Here are some questions which are frequently asked about the Baha'i Faith, and our answers to them. Click on the question you're interested in and you'll be taken to the corresponding answer. Alternately, you can simply scroll down the page and browse through them. Please email us with any questions you may have that are not answered here. Our email address is info@lvbahai.org. We'll be glad to email you an answer, and add your question to this page. We reserve the right to edit, include, or exclude questions at our discretion. Unfortunately, the content of some correspondence we receive is not suitable for reproduction in any forum.
Is the Baha'i Faith an Eastern religion?
What are the Baha'i teachings regarding racism and prejudice?
What are the Baha'i teachings regarding equality between men and women?
What are the Baha'i teachings regarding marriage?
What are the Baha'i teachings regarding the use of alchohol and/or drugs?
What is the Baha'i Fast, and what is its purpose?
Do Baha'is believe in Jesus Christ?
What do Baha'is believe about other religions?
What religions does the Baha'i Faith recognize?
Who is The Bab and what is His station in the Baha'i Faith?
Who is Baha'u'llah and what is His station in the Baha'i Faith?
Who is 'Abdu'l Baha and what is his station in the Baha'i Faith?
Who is Shoghi Effendi and what is his station in the Baha'i Faith?
A Baha'i is any person who believes that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of God for this day and age, and subscribes to His Teachings. The word Baha'i derives from the Arabic word Baha meaning glory, or splendor. The Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith took the title Baha'u'llah (literally the Glory of God) when He recieved His revelation.
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Is the Baha'i Faith an Eastern religion?
The short answer is yes, however, the question seems to carry certain overtones of a credibility question. It is important to note that all the established religions have originated in the Orient, most notably the Middle East. The Baha'i Faith is no different in this respect than Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, to name just a few.
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Click here to see the main principles of the Baha'i Faith. Click here to see some examples of Baha'i Law, the basis of Baha'i life.
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What are the Baha'i teachings regarding racism and prejudice?
The unity of humankind is a fundamental principle of the Baha'i Faith, therefore, racism and prejudice are utterly condemned. The Universal House of Justice, the highest administrative body of the Baha'i Faith wrote:
"Racism, one of the most baneful and persistent evils, is a major barrier to peace. Its practice perpetrates too outrageous a violation of the dignity of human beings to be countenanced under any pretext. Racism retards the unfoldment of the boundless potentialities of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and blights human progress. Recognition of the oneness of mankind, implemented by appropriate legal measures, must be universally upheld if this problem is to be overcome." -- The Universal House of Justice, The Promise of World Peace.
More information is available at this website on our page entitled Abolition of Racism and Prejudice, as well as the full text of The Vision of Race Unity: America's Most Challenging Issue - a statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
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What are the Baha'i teachings regarding equality between men and women?
The full equality of women with men is another fundamental principle of the Baha'i Faith. Men and women are considered to have complementary attributes and roles, both spiritually, as well as physically. Neither is considered superior to the other in station or equity. The Baha'i Writings use the analogy 'the two wings of a bird' when discussing this subject. If one wing of the bird is strong and the other weak then the bird cannot fly properly, therefore, it cannot attain its true potential. The same is true in relationships and society in general. Men will not attain their true spiritual potential as long as women are denied true equality in all affairs.
More information is available on this website on our page entitled Equality of Men and Women, and Two Wings of a Bird - a statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
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What are the Baha'i teachings regarding marriage?
The Baha'i Writings refer to marriage as a 'Fortress for Well-Being'. Both parties in the marriage are each fully equal in rights and station. Baha'i marriage is conditioned on the approval of both sets of parents, however, the parents have no right to dictate who their children shall marry. Here is an excerpt from the writings of 'Abdu'l Baha regarding marriage:
"In a true Bahá'í marriage the two parties must become fully united both spiritually and physically, so that they may attain eternal union throughout all the worlds of God, and improve the spiritual life of each other. This is Bahá'í matrimony. Among the majority of the people marriage consists of physical relationship and this union and relationship is temporary for at
the end physical separation is destined and ordained. But the marriage of the people of Bahá must consist of both physical and spiritual relationship for both of them are intoxicated with the wine of one cup, are attracted by one Peerless Countenance, are quickened with one Life and are illumined with one Light. This is the spiritual relationship and everlasting union. Likewise in the physical world they are bound together with strong and unbreakable ties.
