*An Introduction to the Baha’i Faith

· The Baha'i faith is an organised world religion that emerged during the second half of the 19th century in Iran, its main purpose being to bring all nations under the same banner of a diverse unity. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i faith was born in 1817 in Tehran and passed away in 1892 in then, Palestine where he was imprisoned and exiled after his declared his mission in 1863. Prior to his declaration The Bab - the forerunner to Bahá’u’lláh and Himself a Prophet of God prepared the way for His coming. This led ultimately to The Báb’s martyrdom on 9th July 1850 in a market square in Tabriz, Persia, an event witnessed by thousands including a reporter from The New York Times.

· Abdul-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh was appointed by him to act as the guardian of the Baha’i Faith after his passing and be the interpreter of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Bab.

· After the passing of Abdul-Bahá the great grandson of Bahá’u’lláh, Shoghi Effendi who was appointed by Abdul-Bahá, led the Baha’i faith from 1921 to 1957, when he passed away in London.

· In 1963 nine members of the Universal House of Justice were elected and they became the leading body of the Baha'i world.

Baha’i Beliefs and Principles

The teachings and principles of the Baha'i faith

can be divided into two major categories.

1^st: Personal principles and values that are there to promote individual’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and development.

Example for that is a personal performance of “Prayer & Meditation” or “composing a systematic plan of action to study, deepen and perform duties and responding to one’s responsibilities towards one’s authentic self as well as all the layers of the society that he come in contact with.

2^nd: Social Principles. These form a collective and comprehensive institution of beliefs and practice. The very aim of this institution is to promote mankind to tune into the notion of unity as a universal phenomenon. Bahá’u’lláh designs a unique and advanced civilisation, based on spiritual foundations. He also provides us practical tools and plans in order to build such civilisation.

Some main Baha’i principles:

· The independent search for truth, “In their search, they have stoutly girded up the loins of service, and seek at every moment to journey from the plane of heedlessness into the realm of being. No bond shall hold them back, and no counsel shall deter them.

It is incumbent on these servants that they cleanse the heart--which is the wellspring of divine treasures--from every marking, and that they turn away from imitation, which is following the traces of their forefathers and sires, and shut the door of friendliness and enmity upon all the people of the earth. In this journey the seeker reacheth a stage wherein he seeth all created things wandering distracted in search of the Friend.”

Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys

· The Unity of God, Bahá’is, believe in the unity of God and religions, and all of their prayers and worships are directed to God. That is the same God that the Christians worship, the Muslim call “Allah”, the Jews call “Yahowa”, the Zoroastrians call Ahuramazda and all others name him according to their own cultural languages. As a matter of principle no figurative symbols and/or representatives are praised in the Baha’i gatherings, neither are any ritualistic practices exercised.

· The Unity of Religion, “The Bearers of the Trust of God are made manifest unto the peoples of the earth as the Exponents of a new Cause and the Revealers of a new Message. Inasmuch as these Birds of the celestial Throne are all sent down from the heaven of the Will of God, and as they all arise to proclaim His irresistible Faith, they, therefore, are regarded as one soul and the same person. For they all drink from the one Cup of the love of God, and all partake of the fruit of the same Tree of Oneness..............” Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

“The religion of God has two aspects in this world. The spiritual (the real) and the formal (the outward). The formal side changes, as man changes from age to age. The spiritual side which is the Truth, never changes. The Prophets and Manifestations of God bring always the same teaching.........”

‘ Abdu'l-Bahá, Abdu'l-Bahá in London

· Continues Life

“And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter.” Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

· The Unity of Mankind
“That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Maqsud

“Our hope is that the world's religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them, after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth..“

“O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world's great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne.................” Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

“The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch........” Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

· Equality of men and women in social rights and opportunities.

“And among the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh is the equality of women and men. The world of humanity has two wings-- one is woman and the other man. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of woman becomes equal to the world of man in the acquisition of virtues and perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.”

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity

· The universal education.

“.......Unto every father hath been enjoined the instruction of his son and daughter in the art of reading and writing and in all that hath been laid down in the Holy Tablet. He that putteth away that which is commanded unto him, the Trustees are then to take from him that which is required for their instruction, if he be wealthy, and if not the matter devolveth upon the House of Justice..........” - Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh

· Elimination of prejudice.
“The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Bahá'u'lláh, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy of its state members and personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them are definitely and completely safeguarded..........

........National rivalries, hatreds and intrigues will cease, and racial animosity and prejudice will be replaced by racial amity, understanding and co-operation. The causes of religious strife will be permanently removed, economic barriers and restrictions will be completely abolished, and the inordinate distinction between classes will be obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and gross accumulation of ownership on the other, will disappear. The enormous energy dissipated and wasted on war, whether economic or political, will be consecrated to such ends as will extend the range of human inventions and technical development, to the increase of the productivity of mankind, to the extermination of disease, to the extension of scientific research, to the raising of the standard of physical health, to the sharpening and refinement of the human brain, to the exploitation of the unused and unsuspected resources of the planet, to the prolongation of human life, and to the furtherance of any other agency that can stimulate the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race................ “

Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, p. Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation of Bahá’u’

· The elimination of extreme of wealth and poverty.
“Seventhly: The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear, and that every one as far as possible, according to his position and rank, shall be comfortable. Whilst the nobles and others in high rank are in easy circumstances, the poor also should be able to get their daily food and not be brought to the extremities of hunger...........” Abdu'l-Bahá, Abdu'l-Bahá in London

· The harmony of science and religion.
“God made religion and science to be the measure, as it were, of our understanding. Take heed that you neglect not such a wonderful power. Weigh all things in this balance............ Put all your beliefs into harmony with science; there can be no opposition, for truth is one............."
Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talk

· A new world order.
The foundation of this principle is a revolutionary remodelling of communication formats.

-Baha’i model of discussion.

-Baha’i administration

-A universal auxiliary language.

-The universal education.

“Dearly-beloved friends! This New World Order, whose promise is enshrined in the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, whose fundamental principles have been enunciated in the writings of the Centre of His Covenant, involves no less than the complete unification of the entire human race. This unification should conform to such principles as would directly harmonize with the spirit that animates, and the laws that govern the operation of, the institutions that already constitute the structural basis of the Administrative Order of His Faith.”
Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh