Brief chronology
-
November 12,
1817,
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
-
October 20,
1819,
Birth of the Báb
-
May 23,
1844
Declaration of the Báb in
Shiraz,
Iran.
-
July 9,
1850,
Martyrdom of the Báb in
Tabriz, Iran.
- 1852,
While imprisoned for four months in an underground dungeon in
Tehran, Bahá'u'lláh receives the first intimations that He is
the One foretold by the Báb.
-
January 12,
1853,
Exile of Bahá'u'lláh from Tehran to
Baghdad.
-
April 23,
1863,
Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh in Garden of Ridván in Baghdad on the
eve of his exile to
Constantinople.
-
August 31,
1868,
arrival of Bahá'u'lláh into the Prison-city of Acre in the Holy
Land.
-
May 29,
1892,
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh.
- 1893
First newspaper mention of the Bahá'í Faith in United States.
- 1898
First pilgrimage by Western believers, including
Phoebe Hearst and the first African-American believer, Robert
Turner, to the Holy Land where they visited with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in
prison.
- September
1908,
'Abdu'l-Bahá is released from a lifetime of exile and imprisonment
at 64 years of age.
- April–December
1912,
Travels of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in North America.
- 1914–1918,
World War I. 'Abdu'l-Bahá writes the Tablets of the Divine
Plan.
-
April 27,
1920,
'Abdu'l-Bahá is knighted by the British Empire in recognition of
His humanitarian work during WWI.
-
November 28,
1921,
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Haifa
(This date marks the close of the "Heroic Age of the Baha'i Faith"
and the opening of the "Formative Age.")
- 1937,
Shoghi Effendi launches the "Divine Plan" for the diffusion of the
fragrance of the Cause.
- 1944,
Publication of "God Passes By" by Shoghi Effendi.
- 1951,
Eleven functioning National Spiritual Assemblies.
- 1951–1957,
appointment of 32 additional "Hands of the Cause of God" by Shoghi
Effendi.
- November
1957,
passing of Shoghi Effendi.
- 1957–April
1963.
Faith is guided by 27 remaining Hands of the Cause.
- April
1963, Election of first Universal House of Justice by
representatives of 56 National Spiritual Assemblies gathered in
Haifa.
Administrative order
`Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament is the charter of the Bahá'í
administrative order. In this document `Abdu'l-Bahá established the
twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of
Justice, and he appointed his eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as
the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. Again, because of the clear
directions in the Will and Testament, there was no question as to
the succession of leadership in the Faith.
Shoghi Effendi, who was a student at Oxford University at the
time of his Grandfather's passing, served as the Guardian of the
Bahá'í Faith until his passing in
1957.
For thirty-six years he developed the Bahá'í community and its
administrative structure in order to prepare it to support the
election of the Universal House of Justice. Because the Bahá'í
community was relatively small and undeveloped when the Guardian
assumed the leadership of the Faith, it took many years to
strengthen it and develop it to the point where it was capable of
supporting the administrative structure envisioned by `Abdu'l-Bahá.
Shoghi Effendi pursued this goal energetically and systematically.
As outlined in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the roles
and functions of the institutions of the Guardianship and the
Universal House of Justice were clearly complementary: the
Guardianship's function was interpretive, while the function of the
Universal House of Justice was legislative. Neither should infringe
upon the role of the other. Throughout the period of the
Guardianship, Shoghi Effendi exercised his interpretive function. He
translated the sacred writings of the Faith; he developed global
plans for the expansion of the Bahá'í community; he developed the
World Centre of the Bahá'í Faith in Haifa; he carried on a
voluminous correspondence with communities and individuals around
the world; and he built the administrative structure of the Faith,
preparing the community for the election of the Universal House of
Justice.
The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá clearly anticipated that
there would be a succession of Guardians, but this was not to be.
