Baha’u’llah

Baha’u’llah is the universal Manifestation of God for this age – a human being who manifests divine qualities and attributes, and reveals God’s Word for all creation. He is not God incarnate. He gave the world a new Revelation from God to advance humanity’s condition, materially and spiritually.

“Baha’u’llah” is a spiritual title in Arabic, that means “Glory” or “Splendor of Allah (God)”. Allah is the name of the creator of the universe in Islam, and the same God (Elohim) of Judaism. Alaha is the Aramaic name for God used by Yeshua (Jesus Christ)

Baha’u’llah lived from 1817 to 1892. He was born in Tehran, Persia, in present day Iran. His name was Mirza Husayn-‘Ali Nuri. He was the son of Mirza ‘Abbas of Nur, a Shi’ah Muslim government official and estate owner. His ancestral lineage descended from the Sassanian dynasty of ancient Persia, and the prophets Zoroaster and Abraham.

Baha’u’llah proclaimed the oneness of God and the unity of all humanity, that from Allah, all come, and unto Allah, all shall return. He taught that all major religions have been revealed by one God, that each Prophet-Founder of each is a Manifestation of God, and that each revealed a progressive stage in the spiritual evolution and civilization of humanity. He renewed and revealed a system of religious principles, practices, laws and institutions for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Baha’is are Baha’u’llah’s followers. The name, Baha’I, means “of Baha”. Baha’is recognize him as the Founder of an independent world religion. He is believed to be the fulfillment of many religions’ prophecies that foretold the coming of a promised One who would be a Light of divine guidance for all humanity, and establish an age of peace and justice. Baha’u’llah is believed to be the One foretold by Yeshua, (Jesus) the Christ, who would come in the “glory of the father”, and be the “spirit of truth”. Baha’is believe He is the promised return of the Messiah in Judeo-Christian and Islamic prophecy. Some believe He is a descendant of David, the prophet/king of Israel, through the lineage of the exiled monarchs of the kingdom of Judah that converted to Shi’ah Islam.

Baha’u’llah was heralded by Siyyid ‘Ali – Muhammad (1819-1850) who lived in Shiraz, Iran. His Herald assumed the spiritual title “The Bab” which means “the Gate” of God. The Bab proclaimed himself to be “the Qa’im” (“He who will arise”) as the return of the Hidden Imam in the prophetic tradition of Twelver Shi’ism of Islam, and the “Mahdi” (“Guided One”) foretold by the Prophet Muhammad. The Bab taught his followers to expect the imminent appearance of “Man-Yuzhir’u’llah” (“Him Whom God Will Make Manifest”) that would bring a divinely blessed World Order. Baha’u’llah received His spiritual title, “Baha”, from the Bab.

Baha’u’llah was one of the most prominent of the Bab’s supporters, the Babis, and after the Bab’s martyrdom in 1850 became the community’s leader. Baha’u’llah revealed numerous Tablets, similar in eloquence and power to the Surahs (Chapters) of the Qu’ran. Among His most well known early revelations are the “Hidden Words”, and the “Book of Certitude”. After He publicly declared his spiritual mission in 1863 and that He was the One promised by the Bab, He began to write the kings and rulers of the world, announced His appearance, and invited their recognition and support.

Baha’u’llah was subjected to torture, imprisonment and exile by the Qajar dynasty of Persia, and imprisonment by the Ottoman Sultanate because of his religious claims which were denounced as heretical and subversive. His family estates were looted and property confiscated. His majestic and dignified bearing of these injustices is outstanding. Thousands of his followers have been martyred and continue to suffer active persecution even in recent years. His final imprisonment (1868-1877) was in the fortress city of Akka, located in present day Israel, just north of Haifa, and Mount Carmel. His abode in the land of Israel, not of his own accord, fulfilled prophecies from the Old and New Testament about the coming of the “Glory of the Lord”, “Prince of Peace”, “Father” and “Lord of hosts” to the “Strong City” (Akka), on the plains of Sharon, and nearby Mount Carmel, the Vineyard of God.

Isaiah prophesied, “the Glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.”

(Isaiah 35:2)

In the later years of His life (1877-1892), Baha’u’llah, though He remained officially a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire, enjoyed a measure of freedom, and walked the slopes of Mount Carmel. There He revealed the Tablet of Carmel (1891) that envisioned the establishment of a new World Order inspired by his Revelation. Baha’u’llah wrote the “Book of the Covenant” wherein He appointed His son, ‘Abdu’l Baha, “the Most Mighty Branch” to be the one to whom all Baha’is were to turn for guidance after Baha’u’llah’s death. His son, ‘Abdu’l Baha, (1844-1921) and His great grandson, Shoghi Effendi, (1897-1957), who was the first Guardian, began the construction of the Baha’I World Center on Mount Carmel during their ministries.

This website supports the continuation of the Guardianship of the Baha’I Faith, a spiritual lineage of succession from Baha’u’llah, as delineated in the “Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l Baha”, and the “Dispensation of Baha’u’llah” written by Shoghi Effendi. See the text on Charles Mason Remey for more information on the continuation of the Guardianship.

 

Jacques Soghomonian | Donald Harvey | Mason Remey | Shoghi Effendi | 'Abdu'l-Baha | Baha'u'llah | The Bab