Brief introduction The Origin and Aims of the Bahá'í
Faith by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í
Faith Encyclopedia
Britannica Article Reprint Some Basic Principles as quoted in
the Bahá'í Writings. The Central Figures The Administrative Order Some Laws and Obligations 2001 Statistics Becoming a Bahá'íBahá'ís believe that there is one God. God fashioned the universe through a process of creation and evolution. God makes Himself known to mankind through an intermediary, the Manifestation of God. Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, and the Báb are previous Manifestations of God. Bahá'u'lláh is the most recent of these Messengers. Liken God to the Divine Physician. He from age to age diagnoses the ills of mankind and prescribes the remedy. He reveals the remedy through the Manifestion for our age. This is why all true religions share common spiritual teachings such as the Golden Rule, i.e. that we should do unto others as we would have others do unto us. This is also why the social or practical teachings of the religions must differ since the needs of our time differ from those of a previous time. The need today is for world unity and a system for global interaction and understanding. There truly is only one religion. What we call Judaism and Christianity, etc., represent different chapters of one book having one Author. Since they come from the same God, religion must be the cause of unity, not the source of war, strife or division. To be the source of conflict is to stray from the path of true religion.
Bahá'ís have no secret mystic doctrines. Bahá'ís have no clergy. Bahá'ís do not accept financial contributions from those who are not Bahá'í. Donations to Bahá'í Funds is regarded as a privilege and may only be made by Bahá'ís.
Bahá'ís believe that all people are created equal in the sight of God. All belong to the same human family. Women and men, people of all colors, all must have equal rights and opportunities. Prejudices of all kinds must be eliminated. Each person should look for truth with his/her own eyes and not blindly follow the beliefs or views of others. All people must have access to some education. This is one way in which prejudices can be overcome. Scientific knowledge and religious teaching must agree for truth is one. We are gifted with the power of reason and are expected to use it, not to turn it off for matters of religion.
All people should learn the same international language as their second language. This will help foster understanding and eliminate prejudices. We must close the gap between the extremely rich and the extremely poor. This is not to say that there should not be differences - incentive is needed as a reward for great effort, however there should not be extreme wealth on one hand and poverty and starvation on the other.
People are the highest element of creation. We have a dual nature: physical and spiritual. We share physical attributes and needs like animals. However, we are endowed with a soul which continues onward after our death. The soul is what separates us from the animal. It inclines us towards transcendence, towards that which is greater than ourselves, towards God. We are indeed created in God's image, not physical image, but spiritual image. We can manifest all the attributes of God, e.g. mercy, justice, compassion, etc. Our purpose in life is to know God, to worship Him, to acquire His attributes, and to advance human civilization.
The Báb [meaning the Gate] is the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh. He is the Messenger of God Who prepared the way for the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, reminiscent of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus Christ. As a 25 year old youth, the Báb declared His mission in 1844 in Persia. For six years He suffered persecution and imprisonment at the hands of the ruler and religious leaders until He was executed in 1850. Over 20,000 of His followers also had their lives savagely taken. The Báb founded an independent religion known as the Bábí Faith and proclaimed that the great Messenger of God anticipated by followers of all religions would soon arrive and usher in the era of peace. More information on the Báb.
Bahá'u'lláh [meaning the Glory of God] is the Messenger of God for this age and the Promised One of all religions. To Judaism He is the Lord of Hosts; to Christianity He is Christ returned in the Glory of the Father; to Islám He is the descent of the Spirit of God; to Buddhists He is Maitreya, the Buddha of universal fellowship; to Hindus He is the tenth incarnation of Krishna. He suffered almost 40 years of imprisonment and exile from Persia to Iráq, Constantinople, Adrianople, and finally to the prison city of 'Akká (modern day Acre, Israel). He revealed laws, ordinances and principles to guide the human race through the very difficult transition of adolescence to maturation. He addressed the rulers of the world calling upon them to establish the great peace that for which mankind has been longing. The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings is unity. More information on Bahá'u'lláh.
'Abdu'l-Bahá [meaning servant of Bahá] is the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh. He was appointed by Bahá'u'lláh as the Interpreter of His teachings and the Center of His Covenant with mankind. 'Abdu'l-Bahá protected the Bahá'í Faith from division in fulfilment of the Biblical prophecy "the Day that shall never be followed by Night". He laid the foundations for the administration of the affairs of the Bahá'í community, based on the pattern established by Bahá'u'lláh. For 40 years He too suffered exile, imprisonment and frequent threat of death. When finally released from the prison city of 'Akká as an old man, He visited Europe and America. More information on 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
Bahá'u'lláh established two central institutions for the guidance of the Bahá'í community: The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice.
The Guardianship: Shoghi Effendi was appointed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to be the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, the sole interpreter of the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. The Guardian guided the community for 36 years and brought into being the Administrative Order of the Faith throughout the world. The Guardian appointed no successor - that role could therefore only fall to the Universal House of Justice. The Writings of the Guardian today comprise the guidance offered by the Guardianship. The Guardian appointed a number of Bahá'ís, the Hands of the Cause of God, to teach and protect the Faith. Now dwindling in number, they still work closely with the Administrative Order and serve the entire Bahá'í world. More information on the Guardianship.
The Universal House of Justice (UHJ) is a nine person institution democratically elected in a three-stage process by all the Bahá'ís of the world. It was first elected in 1963 and at five year intervals since then. The UHJ legislates upon matters not dealt with by Bahá'u'lláh or 'Abdu'l-Bahá and provides any guidance needed by the Bahá'í community today. The UHJ appoints groups of Bahá'ís to serve in assigned places around the world (Continental Boards of Counsellors). They assist with spreading and protecting the Faith. They too work closely with the Administrative Order. In turn, these Counsellors appoint auxiliary board members to assist them with teaching and protection of the Faith with responsibility focused in smaller geographic areas. More information on the Universal House of Justice.
National Spiritual Assemblies (NSAs) are elected annually in most nations of the world. Also comprised of nine members, the NSA conducts the affairs of the Faith in that nation.
Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs), also comprised of nine members, are elected annually from among the adult members of each Bahá'í community. This body is responsible for guiding the work in that city, town, village, reservation, etc.
No campaigning is permitted during the course of any of these elections. The elected individuals are responsible to God, not their "constituents". Bahá'ís in the respective area of responsibility are obedient to these institutions.
Every Bahá'í should strive each day to bring him/herself closer in line with the lofty Divine standard. Bahá'ís pray daily, read from the Sacred Writings each morning and evening, observe the Fast from sunrise to sunset from March 2 through 21, consider work as a form of worship, teach the Bahá'í Faith to others, avoid alcoholic drinks and drugs, observe Bahá'í marriage, obey the government and not participate in partisan politics, avoid backbiting and gossip, observe Bahá'í Holy Days, and contribute to the Bahá'í Fund.
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