When relationship, union and concord exist between the two from a physical and spiritual standpoint, that is the real union, therefore everlasting. But if the union is merely from the physical point of view, unquestionably it is temporal and at the end separation is inevitable." - 'Abdu'l Baha, from the compilation, Baha'i World Faith, pp 372 & 373.Return to the top of this page...
What are the Baha'i teachings regarding the use of alchohol and/or drugs?
Baha'is are forbidden to partake of alcoholic beverages of any kind because "alcohol leadeth the mind astray and causeth the weakening of the body" -- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p 227. Use of alcoholic beverages or drugs is permissable in the treatment of illness when prescribed by a "competent and concientious physician."
The use of drugs is prohibited and condemned in the strongest possible language. 'Abdu'l Baha writes as follows regarding the use of opium (later expanded to include all manner of habit forming drugs, including peyote, hashish, marijuana, LSD, etc):
"As to opium, it is foul and accursed. God protect us from the punishment He inflicteth on the user. According to the explicit Text of the Most Holy Book, it is forbidden, and its use is utterly condemned. Reason showeth that smoking opium is a kind of insanity, and experience attesteth that the user is completely cut off from the human kingdom. May God protect all against the perpetration of an act so hideous as this, an act which layeth in ruins the very foundation of what it is to be human, and which causeth the user to be dispossessed for ever and ever. For opium fasteneth on the soul, so that the user's conscience dieth, his mind is blotted away, his perceptions are eroded. It turneth the living into the dead. It quencheth the natural heat. No greater harm can be conceived than that which opium inflicteth. Fortunate are they who never even speak the name of it; then think how wretched is the user.
O ye lovers of God! In this, the cycle of Almighty God, violence and force, constraint and oppression, are one and all condemned. It is, however, mandatory that the use of opium be prevented by any means whatsoever, that perchance the human race may be delivered from this most powerful of plagues. And otherwise, woe and misery to whoso falleth short of his duty to his Lord." -- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 148 - 149.Return to the top of this page...
What is the Baha'i Fast, and what is its purpose?
Baha'is are commanded to fast each year from the age of maturity (15) during the last month of the Baha'i calendar which corresponds to the period from March 2nd to March 20 in the Gregorian calendar. Shoghi Effendi indicates that the fasting period, which invoves complete abstinence from both food and drink from sunrise to sunset, is "essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires." -- Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 28 & 29.
Children younger than age 15, the elderly (age 70 and above), the ill or infirm, and women who are menstruating or nursing are exempted from fasting because to do so would be harmful to their health. Likewise those persons engaged in heavy physical labor are exempted, albeit cautioned not to abuse the exemption. Travellers are likewise exempted from fasting during their period of travel.
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Do Baha'is believe in Jesus Christ?
Yes, most definitely! The Baha'i Faith upholds all claims of His Holiness Jesus Christ as to His Station, and His Revelation. The Baha'i Writings are filled with references to the words of Jesus and praise of Him. In His time, His Holiness Christ was the greatest Messenger of God yet to have walked the earth. Baha'is believe that the promises of Jesus, as well as those of all the other religions are fulfilled in the Baha'i Faith. For more detail see the following question...
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What do Baha'is believe about other religions?
A key principle of the Baha'i Faith is that the source of all religions is one, and that the seeming differences are due to the time and place of revelation, the accumulation of traditions over time which corrupt the original revelation, and the maturity of humankind at the time of the original revelation. Baha'is believe that revelation is progressive. Think about raising a child. One gives information to children as they grow in ever increasing amounts according to their ability to absorb and understand more. One gives more information and responsibility to older children, and less to younger children. It is the same with religion. As humankind has developed and matured, God sends Messengers with successive, ever-increasing Revelations. Baha'is believe that humankind is just now emerging from it's turbulent adolesence into its maturity. The purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to facilitate this process. Here's a brief excerpt from the Baha'i Writings on this subject:
"There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose." -- Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 114.
Baha'is believe that all religions are the same, having the same eternal truths. They only appear to be different in the outward forms because of the requirements of time, place, and the peoples they were revealed to.
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What religions does the Baha'i Faith recognize?
Baha'is believe that there have been many prior religions whose knowledge has been lost over the millenia. Here is an excerpt from the Baha'i Writings on this topic. The Guardian is answering a question from a Baha'i about the number nine which is significant in the Baha'i Faith, and continues in his answer to enumerate the former known religions:
"The number nine, which in itself is the number of perfection, is considered by the Bahá'ís as sacred, because it is symbolic of the perfection of the Bahá'í Revelation which constitutes the ninth in the line of existing religions, the latest and fullest Revelation which mankind has ever known. The eighth is the religion of the Báb and the remaining seven are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islám, and the religion of the Sabaeans. These religions are not the only true religions that have appeared in the world but are the only ones still existing. There have always been Divine Prophets and Messengers, to many of whom the Qur'án refers. But the only ones existing are those mentioned above."-- Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 51 & 52.
