The Bahá’í Faith (British Isles)/Text

The Bahá’í Faith (British Isles)

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[Page i]

THE

BAHÁ’Í FAITH

[Page ii] Issued by

THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE BRITISH ISLES BM/Bahá’í, London, W.C.1

Published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING COMM. 95 PATTERSON AVENUE SCARBOROUGH, ONT. [Page 1] ‘ This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favours have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things.’

—Bahá’u’lláh

‘ Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning. A rose is beautiful in whatsoever garden it may bloom. A star has the same radiance whether it shines from the East or from the West.’

‘ The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religion.’

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

‘ Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth and is the Knower of things unseen.’

—Bahá’u’lláh

I [Page 2]

RELIGION OF UNITY

The Bahá’í Faith has already shown its power to change men’s hearts and lives, making them new creatures. It has provided a basis on which people of all races, nations, religions and classes may unite and are uniting in one great harmonious family.

Its universal spirit is daily penetrating further into the mists of age-long prejudice, reaffirming once more the Oneness of God, the oneness of humanity, the divine purpose in creation and the validity of divine revelation as man’s only guide. It has revealed the means by which a new civilisation can be built, in which co-operation will replace competition, amity take the place of enmity, and devotion to God’s will be substituted for selfish and worldly aims.

This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes."

In February, 1954, the Bahá’í Faith was represented in 213 countries and its literature had been or was being translated into 179 languages. [Page 3]

GOD'S MESSAGE IS RENEWED

God leaves not His children comfortless, but when the darkness of winter overshadows them, then again He sends his Messengers, the Prophets, with a renewal of the Blessed Spring."

The Bahá’í Teaching is that all religions are in essence one. Differences between them have arisen through failure of the followers to understand the Teaching given, and because the Message of God is revealed according to the stage of development reached by mankind in each age.

Man evolves through progressively fuller revelation of the mysteries of God by His Messengers. Each has given a fresh impulse to human endeavour from which has sprung a great civilisation. Each has taught men the love of God and the social virtues.

At first each Messenger is persecuted, but later His Message triumphs. Later still, religion becomes corrupted and human fortunes decline. At that time God again sends a Messenger to revive the life of the world and a new era begins.

Religion is again ineffective in the world, and nations do not live according to the law of God. The Bahá’í Faith proclaims that the Messenger promised in all the Holy Books has appeared, and has given to mankind God's Message for to-day. It is spiritually the same as past Messages, but suited to modern needs, and proclaimed with Divine authority and power. [Page 4]

THE CENTRAL FIGURES

The Forerunner: THE BÁB (the Gate) 1819-1850 The Founder: BAHÁ’U’LLÁH (the Glory of God) 1817-1892 The Interpreter: ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ (the Servant of the Glory) 1844-1921

The Forerunner of the Bahá’í Faith was a young Persian merchant known as the Báb (the Gate), who in 1844 proclaimed Himself to be a Manifestation of God and a herald of One greater than Himself - One Who would inaugurate a new era in religion and civilisation. Like earlier Messengers of God, the Báb was opposed and denounced. After six years of persecution He was publicly martyred at the age of 30, in a barrack square in Tabríz.

Its Founder was Bahá’u’lláh (the Glory of God), a Persian nobleman who in 1863 declared Himself to be the One whose coming the Báb and all the previous Prophets had foretold. Like His predecessor, He was bitterly opposed and persecuted. During nearly forty years of exile and imprisonment He committed to writing [Page 5] the teachings of His revelation, some of them in letters to the most important kings and leaders of religion, as well as teaching and training His followers. His fourth and last place of banishment, reached in 1868, was the prison-city of ‘Akká (Acre), Palestine, where He passed away in 1892 at the age of seventy-four.

Its authorised Interpreter and Exemplar was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (the Servant of the Glory), eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, who was appointed by His father as the Centre of His Covenant and the One to whom all must turn for instruction and guidance. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the close companion and constant helper of His Father, whose sufferings He shared. He remained a prisoner until 1908, when the old régime in Turkey was overthrown and all religious and political prisoners throughout the Turkish Empire were liberated. Afterwards He made extensive tours in Egypt, Europe and America, being ceaselessly engaged in explaining and exemplifying the principles of the Faith and in inspiring and directing the activities of its followers throughout the world. He passed away in Haifa in 1921, mourned by people of all Faiths. His life was, and continues to be, a shining example to all.

