A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE BAHA'I FAITH

Who are the Baha'is?

  • Founded a century and a half ago, the Baha'i Faith is today among the fastest growing of world religions.
  • With more than five million followers in at least 232 countries and dependent territories, it has already become the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach.
  • Baha'is reside in more than 116, 000 localities around the world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship.
  • Baha'is have found in the Faith a basis of unity that makes the competition of sects and denominations seem unimprotant to them. Baha'is are people of different economic and social classes. Through a common devotion, rich and poor mingle as equals and work together to establish a world for all men and women.
  • The word Baha'i comes from the name of the Founder of the Faith, Baha'u'llah ("The Glory of God"). Baha'i simply means "a follower of Baha'u'llah".

***

In the United States, Baha'is have actively promoted race unity since the 1920s. Shown above are Baha'is marching in the annual Martin Luther King Day parade in Atlanta in 1991.

Taken from "THE BAHA'IS: A profile of the Baha'i Faith and its worldwide community" (1992)

What do Baha'is believe in?

  • the Oneness of Humanity
  • the equality of women and men
  • the elimination of prejudice
  • the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
  • the independent investigation of truth
  • universal education
  • religious tolerance
  • the harmony of science and religion
  • a world commonwealth of nations
  • a universal auxillary language

Taken from "THE BAHA'IS: A profile of the Baha'i Faith and its worldwide community" (1992)

Who is Baha'u'llah?


Born in Persia, on November 12, 1817, Baha'u'llah was among the followers of the Bab, who, on May 23, 1844, declared Himself the Herald of a Manifestation of God. After the martydom of the Bab on July 9, 1850, Baha'u'llah became one of the most beloved and respected teachers of the Bab's religion. This leadership exposed Him to the displeasure of many in Persia, leading to persecution and imprisonment.

Although suffering continuous exile or imprisonment from 1852 until His death on May 29, 1892, at Akka, Baha'ullah proclaimed Himself, in 1863, the One whom the Bab had heralded as "he Whom God will make Manifest". He claimed to be the "promised One of All Ages" and claimed as His mission the unification of all mankind.

Taken from "The Baha'i Faith"... a booklet published by the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malaysia.

This page is hosted by Geocities Get your own FREE HOME PAGE