adminFlora Teckie
Harare Bahá’ís will join Bahá’í communities, in over one hundred thousand localities worldwide, to celebrate the 203rd anniversary of the birth of the Báb and 205th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh on 26th and 27th October.
The Báb (whose name means ‘Gate’), was born in 1819. The Bahá’í Faith began in 1844 when the Báb announced that he was a Messenger of God, whose special mission was to prepare the way for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh – the one who would establish an era of righteousness and peace on earth.
The Bahá’ís regard the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God. In their Writings they confirm that there is only one God, the Creator of the universe and its absolute Ruler. Although people may pray to God in different languages and call Him by different names, nevertheless they have in mind the same Almighty Creator.
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith (whose name means ‘The Glory of God’), was born in 1817. In 1863 Bahá’u’lláh announced that he was the bearer of a new revelation from God that would bring unity to the peoples of the world. During His Ministry thousands of verses, letters and books flowed from His pen. From His words, the worldwide Bahá’í community draws its inspiration, discovers its moral bearing, and derives creative energy.
In His writings, Bahá’u’lláh outlined a framework for the reconstruction of human society at all levels. His writings cover a vast range of subjects, from social issues such as the oneness of humanity, racial integration, the equality of men and women, and disarmament, to those questions that affect the innermost life of the human soul.
While reaffirming the core ethical principles common to all world religions, Bahá’u’lláh also revealed new laws and teachings to lay the foundation of a global civilisation.
The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one, that the diversity of ethnic backgrounds adds to the beauty and perfection of the whole, and that the day has come for the unification of humanity into one global society.
It is the Bahá’í view that, unless unity is attained – a unity that embraces and honours the full diversity of humankind – true peace and security will remain out of reach. Bahá’u’lláh asserts: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established”.
He further states that: “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch ” “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship” “Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness”.
The Bahá’í Writings compare the world to the human body, to which we can look as a model. The same way as the perfect functioning of the human body is due to the unity of diverse cells and organs, so the well-being and well-functioning of body of mankind is dependent on the unity of its diverse elements – of all races, nations, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. It is the Bahá’í view that, only when we, as individuals, see ourselves as members of one human family, sharing one common global homeland, will we be able to commit ourselves to the far-reaching changes, on both individual and collective levels, which an increasingly interdependent and rapidly changing world necessitates.
The Bahá’í Faith recognizes the divine origin of all the major world religions and honours and reveres their Founders. The Bahá’í teachings also include the elimination of all forms of prejudice; the equality of men and women; the need to provide education to everyone; the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth; the harmony of science and religion; and the establishment of a world federal system based on principles of collective security and the oneness of humanity.
There is no priesthood or professional clergy in the Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’í communities are administered and guided by elected institutions which operate at local, national and international levels.
One of the important concepts in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is that refinement of one’s inner character and service to humanity must go hand in hand. For example, Bahá’ís are not only expected to pray and reflect daily in their personal lives, but also to make effort to bring a devotional spirit to their surroundings. They are not only asked to deepen their own knowledge of the Faith, but to share this knowledge also with others. Bahá’u’lláh regards the ‘love of mankind’ and service to its interests as the worthiest and most laudable objects of human endeavour”.
Bahá’ís try to refine their inner-lives in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, while sharing a common goal of serving humanity. Their community is one of learning and action, free from any sense of superiority or claim to exclusive understanding of truth. It is a community that strives to cultivate hope for the future of humanity, to foster purposeful effort, and to celebrate the endeavours of all those in the world who work to promote unity and alleviate human suffering.
For feedback please contact: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or [email protected] Website: www.bahai.org
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