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The Bahá'í Faith
Section 1: Overview
[BEGINNER]
The Bahá'í Faith is one of the youngest world religions — founded in the mid-19th century in Persia (Iran) — but it has grown to include millions of adherents across 200+ countries. It was founded by Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892), a Persian nobleman who declared himself the latest in a line of divine messengers.
The Bahá'í Faith teaches:
- Unity of God: There is one God, the source of all religion
- Unity of Religion: All the world's major faiths — Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and others — come from the same divine source and share essential truths
- Unity of Humanity: All people are equal, regardless of race, nation, or gender
- Elimination of Prejudice: Religious, racial, and national prejudice must end
- Independent Investigation of Truth: Each person must search for truth independently
- Universal Peace: The world must move toward a peaceful global commonwealth
The Bahá'í Faith is unique among world religions:
- It has no clergy (though elected Assemblies govern communities)
- It does not evangelize (though it welcomes all who wish to join)
- It emphasizes consultation, consensus, and unity
[INTERMEDIATE]
The Báb (1819–1850)
Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad, known as "the Báb" (Gate), declared in 1844 in Shiraz that he was a divine messenger — a "Manifestation of God" preparing the way for "He whom God will make manifest." The Báb's teachings emphasized spiritual renewal, the unity of God, and the coming world order. He was martyred in 1850.
The Báb is venerated in the Bahá'í Faith as a Manifestation of God and a co-founder, alongside Bahá'u'lláh.
Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892)
Mírzá Husayn-'Alí, known as Bahá'u'lláh (Glory of God), was a Persian nobleman who became a follower of the Báb. In 1863, while imprisoned in Baghdad, he declared himself "He whom God will make manifest," the divine messenger whose coming the Báb had foretold.
Bahá'u'lláh's teachings include:
- The oneness of God
- The unity of the divine messengers (Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Krishna, the Báb, and himself)
- The unity of humanity
- The elimination of prejudice
- Universal education
- A global commonwealth of nations
- Gender equality
- Harmony of science and religion
He wrote extensively: the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book), the Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude), and The Hidden Words.
Abdu'l-Bahá (1844–1921)
Bahá'u'lláh's eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Servant of Glory), was the interpreter of his father's teachings and the head of the community after Bahá'u'lláh's death. He traveled to Europe and North America, explaining the Bahá'í Faith and its principles. He is revered as a perfect exemplar of Bahá'í teachings, though he explicitly stated he was not a Manifestation of God.
Section 2: Core Teachings
[BEGINNER]
The Central Teachings
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Oneness of God: One God, creator of all; beyond human comprehension but knowable through divine messengers (Manifestations)
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Oneness of Religion: All the world's major faiths are valid for their time and place. They share essential spiritual truths and ethical principles.
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Oneness of Humanity: All people are equal; discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, or religion must end.
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Elimination of Prejudice: Religious, racial, and national prejudice must be overcome through education and spiritual transformation.
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Independent Investigation of Truth: Each person must investigate truth independently, not through imitation of authority or tradition.
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Religion Must Be in Harmony With Science: True religion and true science are complementary; conflict between them is ignorance.
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Universal Education: Every person has the right to education, boys and girls alike.
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Universal Peace: The ultimate goal is a world commonwealth with lasting peace.
Bahá'í Laws
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas outlines laws for Bahá'ís, adapted for modern life:
- Daily prayer (chosen from three formulas)
- 19-day fast (March 2–20, sunrise to sunset)
- Monthly Holy Days
- Prohibition of alcohol and drugs (except medical necessity)
- No gambling
- Sexual morality within marriage
- Honesty and trustworthiness
Section 3: Sacred Texts
[BEGINNER]
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book)
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Arabic, "The Most Holy Book") is Bahá'u'lláh's most important text, written in 1873. It outlines:
- Laws for personal conduct
- Social principles
- Institutions of the Faith
- The future world order
The Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude)
Written in 1861, this text explains the nature of divine revelation, the symbolism of scripture, and why there are different religions. It is considered a fundamental theological text.
The Hidden Words
A collection of short meditations and ethical teachings, written in Arabic and Persian. Example:
"O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and thou may be blended into the essence of My Being."
Other Key Texts
- Gems of Divine Mysteries: Further spiritual teachings
- Tablets: Thousands of letters to individuals and communities
- Prayers: Numerous prayers for various occasions
Section 4: Practices & Living Tradition
[BEGINNER]
Bahá'í Life
Bahá'ís follow the laws in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and strive to live according to Bahá'í principles:
- Daily prayer
- Annual 19-day fast
- Participation in Nineteen-Day Feasts
- Teaching (dawah) and service
Nineteen-Day Feast
Each Bahá'í month begins with a Nineteen-Day Feast — a gathering combining:
- Worship: Prayers and readings from Bahá'í scripture
- Consultation: Community discussion and decision-making
- Fellowship: Socializing and refreshments
This fosters unity and community cohesion.
Teaching (Dawah)
Bahá'ís do not "convert" people — they share their faith by:
- Offering to teach
- Inviting others to study
- Living their faith visibly
Those who accept the Faith declare their belief and join the community voluntarily.
