The Bahá'í Faith

What is the Bahá’í Faith?

"Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators -- known as Manifestations of God -- whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.

Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh."

-- The Official Website of the Worldwide Bahá’í Community

Bahá’í Glossary

The following words are Bahá’í terms mentioned in the play.

'Abdu'l-Bahá: eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh (1844-1921), the exemplar of the Bahá’í teachings, and the leader of the Faith from 1892 to 1921. 

Alláh-u-Abhá: Arabic for "God is most glorious," it is commonly used as a greeting among Bahá’ís. 

Auxiliary Board Member: An appointed position in the Bahá’í administrative order. With no clergy, the Bahá’í community organizes its affairs through elected consultative bodies and those they appoint to serve particular community needs. 

The Báb: the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í Faith (1819-1850). His revolutionary teachings resulted in brutal suppression by the Persian government and clergy. He foretold the coming of Bahá’u’lláh and was ultimately executed by firing squad. 

Bábí: a followed of the Báb. 

Bahá’í: a follower of the Bahá’í Faith, a religion that originated in Iran in the mid-19th Century. While Bahá’ís have faced periods of intense persecution in Iran, the Faith has spread widely around the world and is now practiced by many millions of people from all different backgrounds. 

Bahá’u’lláh: the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith and its most important figure (1817-1892). His given name was Mírzá Husayn 'Alí; Bahá’u’lláh is a title that means "The Glory of God." He was from a noble Persian family, but was banished in 1852 at the height of persecutions against Bábís. A prisoner and exile for forty years, Bahá’u’lláh wrote voluminously, providing guidance and laying the foundations for what is now a world-wide religious community. 

Spiritual Assembly: the consultative body of 9 individuals elected annually in local Bahá’í communities. Spiritual Assemblies are also elected on a national level. Assembly members became targets of persecution during the Islamic Revolution, and as a result, Bahá’í administration has been suspended in Iran since the 1980s.