What is the Baha’i Faith?

In the traditions of almost every people there is a promise of a future when peace and harmony will be established on earth and humankind will live in prosperity. Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah is the One who fulfils that promise by bringing teachings to enable humanity to build a new world.

In one of His Writings, Bahá’u’lláh says: “That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”

You can learn more about Baha’u’llah’s teachings by watching the introductory video below, or visit the official website of the Australian Baha’i Community.

Find a Baha’i Community near you in Australia

Here in Australia, you can find your local Baha’i community by visiting the website of the Australian Baha’i Community to use your postcode to look up the nearest community.

Overseas? No problem, the Baha’i Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world. You can find Links to Baha’i Communities in Countries Around the World via the official website of the Worldwide Baha’i Community.

More about the Baha’i Faith

The Baha’i Faith originated from the Bábí faith of the mid-19th century, whose creator (the Báb) believed that God would soon send a prophet in the same manner as Christ or Muhammad.[4] Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892) declared in 1863 that he was this prophet.

Baháʼu’lláh taught that religion is orderly and progressively revealed by one God through Manifestations of God who are the founders of major world religions throughout history; Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad being the most recent in the period before the Báb and Baháʼu’lláh.

The four introductory topic areas below have some links to pertinent sections on the official Baha’i site, Bahai.org, as well as links to related Baha’i Blog posts. The Baha’i Blog posts explore Baha’i beliefs and activities from a personal perspective and we hope that this will add another dimension to the information available to you as you learn about the Baha’i Faith.

What do Baha’is Believe in?

What Baha’is Believe This area of the bahai.org website aims to organize a selection of central Baha’i beliefs into a few thematic areas—The Life of the Spirit; God and His Creation; Essential Relationships; and Universal Peace. In addition, the section titled Baha’u’llah and His Covenant provides a summary of the origins of the Baha’i Faith, including brief descriptions of the lives of the Bab, Baha’u’llah,‘Abdu’l-Baha, and Shoghi Effendi. It also introduces the Universal House of Justice, the institution ordained by Baha’u’llah to which the entire Baha’i community today turns for guidance in the application of the Baha’i teachings.

What is the Baha’i Faith? The Baha’i Faith is an independent world religion.

What is a Baha’i? A question that people who have already professed their belief in Baha’u’llah should perhaps regularly ask themselves.

Is God Real? The Unseen Ancient Power How do you explain the unseen force of God to anyone, let alone a four-year-old?

O God, What Art Thou? Let’s face it. I know nothing about the Mystery of Mysteries.

The Baha’i Principle of Progressive Revelation How can all religions be true when they appear to disagree in the ways they are practiced?

The Baha’i Covenant: A Brief Overview A Covenant in the religious sense is a binding agreement between God and man.

What Baha’is Celebrate on the Day of the Covenant What exactly is Baha’u’llah’s Covenant, and what exactly is it that Baha’is are commemorating on this day?

Two Wings: Women, Men, and the Bird of Humanity What does the equality of men and women mean to you?

Science and Religion: Best Friends Forever Science and Religion can soar to such great heights.

What do Baha’is do?

What Baha’is Do This area of the bahai.org website explores the various ways in which Baha’is—individually, collectively, and through the work of their institutions—have responded to the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. A few of the themes covered are Response to the Call of Baha’u’llah, Devotional Life, Family Life and Children, Youth, Institutional Capacity and Involvement in the Life of Society.

The Importance of Service in the Baha’i Faith In the Baha’i Faith, the concept of “service” plays an important role, and we believe that service to others gives meaning and purpose to life.

What is the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program? Worldwide, junior youth are participating in an endeavour that strives to give them a voice in today’s society.

Frontiers of Learning This uplifting film captures the insights and experiences of four different communities on four different continents.

Junior Youth Matter: 4 Principles for Social Transformation The Writings provide us with a blueprint for social transformation. The next step, however, is to engage in a process of action and reflection.

The Importance of Education in the Baha’i Faith Education is a fundamental right to which every child is entitled.

The Noble Station of a Teacher It could be argued that teaching is one of the most noble undertakings of the soul.

The Nineteen Day Feast and Why it’s Important A Nineteen Day Feast, at its core, is an instrument through which unity can be nurtured in the community.

Living A Life of Service Service to humanity is an act that springs from a love for all humanity and a recognition of its oneness.

