The Bahá'í Faith
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PRAYER & WORSHIP
Devotional Life
"There is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayer. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayer is conversation with God.
The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is none other than conversation with God"
Prayer and worship are central to Bahá’í life, both individually and as a community. The Bahá’í Writings describe prayer, in its highest form, as an expression of love and gratitude for one’s Creator. It nourishes the soul, attracting divine assistance and blessings, and finds true expression in our actions.
Prayer and worship are inseparable from service to humanity, as both are essential for fostering a vibrant community life that works toward greater material and spiritual prosperity for all.
Material and Spiritual Progress
EDUCATION & CAPACITY BUILDING
The Bahá'í belief in the inherent nobility of every human being is closely tied to the conviction that both material and spiritual education can unlock this potential, benefiting society as a whole.
In recent decades, the global Bahá'í community has developed an educational programme designed to nurture the innate capacities within each person. Rooted in the principle of universal participation, it blends personal reflection, group study, and community service.
Those participating in this programme come from diverse backgrounds, faiths, and perspectives. Through collaboration, deeper insights into Bahá’u’lláh's teachings emerge, advancing the oneness of humanity.
All are warmly invited to join and contribute.
In the UK, at the local level, Bahá’ís engage in a variety of social action initiatives, often informal, such as environmental preservation, promoting interfaith relations, and supporting refugees. Wherever they live, Bahá’í communities prioritise the wellbeing and unity of their neighbourhoods, fostering inclusivity through visiting one another’s homes and reflecting on community needs together.
INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIETY
Life in Society
The Bahá’í Teachings emphasise that achieving universal peace and prosperity requires the participation of all humanity. Bahá’ís do not claim to have all the answers to society’s challenges but seek to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organisations to explore how we can work together to address society's evolving needs.
Founding Figures
FOUNDER OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH
(1817-1892)
"My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples."
Bahá’u’lláh
Bahá'u'lláh, whose title means the Glory of God, proclaimed to be the Promised One foretold by the Báb and prophesised by all the Divine Educators of the past.
Bahá'u'lláh was born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran.
From a young age, He was renowned for His extraordinary wisdom, compassion, generosity and commitment to justice.
As the son of a nobleman, He was offered a prestigious position in the Court of the Shah, but declined it in favour of a life dedicated to serving the poor, the vulnerable and the oppressed.
HERALD OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH
In 1844, at a time of widespread moral breakdown in Persia, present-day Iran, a young merchant from Shiraz took the title of 'The Báb', meaning 'the Gate' in Arabic. Calling for spiritual and moral reformation, He announced that He was the bearer of a message destined to transform the life of humanity. As the symbolic gate between past ages of prophecy and a new age of fulfilment for humanity, the Báb founded a distinct independent religion of His own. His revolutionary message of spiritual renewal attracted tens of thousands of followers who became known as Bábí's.
However He was also the Herald of a new Revelation from God, with a role to prepare the way for the coming of a new Divine Educator, who would usher in the era of peace and justice promised by all religions. The religious authorities of the day, disturbed by the upheaval surrounding the Báb’s message, clamoured for His arrest and imprisonment. He was eventually tried and sentenced to death by firing squad in the town square of Tabriz on 9 July 1850. Twenty thousand of His followers were also killed in a series of brutal massacres throughout Persia.
In 1909, after more than half a century, the Báb’s remains were finally interred in His Shrine on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, today a sacred place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís from all over the world.