What Baha'is believe
A new age has dawned with the coming of Baha'u'llah
In 1863, Baha'u'llah proclaimed himself to be the latest messenger from God. The newest chapter in a story that reaches back to the beginning of time.
The foundation
Three core teachings.
Every great religion comes from the same source. Humanity is one people. Your life is here to matter. These are the roots. The rest of what Baha'is believe grows from them.
One God, one religion.
People have called God by many names. Those names point to the same reality. In every age, God has sent a teacher for the world in front of them: Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and most recently Baha'u'llah. The details shifted. The source didn't.
"The peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source." —Baha'u'llah
One human family.
Every person belongs to the same human family. Race, culture, class, custom, and temperament differ, but the kinship underneath is shared. All of us have something to contribute.
"Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony." —Baha'u'llah
Your life has a purpose.
Each of us has a soul. It's more than the body, it's capable of growth, and it's why we're here. The purpose of life is to develop real character and to serve others along the way. When the body is set aside, the soul continues on.
"And the honour and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source of social good" —Abdu'l-Baha
One unfolding story
One story. Different chapters.
- Krishna 3000 BC Hinduism
- Abraham 2000 BC Monotheism
- Moses 1500 BC Judaism
- Zoroaster 1000 BC Zoroastrianism
- Buddha 500 BC Buddhism
- Jesus 30 AD Christianity
- Muhammad 622 AD Islam
- The Bab 1844 AD Baha'i Faith
- Baha'u'llah 1863 AD Baha'i Faith
A shared work
Each of us has a role to play in building a better world.
The Baha'i teachings describe the work of a better world as two things happening at once, inseparable from each other. One is the work each person does on their own character. The other is the work we do together to change the conditions around us.
A kinder person inside an unjust system is still living inside the injustice. A fairer system run by people who haven't grown past self-interest won't stay fair for long. Shoghi Effendi put it plainly: the heart and the world outside it shape each other, and every lasting change comes from that mutual work.
Each of us works daily to reform our own character. All of us work together to build a better world. Choosing a path of service serves our own best interest, because it's only through that daily work that we actually manage to reform ourselves at all.
The teachings of Baha'u'llah
Some of Baha'u'llah's Teachings
Baha'u'llah gave us an ocean of guidance. These are a sampling.
One Religion, Different Chapters
The world's great religions come from one source.
Baha'is believe the world's great religions come from the same God, brought by successive messengers. Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and most recently Baha'u'llah.
Baha'u'llah compares the messengers to skilled physicians, each diagnosing the world they find and prescribing what it needs in that age. The core mission is constant. The remedies change as humanity grows up.
Baha'u'llah's role is to speak to the world we live in now, a world where our problems are shared and our futures are tied together.
We are One Human Family
Every person belongs to the same human family, across every line of race, class, and culture.
The belief that every person belongs to one human family sits at the center of Baha'u'llah's teachings. It's a fact meant to shape how societies are built.
Prejudice of any kind works against that fact, whether by race, nationality, gender, or class. Racism harms those it targets and corrodes those who carry it. Love of country is fine, but it has limits. "Let not a man glory in that he loves his country," Baha'u'llah wrote, "let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind."
The same principle extends to women and men. The Baha'i writings compare humanity to a bird with two wings, one male and one female. If either wing is held back, the bird cannot fly.
Science and Religion Agree
Religion and science are meant to work together.
Science and religion are two knowledge systems. Science explains how the world works. Religion explains what it's for. "Religion and science conform and agree," Abdu'l-Baha wrote. "If a question of religion violates reason and does not agree with science, it is imagination and not worthy of credence."
When religion cuts itself off from reason, it falls into superstition and blind imitation of the past. When science is pursued without ethics, it can be turned to destructive ends.
Together, the two keep each other honest, and between them we have tools to address some of the hardest problems humanity faces.
See With Your Own Eyes
Every person has the right, and the responsibility, to search for truth on their own.
