History

The Baháʼí Faith traces its origins to the mid-19th century in Persia (modern-day Iran). In 1844, a merchant named Siyyid ʻAlí-Muhammad, known as the Báb, proclaimed himself as the forerunner to a new messenger from God. His teachings rapidly gained followers but also faced severe opposition from religious and political authorities, leading to his execution in 1850. (en.wikipedia.org)

Among the Báb's followers was Baháʼu'lláh (born Mírzá Ḥusayn-ʻAlí Núrí in 1817), who, in 1863, declared himself to be the messenger foretold by the Báb. Baháʼu'lláh's teachings emphasized the unity of humanity and the need for global peace. Due to his claims, he faced exile and imprisonment, eventually being confined in the prison city of ʻAkká (present-day Acre, Israel), where he continued to write and spread his message until his death in 1892. (en.wikipedia.org)

Following Baháʼu'lláh's passing, leadership of the faith transitioned to his son, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, who played a crucial role in expanding the religion beyond the Middle East. He traveled extensively, including to Europe and North America, promoting the faith's principles. After ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's death in 1921, his grandson, Shoghi Effendi, became the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, overseeing its global expansion and administrative development. (en.wikipedia.org)

Beliefs and Principles

Central to Baháʼí belief is the concept of progressive revelation, which posits that God reveals religious truth progressively over time through a series of divine messengers, including figures such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Baháʼu'lláh. Each messenger provides teachings suited to the needs of their time and place, contributing to a single, unfolding divine plan. (en.wikipedia.org)

The Baháʼí Faith emphasizes several core principles:

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  Oneness of Humanity: All humans are equal, regardless of race, nationality, or religion. (vaia.com)

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  Elimination of Prejudice: Actively working to remove prejudices of all kinds. (vaia.com)

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  Gender Equality: Men and women are fundamentally equal and should have the same opportunities in all aspects of life. (vaia.com)

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  Universal Education: Education should be available to all to enable personal development and societal contribution. (vaia.com)

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  Harmony of Science and Religion: Science and religion should complement each other and not conflict. (vaia.com)

Practices

Baháʼí community life centers around the Nineteen Day Feast, held once every 19 days, which includes spiritual devotion, administrative consultation, and social fellowship. (religionfacts.com)

Individual obligations for Baháʼís include daily prayer and an annual nineteen-day fast during the final month of the Baháʼí calendar, where no food is consumed from sunrise to sunset. (gla.ac.uk)

The affairs of the Baháʼí Faith are administered by elected bodies known as Spiritual Assemblies at local, national, and international levels. (gla.ac.uk)

Houses of Worship

Baháʼí Houses of Worship, also known as Mashriqu'l-Adhkár ("Dawning-place of the remembrance of God"), serve as places for prayer and meditation. These temples are characterized by a nine-sided design and are open to people of all faiths. Notable Houses of Worship are located in Wilmette, Illinois, USA; Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Kampala, Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Panama City, Panama; Apia, Samoa; and New Delhi, India. (en.wikipedia.org)

Persecution

Since its inception, the Baháʼí Faith has faced persecution, particularly in Iran, where it originated. Baháʼís have been subjected to unwarranted arrests, false imprisonment, beatings, torture, unjustified executions, and denial of civil rights. Similar persecution has occurred in other countries, including Egypt and Yemen. (en.wikipedia.org)

Global Presence

Today, the Baháʼí Faith has approximately 5–8 million adherents worldwide, with communities established in virtually every country. The Universal House of Justice, the nine-member governing institution of the worldwide Baháʼí community, is located in Haifa, Israel, near the Shrine of the Báb. (en.wikipedia.org)