Entrance to the Shrine of
Bahá'u'lláh
|
|
Bahá'u'lláh
The Founder of the Bahá'í Faith was Bahá'u'lláh. His name means “the
Glory of God.” We recognise Bahá'u'lláh as the Messenger of God for
this age and the
Promised One of all ages and religions. The Bahá'í Faith is founded on
His teachings. Born in Tehran in 1817, Bahá'u'lláh spent most of His
life unjustly
exiled and imprisoned. His message of peace, unity and justice, and His
prescription for the
personal and social requirements of the future global society, form the
basis of the sacred texts of the Faith. He was exiled to the Holy Land
in 1868 and spent the rest of His life
there. He passed away in 1892 in Acre, near Haifa in what is now Israel.
The Báb
Bahá'u'lláh’s mission was heralded by the Báb (1819-1850), Whose name
means “The Gate.” The Báb was an independent Messenger of God. His
message urged
religious and social reform and aroused great interest among tens of
thousands of followers throughout Persia. The Báb was unjustly
imprisoned for His teachings. In 1850 He was
executed by firing squad.
'Abdu’l-Bahá
'Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921) was Bahá'u'lláh’s eldest son, His appointed
successor, and the authorised interpreter of His teachings. He led the
Bahá'í Faith after His Father’s passing. The Faith spread to Europe and
North America during the time of
'Abdu’l-Bahá. He travelled widely there, explaining the teachings of the
Faith to big audiences in universities, churches, synagogues and the
meeting places of many progressive associations.
Shoghi
Effendi
In His will and testament, 'Abdu’l-Bahá appointed His eldest grandson,
Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (1897-1957), to succeed him as the head or
"Guardian" of the Bahá'í Faith. Shoghi Effendi oversaw a major
expansion of the Bahá'í Faith. From 35
countries in 1921, the Faith had spread to more than 200 countries,
territories and colonies at the time of his passing in 1957.
Universal
House of Justice
After the death of Shoghi Effendi, a small group of specially appointed
individuals guided the development of the international Bahá'í
community until the election of the first Universal House of Justice in
1963. The Universal House of Justice is the elected, supreme governing
council of the Bahá'í Faith and has its permanent Seat at the Bahá'í
World Centre in Haifa, Israel. As head of the Bahá'í Faith, the
Universal House of Justice directs the
spiritual and administrative affairs of the Bahá'ís of the world.
For more information, please contact
us or visit: http://info.bahai.org
|
|
