The Bahá’í FaithThe Bahá’í Faith

““The earth is but one country,The earth is but one country,

and mankind its citizens.”and mankind its citizens.”

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

1817 - Tihrán, Persia1817 - Tihrán, Persia

Bahá’u’lláh was Bahá’u’lláh was born on 12 born on 12 November 1817. November 1817. This is His father, This is His father, a minister of the a minister of the Sháh of Persia.Sháh of Persia.

1844 - Shiráz, Persia1844 - Shiráz, Persia

The BábThe Báb declares declares that He is the that He is the HeraldHerald of the of the Promised One of Promised One of all religions.all religions.

1850 - Tabríz, Persia1850 - Tabríz, Persia

The BábThe Báb is is martyred after martyred after years of years of imprisonment. imprisonment. This is His Shrine This is His Shrine in Haifa, Israel.in Haifa, Israel.

PersecutionPersecution

From the beginning From the beginning the Bahá’ís of Persia the Bahá’ís of Persia have been have been persecuted by the persecuted by the Muslims. This is the Muslims. This is the martyrdom of Táhirih martyrdom of Táhirih in 1850.in 1850.

1863 - Baghdád, Iraq1863 - Baghdád, Iraq

On 21 April 1863 On 21 April 1863 Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh declares declares in the Garden of in the Garden of Ridván that He isRidván that He is the Promised One the Promised One of all religions.of all religions.

1863-1892: Banishment1863-1892: Banishment

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh was banished successively to was banished successively to Istanbul, Edirne and ‘Akká.Istanbul, Edirne and ‘Akká.

The Revelation of The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh revealed revealed one hundred books, one hundred books, like the like the Hidden Hidden Words, Words, thethe Book of Book of Certitude, Certitude, and theand the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

1892 - Bahjí, Israel1892 - Bahjí, Israel

Bahá’u’lláh Bahá’u’lláh passed passed away on 29 May away on 29 May 1892. This is His 1892. This is His ShrineShrine, near , near ‘Akká.‘Akká.

1892-1921: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá1892-1921: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

‘ ‘Abdu’l-BaháAbdu’l-Bahá was the was the eldest son of eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, and was Bahá’u’lláh, and was appointed by Him as His appointed by Him as His successorsuccessor and Centre of and Centre of the Covenant.the Covenant.

1912-1913: 1912-1913: Travels of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Travels of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

‘‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abdu’l-Bahá travelled to travelled to Europe Europe and theand the United United States States to proclaim to proclaim the message of the message of Bahá’u’lláh.Bahá’u’lláh.

1921-1957: Shoghi Effendi1921-1957: Shoghi Effendi

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in passed away in 1921, He appointed 1921, He appointed His grandson His grandson Shoghi Effendi as Shoghi Effendi as the Guardianthe Guardian of the of the Bahá’í Faith.Bahá’í Faith.

1963: Haifa, Israel1963: Haifa, Israel

On 21 April 1963 On 21 April 1963 the first the first Universal Universal House of Justice House of Justice was elected.was elected.

The Bahá’í WorldcentreThe Bahá’í Worldcentre

This is the Seat of This is the Seat of the Universal the Universal House of Justice House of Justice on Mount Carmel on Mount Carmel in in Haifa, IsraelHaifa, Israel..

AdministrativeAdministrativeOrderOrder

N ation a l S p iritu a l A ssem b lies

L oca l S p iritu a l A ssem b lies

Th e U n ive rsa l H ou seo f Ju s tice

A ss is tan ts

A u xilia ry B oardM em b ers

C ou n se llo rs

In te rn a tion a l Teach in g C en tre(C ou n se llo rs in H a ifa )

H an d s o f th e C au seo f G od

S h og h i E ffen d i

A b d u 'l-B ah á

B ah á 'u 'llá h

Th e B á b

a

p

p

o

i

n

t

e

d

e

l

e

c

t

e

d

GrowthGrowth

Nowadays the Nowadays the Bahá’í Faith is Bahá’í Faith is spread spread worldwideworldwide. . There are now There are now more than six more than six million Bahá’ís in million Bahá’ís in more than 200 more than 200 countries. countries.

Houses of WorshipHouses of Worship

At the moment there At the moment there is one House of is one House of Worship on each Worship on each continent. This one continent. This one stood in Ishqabád, stood in Ishqabád, Central Asia, until Central Asia, until 1963. 1963.

Wilmette, IllinoisWilmette, Illinois

Sydney, AustraliaSydney, Australia

Kampala, UgandaKampala, Uganda

Langenhain, GermanyLangenhain, Germany

Panama-city, PanamaPanama-city, Panama

Apia, Western SamoaApia, Western Samoa

New Delhi, IndiaNew Delhi, India

Bahá’í PrinciplesBahá’í Principles

Unity of GodUnity of God

Unity of religionsUnity of religions

Unity of humankindUnity of humankind

Progressive RevelationProgressive Revelation

The Messengers of allThe Messengers of allreligions were sent by religions were sent by one and the same God. one and the same God. Their message is Their message is meant for a specific meant for a specific time and place.time and place.

Unity in DiversityUnity in Diversity

‘‘The well-being of The well-being of mankind, its peace mankind, its peace and security are and security are unattainable, unless unattainable, unless and until its unity is and until its unity is firmly established.’firmly established.’

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

The elimination of all The elimination of all prejudicesprejudices

The Bahá’í Faith The Bahá’í Faith denounces all denounces all religious, racial, religious, racial, political and national political and national prejudices.prejudices.

Equality of man and Equality of man and womanwoman

‘‘As long as women are As long as women are prevented from attaining prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.’which might be theirs.’

‘‘Abdu’l-BaháAbdu’l-Bahá

Universal educationUniversal education

‘‘Regard man as a Regard man as a mine rich in gems of mine rich in gems of inestimable value. inestimable value. Education can, Education can, alone, cause it to alone, cause it to reveal its treasures.’reveal its treasures.’

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

Social economic projectsSocial economic projects

In many developing In many developing countries there are countries there are Bahá’í projects in Bahá’í projects in the fields of literacy, the fields of literacy, agriculture, health, agriculture, health, etc.etc.

World auxiliary languageWorld auxiliary language

A world language A world language will be either will be either made or chosen made or chosen from the existing from the existing languages and will languages and will be taught at the be taught at the schools of all schools of all countries.countries.

ConsultationConsultation

‘‘The shining spark The shining spark of truth cometh of truth cometh forth only after the forth only after the clash of differing clash of differing opinions.’opinions.’

‘‘Abdu’l-BaháAbdu’l-Bahá

Prayer and MeditationPrayer and Meditation

Every morning Every morning and evening and evening Bahá’ís say Bahá’ís say prayersprayers and read and read from the from the writingswritings of Bahá’u’lláh.of Bahá’u’lláh.

Life after DeathLife after Death

‘‘Know thou of a Know thou of a truth that the soul, truth that the soul, after its separation after its separation from the body, will from the body, will continue to continue to progress until it progress until it attaineth the attaineth the presence of God.’presence of God.’

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

World PeaceWorld Peace

‘‘These fruitless These fruitless strifes, these strifes, these ruinous wars shall ruinous wars shall pass away, and pass away, and ‘the Most Great ‘the Most Great Peace’ shall Peace’ shall come.’come.’

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh

Who’s writing the future?Who’s writing the future?

‘‘Soon will the Soon will the present-day order present-day order be rolled up, and be rolled up, and a new one spread a new one spread out in its stead.’out in its stead.’

Bahá’u’lláhBahá’u’lláh