“Bahá’u’lláh has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law.” – Abdu’l-Bahá
History of The Bahá'í Faith PDF Print E-mail

A Bahá'í father and his young son who were arrested and executed for their belief, 19th century Iran.

The Bahá’í Faith revolves around three central Figures; the first was a youth named Mirza Ali-Muhammad, known as The Bab (means ‘Gate’), Who in May 1844 at the age of 25, advanced the claim of being the Herald Who, according to earlier Sacred Scriptures, came to prepare the way for the advent of the Promised One and initiate a new cycle in the religious history of mankind.   Swift and severe persecutions were mounted against Him and His followers by those who saw Him as a threat to their power and prestige.  The Báb and His followers were arrested, imprisoned, tortured and finally on July 9, 1850 He was executed in the public square of the city of Tabriz.  Some 20,000 of His followers perished in a series of massacres throughout Persia.

The second was Bahá’u’lláh (means ‘Glory of God’). He was born as Mirza Husayn-‘Ali in Mazindarin, Persia in 1817.  His advent was foretold by the Bab.  By the same forces of ignorance and fanaticism, He was imprisoned, banished to Baghdad from His native land, exiled again to Constantinople and Adianople and finally to the Penal colony of Akka.  He was incarcerated for no less than 24 years in that desolate city, where He passed away in 1892. His remains are interred in the Haram-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Sanctuary) in the vicinity of Acre, Israel.

The third, 'Abdu’l-Bahá (means ‘Servant of God’) was the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, appointed by Him as His lawful successor, authorized interpreter of His writings and refered to Him as the Perfect Exemplar to whom all Bahá’ís should turn to for guidance and example.   He was born ‘Abbas Effendi in May 1844 the very same night of the Bab’s declaration as Herald to Bahá’u’lláh.   Since early childhood his life had been closely associated with His Father.   He shared His exile and imprisonments from a child of 8 years until His release at the age of 64 in 1908. His personification of the many qualities expounded in Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings earned Him the affectionate titles of ‘Master’.   Abdu’l-Bahá played a key role in explaining the world-embracing vision of His Father, visiting the western world of Europe and America and laying the foundation for the transformation of the world into a global community.  He was knighted by the British government after World War One.  He passed away on 28 November 1921.

'Abdu’l-Bahá’s oldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was appointed by Him as the ‘Guardian’ of the Faith.  As Guardian, Shoghi Effendi was the authorised interpreter of the Bahá’í teachings.   He was born in Acre in 1897 and spent most of his childhood with Abdu’l-Bahá.   He was educated in Beirut and later at Oxford University in London.  He was conferred this leadership as a youth of 24 years and dedicated the rest of his life to expanding the Bahá’í community and establishing the Bahá’í institutions across the world.  Shoghi Effendi’s clear vision of the Bahá’í Faith and his certainty of its ultimate triumph helped to invigorate a generation of believers, who, though few in number, were responsible for spreading Bahá’u’lláh’s healing message to all parts of the world.    

 
 
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