Baha'is believe every person has the right, and the responsibility, to search for truth on their own. That duty falls hardest on religion. A faith inherited but never examined is imitation, not belief. Each person has to meet truth for themselves.
Baha'u'llah ties this directly to justice: "The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice… 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 neighbor."
We Have a Twofold Purpose
Inner growth and service to others are two halves of the same path.
The Baha'i writings call this our twofold moral purpose: refining our inner character and helping human civilization move forward. These two processes are directly linked. Our character shapes the society we live in, and society shapes the character we grow into.
Every individual is a member of the human family and makes a contribution to the life of society. The individual takes initiative, seizes opportunities, forms friendships and builds relationships, joins with others in common service, and acts on decisions.
This is where a person's true distinction lies. "And the honour and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source of social good," wrote Abdu'l-Baha.
Universal Education
The most powerful tool for uncovering human potential and moving society forward.
Baha'is see education as the most powerful tool for uncovering human potential. "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value," Baha'u'llah wrote. "Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures."
Universal access to education is essential for social justice. It gives each of us the tools to make sense of the world and tell truth from falsehood.
Baha'i communities offer free programs in neighborhoods around the world: children's classes focused on virtues, the junior youth spiritual empowerment program for young teens, and study circles for teens and adults.
No Peace Without Justice
Peace isn't a mood that settles on its own. It's the outcome of a just society.
The Baha'i writings place justice at the foundation of peace. Baha'u'llah called it the light of men and warned against letting oppression put it out. "The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men," He wrote. "No radiance can compare with that of justice. The organization of the world and the tranquillity of mankind depend upon it."
Justice also shapes how societies are arranged. A social order that meets the needs of one group at the expense of another produces injustice and oppression. The right arrangement considers every part in the context of the well-being of the whole.
Peace, in this view, is not the quiet that follows when conflict pauses. It is the standing condition of a just society. That requires the slower work of reconciliation: rebuilding human relationships across the barriers of injustice and ignorance that history has drawn between people.
A New Revelation
A new age has dawned with the coming of Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah, born in 1817 in Persia, is the founder of the Baha'i Faith. His name means "the Glory of God." His message affirms the teachings of the religions of the past and breathes new life into them, preparing humanity for its next step: a civilization that leaves behind old prejudices and superstitions and reaches real peace and prosperity on earth.
His life was defined by exile and imprisonment. The Persian and Ottoman empires spent forty years trying to silence him, moving him from prison to prison across the Middle East. He produced tens of thousands of writings that form the foundation of the Baha'i Faith, and he addressed the kings and rulers of his day directly, calling on them to establish justice and work together for peace.
His writings address humanity as a whole. They set out a vision for a world civilization built on justice, where the earth is one country and all people are its citizens.
World peace is not only possible but inevitable.
Baha'u'llah's coming set something in motion. The inevitable march of this planet toward peace.
People are waking up to the fact that humanity is one family. The outer shape of that oneness is already visible. Technology has made the world small. A shared climate binds every nation.
His teachings are in the process of transforming the world.
Common questions
You might be wondering
How can I learn more?
The best way is to meet Baha'is and ask your own questions. Discussion groups explore these teachings in depth, in small groups, with people from every background. You can also attend a prayer gathering, reach out through our contact page, or just keep reading.
What do Baha'is actually do together?
Pray together, study together, serve together, raise kids together. Gatherings often take place in informal, neighborhood settings, like small gatherings in homes where people will share a meal, say prayers, and have meaningful conversations; in discussion groups called study circles to read and reflect on educational materials; in educational classes and groups for children and youth; or through service projects in neighborhoods.
What does devotional life look like for Bahai's?
It is a common practice for Baha'is to gather with their friends and neighbors to offer prayers. Devotional gatherings are held in community centers or in one another's homes and consist largely of reading prayers and passages from holy scriptures in an informal, yet respectful, atmosphere. Uplifting music and song are often included. There are no rituals; no individual has a special role. These simple gatherings bring people of all backgrounds and beliefs together in prayer and generate a unifying spirit that begins to permeate the community.