`Abdu'l-Bahá had indicated that the first born of the Guardian
should be his successor, but if that individual did not inherit the
Guardian's spiritual qualities, then he should appoint another male
descendant of Bahá'u'lláh. However, Shoghi Effendi did not have
children, and through the years all of the members of his family had
rebelled against the authority conferred upon him, becoming
"Covenant-Breakers". Thus, it was not possible for him to appoint a
successor as Guardian. It was also clear from `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will
and Testament that only the Universal House of Justice had the
authority to resolve questions not explicitly dealt with by either
Bahá'u'lláh or `Abdu'l-Bahá, and this issue would obviously need to
be taken up by that body. And so Shoghi Effendi had laid the
foundations for the election of the Universal House of Justice. This
nine-member body, which governs the international Bahá'í community,
was first elected in 1963. That same year, it determined that there
was "no way to appoint or to legislate to make it possible to
appoint a second Guardian to succeed Shoghi Effendi."
Bahá'ís all over the world, loyal to the Covenant first
established by Bahá'u'lláh and then carried forward by `Abdu'l-Bahá,
accepted this decision made by what they believe is the divinely
guided central authority of their Faith.
There is no clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. At the grassroots level,
Bahá'í communities are governed by freely elected nine-member
councils called "Local Spiritual Assemblies". Similarly, National
Spiritual Assemblies direct and coordinate the affairs of national
Bahá'í communities. The Bahá'í electoral process is unique. There is
no system of candidature, electioneering or campaigning, and the
purpose is to elect members who best possess those spiritual
qualities that enable them to serve the community.
Teachings and laws
Bahá'u'lláh's primary teachings are these:
- There is but one supreme deity. (God)
and He is unknowable to man.
- Bahá'u'lláh writes on this subject:
-
- "So perfect and comprehensive is His creation that no mind
or heart, however keen or pure, can ever grasp the nature of the
most insignificant of His creatures; much less fathom the
mystery of Him Who is the Day Star of Truth, Who is the
invisible and unknowable Essence..."
- and further
-
- "All that the sages and mystics have said or written have
never exceeded, nor can they ever hope to exceed, the
limitations to which man's finite mind hath been strictly
subjected. To whatever heights the mind of the most exalted of
men may soar, however great the depths which the detached and
understanding heart can penetrate, such mind and heart can never
transcend that which is the creature of their own thoughts. The
meditations of the profoundest thinker, the devotions of the
holiest of saints, the highest expressions of praise from either
human pen or tongue, are but a reflection of that which hath
been created within themselves."
- there is but one humanity--the distinctions of race, gender,
etc. are but distinctions of facade, not innate character or
ability, and all are equal in the sight of God
- All the world's great religions receive their inspiration from
the same divine source
- `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote:
-
- The differences among the religions of the world are due to
the varying types of minds.
- Regarding the relationships and station of the various
founders of the worlds great religions, which Bahá'ís refer to as
"Manifestations of God" Bahá'u'lláh writes:
-
- God hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings
to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso
recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their
call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth
to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of
God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from
God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God . .
. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences
of His Truth, and the signs of His glory.
- Since the founders of all the world religions are essentially
the manifestations of one God, it follows that the religions
themselves are from the same source, and have the same goal,
Bahá'u'lláh has therefore urged the followers of the different
religions to put aside their differences.
-
- The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental
purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to
safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race,
and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.
Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of
hate and enmity.
- Bahá'u'lláh urged the elimination of religious intolerance.
Abdu'l-Bahá expresses the same idea even more emphatically in his
Will and Testament.
-
- "Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the
world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness,
kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world of
being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá,
that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancour may vanish from the
world and the darkness of estrangement amidst the peoples and
kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of Unity. Should
other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you show your
fidelity unto them, should they be unjust toward you show
justice towards them, should they keep aloof from you attract
them to yourself, should they show their enmity be friendly
towards them, should they poison your lives, sweeten their
souls, should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their
sores. Such are the attributes of the sincere! Such are the
attributes of the truthful."
- Bahá'ís often refer to this concept as "Progressive
Revelation", which simply means that God is revealed to mankind
progressively, as we mature and are able to comprehend the purpose
of God in creating humanity.
