Fast Facts on the Bahá'í Faith

Overview of the Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh ("buh-howluh") in 1860s Persia. Today, there are about five million Bahá'ís worldwide, most of whom live in non-Muslim Third World countries.

Like Jews, Christians and Muslims, Bahá'ís believe in only one God, who sends prophets as his messengers. But Bahá'ís regard God as completely transcendent and ultimately unknowable, so Bahá'í doctrine focuses primarily on "Manifestations of God" who progressively reveal God to humanity. These include Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Bahá'u'lláh.

Bahá'í religious practice include private devotions such as daily prayer and an annual fast, along with a communal feast held at the beginning of each month in the Bahá'í calendar. The main Bahá'í holidays are the Bahá'í New Year (spring equinox, about Mar. 21) and the Ridvan festival (Apr. 21 - May 2), which marks Bahá'u'lláh's declaration of his mission in 1863.

The Bahá'í Faith has no priesthood. Spiritual authority rest with locally and nationally elected councils known as "Spiritual Assemblies," with the ultimate authority residing with the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel.

Facts and Stats on the Bahá'í Faith

date founded

1863 CE

place founded

Tehran, Iran

founder

Mirza Hoseyn 'Ali Nuri, known as Bahá'u'lláh

adherents

5-7 million {Bahai.org, Adherents.com}

 

main location

India (1.7 million), USA (750,000), Iran (463,000), Vietnam (356,000) {Adherents.com}

headquarters

Haifa, Israel

major sects and denominations

none (the Orthodox Bahá'í Faith is a small minority)

sacred texts

Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and other Bahá'í leaders

original language

Persian

clergy/religious professionals

none

house of worship

Bahá'í House of Worship

type of theism

strict monotheism

ultimate reality

one creator God, who is described in different ways by various religions and revealed by the Messengers

human nature

eternal soul that is essentially good

purpose of life

to develop spiritually and draw closer to God

how to live

pray daily, avoid intoxicants, read the scriptures, work hard as a form of worship, promote education, strive for social justice and equality

afterlife

soul separates from the body and begins a journey towards or away from God; heaven and hell not literal places but states of being

symbol

nine-pointed star

official website

Bahai.org