Hertfordshire Bahai Web Page / head_0

Overview:
The forerunner and herald of the Bahá'í religion Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad proclaimed His mission to the world during 1844CE, taking the title The Báb He prophesied the coming of another messenger of God, telling His followers to prepare for the one He said ‘Would Be Made Manifest'. The founder of the Bahá'í religion Mírzá Hussayn-Álí, took the title “Bahá'u'lláh” which in Arabic means “The Glory of God”. Bahá'ís maintain that Bahá'u'lláh is the Manifestation of God for this age. Bahá'u'lláh's eldest son 'Abbas Effendi took the title ‘Abdul-Bahá which means “Servant of Bahá”, His father left instructions that ‘Abdul-Bahá was to be the interpreter of the holy writings and that all Bahá'ís were to look to him for guidance. ‘Abdul-Bahá named his grandson Shoghi Effendi as his successor, taking the title “Guardian of the Faith” Shoghi Effendi instigated the institutions of the Faith which shortly after his passing elected the first members to the Universal House of Justice, this supreme body in the Bahá'í world, guides, protects and furthers the Bahá'í Faith.

Origins of the Faith:
The Bahá'í religion originated during the 19th century in Persia, now called Iran. The founder took the name Bahá'u'lláh which in the Arabic language means Glory of God.

During the last century and a half, the number of Bahá'í believers have expanded to over six million adherents with representatives from almost every country and territory on earth. It is truly a world religion, open to everyone who believes the two principle tenets of the faith: that there is one God; and that Bahá'u'lláh is the latest Manifestation of God.
Previous manifestations include the founders of the other major world religions. Bahá'u'lláh explains that there will be no ultimate manifestation, and that God will always send manifestations to guide mankind, He further prophesies that the next will not reveal himself for at least another eight hundred and fifty years.

Other Web-sites to Visit:
It is suggested you take a look at the following web-sites which are excellent sources of information.
[Bahá'í World Centre] :
[UK National Centre] :
[BBC Resources].
In your search on the web you may come across many suspect sites. The best advice I think is for you to read the Bahá'í holy books for yourself, don't rely on someone else.
You don't have to buy, here is the URL of an online resource.
[ Bahá'í Online Library] :
[ Bahá'í Bookshop UK].
If you would like to read about Oneness of God, Religion & Mankind take a look below.

Why Another Religion:
If you are a non believer you may be thinking why another religion. If a member of an existing religion you maybe believe the Bahá'í faith to be misguided and false because you believe your religion to be the ultimate and only true religion of God.

Bahá'u'lláh has explained, there is only One God and there is only One Religion of God. This religion has been taught by all the manifestations of God down through the ages, among their number are Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buda, Christ, Mohamed and The Báb. The teaching of these founders of worlds religions may appear in part to be in opposition to one another but that is solely because their teachings were given to people living in very diverse cultures and levels of development, this limited the scope and depth of teaching which could be accepted at that time.

Bahá'u'lláh speaks metaphorically of the world as a sick patient and the manifestations of God as divine physicians. (see text frame right)

No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained. Little wonder, then, if the treatment prescribed by the physician in this day should not be found to be identical with that which he prescribed before. How could it be otherwise when the ills affecting the sufferer necessitate at every stage of his sickness a special remedy? In like manner, every time the Prophets of God have illumined the world with the resplendent radiance of the Day Star of Divine knowledge, they have invariably summoned its peoples to embrace the light of God through such means as best befitted the exigencies of the age in which they appeared. They were thus able to scatter the darkness of ignorance, and to shed upon the world the glory of their own knowledge.
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, page 80

You may be thinking, “why are Bahá'ís so convinced that Bahá'u'lláh was from God”.
If we want to find the truth, let us temporarily put aside our past beliefs and to look objectively at just some of the many salient facts.
Below we look at just a few subjects, if asked to pick out the most compelling, it would probably be “Power of the Word”.

(a) Rejection & Recognition
(b) Biblical Prophesy
(c) Miracles
(d) Teaching
(e) Contemporary Report
(f) Power of the Word

(a) Rejection & Recognition:
We are told that all human beings have been endowed by God with the ability to recognise His Messengers. This is born out when one examines the reception given to past manifestations.