There are no churches with congregations led by pastors or other spiritual leaders. Instead, we are all protagonists in our own spiritual lives, and we all have a voice and a part to play in the life of our communities.
Is there a Baha'i Bible?
Baha'u'llah revealed over seven million words during His lifetime, only about ten percent of which have been translated into English so far. There is an ocean of sacred text that is still new for many people to explore. Discussion groups and prayer gatherings often draw directly from these writings, and they're a natural place to encounter them for the first time.
What resources are there for learning more?
The best first step is to get in touch. Everyone has their own favorite books to recommend, and we'd love to suggest a few based on what interests you. Some people start with Baha'u'llah's own writings, others prefer introductory books that give the big picture. Reach out and we'll point you in the right direction.
More information can be found on bahai.org, and bahai.org/library offers free, downloadable versions of all of the central texts of the Baha'i Faith currently translated into English.
Do I have to believe everything to participate?
No. Gatherings, discussion groups, and service projects are open to everyone. Baha'u'llah's message is for all of humanity.
Why haven't I heard of this?
The Baha'i Faith is less than 200 years old. While it's spread to virtually every country on earth, there are still relatively few Baha'is in most places. Baha'is also don't proselytize, so word travels slowly. Sites like this one exist to help people know we're here.
Is this an Islamic sect? A branch of Christianity?
The Baha'i Faith is an independent world religion. It emerged from a Muslim cultural context in 19th-century Persia, the way Christianity emerged from Judaism. It has its own scriptures, laws, calendar, and institutions.
How is this different from Unitarianism or interfaith movements?
Unitarians welcome all beliefs under one roof but don't claim a unified theology. Interfaith movements celebrate dialogue between distinct traditions. The Baha'i Faith makes a stronger claim: all major religions originate from one God and form one progressive story. It has its own prophet, its own scripture, and its own vision for humanity's future.
I've never heard of this. Is it a real religion?
Yes. The concern behind that question is often whether this is a cult, which is a fair thing to check. Cults tend to share recognizable traits: a charismatic living leader who demands personal loyalty, isolation from family and outside society, financial exploitation of members, punishment for questioning or leaving, and control over what members can read, think, or say.
The Baha'i Faith has none of these. There is no living leader. The community is governed by elected councils, not individuals. Members are encouraged to stay close to their families. Financial contributions are private, voluntary, and only accepted from enrolled Baha'is. Independent investigation of truth is a core principle, so questioning is encouraged. Anyone can leave at any time. The Baha'i Faith is recognized as an independent world religion by governments, the United Nations, and scholars of religion.
Are there rules or laws that Baha'is follow?
Each Messenger from God, as a Divine Educator, brings a new set of laws governing the spiritual and social aspects of life for humanity's particular stage of evolution. Baha'u'llah revealed laws governing personal behavior in such areas as prayer, fasting, marriage, and the avoidance of alcohol and drugs. He condemned backbiting, set out the importance of engaging in a trade or profession, and emphasized the importance of educating children. He underscored the virtues of truthfulness, trustworthiness, hospitality, courtesy, forbearance, justice, and fairness.
Baha'is understand that religious laws cannot be reduced to a simple list of do's and don'ts. Rather, they strive to focus on the transformative power of Baha'u'llah's teachings to bring joy, refine character, and revitalize society.
How do I become a Baha'i? What difference does it make to formally enroll in the Baha'i Faith?
Baha'u'llah's message is for all of humanity, and anybody who recognizes Baha'u'llah as the Messenger of God for this day and desires to follow His teachings can be a Baha'i. Choosing one's religious beliefs is a deeply personal and private act of conscience; nobody will pressure you to change your beliefs or join if you are just interested in learning more.
Formally enrolling in the Baha'i community means that you can vote in Baha'i elections and contribute to the funds of the Baha'i community. In the United States, you can enroll through the national website at bahai.us/contact/become-a-bahai.