In His Will and Testament ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made provision for a succession of Guardians to head the world-wide Bahá’í Community, each acting for life as sole interpreter of its Scripture. The first Guardian is His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, under whose guiding hand the Faith is spreading rapidly.

All quotations in this pamphlet are from the words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or the Guardian. [Page 6]

SOME BASIC BAHÁ’Í PRINCIPLES

The Oneness of Mankind The Oneness of Religion The Independent Investigation of Truth A World Commonwealth World Peace The Relinquishing of Prejudices A Universal Auxiliary Language Equal Status for Men and Women The Harmony of Religion and Science Education for all Mankind Certain General Economic Principles [Page 7]

The Oneness of Mankind

Of one tree are ye all the fruit and of one bough the leaves. The world is but one country and mankind its citizens... Let not a man glory in that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. This principle is the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh revolve.

The Oneness of Religion

As already explained, the teachings of all the great religions are regarded as Revelations of the Word of God. 'Truth is one in all religions, and by means of it the unity of the world can be realised.' 'Say: all are created by God. . . This single utterance will cause the various sects and creeds to attain the light of true unity."

The Independent Investigation of Truth

God has created in man the power of reason whereby man is enabled to investigate reality. . . Every man must be an investigator for himself. Ideas and beliefs left by his fathers and ancestors as a heritage will not suffice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united.' [Page 8]

A World Commonwealth

Some form of a world Super-State must needs be evolved, in whose favour all the nations of the world will have willingly ceded every claim to make war, certain rights to impose taxation and all rights to maintain armaments, except for the purpose of maintaining internal order within their respective dominions. Such a state will have to include within its orbit an International Executive adequate to enforce supreme and unchallengeable authority on every recalcitrant member of the commonwealth; a World Parliament whose members shall be elected by the people in their respective countries and whose election shall be confirmed by their respective governments; and a Supreme Tribunal whose judgment will have a binding effect even in such cases where the parties concerned did not voluntarily agree to submit their case to its consideration. A world community in which all economic barriers will have been permanently demolished and the interdependence of Capital and Labour definitely recognised; in which the clamour of religious fanaticism and strife will have been for ever stilled; in which the flame of racial animosity will have been finally extinguished; in which a single code of international law the product of the considered judgment of the world’s federated representatives shall have as its sanction the instant and coercive intervention of the combined forces of the federated units; and finally a world community in which the fury of a capricious and militant nationalism will have been transmuted into an [Page 9] abiding consciousness of world citizenship-such, indeed, appears, in its broadest outline, the Order anticipated by Bahá’u’lláh, an Order that shall come to be regarded as the fairest fruit of a slowly maturing age."

lished. But the conflict, can be Addressing the World Peace Bahá’u’lláh warns humanity that the Most Great Peace cannot be attained until the unity of mankind is estab- Lesser Peace,’ the cessation of armed realised through collective action. concourse of the sovereigns of the world,’ He wrote: Should any one among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is nought but manifest justice."

The Relinquishing of Prejudices

Fostered by blind belief in the dogmas and super- stitions of the past, prejudices of all kinds thrive. They are the most fertile cause of war in the body of humanity. Prejudices of religion, race, class, nation, colour, tem- perament divide the human race into factions, and factions within factions, and make for conflict between nations, classes, creeds, political parties. Consciousness of the oneness of mankind is the true remedy for all these prejudices. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: The only real differ- ence among men lies in the degree of faithfulness to the [Page 10] laws of God... Some are asleep; they need to be awakened. Some are ailing; they need to be healed. Some are immature as children; they need to be trained. But all are recipients of the bounty and bestowals of God.'

A Universal Auxiliary Language

Bahá’u’lláh wrote: The kings... or the counsellors of the earth must consult together, and appoint one of the existing languages, or a new language, and instruct the children therein in all the schools of the world.' This is of great importance for the realisation of the oneness of mankind. The schools would also teach children their native tongue.

Equal Status for Men and Women

In accordance with the principle of the oneness of humanity, men and women must have equal rights, education and opportunity.

The world of humanity consists of two factors, male and female. Each is the complement of the other. Therefore if one is defective, the other will necessarily be incomplete and perfection cannot be attained.' [Page 11]

The Harmony of Religion and Science

These are two paths of approach to truth and are therefore complementary. Both are progressive; science through investigation, religion through revelation. Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone. Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism."

