of the Bahá'í religion. It is the basis upon which a new world order of peace and unity can be built and Bahá'í communities strive to model this peace and unity.

 Education and Spirituality

• Education is a key  theme in Bahá'í teaching and spirituality.

• Religion and science are complementary and in harmony.

• There are three "obligatory" prayers and every Bahá'í over fifteen years old must pray one of these daily as well as reading scriptural extracts.

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee.  I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. 

 

There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.