Social principles
The following list of 12 "beliefs" are frequently listed as a
quick summary of Bahá'í teachings. They are derived from a variety
of such lists extracted from transcripts of speeches given by
Abdu'l-Bahá during his tour of Europe and North America in
1912.
The list is not authoritative and a variety of such lists circulate.
- The Oneness of God
- The Oneness of religion
- The Oneness of mankind
- Equality of men and women
- Elimination of all forms of prejudice
- World peace
- Harmony of religion and science
- The need for universal compulsory education
- Obedience to government
- Non-involvement in [partisan] politics
- A spiritual solution to economic problems
- Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
Another Bahá'í principle is that of moderation in all things
(specifically liberty, civilization, religious zeal and scriptural
literalism.)
Bahá'ís believe that although the current age is quite dark, the
future of humanity is gloriously bright and that world peace is
inevitable.
To be a Bahá'í means that a person believes that Bahá'u'lláh is
the manifestation of God for this time. A Bahá'í strives to follow
His teachings, and observes His laws.
Rituals
The rituals in the Bahá'í Faith are simple and few in number:
- There is a specified set of
marriage vows.
- There are a few specified
funerary practices.
- Bahá'ís are enjoined to
- recite an obligatory
prayer each day, facing in the direction of the
Qiblih (the Point of Adoration)
- read the sacred writings of their Faith each morning and
evening
- perform a
pilgrimage once in their life if they are able to afford it
- support their Faith with material offerings.
Soliciting of funds from individuals is strictly prohibited, and
Bahá'í institutions are forbidden from accepting contributions from
people who are not Bahá'ís.
Laws and ordinances
- Bahá'ís in good health between the ages of 15 and 70 observe a
nineteen-day sunrise-to-sunset fast each year
March 2 to
March 21.
- There are no dietary restrictions, but Bahá'ís are forbidden
to drink
alcohol or to take
recreational drugs, as these interfere with an individual's
spiritual growth and progress.
- Family life is, in the Bahá'í view, a cornerstone of society.
Marriage is encouraged.
-
Chastity outside marriage is required.
- Couples wishing to marry must obtain the consent of all
living natural parents, as the Bahá'í teachings state that
marriage is more than a union of individuals; it is the union of
families.
- Partners are expected to remain absolutely faithful within
the marriage relationship.
- Interracial and interreligious marriages are accepted.
- Divorce is permitted, although regarded with the utmost
seriousness, and is granted if, after a year of separation, the
couple is unable to reconcile their differences.
Calendar
The Bahá'í calendar was established by the Báb. The year consists
of 19 months of 19 days, and 4 or 5 intercalary days, to make a full
solar year. The New Year occurs on the vernal equinox,
March 21, at the end of the month of fasting.
Bahá'í communities gather at the beginning of each month at a
meeting called a "feast" for worship, consultation and socializing.
While the name may seem to suggest that an elaborate meal is served,
that is not necessarily the case. Sometimes refreshments are
plentiful, but they can be as simple as bread and water.
Bahá'ís observe 11 Holy Days throughout the year, with work
suspended on 9 of these. These days commemorate important
anniversaries in the history of the Faith.
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
Most Bahá'í meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Bahá'í
centers, or rented facilities. There are currently only seven Bahá'í
Houses of Worship. The name used in the Bahá'í writings for Houses
of Worship is
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (Dawning-place of the
Remembrance of God). The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár forms the
center of a complex of insititutions of the Baha'i community.
Involvement in the life of society
Bahá'ís actively promote issues of social justice and
spirituality wherever they are found, holding the concept of the
unity of mankind as the standard for their actions. Bahá'ís have
also become increasingly involved in projects of social and economic
development around the world.
Bahá'u'lláh wrote of the need for world government in this age of
humanity's collective life. Because of this emphasis Bahá'ís have
actively supported the United Nations since its inception. The
Bahá'í International Community has consultative status with the
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and with the
United Nations Children's Fund
UNICEF,
and has undertaken joint development programs with United Nations
agencies. (See
[2] (http://www.bahai.org/article-1-6-0-6.html)
further information] on the relationship between the Bahá'í
International Community and the United Nations.)
links
|
