[Above: Photo of the Shrine of The Bab on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel]

The Bahá'í faith, dating from 1844, is the most recent of the world’s monotheistic religions. The faith’s founder, Bahá’u’lláh, an Iranian nobleman whose name translates as “the Glory of God”, spent much of his life in exile.

The Bahá’í faith is the second most widespread of the world's religions, with 5 million followers in 235 countries and territories throughout the world. There are around 6,000 Bahá’ís in the UK. The Bahá’í faith is an independent world religion, and has its own scriptures, places of worship and administration. It is not a branch of Islam.

Bahá’ís believe that humanity is a single race with a common destiny. In the words of Bahá'u'lláh, the faith’s founder, "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."

For the last 160 years Bahá'ís have been working to break down barriers of prejudice between people. They believe that there will be lasting world peace only when major injustices such as racism, gender inequality, and poverty are resolved through the work of governments, civil society and individuals. Bahá’ís worldwide are fully committed to this work, but they are not pacifists and they take no sides in the political controversies of the day.

Bahá’ís believe that the world religions and faith communities also have an important part to play in bringing peace to the world. Religious conflict is one of the most deadly threats to peace.

Bahá'u'lláh taught that all the great religions come from one divine source. They are parts of a single historical process taking humankind from its beginnings to the global civilization that Bahá’ís believe to be an inevitable development in human life.

Bahá’ís believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the most recent in the long line of divinely inspired prophets and messengers of God – including Zoroaster, Moses, the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh has brought teachings that address the particular moral and spiritual challenges of the modern world. But he explicitly states that there will be further messengers from God in the future.

Bahá’ís work in practical ways to express their faith. Bahá’í social & economic development projects around the world include primary and secondary schools, village literacy projects, grassroots agricultural development project, healthcare, and the development of village democracy. These projects are always open to everyone, whether Bahá’í or not.

Bahá’u’lláh’s writings also deal with private morality, stressing the importance of searching out truth for oneself, trustworthiness, refraining from backbiting, generosity, bringing happiness to others, sexual chastity and so on. Bahá’ís strive to develop these and other virtues in their lives and to prepare for the life after death.

Bahá’ís believe that the soul continues to progress towards God throughout eternity. Bahá’ís pray for those who have passed away, but leave questions of forgiveness and judgement to God.

[Bahá'i House of Worship, New Delhi, India]