Founded over a century and a half ago, theBahá’í Faith is today among the fastest-growing of the world’s religions. With almost six million followers, who reside in virtually every nation on earth, it is the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach. Bahá’ís reside in more than 100,000 localitiesaround the globe, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship.
THE PROPHET-FOUNDER The Faith’s Founder was Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), born of Persian nobility in Tehran as Mirzá Husayn Alí who, in the mid-nineteenth century, left a life of princely comfort and security and, for over 40 years in the face of intense persecution and depravation, brought to humanity a stirring new message of peace and unity. He claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God. His life work and influence parallel that ofAbraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, andMuhammad. Bahá’ís view Bahá’u’lláh as the most recent, but certainly not the last, in this succession of Progressive Revelation.
The essential message of Bahá’u’lláh is that of unity. He taught that there is only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all of the world’s great religions represent stages in the revelation of God’s will and purpose for humanity. In this day,Bahá’u’lláh said, humanity has collectively come of age. As foretold in all of the world’s holy scriptures, the time has arrived for the uniting of all peoples into a powerful and integrated global society.
THE PROPHET-HERALD Preceding the advent of Bahá’u’lláh was the coming of yet another Messenger of God, who is known to history as The Báb(1819-1850, meaning “the Gate”). He was born as Siyyid Alí Muhammad in Shiráz, Persia and was of noble descent from the Prophet Muhammad through both of His parents. He ministered for six years (1844-1850) to prepare the way for the coming ofBahá’u’lláh. The Báb was martyred in 1850 as were, over time, some 20,000 of His followers. His sacred remains reside in a Shrine on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. He is considered by Bahá’ís to be a Manifestation of God and the Founder of a religion separate from Islám (the Bábi Faith).
THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT After the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His eldest son, succeeded to the leadership of the Faith as the Centre of the Covenant and the Interpreter of His Father’s sacred works. While not considered a Prophet or Manifestation, ‘Abdu’l-Bahástands as a figure unique in religious history. Spiritually endowed, He is the model of a perfect Bahá’í. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed in 1921, leaving successorship to his grandson, Shoghi Effendi.
THE GUARDIAN Shoghi Effendi Rabbání was the Guardian of the Faith from 1921 to 1957. While also not considered a Prophet, yet spiritually gifted and a brilliant visionary, he was responsible for the spread of the Faith worldwide, the translation of many Bahá’í works into English, and the development of the gardens and shrines in the Holy Land. His forté was the establishment of the Bahá’í Administrative Order throughout the world.
Shoghi Effendi was educated at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon and at Balliol College in Oxford, England; and was fluent in five languages: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, French,and English.
After his death in 1957, Shoghi Effendi left no successor as Guardian; the Bahá'í World entered into a new era, and in 1963 elected the first Universal House of Justice.
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICEToday, the world affairs of the Bahá’í Faith are governed by theUniversal House of Justice, the supreme elected institution, located also on Mount Carmel in Haifa.
| The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, where His mortal remains are entombed, is located a short distance from the Israeli city of Acre in a place known as the Mansion of Bahji. Here in these precincts, Bahá'u'lláh spent the remaining years of His life until His passing in 1892. His name translates in English as"the Glory of God".
The Shrine of The Báb, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Here lie the sacred remains of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í Faith in this magnificant edifice. In 1998, the Shrine was completed from the foot of Mount Carmel to her crown with 19 terraces and gardens.
This upper chamber of the House of The Báb in Shiráz, Persia, was where on the evening of May 22, 1844, two hours and eleven minutes after sunset, a young siyyid named Mulla Husayn was the first to embrace the new Faith of God. Today, Bahá'ís the world over celebrate the Declaration of The Bábevery year on May 23rd.
'Abdu'l-Bahá, circa 1912. He is often referred to by Bahá'ís as "The Master", a title bestowed upon Him by His Father, Bahá'u'lláh. His name at birth was Abbas Effendi, but He later chose the title 'Abdu'l-Bahá, which means the "Servant of the Glory". Many Bahá'ís have pictures of Him in there homes. The image of Bahá'u'lláh is considered too sacred to be commercialized or mass produced. Photographs of Bahá'u'lláh exist in the Holy Land and may be viewed by pilgrims to the Bahá'í World Center.
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My Sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shall know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart, how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes. - Bahá'u'lláh From the Arabic Hidden Words
PHOTO BELOW: 'Abdu'l-Bahá walking a street in Haifa, Palestine - circa early 20th Century.
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