Look at the way Christ was treated by the religious authorities who said he was an impostor because He didn't exhibit the characteristics they believed 'The Christ' should demonstrate. However the ordinary people with no vested interest in the status quo recognised Him.

Look at the way Mohammed was repeatedly under attack from His enemies. However ordinary people with no pre conceptions recognised and followed Him.

During Bábi/Bahá'í era upward of 20,000 individuals, men women and children have been martyred for recognising, believing and refusing to recant their belief in the Báb/Bahá'u'lláh. Records show the most barbaric forms of torture and death have been inflicted, indeed people are even today sacrificing freedom and life rather than renounce their faith. These were and are not religious fanatics devoid of understanding and reason, many being highly educated with deep understanding of religious law.

(b) Biblical Prophesy:
The Bible contains reference to the Bahá'i era and indicates the actual year in which it would commence.
Take a look at another local page.
See what 'Abdu'l-Baha the son of Bahá'u'lláh said on the subject of prophesy (text frame right).

'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on Prophesy:

The prophecies deal with dates and symbols which proclaim the end of each dispensation.
In former books the conditions are explained concerning subsequent manifestors of the divine plan.
But those who do not follow closely these things will not be convinced by proofs such as these. This then is not a final proof.
Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, page43

(e) Contemporary Report:
The distinguished Orientalist, Prof. E. G. Browne of Cambridge, was granted four successive interviews with Bahá'u'lláh, between April 15-20, 1890. Professor Browne wrote:-

"The face of Him on Whom I gazed, I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow.... No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain."

He continues:-

"Here, did I spend five most memorable days, during which I enjoyed unparalleled and unhoped-for opportunities of holding intercourse with those who are the fountain-heads of that mighty and wondrous spirit, which works with invisible but ever-increasing force for the transformation and quickening of a people who slumber in a sleep like unto death. It was, in truth, a strange and moving experience, but one whereof I despair of conveying any save the feeblest impression."

(d) Teaching:
The quality, depth, beauty and the shear quantity of His writings is quite breathtaking. I urge you to read and judge for yourself. There is much material available on line.

The precepts He expounded a century and a half ago were way ahead of and definitely not a product of their time.
Parts of the world, although oblivious of Bahá'í teaching, are attempting to put some of His precepts into practice.
Other teachings have not as yet been recognised as practical remedies for the ailments of the world.

(c) Miracles:
There are references by eye witnesses to miracles occurring, however the following with explain why great significance is not made of these hapenings.

During questioning Bahá'u'lláh was asked, as an evidence of the truth of His mission, for a miracle that would satisfy completely all concerned. “Although you have no right to ask this,” Bahá'u'lláh replied, “for God should test His creatures, and they should not test God, still I allow and accept this request.... The ulamas must assemble, and, with one accord, choose one miracle, and write that, after the performance of this miracle they will no longer entertain doubts about Me, and that all will acknowledge and confess the truth of My Cause. Let them seal this paper, and bring it to Me. This must be the accepted criterion: if the miracle is performed, no doubt will remain for them; and if not, We shall be convicted of imposture.”
Three days later word was sent that that august assemblage had failed to arrive at a decision, and had chosen to drop the matter.
Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, page 143

'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on Miracles:

Miracles are likewise convincing to a limited number only.
For instance, a Buddhist would not be convinced by the miracles of Moses which are proofs only so far as the orthodox Jews are concerned, because they love Moses. On the other hand the miracles attributed to Jesus Christ are refuted by the Jews as a whole, saying "No one lives today who has seen these miracles performed, therefore, who can bear testimony to them?"
Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, page 43

(f) Power of the Word
Probably the most compelling proof for the authenticity of Bahá'u'lláh's claim to be the manifestation of God for this current age lays in the written words He recorded for us.
For their sheer beauty and compelling majesty, for their profundity, for their often simple clarity concealing layers of deeper meaning as yet untapped and closed to non receptive minds. Prayers, dissertations, commentaries, explanations, exhortations and of course His Most Great Book in which the laws of this dispensation are recorded.
My words here are totally inadequate, go and read for yourself.

Bahá'u'lláh's Words
to Prof. Browne

"Praise be to God that thou hast attained!. . . Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile. . . We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment. . . That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled - what harm is there in this?. . . Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most great Peace' shall come. . ."