Education for all Mankind

Bahá’u’lláh insists that every human being must have a good education. The formation of a good character is the most important aspect of education. He considered the education of girls even more important than that of boys, for girls are the future mothers and therefore the first educators of the race. Instruction must be given in arts and sciences, crafts and trades, so that the individual may fill a useful position in society. To acquire knowledge is incumbent upon all, but of those sciences which may profit the people of the earth, and not such as begin in mere words and end in mere words.' [Page 12]

Certain General Economic Principles

Bahá’u’lláh declares that the solution of the economic problem is spiritual. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained: The secrets of the whole economic question are divine in nature, and are concerned with the world of the heart and spirit... Love and unity are the needs of the body politic to-day. Without giving any detailed plan, the Bahá’í Faith sets forward certain principles, among which are:

Work is Worship. For the Bahá’í, work is a religious duty, and when performed in a spirit of service is accounted as worship. Waste not your time in idleness and indolence, and occupy yourselves with that which will profit yourselves and others besides yourselves. . . The most despised of men before God is he who sits and begs.'

Limitation of Wealth and Poverty. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that extremes of either of these conditions are unhealthy, and must be prevented. We see among us men who are overburdened with riches on the one hand, and on the other those unfortunate ones who starve with nothing...This condition of affairs is wrong and must be remedied.'

Co-operation in Industry. The solution of economic questions will not be brought about by array of capital against labour and labour against capital, in strife and conflict, but by the voluntary attitude of good-will on both sides... Employees should not be paid merely by wages. Nay, rather they should be partners in every work. [Page 13]

BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION

Consultation is the keynote of all Bahá’í Administration.

There is no clergy and no ritual.

The Scripture is in written form, preserved and authentic.

Administrative bodies are called Spiritual Assemblies at present, but in future will be known as Houses of Justice. They are local, national and international. All Assemblies meet in a spirit of prayer.

These Spiritual Assemblies are elected by the people, but their responsibility is a trust from God to Whom alone they are answerable. There is no seeking for votes, no candidates, no platform promises, no parties.

The Nineteen Day Feast is a community occasion, for spiritual association, discussion of affairs with the Spiritual Assembly, and material refreshment together.

The Guardian of the Faith is appointed in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament. He is the only interpreter of Bahá’í Scripture and is permanent head of the International House of Justice with one vote.

Only members of the Bahá’í Faith may contribute to the Bahá’í Fund. [Page 14]

THE INDIVIDUAL LIFE

(Quotations are from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, except where otherwise stated.)

The beginning of all things is the knowledge of God, and the end of all things is strict observance of whatsoever hath been sent down from the empyrean of the Divine Will, that pervadeth all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth.'

Right Living. Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning. Suffer not yourself to be deprived of the robe of forbearance and justice, that the sweet savours of holiness may be wafted from your hearts upon all created things.'

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbour, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face . . . Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts."

Love. 'O Son of being! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.'

You must manifest complete love and affection towards all mankind. You must consider your enemies as your friends, look upon your evil-wishers as your well-wishers and treat them accordingly. Act in such a way that your heart may be free from hatred. Let not your hearts be offended with anyone. Do not complain of others.' (‘Abdu’l-Bahá.) [Page 15] 'Be a helper of every oppressed one, the protector of every destitute one, be ye ever mindful to serve any soul of mankind. Be kind in truth, not only in appearance and outwardly.' (‘Abdu’l-Bahá.)

Justice

O son of spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbour."

Detachment

'O son of man! Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not; and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not; for both shall pass away and be no more.'

O friends! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.'

Faith

The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds."

Adversity

O son of man! If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?

Gossip

O son of man! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed art thou, and to this I testify.' [Page 16]

Life After Death

‘As to the question whether the souls will recognise cach other in the spiritual world, this fact is certain; for the Kingdom is the world of vision where all concealed realities will become manifest. The mysteries of which man is heedless in this earthly world, those he will discover in the heavenly world, and there will he be informed of the secret of truth; how much more will he recognise or discover persons with whom he has been associated. Undoubtedly, the holy souls who find a pure eye and are favoured with insight will, in the Kingdom of lights, be acquainted with all mysteries, and will seek the bounty of witnessing the reality of every great soul. Even they will manifestly behold the Beauty of God in that world. Likewise will they find all the friends of God, both those of the former and recent times, present in the heavenly assemblage.’ (‘Abdu’l-Bahá.)

A Prayer of Bahá’u’lláh

O my God, O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavour, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God, leave them not to themselves but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their helper and their Lord. [Page 17]

SOME FURTHER READING

PARIS TALKS, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND THE NEW ERA, THE PROMISE OF ALL AGES, by J. E. Esslemont by George Townshend [Page 18] PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN 1954