The Baha’i Fund: An Introduction Where money is no longer just money.

A Personal Reflection on Social Action The Baha’i community is striving to translate Baha’u’llah’s teachings into reality in order to contribute to world unity and collective spiritual and material prosperity.

Community-Building and the Reframing of Service Baha’is and their friends around the world are currently engaged in a process of community-building that primarily consists of four core activities.

‘To Serve Humanity’ Through the diverse voices of a few of the 80,000 young people who participated in the 114 gatherings.

The Baha’i Faith and Human Rights Globe-spanning efforts to eradicate prejudice, uphold human rights, and build bonds of love and amity between people of all backgrounds will ultimately triumph.

Steps to Starting a Preschool Children’s Class Education is of three kinds: material, human and spiritual.

Consultation: A Perspective Consultation is a distinctive and unifying method of decision-making that is used by Baha’is whether at home, among friends, or while serving on committees or institutions at any level.

The Tide of Conflict and Disorder – How Can We Help? Combating the process of disintegration and contributing towards society’s integration as a whole.

Accompaniment is So Important When we arise to serve together, we should remember that rather than many, we are in fact one.

Meaningful and Distinctive Conversations What seems most crucial is that we elevate our daily conversations in order to find others who have similar visions of the most effective ways to spiritually transform our communities.

Baha’u’llah and His Covenant

Baha’u’llah and His Covenant The Baha’i Faith began with the mission entrusted by God to two Divine Messengers—the Bab and Baha’u’llah. Today, the distinctive unity of the Faith They founded stems from explicit instructions given by Baha’u’llah that have assured the continuity of guidance following His passing. This line of succession, referred to as the Covenant, went from Baha’u’llah to His Son ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and then from ‘Abdu’l-Baha to His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, ordained by Baha’u’llah. A Baha’i accepts the divine authority of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and of these appointed successors.

The Bab – What was He like? He has inspired generation after generation to consecrate themselves to the Faith of which He was the Herald and to devote themselves to the challenging task of unifying humanity in a global society of justice and love.

The Declaration of The Bab Baha’is view the Bab as a Messenger of God, who had a role that can be likened to John the Baptist in heralding the coming of the latest Manifestation of God: Baha’u’llah.

The Declaration of the Bab and His Station The Bab explained that He was the predecessor of another Messenger of God (Baha’u’llah) who would come soon after Him.

The Life of the Bab The Bab took this title of “the gate” to signify him being the herald of the Baha’i Faith and the symbolic gate to a new religious cycle.

The Bab: The Harbinger of the Most Great Light The Writings of the Bab Himself are all a direct testament to “Him Whom God shall make manifest”, Baha’u’llah.

The Martyrdom of the Bab and Jesus Christ There are numerous similarities between them, with regards to their lives, their ministries and the events surrounding their Martyrdom.

The Shrine of the Bab and its Significance Today the Shrine of the Bab continues to serve as a beacon of light reminding us of the transformative power and impact of the Bab’s Revelation.

The Birth of Baha’u’llah One of the spiritual proofs of the divine origins of the Manifestations is the innate wisdom that they demonstrate as children.

A Birthday Like No Other: The Birth of Baha’u’llah Is it actually possible for one person to change everything?

The Birth of Baha’u’llah and the Spirit of the Age The ultimate aim of Baha’u’llah was not to gain converts, but to transform the world.

The Passing of Baha’u’llah and His Covenant The first time in history, the founder of a world religion had made His successorship explicitly clear to His followers.

The Significance of the Shrine of Baha’u’llah The beauty of the Shrine and its surroundings is a reflection of the devotion and love of the followers of Baha’u’llah.

Abdu’l-Baha: Unique Abdu’l-Baha was the exemplar of the perfect Baha’i life. And in His unique example, God shows us the good of which mortal human beings are capable.

In the Footsteps of Abdu’l-Baha’s Travels in London ‘Abdu’l-Baha expended every ounce of His energy championing the Cause of God and showering His love, wisdom and care on countless souls.

When I Meet Abdu’l-Baha The person’s face is warmth and light itself. It is love itself, a love that is all-consuming, all-embracing.