Service
Bahá'í communities engage in:
- Social and economic development
- Youth empowerment
- Racial unity
- Interfaith dialogue
Practices you can explore today:
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Search for Truth: Bahá'í teaching says each person must investigate truth independently. Today, consider a belief you hold — did you accept it from others, or did you investigate it yourself?
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Eliminate One Prejudice: Bahá'í teaching emphasizes eliminating prejudice. Identify one prejudice you hold and actively work to overcome it today.
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Unity Action: Do one act today that bridges divisions — talk to someone from a different background, help someone outside your usual circle, or speak up against discrimination.
Section 5: Living Tradition Today
[BEGINNER]
Global Community
The Bahá'í Faith has adherents in over 200 countries and territories. Estimates range from 5–8 million. The Bahá'í World Center is in Haifa, Israel, on Mount Carmel, where the Shrine of the Báb and the Arc of the Bahá'í gardens are located.
Governance
Bahá'í communities are governed by:
- Local Spiritual Assemblies: Elected nine-member bodies at the local level
- National Spiritual Assemblies: Nine-member bodies at the national level
- Universal House of Justice: Nine-member global governing body, elected every five years
There is no clergy; all governance is through elected bodies and consultation.
Contemporary Issues:
- Maintaining distinct identity in diverse societies
- Engaging with mainstream religions while affirming its own revelation
- Building local communities through study circles, junior youth groups, and devotional gatherings
- Working toward the long-term vision of world peace
Prominent Bahá'í Figures:
- Shoghi Effendi (1897–1957): Guardian of the Faith, translated and explained the teachings
- The Universal House of Justice: Governing body since 1963
- Hands of the Cause: Advisory bodies appointed to protect the Faith
DivineLens presents perspectives from within this tradition, curated for authenticity. For personal spiritual direction, advanced study, or questions about tradition-specific practice, we recommend finding a qualified teacher in the Bahá'í Faith. Our Advisory Council reviews all content for theological accuracy.
Known Limitations
- Citations require verification.
- The Bahá'í Faith's relationship with mainstream religions — its claim to supersede — is sensitive.
- Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran and some Muslim-majority countries is not addressed.
- The Bahá'í administrative system deserves more detail.
- The theological relationship between the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and earlier Manifestations requires more explanation.
Recommended reviewers: A Bahá'í scholar, a historian of the Bahá'í Faith, and an interfaith scholar.
The Bahá'í Faith and the Chicago Parliament (1893, 1993)
1893 — First Public Mention of Bahá'u'lláh in the West
The World's Parliament of Religions (Chicago, 11–27 September 1893) is a historic milestone for the Bahá'í Faith. Although no Bahá'í delegate attended, on 23 September 1893 the Presbyterian missionary Rev. Henry Harris Jessup read from a letter composed by Bahá'u'lláh to Edward G. Browne, in which Bahá'u'lláh wrote:
"That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."
This is considered the first public mention of Bahá'u'lláh and his teachings in the Western world — a foundational event in the Bahá'í community's historical self-understanding. Though the Parliament was not aware of the scope of what it was introducing, the principles quoted — unity of humanity, cessation of religious strife, universal peace — align precisely with what would become the core of Bahá'í world-mission.
1912 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Chicago
Nearly twenty years later, 'Abdu'l-Bahá (1844–1921), son of Bahá'u'lláh, visited Chicago during his 1912 North American tour. On 1 May 1912 he laid the cornerstone of the Bahá'í House of Worship (Mashriqu'l-Adhkár) at Wilmette, Illinois — the first Bahá'í temple in the Western world (completed 1953). This temple is the architectural and symbolic North American centre of the Bahá'í Faith and a direct echo of the 1893 Parliament's call for interfaith unity.
1993 — The Centenary and the Global Ethic
At the 1993 centenary Parliament, Bahá'í delegates were formally represented. The Bahá'í International Community contributed substantively to "Towards a Global Ethic" (Hans Küng), particularly on:
- Unity of humanity as the moral foundation of all other principles
- Elimination of racial, religious, and gender prejudice
- Universal peace as achievable political project
- Harmony of science and religion — the 1893 Bahá'í principle anticipating late-20th-century interfaith dialogue with science
- Independent investigation of truth — Parliament principle echoing Bahá'í teaching on freedom from imitation
Principles Articulated at the Parliaments that Bahá'í Faith Affirms
Every one of the 1893 and 1993 Parliament principles aligns with foundational Bahá'í teaching, including:
- Oneness of religion — all Manifestations (Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh) bring the same divine education, suited to their age
- Oneness of humanity — "Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch"
- Universal Peace — the Bahá'í "Most Great Peace" as teleological horizon
- Interfaith consultation as spiritual method
Subsequent Parliaments
Bahá'í delegates have participated in every subsequent Parliament of the World's Religions (1999 Cape Town, 2004 Barcelona, 2009 Melbourne, 2015 Salt Lake City, 2018 Toronto, 2023 Chicago), typically represented by the Bahá'í International Community's UN Office.
Cross-reference: Parliament of the World's Religions
Revision History
- 2026-04-22: Initial draft.
- 2026-04-24: Added Chicago Parliament (1893, 1912 temple cornerstone, 1993) section.
