The Baha’i Faith in Israel
Key Figures
- The Báb (“The Gate”) – Born in Persia. The forerunner of the Bahá’í Faith and founder of the Bábi religion. Promised the imminent revelation of the Promised One awaited by all religions. Buried in Haifa.
- Bahá’u’lláh (“Glory of God”) – Born in Persia. Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Buried at Bahjí (close to Akko)
Principal Beliefs of the Bahá’í Faith
- Oneness of Humanity (equality of men and women, elimination of prejudices, elimination of economic inequalities, universal education)
- Oneness of Religion (Progressive revelation of the same one religion of God, according to the needs and capacities of humanity at that time. Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed are recognized as Messengers.)
- Oneness of God (One God, revealed through the world’s religions)
Dates
- 1817 Bahá’u’lláh born in Tehran, Mirza Hussein Ali
- 1819 The Báb born in Shiraz, Siyyid Ali Muhammad
- 1844 The Báb’s Declaration
- 1850 The Báb is martyred in Tabriz
- 1863 Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration
- 1868 Bahá’u’lláh arrives in Haifa, travels overland to Akko
- 1892 Bahá’u’lláh dies at Bahjí
In Israel
When Bahá’u’lláh arrived in Haifa in 1892, He was accompanied by his family and followers as well as the family of the Báb. They brought with them the bodily remains of the Báb which had been smuggled with them throughout their long journey. On one visit to Haifa, Bahá’u’lláh indicated the site on the slopes of Mount Carmel where the Báb should be buried. He also revealed the Tablet of Carmel, outlining the mystical and spiritual significance of Mount Carmel in religious history and for the future of the Bahá’í Community. Today, the Shrine of the Báb is the second most holy site that Bahá’ís visit on pilgrimage to Haifa (the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí is the most holy site and the point towards which Bahá’ís turn when performing their obligatory prayers). The administrative centre of the Bahá’í International Community is also located in the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel: The International Teaching Centre, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Centre for the Study of the Texts, and the Baha’i International Archives.
Scholarship and The Bahá’í Faith
The relationship between academic studies of religion and the Baha’i Faith is quite unique. Denis MacEoin in his 2013 article “Making the invisible visible” identifies only 5 non-Baha’i scholars engaged in the academic study of the Bahá’í Faith. There is a strong practise of Baha’i Scholarship, but this is defined by the Association for Bahá’í Studies as “scholarly activity carried out by members of the Baha’i community” and often is more concerned with the application of principles of the Faith in other realms of study and academic activity.
Bibliography
“Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892) — Founder of the Bahá’í Faith” Bahá’í Topics http://info.bahai.org/bahaullah-manifestation-of-god.html
“Basic Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh” Bahá’í Topics http://info.bahai.org/bahaullah-basic-teachings.html
Khan, Peter J. “Some Aspects of Bahá’í Scholarship.” The Bahá’í World (1999-2000): 197-221.
MacEoin, Denis. “Making the invisible visible: introductory books on the Baha’i religion (the Baha’i Faith).” Religion 43, no. 2 (2013): 160-177.
“The Báb (1819-1850)” Bahá’í Topics http://info.bahai.org/the-bab-forerunner.html
“The Bahá’í World Centre: Focal Point for a Global Community” Bahá’í Topics http://info.bahai.org/article-1-6-0-5.html