The Mystery of Abdu’l-Baha How one man, in a lifetime lived mostly in exile and imprisonment, managed to affect so many lives around him and lead a nascent faith to spread from one corner of the globe to become a world religion, is a remarkable expression of the mystery of Abdu’l-Baha.

Searching for the Footsteps of Abdu’l-Baha He had come, He told reporters, for the cause of universal peace, the oneness of humanity, and fundamental unity of the divine religions.

The Apostle of Peace and the Great War As the world commemorates the centenary of World War I, it is timely to recount the story of one who predicted with sublime accuracy the outbreak of that conflict and who also explained and developed a peace plan highly relevant to humanity today.

239 Days in America: A Social Media Documentary When ‘Abdul-Baha arrived in America, newspapers called him the “Apostle of Peace.”

Following the Example of Abdu’l-Baha Abdu’l-Baha, was Baha’u’llah’s eldest son and appointed successor, and He is considered the perfect example of how to live according to the Baha’i teachings.

Reflections on the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha Everywhere He went, notable religious leaders praised Him publicly and people were united in their love for Him.

Shoghi Effendi: A Bridge to the World It’s impossible to overstate Shoghi Effendi’s heroism and his station.

Some Common Questions

Baha’u’llah and the New Era This book, available online, offers readers a thorough introduction to the Baha’i Faith written by one of its early adherents.

So you’ve become a Baha’i. Now what? When I made the decision to become a Baha’i nearly five years ago, it was definitely a highlight in my spiritual journey.

Religion. What is it Good For? Religion has produced some of the greatest achievements of humanity but this fact is often obscured today as people and the media focus on the horrors resulting from its power.

Religion: A Cause of Prejudice? Religion has caused prejudice. This is a fact. But from a Baha’i perspective, it is True religion that will ultimately eliminate prejudice.

Exploring the Baha’i Concept of Life After Death Death is a change of condition in the process of the soul’s movement towards God.

Do Baha’is Believe in Miracles? The belief in the possibility of miracles has never been rejected in the Baha’i teachings. Their importance, however, has been minimized.

Do Baha’is Believe in Dreams? Perhaps you have experienced dreams of spiritual import or dreams that have answered questions.

Unique Aspects of Baha’i Marriage Some very simple, yet profound, directions for the formation of healthy marriages which will contribute to a unified world.

Why is the Baha’i World Centre in Israel? How did this land on the shores of the Mediterranean come to be associated with the Baha’i Faith, a religion born in Persia, more than 1500 kilometers away?

Toward a New World Order? As it pertains to subjects such as politics and governance, economics, society, and religion.

The Station of Jesus Christ in the Baha’i Faith To be a Baha’i is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with absolute certainty.

A Brief Look at Buddhism and the Baha’i Faith I cannot think of more natural partners in the promotion of interfaith harmony than Buddhists and Baha’is.

Some Background to the Persecution of the Baha’is in Iran An issue very dear to the hearts of Baha’is around the world is the situation of the Baha’is living in Iran.

Why Baha’is Don’t Drink Alcohol – A Health Perspective. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, strong arguments can be made for the benefits of abstaining from drinking alcohol on health grounds alone.

Why Baha’is Don’t Drink Alcohol – A Social Perspective The social effects on the individual, family and society.

The Coming Universal Language Being able to communicate quickly and easily is basic to world citizenship.

What are the Ridvan Baha’i Elections? Baha’i elections are about encouragement and accompaniment, prayers and personal meditation.

The Baha’i Fast The Fast is, primarily, a spiritual practice.

Learning to Be Still: A Personal Reflection on Meditation in the Baha’i Faith Meditation, despite being one of the most personal, private and intimate communions between us and our Creator, is also, inextricably, a part of what allows for the growth and development of the social fabric of humankind itself.

Divine Transcendence: Closer than your Life-vein The only reason there is any talk about a “chosen few” is because, so far, relatively few of us have chosen to take up the offer.

How Prayers Can Help Us Solve Problems: A Personal Reflection If we can’t have faith in the efficacy of prayer, what can we have faith in? Ourselves?

Backbiting-free Conversation What do people talk about if they’re not talking about anyone?

The Common Good What is ‘good’ and who has the authority to say what is ‘good’? How common is ‘common’?

Going Green and Going to War We’re building from the ground up, with heavenly aims.

In Pursuit of Happiness Happiness, true happiness, can only come from trusting in God.