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The Bahá’í Faith

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The Bahá’í Faith is a world religionwhose purpose is to unite all theraces and peoples in one universalCause and one common Faith.

Bahá’ís are followers of Bahá’u’lláh,Who they believe is the PromisedOne of all Ages.

“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereignremedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of allthe world is the union of all its peoples in one universalCause, one common Faith.” ~Bahá’u’lláh

All Peoples –One Common Faith

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Bahá’u’lláh teaches us that God isunknowable in His Essence. Thismeans that we should not makeimages of God in our mind.

In general, that which has beencreated cannot understand itscreator.

God is the Creator of all thingsand the reason behind ourcreation is love. Bahá'u'lláhteaches us that God loved us, andwe were created from this love.

God, the unknowable Creator

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“O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation,

hence I created thee.Wherefore, do thoulove Me, that I mayname thy name andfill thy soul with thespirit of life.”

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The Eternal Covenant

According to this EternalCovenant, God never leavesus alone and withoutGuidance.

Whenever humanity movesaway from God and forgetsHis Teachings, aManifestation of Godappears and makes His Willand Purpose known to us.

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Manifestation of God

The Manifestations of God reveal theWord and Will of God. To listen toThem is to respond to the Call ofGod.

They are like perfect Mirrors thatreflect the Light of God in all itsSplendor. And all these Mirrorsreflect the same Light.

While God is beyond ourunderstanding, these perfect Beingscome to us from time to time, liveamong us, give us guidance, and fillus with the energy we need toprogress, materially and spiritually.

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“This is the Day in which God's mostexcellent favors have been poured outupon men, the Day in which His mostmighty grace hath been infused into allcreated things. It is incumbent upon all thepeoples of the world to reconcile theirdifferences, and, with perfect unity andpeace, abide beneath the shadow of theTree of His care and loving-kindness.” ~Bahá’u’lláh

The Plight of Humanity

The Promised Day

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Although we differ from oneanother physically andemotionally, and have differenttalents and capacities, we allspring from the same root; we allbelong to the same human family.

We should see the members of thehuman race as beautiful flowersgrowing in the garden ofhumanity and rejoice in belongingto this garden.

The Aim of the Bahá’i Faith

is to Unify Humanity

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So many passages in the Bahá’i Writings teach us how towalk in the ways of unity and how to help others take thesame path.

The Oneness of Humanity

Although the oneness of humanity is an undeniable truth,the peoples of the world are so far from it that unifyingthem is no easy task.

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“Bahá'u'lláh has drawn the circle ofunity, He has made a design for theuniting of all the peoples, and for thegathering of them all under theshelter of the tent of universal unity.This is the work of the Divine Bounty,and we must all strive with heart andsoul until we have the reality of unityin our midst, and as we work, so willstrength be given unto us.”

~ Abdu’l-Bahá

A Divine Design

for Unity

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Bahá’u’lláh, Manifestation of God

• Bahá’u’lláh was born in 1817 in Tihran, the capital of Iran.

• From His early childhood, He showed signs of greatness.

• He received some instruction at home, but He did not attend school,for He was endowed with innate knowledge from God.

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The Life of Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláh came from a noble family; when He was a young man Hewas offered a high position in the court of the King, but He refused it -dedicating His time instead to helping the oppressed, the sick and thepoor and to championing the cause of justice.

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Bahá’u’lláh –

His Suffering & Influence

Bahá’u’lláh’s sufferings began the moment He arose toproclaim the Cause of God – He lived a life of exile,imprisonment and persecution; He was put in chains in adark and dismal dungeon in Tihran.

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He was exiledfour times fromland to landuntil finally Hewas sent to thePrison City ofAkká in theOttomonEmpire.

His Exile and Imprisonment

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““Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment inRemember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment inthis remote prison. And be thou so steadfast in My love that thy heartthis remote prison. And be thou so steadfast in My love that thy heartshall not waver, even if the swords of the enemies rain blows upon theeshall not waver, even if the swords of the enemies rain blows upon theeand all the heavens and the earth arise against thee.and all the heavens and the earth arise against thee.”” ~Bahá’u’lláh

The Most Great Prison

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““The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains thatThe Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains thatmankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to bemankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to bemade a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the wholemade a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the wholeworld may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs theworld may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs thecup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain untocup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain untoabiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of yourabiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of yourLord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to beLord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to beabased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, andabased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, andhave suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish.have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish.He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how theyHe Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how theythat have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within thethat have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within themost desolate of cities!most desolate of cities!”” ~Bahá’u’lláh

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The Light of Truth

Every effort was made by two powerful courts,those of the King of Iran and the OttomanEmperor, to oppose Bahá’u’lláh and HisTeachings, but the light of Truth is not easilyextinguished.

In spite of constant persecution, Bahá’u’lláhcontinued to reveal the Word of God formore than 40 years.

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Bahá’u’lláh passed away in 1892. His Shrine is located in the HolyLand near the city of ‘Akká, Israel.

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The Báb,Herald of Bahá’u’lláh

Several years before Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed His Mission, God sent aspecial Messenger to announce His coming.

For six years He taught ceaselessly that the appearance of the newManifestation of God was near and prepared the way for His coming.

He told the people that they were witnessing the dawn of a new Age, thedawn of the Promised Day of God.

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Thousands upon thousands of people accepted the Message ofthe Báb and began to follow His Teachings. But the governmentof Iran and the powerful clergy who ruled over the masses roseagainst Him.

His Suffering & Influence

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Two Prayers of the Báb:

His followers were persecutedand large numbers were put todeath.

