Who are the Bahá'ís?

While the number of people who profess the Bahá'í ( listen to pronunciation ) Faith is still small in relation to a world population of billions, the Bahá'í Faith is the second most widespread religion in the world with members in almost every nation and territory. Bahá'ís come from every walk of life, every nationality, religion, race and background. What makes them Bahá'ís is their belief in the teachings and mission of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh ( listen to pronunciation ).

Two questions often spring to mind for those who first hear about the Bahá'í Faith. First, "Why is it necessary to have yet another religion?" And second, "Who is this person with the strange name, and what makes him so special?"

The answer to both questions is the same. Throughout history God has sent Messengers to guide us - humanity - both individually and collectively. In more direct terms, God has always provided us with Divine Teachers who help us to grow and progress personally and socially. All the world's religions have taught morality, kinship, unity, acceptance, forgiveness, spirituality, love, etc. All have also mentioned, praised, even glorified previous Messengers as well as predicted, and encouraged us to watch for future Messengers from God.

To Bahá'ís this "progressive revelation" of the will and teachings of God is the continual presentation of the same Truth, the same Faith. It has come to different people at different times in different languages and cultures as God wishes. Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, The Bahá'í Faith, these are each and all the guidance of God. That we see differences in these faiths is because we focus on those temporary and changing elements of human culture, language and tradition that shade each of the world's religion. We often choose to see the characteristics that the faiths have developed because of the time and the place where they were revealed and not the Truth that forms the core of each and all.

In short, part of the answer to the above questions is that the Bahá'ís believe that the Bahá'í Faith is the continuation of the One Faith that has been revealed successively to humanity throughout history. This is not a new religion, it is the One religion presented for our current time and our current needs.

"This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Let him that seeketh, attain it; and as to him that hath refused to seek it -- verily, God is Self-Sufficient, above any need of His creatures." (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)

 

Before we get to the second part of the answer, some work on the pronunciation of the name of the founder of the Faith may be helpful. To be accurate, "Bahá'u'lláh" is a title, rather than a name, much like Christ is a title rather than a name. Christ means "Anointed" or in more current language, "Chosen to be king." Bahá'u'lláh is an Arabic term; pronounced with short a's like the "a" in the word "lava." Roughly: ba-ha-oo-la, or if you happen to know geography, the first part sounds a lot like the Mexican peninsula - Baja - using this example Bahá'u'lláh would be pronounced, Baja-oo-la ( listen to pronunciation ).

As mentioned, Bahá'u'lláh is a title, and it means "The Light of God" and "The Glory of God." The most common translation is "The Glory of God." Bahá'ís just say, "Bahá'u'lláh."

Addressing the second question, and the second part of the over-all answer, Bahá'ís believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the latest in the line of Divine Teachers, Holy Manifestations, Guides, Messiahs, Prophets, whatever you choose to call them.

Bahá'u'lláh is the Messenger from God for our time.

This is quite a leap, quite a claim. We are very aware that it is. Bahá'ís don't believe in Bahá'u'lláh just because He made this claim, we believe in Bahá'u'lláh because we have investigated His claim and decided that it is True.

It would not be hard to find people throughout history who have made claims to be messengers from God, or have claimed to have a special knowledge or special relationship with God. Very few have withstood any serious scrutiny. Most were after fame, or money or power, or all of these things.

But some were truly messengers from God. Some brought to humanity teachings that can transform our hearts, cleanse our souls, refresh our outlook and hasten the growth and prosperity of human society. Bahá'ís Believe that Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad, Bahá'u'lláh, are among those few who are the true messengers from God.

We should note that all of the past Messengers of God have told us to watch out for false prophets, and they have also told us to investigate and accept the true ones. For Example, Jesus said:

"Beware of false prophets . . . Ye shall know them by their fruits. . . . every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. . . .Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (King James Bible, Matthew, 7:15)

And the Apostle Paul said:

"Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good." (King James Bible, 1 Thessalonians, 5:19)

If there were only to be false prophets, why supply a test for good ones? If there were to be no new Messengers on earth, why does Paul say to test ALL things?

Who are the Bahá'ís? The millions who have investigated the claims, the teachings and the life of Bahá'u'lláh, and at the end of that investigation have become Bahá'ís.

Bahá'u'lláh's life, his teachings and his claim to be a Messenger of God make this day in which we live a rare moment in human history. An era that falls within less than two hundred years of the coming of a Messenger of God, when His message is just beginning to reach the world. We encourage you to investigate the history of Bahá'u'lláh's life - how He has fulfilled hundreds, if not thousands of religious prophecies. We encourage you to investigate the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh - the "good fruits" by which you will know a true Messenger from God.

"The Revelation which, from time immemorial, hath been acclaimed as the Purpose and Promise of all the Prophets of God, and the most cherished Desire of His Messengers, hath now, by virtue of the pervasive Will of the Almighty and at His irresistible bidding, been revealed unto men. The advent of such a Revelation hath been heralded in all the sacred Scriptures." (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)

 

"This is the Day in which God's most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness. It behoveth them to cleave to whatsoever will, in this Day, be conducive to the exaltation of their stations, and to the promotion of their best interests." (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)

For Further Reference

Below are some introductory books about the Bahá'í Faith:

"God Speaks Again: An Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith," By Kenneth E. Bowers. Published by Bahá'í Publishing.

"My Bahá'í Faith: A Personal Tour of the Bahá'í Teachings," By Justice St. Rain. Published by Special Ideas.

"The Challenge of Bahá'u'lláh: Does God Still Speak to Humanity Today?" By Gary L. Matthews. Published by Bahá'í Publishing.

"Gardeners of God: An Encounter with Five Million Bahá'ís," By Colette Gouvion & Phillipe Jouvion. Published by Oneworld Publications.

"The Bahá'í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion," By William Hatcher and Douglas Martin. Published by Bahá'í Publishing.

"The Bahá'í Faith: A Short Introduction," By Moojan Momen. Published by Oneworld Publications.

Below are some books that contain the Scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith or explain its basic teachings:

"Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh," By Bahá'u'lláh. Published by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. Also published by Bahá'í Publishing.

"The Hidden Words," By Bahá'u'lláh. Many Publishers.

"The Reality of Man," A Compilation. Compiled by Terry Cassiday, Christopher Martin, and Bahhaj Taherzadeh, Published by Bahá'í Publishing

"Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings on Spiritual Reality," A Compilation. Published by Plabra Publications.

"Some Answered Questions," By Abdu'l-Bahá. Published by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust.

Below are references for books about Bahá'u'lláh and the fulfillment of prophecy:

"Thief in the Night," By William Sears. Published by George Ronald.

"I Shall Come Again," By Hushidar Motlagh. Published by Global Perspective.

"The Kitab-i-Iqan: The Book of Certitude," By Bahá'u'lláh. Published by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. Also published by Bahá'í Publishing.