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The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's major religions. It was founded in 1844 in Iran and has spread to over 230 countries (second only to Christianity) with nearly 6 million believers.
Bahá'ís everywhere are striving to establish the oneness of humanity, to eliminate prejudice and to renew the spiritual values which all the Messengers of God have brought to humanity since the beginning of time.
BASIC TEACHINGS
The basic teachings of the Bahá'í Faith are:
THE CENTRAL FIGURES
The Herald-Martyr: the Báb
The Báb was born October 20, 1819 in Iran. His name in Arabic means "the gate".
He became a merchant in Shíráz where, on the evening of May 22, 1844, He declared His mission. He declared that He was the Qá'im of Shi'a Islám, heralding the imminent advent of the Promised One of all the world's religions. The vast majority of Muslim clerics and government officials rejected His claim and severely persecuted Him and His followers. For half of His ministry, He was imprisoned in various locations in Iran. On July 9, 1850, the Báb was executed by a firing squad in Tabríz, Iran.
The Founder: Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, was born November 12, 1817 in Iran. His name in Arabic means "the glory of God." He became an early follower of the Báb. Though His father had been an important government official, this did not prevent Him from being beaten and imprisoned. While imprisoned in 1852/3, He had a vision in which He learned of His mission.
Upon His release in 1853, He was forced to go into exile in Baghdad, Iraq, where He, His family, and many of His followers lived for the next ten years. In 1863, when He was forced to leave Baghdad for Constantinople and Adrianople in Turkey, He declared His mission publicly for the first time. In 1867, as the result of continued agitation by Iranian government officials and other people, He and His followers were exiled to 'Akká (Acre) in Palestine, near Haifa. He spent the rest of His life and ministry in and around 'Akká, where He ascended to Heaven on May 29, 1892.
The Expounder: 'Abdu'l-Bahá
'Abdu'l-Bahá (Arabic for "servant of Bahá") was born on May 23, 1844, the same day that the Báb first declared His mission. He was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and was a constant companion of His father. As He matured, He began to handle the relations of the Bahá'í community with the outside world, permitting Bahá'u'lláh to reveal the Word of God without much distraction. When Bahá'u'lláh ascended, He appointed 'Abdu'l-Bahá as His successor and the Center of His Covenant. For the next 29 years, he led the Bahá'í community. In 1911 through 1913, He traveled extensively throughout the West (Europe and America), spreading the news about the Faith wherever He went. He was well-respected by everyone in 'Akká and Haifa, even the non-Bahá'ís. He ascended to Heaven on November 28, 1921.
Houses of Worship
There are currently seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world. Of these, the closest to Detroit is located in Wilmette, Illinois, in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Adapted from a similar page on the metro Detroit Bahá'í Web site. Used with permission of the author.
Revised July 05, 2002
Written by (Roger Reini)