The Báb Himself at the age of 31was martyred by a regiment ofsoldiers who, at the orders of thegovernment, suspended Him in apublic square and opened fire onHim.

“Say: God sufficeth all things above allthings, and nothing in the heavens or in theearth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is inHimself the Knower, the Sustainer, theOmnipotent.”

“Is there any Remover of difficultiessave God? Say: Praised be God! Heis God! All are His servants, and allabide by His bidding!”

Martyrdom of the Báb

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Spiritual and Administrative

World Center

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá,

Center of the Covenant

The idea most central to our lives asBahá’is is that we have entered into aCovenant with Bahá’u’lláh.

In previous religions, after thepassing of the Manifestation, Hisfollowers had disputes amongthemselves and, as a result, split thereligion into many sects.

Bahá’u’lláh has protected His Faithagainst such division by endowing itwith a unique power, the power ofthe Covenant.

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Before His passing Bahá’u’lláh statedin the clearest terms, in His writtenWill, that after Him, all Bahá’is shouldturn to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

He had been raised by Bahá’u’lláhHimself, had recognized His Stationeven as a child, and had shared thesufferings of His Father.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born on the samenight the Báb declared His Mission in1844 and passed away at the age 77 inNovember 1921.

Sole Interpreter & Perfect Exemplar

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After the passing of Bahá’u’lláh, theresponsibility for the Bahá’icommunity fell on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’sshoulders, and He labored day andnight to spread the Faith throughoutthe East and the West.

He reminds us of ourCovenant with Bahá’u’lláhand that we will not allow theunity of His followers to bebroken.United as a worldwidecommunity we will laboruntil the oneness ofhumankind has been firmlyestablished.

A Unified World Community

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Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian

In His Will and Testament, Abdu’l-Bahánamed His grandson the Guardian of theFaith and after His passing, ShoghiEffendi became the authorizedinterpreter of the Teachings.

For 36 years, he continued the work ofHis Grandfather, clarifying the Wordsof the Manifestation and firmlyestablishing His Faith.

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The Universal House of Justice

The Bahá’is of the world elected the Universal House of Justice, asenvisioned by Bahá’u’lláh and clearly described by ‘Abdu’l-Baháand the Guardian.

The Universal House of Justice is the supreme institution of theFaith to which all the Bahá’is of the world now turn.

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Bah!"u"ll!h says that His laws are :

“the lamps of My loving providence among My servants, andthe keys of My mercy for My creatures.#

The Manifestations of God Bring

Laws to Humanity

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Prayer – Spiritual Sustenance

““I bear witness, O my God, thatI bear witness, O my God, thatThou hast created me to know TheeThou hast created me to know Theeand to worship Thee.and to worship Thee.““I testify, at this moment, to myI testify, at this moment, to mypowerlessness and to Thy might, topowerlessness and to Thy might, tomy poverty and to Thy wealth.my poverty and to Thy wealth.There is none other God but Thee,There is none other God but Thee,the Help in Peril, the Self-the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.Subsisting.””

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““O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!““Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep.Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep.Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, andSpeak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, andmagnify not the faults of others that magnify not the faults of others that thine thine own faults may not appearown faults may not appeargreat; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine thine ownownabasement be not exposed.abasement be not exposed.Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, withLive then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, withthy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thythy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thynature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away thisnature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away thismortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in themortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in theeternal kingdom for evermore.eternal kingdom for evermore.””

Backbiting Forbidden

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““O SON OF SPIRIT!O SON OF SPIRIT! ““I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down toI created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to

poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abasepoverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abasethyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being,thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being,whywhy seekest seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Outthou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Outof the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyselfof the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyselfwith another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayestwith another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayestfind Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.subsisting.””

Prohibition of Alcohol & Drugs

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““The first duty of the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful is this:The first duty of the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful is this:They must strive by all possible means to educate both sexes, male and female; girlsThey must strive by all possible means to educate both sexes, male and female; girlslike boys; there is no difference whatsoever between them. The ignorance of both islike boys; there is no difference whatsoever between them. The ignorance of both isblameworthy, and negligence in both cases is reprovable. blameworthy, and negligence in both cases is reprovable. ‘‘Are they who know and theyAre they who know and theywho do not know equal?who do not know equal?””

Education of Children

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Building a World Civilization

Community

First Participant – Individual

It is the duty of an individual Bahá’i to remain firm in the Covenant, to strive

daily to bring his or her life in line with Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings, and to serve

humanity, always conscious of the fact that life does not end with death and

that one’s relation with God is eternal. After death, our souls continue to

progress towards God for all eternity.

InstitutionsIndividual33

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Human beings were not created toexist alone. We live in communitiesand must work together to build thenew civilization.

The community closest to us is ourvillage or town.

It is in the local community wherewe learn to cooperate with oneanother, to grow together andbecome united.

Second Participant – Community

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The Bahá’í Administrative Orderwas ordained by Bahá’u’lláh. Hehas told us what institutions wemust create, how they shouldfunction, and how humanity shouldbe governed.

There are no priests or clergy in theBahá’i Faith, and it is the LocalSpiritual Assembly that guides theaffairs of the local community.

A Local Spiritual Assembly consistsof nine members elected in aprayerful atmosphere by secretballot by all the adult believers inthe community.

Third Participant – Institutions

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““O God! Refresh and Gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine myO God! Refresh and Gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine mypowers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. Ipowers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. Iwill no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. Owill no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. OGod! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I willGod! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I willnot dwell on the unpleasant things of life.not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself toO God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself toThee O Lord.Thee O Lord.””

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