
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Baháʼís believe that all the founders of the world's great religions have been manifestations of God and agents of a progressive divine plan for the education of the human race. Baháʼís believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. Baháʼís regard the world's major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose, but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. The Baháʼí Faith stresses the unity of all people as its core teaching; as a result, it explicitly rejects notions of racism, sexism, and nationalism. Baháʼí teachings state that religion is revealed in an orderly and progressive way by a single God through Manifestations of God, who are the founders of major world religions throughout human history.
The Baháʼí Faith originated from a Shi'ah sect called the Shaykhiyyah in 1844 CE, under the protection of Russian, Jewish, and English colonialism, with the aim of corrupting Islamic belief and dividing Muslims from their basic aims. The Baháʼís believe that jihad and the carrying of weapons and waging war against non-believing enemies are forbidden, in service to the interests of colonialists.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
View on Jihad | The Baháʼí Faith regards jihad and the carrying of weapons and waging war against non-believers as forbidden. |
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Baha'i teachings on jihad
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Baháʼís regard the world's major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose, but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. The Baháʼí Faith stresses the unity of all people as its core teaching; as a result, it explicitly rejects notions of racism, sexism, and nationalism.
Baháʼís believe that God periodically reveals their will through divine messengers, whose purpose is to transform the character of humankind and to develop, within those who respond, moral and spiritual qualities. Religion is thus seen as orderly, unified, and progressive from age to age. Baháʼí writings describe a single, personal, inaccessible, omniscient, omnipresent, imperishable, and almighty God who is the creator of all things in the universe.
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, claimed to have received a message from the Prophet Muhammad in a dream. In this dream, Muhammad said:
> "Previously I had said: 'Paradise is beneath the shades of swords.' However, if I were manifest in these days, I would say: 'Paradise is beneath the shade of the tree of friendliness and compassion.'"
This message is interpreted as a rejection of jihad, or Islamic holy war. Bahá'ís believe that the "sword"Islamic holy war—is no longer one of the "keys to Paradise." Instead, Bahá'ís advocate for peace, unity, justice, and equality to achieve world peace. They believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices.
The Baháʼí Faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. Membership is open to all who profess faith in Baháʼu'lláh and accept his teachings. Baháʼís are under the spiritual obligation to pray daily; to abstain from narcotics, alcohol, and other substances that affect the mind; to practice monogamy; to obtain parental consent for marriage; and to attend the Nineteen Day Feast on the first day of each month of the Baháʼí calendar.
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Baha'i views on violence and war
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. The Baháʼís regard the world's major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose, but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. At the heart of Baháʼí teachings is the desire to establish a unified world order that ensures the prosperity of all nations, races, creeds, and classes.
Baháʼís believe that God periodically reveals their will through divine messengers, whose purpose is to transform the character of humankind and to develop, within those who respond, moral and spiritual qualities. Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, is considered one of these divine messengers, along with the Báb, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Baháʼu'lláh is said to have received a vision from Muhammad, who is quoted as saying:
> "Previously I had said: 'Paradise is beneath the shades of swords.' However, if I were manifest in these days, I would say: 'Paradise is beneath the shade of the tree of friendliness and compassion.'"
In this vision, Baháʼu'lláh tells us that Muhammad "conversed as friends and as equals". Baháʼís believe that Muhammad's original message was one of peace and compassion, and that the "sword"—i.e. Islamic holy war, or jihad—is no longer one of the "keys to paradise". Baháʼís believe that the use of force and coercion in matters of faith is forbidden.
Baháʼís are taught to view religion as a source of unity, and religious prejudice as destructive. They are also taught to practice spirituality while engaging in useful work. Baháʼu'lláh wrote of the need for world government and encouraged Baháʼís to support efforts to improve international relations through organizations such as the United Nations. Baháʼís are instructed to cooperate with their governments and engage with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fellowship.
Despite Baháʼu'lláh's teachings of peace and unity, Baháʼís are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. In Iran, where the religion was founded, Baháʼís are the largest non-Muslim religious community and continue to face persecution. Universities refuse to admit Baháʼí students, Baháʼí cemeteries have been destroyed, and properties have been confiscated from Baháʼí families. Baháʼís have also been discriminated against in Yemen and Egypt.
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Baha'i views on Islam
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Baháʼís regard the world's major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose, but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. Baháʼís see Islam as the parent religion of their faith, in the same way that Judaism gave birth to Christianity. Baháʼís believe in Muhammad as a prophet of God, and in the Qurʼan as the Word of God. Bahá'u'lláh—who came from a Muslim background, just as Christ came from a Jewish heritage—specifically honoured Muhammad and his teachings. Baháʼís believe that Muhammad was a man of peace and only fought in self-defence.
The Baháʼí Faith and Islam have some similarities—they both believe in one God, in the validity and exalted station of the religions that came before, and in the sacred nature of the human soul. However, the Baháʼí Faith differs significantly from Islam, especially as Islam is practised today. Baháʼís believe that the Báb, a central figure in the Baháʼí Faith, was a descendant of Muhammad through Imam Husayn, whose coming was foretold by Muhammad. Baháʼís believe that the Báb was the fulfilment of expectations in Islam of the Imam Mahdi/Qa'im, who would prepare the way for the Return of Jesus and the Day of Resurrection/Day of Judgement.
