O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting. (The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 1)
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The Baha'i Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century from "a Muslim splinter group, Babism." The religion was founded by the Baha'u'llah, a Persian aristocrat turned prophet known to followers as a "divine educator". The Baha'u'llah's primary message is that "all great religious leaders are manifestations of the unknowable God and all scriptures are sacred. There is no priesthood: all Baha'is are expected to teach, and to work towards world unification", which is the ultimate goal of the faith.
Baha'i faith. (2018). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide. Helicon. Credo Reference.
The Baha'i Faith was founded in modern-day Iran in 1863 by Mirza Husain `Ali, or the Baha'u'llah. Ali "proclaimed himself to be the Promised One whose coming was foretold by the Bab, or the founder of the Baha'i Faith's religious predecessor: Babism. Ali's "eldest son and then his great-grandson led the Baha'is after his death until 1957. Since 1963 the faith has been governed by the Universal House of Justice, a council at Haifa, Israel, elected by national spiritual assemblies."
There are no major schisms in the Baha'i movement.
Baha'i faith. (2003). In The MacMillan encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Market House Books Ltd. Credo Reference
Overview
The most basic premise of the Baha'i Faith is "that God reveals himself to man through prophets who appear at various stages in history and the most recent of these is Baha'u'llah." Muhammad of Islam and the Baha'u'llah are both great prophets; however, that does not mean they are last. God may choose to reveal himself further in the future.
Principles & Beliefs
General Rules
Administration is carried out by an elected body - the Universal House of Justice.
Baha'i faith. (2018). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide. Helicon. Credo Reference.
Sacred Texts
Religious Organizations
Baha'i faith. (2018). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide. Helicon. Credo Reference.
The Baha'u'llah, or "Husayn 'Ali, a Persian nobleman who took the name Baha'u'llah meaning ‘The glory of God’, announced himself to be the One foretold not only by the Bab, but in the holy books of all religions, who will inaugurate an era of peace and spiritual well-being for mankind."
Born in Shiraz in 1819, Mirza Ali Muhammad adopted the title the Bab, meaning ‘the gate’, when he declared in 1844 that he was the ‘Mihdi’ or ‘Qa'im’ promised in the Qur'an to save the nations."
Baha'i faith. (2018). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide. Helicon. Credo Reference.
The Baha'u'llah "appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi as guardian" of the Baha'i Faith. Under Effendi, "the administrative order of the Baha'i Faith developed."
Baha'i faith. (2018). In Helicon (Ed.), The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide. Helicon.
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