Bahá’í Faith

A young world religion teaching the essential oneness of God, faith, and humankind.

1863 CE · Worldwide · Abrahamic

The Bahá'í Faith arose in 19th-century Persia from the Bábí movement within Shia Islam, when Bahá'u'lláh proclaimed himself the latest in a line of divine messengers. It teaches progressive revelation — that the great faiths are chapters of one unfolding truth — and makes the unity of humanity, universal peace, and justice central religious obligations. Its administrative and spiritual center is in Haifa and Acre.

Key figures

• Bahá’u’lláh (the founder)
• The Báb (the herald)

Texts

• Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Beliefs

• The unity of God, religion, and humanity
• Progressive revelation through many prophets
• World peace and justice as sacred duties

Rituals

• Daily prayer and yearly fasting
• Community gatherings
• Pilgrimage to Haifa/Acre

Grew from

• Shia Islam

Connections in the atlas

• ʿAbdu'l-Bahá
• Shrine of the Báb and the Baháʼí holy places
• The Persian Bayán
• Nine-pointed star
• Prayer postures and fixed prayer times (ritual)
• ▶ The Abrahamic family
• The Báb
• The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book)
• Eight-pointed star
• Fasting (ritual)
• Baháʾuʾlláh
• The Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude)