{"id":14043,"date":"2024-11-06T19:52:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T19:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bahai.steincastle.com\/en\/?p=14043"},"modified":"2025-03-31T19:28:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T19:28:00","slug":"central-figures-of-the-bahai-faith","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bahai.ch\/en\/what-bahais-believe\/central-figures-of-the-bahai-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Figures Of The Bah\u00e1’\u00ed Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h, founder of the Bah\u00e1'\u00ed Faith<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h was born in November 1817 in Tehran, Iran. As a child, he displayed signs of grandeur and wisdom. Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h is a title that means “the Glory of God” in Arabic.<\/p>

As a young man, Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h decided to dedicate His life to charitable actions.<\/h3>

Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h’s father was a minister in the court of the Sh\u00e1h. When his father died, Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h declined the ministerial career that was available to Him. Instead of a life of power and leisure, He chose to devote His energies to philanthropic and charitable actions.<\/p>

Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h had a life of difficulties and tribulations<\/h3>

Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h endured tribulations throughout His life. He was exiled four times in his lifetime. His last place of exile was Akk\u00e1, a prison-city in Palestine, governed by the Ottoman Empire. Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h’s life was marked by suffering, exile, and persecution.<\/p>

Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h’s light illumined the whole world<\/h3>

The further Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h was exiled, the more people were attracted to His teachings, power and majesty. He revealed the Word of God in the form of prayers and tablets for forty years. Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h brought love and spiritual energy to the world.<\/p>

The holiest place on earth: Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h’s Shrine<\/h3>

Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h passed away in 1892 in Akk\u00e1 and for Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00eds, His Shrine is the holiest place on earth.<\/p>

Learn more on the life of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h on bahai.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Entrance to the Shrine of Bah\u00e1'u'll\u00e1h, Bahji, Israel<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dome of the Shrine of The B\u00e1b, Haifa, Israel<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The B\u00e1b, bearer of hope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The B\u00e1b was born in 1819 in Persia, modern day Iran. He was a young merchant whose title means “the Gate” in Arabic.<\/p>

In 1844, the B\u00e1b announced that He was the bearer of a message destined to transform humanity. At that time, Persia was undergoing widespread moral breakdown; the B\u00e1b’s message aroused excitement and hope and rapidly attracted thousands of followers.<\/p>

Calling for a spiritual renewal<\/h3>

The B\u00e1b called for spiritual and moral reform. The B\u00e1b’s precepts for spiritual renewal were revolutionary, as He worked to improve the position of women and the living conditions of the poor.<\/p>

The B\u00e1b founded His own distinct and independent religion and inspired His followers to transform their lives and perform great, heroic deeds.\u00a0<\/p>

The goal of His mission was to prepare humanity for the coming of Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h.<\/p>

The martyrdom of the B\u00e1b<\/h3>

The B\u00e1b’s revolutionary message caused the anger of civil and religious authorities, leading to the persectution of many of His followers. He was martyred in 1850 by a regiment of soldiers.<\/p>

Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h Himself designated the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa as the B\u00e1b’s final resting place.<\/p>

Learn more on the life of B\u00e1b on bahai.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1, the Perfect Exemplar of the teachings of Bah\u00e1'u'll\u00e1h<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1 was born in 1844. He was Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h’s eldest son and the head of the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Faith upon the passing of His Father. He was renowned as a champion of social justice and an ambassador for international peace.<\/p>

‘Abdu’l-Bah\u00e1: the Successor of Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h<\/h3>

In His Writings, Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h instructed all to turn to \u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1 as the authorized interpreter of the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Writings after His own passing. ‘Abdu’l-Bah\u00e1 is also considered as the perfect exemplar of the Faith\u2019s spirit and teachings. As Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h Himself designated ‘Abdu’l-Bah\u00e1 as His Successor, He ensured that the unity of the Bah\u00e1’\u00ed Faith was upheld.<\/p>

‘Abdu’l-Bah\u00e1: the Perfect Exemplar<\/h3>

\u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1\u2019s extraordinary qualities of character and service to humanity offered a vivid demonstration of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h\u2019s teachings in action. He promoted the ideals of peace and unity, and encouraged the establishment of local Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed institutions. He also guided nascent educational, social and economic initiatives. ‘Abdu’l-Bah\u00e1 spent most of His life in prison for His religious beliefs. When He was released, He travelled to Egypt, Europe and North America, promoting the Cause of peace and justice. He passed away in November 1921.<\/p>

Learn more on the life \u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1 on the official website of the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Faith<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Design concept for the Shrine of 'Abdu'l-Bah\u00e1, Akk\u00e1, Israel<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Artistic rendition of some Bah\u00e1'\u00ed Writings<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Reading the Writings of the Bah\u00e1'\u00ed Faith<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To gain a fuller appreciation of Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed beliefs, you can visit the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Reference Library<\/a>. It contains<\/p>