As an interesting historical side note, Abraham was most likely of the Sabaean religion. He is not a Jew per se as the term Judaism is derived from the name of Judah who was descended from Him. Abraham is the Patriarch of both Judaism and Islam through His sons Issac and Ishmael.
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Prayer is very important in the Baha'i Faith. Baha'is are commanded to pray and meditate on a daily basis. Here is an excerpt from the Writings of 'Abdu'l Baha on the subject of prayer:
"O thou spiritual friend! Thou hast asked the wisdom of prayer. Know thou that prayer is indispensable and obligatory, and man under no pretext whatsoever is excused from performing the prayer unless he be mentally unsound, or an insurmountable obstacle prevent him. The wisdom of prayer is this: That it causeth a connection between the servant and the True One, because in that state man with all heart and soul turneth his face towards His Highness the Almighty, seeking His association and desiring His love and compassion. The greatest happiness for a lover is to converse with his beloved, and the greatest gift for a seeker is to become familiar with the object of his longing; that is why with every soul who is attracted to the Kingdom of God, his greatest hope is to find an opportunity to entreat and supplicate before his Beloved, appeal for His mercy and grace and be immersed in the ocean of His utterance, goodness and generosity.
Besides all this, prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests...."Return to the top of this page...
Who is The Bab and what is His station in the Baha'i Faith?
Baha'is believe that The Bab (literally, The Gate) is the first of two prophets in the Baha'i Revelation. The Bab was born Mirza 'Ali Muhammed, a sayyid, that is, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon Him). 'Ali Muhammed worked as a merchant for his uncle in the city of Bushihir in Persia, now modern day Iran. His ministry, brief though it was, had the most powerful effect on the Islamic clergy and government of the time. The Bab was persecuted, imprisoned, and eventually martyred. His crime was His declaration of His Mission and His teachings of The One God would manifest after Him, e.g. Baha'u'llah. The Bab upheld all the eternal teachings of previous religions, in other words, the recognition and worship of God, prayer, obedience to God, obedience to ones government, nonviolence, love for ones fellowman, unity, and so on. His followers were likewise persecuted, and more than 20,000 of them martyred in their turn. Click here for more details...
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Who is Baha'u'llah and what is His station in the Baha'i Faith?
Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, is the Manfestation of God for this day and age in fulfillment of the prophecies given in every Holy Book of prior religions. He was born into the Persian nobility as Mirza Husayn 'Ali. Husayn 'Ali was noted for his kindliness and generosity, especially to the poor, and for the depth of his insight in spiritual matters. Prior to receiving His revelation and becoming aware of His Mission, He became a follower of The Bab(literally, The Gate). Baha'u'llah is the second of the two prophets of the Baha'i Revelation. He took the title Baha'u'llah (literally, The Glory of God) when He received His Revelation. Click here for more details...
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Who is 'Abdu'l Baha and what is his station in the Baha'i Faith?
'Abdu'l Baha (literally, Servant of Glory) born Abbas Effendi, was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah. He shared all his fathers exiles and imprisonments from the age of nine. He was given the title 'Abdu'l Baha by Baha'u'llah because of his service to Him. 'Abdu'l Baha was appointed by Baha'u'llah as the Center of His Covenant and the Exemplar in Baha'u'llah's Will and Testament. 'Abdu'l Baha was thereby invested with the authority to interpret his father's Writings for all other Baha'i's. As the Exemplar he was the only human being who was not a Manifestation of God to have lived a perfect life. He is the model that all Baha'is strive to pattern themselves after. Click here for more details...
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Who is Shoghi Effendi and what is his station in the Baha'i Faith?
Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was the eldest grandson of 'Abdu'l Baha. He was appointed by his grandfather as the Guardian of the Faith after 'Abdu'l Baha's passing. His function was to safeguard the Faith during it's infancy until the institutions prescribed by Baha'u'llah in His Writings could have sufficient time to develop. He was the only person given the right to interpret the Writings besides 'Abdu'l Baha. Click here for more details...
This page last updated on: Saturday, March 08, 2003