The major difference between the Baháʼí Faith and Islam is that Muslims tend to believe that Muhammad was the final messenger of God and that God is finished sending messengers forever. Baháʼís, however, believe in the oneness of all religion and that God will continue to send messengers from era to era. Baháʼís also accept many of God’s messengers that Muslims often forget about. For example, Muhammad said that God sent over 124,000 messengers to all of the peoples of the earth, but the Quran only mentions a few of those messengers that were well known in Arabia at the time of Muhammad. Baháʼís also tend to interpret scripture more metaphorically than Muslims, who interpret scripture more literally.
Baháʼís believe that Muhammad was sinless and that he was able to unite the warring tribes of the Arabian Peninsula despite being an illiterate man born into a cruel and barbarous culture. Baháʼís also believe that some stories about the teachings, deeds and sayings of Muhammad as described in certain hadith were fabricated due to "fanaticism", "ignorance" or "enmity".
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Baha'i views on colonialism
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. It explicitly rejects notions of racism, sexism, and nationalism. At the heart of Baháʼí teachings is the desire to establish a unified world order that ensures the prosperity of all nations, races, creeds, and classes.
Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, preached that Baháʼís are to be loyal to one's government, not be involved in politics, and to obey the laws of the country in which they reside. However, Baháʼís have been accused of having a supposed ""dual loyalty"" and being secretly in the employ of foreign powers. These accusations have been used to justify the persecution of adherents of the Baháʼí Faith.
Baháʼu'lláh's teachings on the unity of humankind, the equality of races, and the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty are in direct opposition to the practices of colonialism. Baháʼís believe that the unification of humanity is the paramount issue in the religious and political conditions of the present world. Baháʼu'lláh wrote that:
> The powerful ones show no compassion to the weak. For example, were one person [the British sovereign] to rule all over the earth, with only one village remaining outside of his dominion, he would conspire, day and night, to seize that village as well.
Baháʼu'lláh's teachings also promote the abolition of partisan politics, which is often a tool used by colonial powers to exert their influence. Baháʼís are taught to avoid involvement in partisan politics and to view religion as a source of unity rather than a cause of division.
In addition, the Baháʼí Faith emphasizes the essential equality of human beings and the abolition of prejudice. Baháʼu'lláh wrote that:
> Religion and country bear witness to the falsehood of these people. Say! The world is but one country, and all are created by the same Word. Wherefore ye wage wars, and whom ye consider as enemy?
Baháʼís believe that all humans are reflections of divine attributes and that out of universal love for all human beings, racism and colonialism must be rejected. Baháʼu'lláh further emphasized the importance of justice and the protection of human rights, stating that:
> The vast majority of wars in the world are waged out of mere corrupt desires, yet they are falsely attributed to religion, honor, and country.
The Baháʼí Faith also promotes the protection of cultural diversity and the right to cultural identity. The Baháʼí International Community has stated that:
> The principle of collective trusteeship creates also the right of every person to expect that those cultural conditions essential to his or her identity enjoy the protection of national and international law.
In conclusion, the teachings of the Baháʼí Faith are fundamentally opposed to the practices of colonialism, which seek to exploit and oppress other nations and cultures. Baháʼís strive for the unification of all people and the establishment of a world order that ensures the prosperity and equality of all nations.
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Baha'i views on nationalism
The Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic religion that was founded in the 19th century and is followed by approximately 8 million adherents, known as Baháʼís, spread throughout most of the world's countries and territories. The Baháʼí Faith explicitly rejects notions of nationalism, sexism, and racism. At the heart of Baháʼí teachings is the desire to establish a unified world order that ensures the prosperity of all nations, races, creeds, and classes.
The Baháʼí teachings state that humanity is essentially one, though highly varied, and that its diversity of race and culture are worthy of appreciation and acceptance. Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, taught that the unification of humanity is the paramount issue in the religious and political conditions of the present world. Baháʼís believe that nationalism, along with racism and communism, is one of the three idols humans have constructed and worshipped to their detriment and shame. Nationalism, because it seeks to exalt one nation over all others, can only lead to death and destruction.
Baháʼu'lláh taught that each person can live in any spot on the terrestrial globe and that the whole world is humankind's birthplace. Baháʼís can thus be considered universal patriots, with their country being the world.
Abdu’l-Baha, Baháʼu'lláh's son, wrote that the greatest instrumentality for achieving the advancement and glory of humankind is love and fellowship and unity among all members of the human race. He added that true religion is the perfect means for engendering fellowship and unity. Abdu’l-Baha also warned that the only possible solution to nationalistic wars would come through unity and that true civilization would unfurl its banner when sovereigns arise to establish the Cause of Universal Peace.
Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, stated that nationalism, racialism, and communism are false gods that passionate and clamorously hail and worship. He added that their sacrifices are the flesh and blood of slaughtered multitudes, and their incantations are outworn shibboleths and insidious and irreverent formulas.
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