Baha'i Faith: An
Introduction
page 2
In 1844, a young man named Siyyid 'Ali Muhammad from Shiraz, Iran, who was a direct descendent of the prophet Muhammad, proclaimed himself to be the Bab (the "gate" or "door"). Within the Shi'ite sect of Islam, it is believed that the Inaam Mahdi, or "rightly guided imam," will come forth and bring in an era of justice and peace. By proclaiming himself the Bab, Siyyid 'Ali Muhammad was declaring himself as the expected imam and forerunner to "He whom God shall make manifest" who Baha'is believe was Baha'u'llah.
Baha'i theology recognizes the great prophets and saviors of all major religions, but emphasizes the most recent revelations given by Baha'i prophets such as the Bab, Baha, and Ullah, as their teachings are designed for the scientific age. The teachings and laws of the Baha'is are set forth in such books as the Kitab al-Aqdas or The Most Holy Book, the Bayan, or Statement of Explanation by the Bab.
The Bab was rapidly gathering disciples, which threatened the established clergy in Iran, so they quickly put him to death by firing squad in 1850, and many of his followers, or Babis, were massacred or exiled. One such exiled follower, Mirza Husayn'Ali, who was known as Baha'u'llah (born in Teheran, Iran, in 1817, the son of a nobleman and minister), declared himself "He who God shall make Manifest" to a small group of followers while in Baghdad in 1863. Shortly thereafter he was banished to Istanbul and then to Adrianople, Turkey, where he publicly proclaimed his mission. While in exile he wrote many letters to world rulers and developed the unifying concepts that characterize the Baha'i faith. After his death in 1892, leadership passed to one of Baha'u'llah's sons, who was known as "Abdul-Baha" or "The Servant of Baha." Abdul-Baha was released from prison in 1908 and promptly set out on missionary journeys to Egypt, Europe and America. After the death of Abdul-Baha in 1921, his grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, was appointed the Guardian, or next leader of the Baha'i religion. After Shoghi Effendi's death in 1957, the administrative duties were delegated to the Universal House of Justice in Haifa.
For more information
Look up Baha'i in the phone book for a community nearest you, or contact:
Baha'i
National Center
Wilmette, IL 60091
Phone: (708) 869-9039
Recommended reading:
The Baha'i Faith: An Introduction by Gloria Faizi Baha'u'llah
Seekers
Guide
Bahai and more at SeekersWay.org
© 2001 Seekers WaySM
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