Bahá’í - tell me more
Facts and information
Creating world peace and harmony is the most important thing for people who follow the Bahá’í faith.
These are some of the main things Bahá’ís believe:
- There is only one god.
- All people should be united together.
- There should be harmony between science and religion.
- Men and women should have equal opportunities.
- There should be no prejudice, which means no person should be treated badly because they are different.
- Everyone should have the right to education.
- There shouldn’t be people who are really poor or really rich.
- There should be a world government.
Part of what Bahá’ís believe is that Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Jesus and Muhammad are all messengers of God. They believe the messengers promised another great messenger would come, and he would bring peace to the world. Bahá’ís believe that messenger was Bahá’u’lláh, who began the faith Bahá’í.
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Their understanding of god
Bahá’ís believe there is one God, who is unknowable and infinite.
They believe there has only ever been one religion and one God, even though people have called Him by different names.
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How it began
The Bahá’í faith began in 1844 in Persia (Persia is called Iran now), with a man called Siyyid Ali-Muhammad, or The Báb.
The Báb was related to the Prophet Muhammad (who is important to the Islam faith). The Báb believed God had chosen him as his messenger. He and 18 other disciples told people about a Greater One, who was coming to bring world peace.
In 1863 Bahá’u’lláh was visited by one of God’s angels. Bahá’u’lláh was told he was the Greater One the Báb had prepared people for. Bahá’u’lláh spent the rest of his life writing God’s messages (now the Bahá’í holy book) and teaching people about the faith. He died in Akka in 1892.
After Bahá’u’lláh died his son, Abdu’l-Bahá, and grandson, Shoghi Effendi, were given authority to explain Bahá’u’lláh's teachings.
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About worship
The Bahá’í Faith has no set worship services or priests.Most Bahá’í meetings take place in people’s homes or Bahá’í centres.
Bahá’ís have to say 1 of 3 daily prayers. They are called ‘obligatory prayers’.
Bahá’ís believe prayer is a conversation with God and is food for the human soul.
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How many people believe in this faith?
There are approximately six million Bahá’ís in 235 countries. Of these, 6,000 Bahá’í live in the UK, including Tower Hamlets.
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| Diet
Bahá’ís are allowed to eat any food. But they are not allowed to drink alcohol or take mind-altering drugs.
Bahá’ís fast during the Bahá’í month of ‘Alá (this is between the 2nd and 21st of March). In this time Bahá’ís are not allowed to have food or drink from sunrise to sunset.
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