Long Island Baha'i Faith Bahaism Baha'is Shrine of Baha'u'llah Nassau Suffolk Hamptons New York

Baha'i Faith Resources

	The Bahá'í Faith The Web Site of the Bahá'í International Community The Bahá'í Faith is the web site of the Bahá'í International Community and includes presentations on Bahá'í history, teachings and belief, social and economic development, social action, prayer, meditation and Bahá'í community life, as well as providing access to the Bahá'í Writings. The Bahá'í Faith http://www.bahai.org/


	Bahá'í Faith Religion Renewed For A Changing World The Official Web Site of The Bahá'í's of the United States. Bahá'í Faith http://www.bahai.us/


	Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'u'lláh - Messenger of God In the past, God's Messengers have for the most part presented their messages to humanity by speaking or preaching; these outpourings have been recorded by others, sometimes during the Prophet's life, sometimes later, from the memory of His followers. The Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, however, Himself took up pen and paper and wrote down for humanity the revelation He received or dictated His message to believers who served as secretaries. Bahá'u'lláh addressed not only those timeless theological and philosophical questions that have plagued humanity since antiquity--such as Who is God? What is goodness? and Why are we here? But also the questions that have preoccupied 20th century thinkers: What motivates human nature? Is real peace indeed possible? Does God still care for humanity? From His words, the worldwide community of Bahá'u'lláh draws its inspiration, discovers its moral bearing and derives creative energy. Bahá'u'lláh, whose name means "The Glory of God" in Arabic, was born on 12 November 1817 in Tehran. The son of a wealthy government minister, Mirza Buzurg-i-Nuri, His given name was Husayn-`Ali and His family could trace its ancestry back to the great dynasties of Iran's imperial past. Bahá'u'lláh led a princely life as a young man, receiving an education that focused largely on horsemanship, swordsmanship, calligraphy and classic poetry. The Baha'i House of Worship 100 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091 t 847.853.2300 Bahá'u'lláh http://www.bahaullah.com/

About Baha'i Faith
Religion Renewed For A Changing World

The principle of the oneness of humankind is the pivot around which all the teachings of Baha'u'llah revolve. The Baha'i Faith is the youngest of the world's independent monotheistic religions. Founded in Iran in 1844, it now has more than five million adherents in 236 countries and territories. Baha'is come from nearly every national, ethnic and religious background, making the Baha'i Faith the second-most-widespread religion in the world. Baha'is view the world's major religions as a part of a single, progressive process through which God reveals His will to humanity. Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, is recognized as the most recent in a line of Divine Messengers that stretches back beyond recorded time and includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.

The central theme of Baha'u'llah's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for humanity’s unification into one global society. While reaffirming the core ethical principles common to all religions, Baha'u'llah also revealed new laws and teachings to lay the foundations of a global civilization. "A new life," Baha'u'llah declared, "is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth." The worldwide Baha'i community, composed of people from virtually every racial, ethnic and religious background, is working to give practical expression to Baha'u'llah’s vision of world unity. We invite you to learn more about the Baha'i Faith and benefit from the spiritual and practical insights found in the Revelation of Baha'u'llah, God's message for humanity in this day.

The name Bahá'u'lláh is an Arabic word which means "The Glory of God". Another spelling is Baha'u'llah (without diacriticals). Other transliterations of this Name are Bahaullah and Baha Allah. The religion established by Bahá'u'lláh is referred to as the Bahá'i Faith and is sometimes spelled Bahai.

Baha'i Faith Symbols
The symbols of the Bahá'í Faith derive their significance from the Arabic word Bahá’, translated as "glory" or "splendor". It is the root word used in many other names and phrases:

- Bahá'í (a follower of Bahá')
- Bahá'u'lláh (Glory of God)
- `Abdu'l-Bahá (Servant of the Glory)
- Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá (Oh Glory of the Most Glorious)
- Alláhu Abhá (God is Most Glorious)

Bahá'u'lláh often referred to Bahá'ís in his writings as "the people of Bahá’", and in addition, the Báb sent a tablet to Bahá'u'lláh with 360 derivatives of the word Bahá’, fulfilling a Shi'i Muslim tradition that the Promised One would reveal the secret "hundredth name". Along with daily prayers, Bahá'ís are encouraged to recite the phrase "Alláhu Abhá" 95 times in a form of meditation, sometimes using prayer beads.

Nine-Pointed Star
A simple nine-pointed star is generally used by Baha'is as a symbol of their Faith. The number nine has special significance in the Baha'i Revelation. The word "Baha" (Arabic for "Glory") corresponds to the number nine in the Arabic system of numerology, known as the Abjad system. Nine years after the announcement of the Bab in Shiraz, Baha’u’llah received the intimation of His mission in the dungeon in Tehran. Nine, as the highest single-digit number, symbolizes completeness. As the Baha'i Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol, as used, for example, in nine-sided Baha'i Houses of Worship, reflects that sense of fulfillment and completeness.

Ringstone
The purpose of the symbol that appears on Baha'i ringstones and other Baha'i identity jewelry serves as a visual reminder of God's purpose for man, and for Baha'is in particular. The top horizontal bar represents the world of God, the Creator. The middle bar symbolizes the world of His Manifestations, unadorned. The bottom bar represents the world of man. The vertical line joins the three horizontal bars together in the same way that the Divine Messengers of God form the link between the world of God and the world of man. The twin five-pointed stars on either side of the design represent the Bab and Baha'u'llah, the twin Messengers of God for this age. The ringstone symbol was designed by Abdu'l-Baha.

The Greatest Name
Particularly cherished by Baha'is are calligraphic forms of the word Baha known as the Greatest Name, a reference to Baha'u'llah. In this category is the middle symbol above, which is engraved on personal rings and on buildings to establish their Baha'i identity. Another calligraphic form of the Greatest Name, at the right above, is an invocation in Arabic, “Ya Baha’u’l-Abha,” which means, "O Glory of the All Glorious." It is displayed in Baha'i homes and places of Baha'i activity.