An Introduction to The Baha’i Faith
Who Are the Baha’is?
The Baha’i Faith is made up of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh. Founded a century and a half ago, the Baha’i Faith is today among the fastest-growing of the world’s religions. With more than five million followers who reside in virtually every nation on earth it is the second-most widespread faith, after Christianity, in its geographic reach. Baha’is reside in more than 100,000 localities around the world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship.
Who is Bahá’u’lláh?
From time to time in human history, certain individuals have appeared in the world with a message of hope and inspiration. As a result, millions and millions of people throughout the centuries have turned to these Divine Teachers as the source of God-given guidance and direction for their lives. Christians follow Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Buddhists accept that Buddha brought the Path to Truth. Jews recognize Moses as the Law Giver. Mohammed is revered by Muslims as the Prophet of God. Hindus turn to Krishna for the Law of Virtue and Religion.
Baha’is believe that a new cycle has indeed begun; that the world has been blessed with a source of God-given truth for today. The Divine Messenger, the Manifestation of God for this day, is Baha’u’llah. He was called Baha’u’llah, pronounced “ba-HA-oo-LAH,” which means “The Glory of God,” as Jesus of Nazareth was referred to as Christ, “The Anointed One,” and Prince Gautama was known as Buddha, “The Enlightened One.” Just as a Christian is a follower of Christ, and a Buddhist a follower of Buddha, a Baha’i is a follower of the teaching of Baha’u’llah.
Bahá’u’lláh is recognized by millions throughout the world as the Messenger of God for this age. The Baha’i Faith is founded on his teachings. Born in 1817 to a prominent family in Iran, he showed from childhood an unusual intellectual precocity, although unschooled in the kind of learning prevalent in 19th century Iran; he demonstrated, too, a particular devotion to relief of the condition of the poor. His given name was Mírza Husayn ‘Alí, but he identified himself as Bahá’u’lláh, which means “Glory of God,” a title by which he was addressed by his forerunner, the Báb. Because of his teachings, he was banished into an exile in the Holy Land with some of his followers and his family including his son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was there that he passed away in 1892. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was made the head of The Faith in Bahá’u’lláh’s will after his passing. Baha’is, as followers of Baha’u’llah, also embrace and revere Christ, Mohammed, Moses, Buddha and Krishna as Divine Manifestations of God.
What Do Baha’is Believe?
God is the ultimate Reality; the Creator of the universe. In essence, Baha’is believe in the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion, and the Oneness of Mankind. Because of different languages, however, people refer to the Creator as God, Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh or other names, and that has led to separation and strife between people, even though they are simply using different words to describe the same God. Once we can agree that there is but one Creator of us all, we see each other as one human family and the whole earth as one home. The Oneness of Mankind must be the central focus of our teaching, and the pivot point of our actions. The essential identity of each person is a rational and immortal soul. Although our existence on earth depends on our physical bodies, human nature is fundamentally spiritual.
Does the Baha’i Faith Have an International Center?
The Baha’i World Centre is in the Haifa, Akká area of Israel, the location of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile from 1868 to his death. The area is today the site of 19 gardens on the slope of Mt. Carmel and the Faith’s most sacred shrines—the resting places of Bahá’u’lláh and his forerunner, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá —and the seat of the Faith’s international governing body.
Who Leads the Baha’i Faith?
Bahá’u’lláh called for the creation of a system of democratically elected councils at the local, national and international levels. The Head of the Faith is the Universal House of Justice, the nine-person international council elected by secret ballot by the members of all the national councils.
Do the Baha’is Have a Holy Book?
The Most Holy Book of the Baha’i Faith is the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the book of laws written by Bahá’u’lláh. It is part of a large body of scriptures authored by him. Comprising an estimated 100 volumes, these writings cover topics of a wide range, including laws and principles for personal conduct and the governance of society, as well as mystical writings dealing with the progress of the soul and its journey towards God. The many writings of the Báb and those of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are also a sacred source of reference for Baha’is. All of the Baha’i sacred scriptures are from their own hands and not of their followers. Moreover, Baha’is recognize the Bible, the Qur’an, and the holy texts of the world’s other revealed religions.
Do Baha’is Have Places of Worship?
Bahá’u’lláh called for temples to be built on every inhabited continent and each to be surrounded by institutions of social service. To date, seven have been built, at least one on each continent. While their architectural styles differ, they share certain features, such as being nine sided, domed, and set in magnificent gardens (the number nine symbolizes completeness or unity). These temples are places for personal prayer and meditation, as well as collective worship, where sacred scriptures from many traditions are recited and sung. The North American temple is located in Wilmette, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
Do the Baha’is Have a Special Calendar and Special Holidays?
The Baha’i calendar was established by the Báb. The year consists of 19 months, each having 19 days, with four or five intercalary days, to make a full solar year. The Baha’i New Year corresponds to the traditional Persian New Year, called Naw Rúz, and occurs on the vernal equinox, March 21, at the end of the month of fasting. Baha’i communities gather at the beginning of each month at a meeting called a Feast for worship, consultation and socializing. Each of the 19 months is given a name which is an attribute of God; some examples include Bahá’ (Splendour), ‘Ilm (Knowledge), and Jamál (Beauty). The Baha’i week is familiar in that it consists of seven days, with each day of the week also named after an attribute of God. Baha’is observe 11 Holy Days throughout the year, with work suspended on 9 of these. These days commemorate important anniversaries in the history of the religion.
How Many Baha’is are There in the United States? There are about 150,000 Baha’is in the United States.
For More Information About the Baha’is visit www.bahai.org.