What is Baha’i faith?
One religious group to originate in the past two centuries that has not received enough attention is the Baha’i World Faith. Baha’is believe that all of the world’s major religions are progressive revelations from God, each designed for its particular historical era. The Baha’i religion teaches that Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, Muhammad, and the Bab (the Persian founder of a nineteenth-century religious movement which laid the foundation for Baha’ism) were all prophets or manifestations of God for their time.
The Baha’i Faith emerged in Iran in 1844, propagated by Mirza Ali Muhammad, who is known as “The Bab.” He wrote one hundred books and was the forerunner of Baha’u’llah, the Promised One of all ages and religions. As the founder of the faith, Baha’u’llah taught, “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
The Baha’i Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Baha’is live in 135 countries and territories throughout the world. They come from over 2100 ethnic, racial, and tribal groups and number some five million worldwide.
From Persia, the Faith spread to neighbouring Muslim lands in the Ottoman & Russian Empires and to northern India. Though some early followers were of Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian background, the vast majority had been followers of Islam. Their religious ideas were drawn from the Qur'an, and they were primarily interested in those aspects of their new belief system that represented the fulfillment of Islamic prophecies and the interpretation of Muslim teaching.
Baha’i Faith was introduced to Canada in 1898. There are now some 30,000 Canadian Baha’is living in local communities spread throughout every province and territory. For more than a century, Baha’is in Canada and around the world have been working to eliminate prejudice of all kinds, contributing to a new model of global society that is characterized by unity and harmony, justice and peace.
Baha'is and their families approach community health and well-being in practical and spiritual ways. For the individual, the day-to-day practice of the Baha'i faith is an all-encompassing way of life. It is considered a religious obligation for Baha'is to pray and meditate every day, and they are also expected to be wholly engaged with the world at large. In particular, Baha'u'llah (The Prophet) asks that Baha'is view service to humanity as among their highest priorities.
Consequently, Baha'is outwardly appear to lead a life that is conventional in many respects. On another level, however, the nature and quality of their personal relationships and social interactions provide vitality in their approach to challenges and difficulties, and an overall feeling of well-being, even in the face of obstacles.
Faith for a Baha'i is a life-long process. Whether in terms of spiritual practice, moral behaviour, social activism or community participation, Baha'is seek to continually improve themselves and the world around them. Beyond the essentials of prayer, meditation and fasting, Baha'is view good deeds and service to humanity as the most important elements of spiritual training and progress. They understand that it is through service to others that they can best develop their own selves and reach the highest levels of human happiness.
Many Baha'is are involved in restorative justice, health and education organizations, community coalitions, peace organizations and their professional associations, working to make systems healthier and fairer. There are many extensive voluntary Baha'i service efforts around the world, covering many different areas of development projects in schools and education programs. Many volunteer their time for a period of months to several years in service. Youth are encouraged to do a year of service nationally or internationally.
Baha'is focus on family relationships, where the goal is to serve one's spouse, children and parents, as well as the community at large, where the goal is to promote the well-being of others, either through their professional work or volunteer efforts.
They believe that Baha’u'llah, the founder of the Baha’i religion, the successor of the Bab, and the most recent manifestation, is the one who should now be revered and obeyed.
Baha’u'llah’s greatest teaching was the oneness and unity of mankind. According to Baha’u'llah, every race, both sexes, and the great religious truths all come from one God. While Christians & Muslims may appreciate some of the humanitarian and peace doctrines of the Baha’is, they take issue with the Baha’i claim to compatibility with their faith; for Baha’ism denies several essential Christian & Islamic doctrines.
