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Today is Tuesday, September 16, 2025; it is now 11:51 UTC
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November 1: Progressive revelation is a core teaching in the Bahá’í Faith that suggests religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance. Thus, the Bahá’í teachings recognize the divine origin of several world religions, asserting that God is one and His religion is one, while believing that the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is the most recent (though not the last), and therefore the most relevant to modern society. This teaching is an interaction of simpler teachings and their implications. The basic concept relates closely to Bahá’í views on God's essential unity, and the nature of prophets, termed Manifestations of God. It also ties into Bahá’í views of the purpose and nature of religion, laws, belief, culture and history. Hence revelation is seen as progressive and continuous and never ceases.
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"Prayer," says ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world.
(view edit talk links history)
"Prayer," says ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world.
(view edit talk links history)
The Nineteen Day Feasts are regular community gatherings, occurring on the first day of each month of the Bahá’í calendar (and so most often nineteen days apart from each other). The Nineteen Day Feast serves to increase the unity of the community, and spiritually uplift the community members by having a devotional program, where readings and prayers from the Bahá’í holy writings are shared, and a social program where community members can socialize. The third part of a Feast is the administrative portion, which is a critical arena for democratic expression within a Bahá’í Community. Therefore, the administrative portion is limited to Bahá’ís. Bahá’ís from other communities may freely attend, though they may not vote on any recommendations that the community may put forward as recommendations to the Local Spiritual Assembly. Attendance at the Nineteen Day Feast is not obligatory, but is considered and a duty and a privilege for Bahá’ís since it is where they can enter into consultation with the rest of the community.
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A fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that properly appreciated, science and religion will never conflict, as each are complementary ways of explaining truth, which on any issue must necessarily be singular. The teachings state that whenever conflict arises between religion and science it is due to human error; either through misinterpretation of religious scriptures or the lack of a more complete understanding of science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth.
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November 6: Building Momentum was a video that was released during the 2003-2004 year to all Bahá’í communities. It offers an inspirational portrait of Bahá’í communities in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, and Zambia that are enacting transformation by applying the guidance of the Universal House of Justice in their development. The video allowed the Bahá’ís not only to reflect on the progress made so far during the Five Year Plan, but to see an image of themselves as an energetic, worldwide community on the move, with individuals and groups enthused about taking charge of their own spiritual and material development.
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November 7: Family in the Bahá’í Faith is a very important unit, and central to the establishment of peace and security in the world. Bahá’u’lláh states that such peace and security is "unattainable unless and until... unity is firmly established." Acceptance of the interrelatedness and interdependence of all people implies the renewal of every social institution on the planet, including the family. The Bahá’í approach to family unity combines elements of traditional wisdom with progressive principles and practical tools. Adherence to these teachings offers a bulwark against the forces of disintegration and a framework for the creation of strong, healthy, unified families."
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The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Bahá’í Faith. Usually known in the West as a House of Worship, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is a term that means literally, "Dawning-place of the praise of God." Its essential purpose is to provide a community meeting place for all who are seeking to worship God, and achieves this purpose by interposing no man-made veils between the worshiper and the Supreme. Thus, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is freely open to the peoples of all Faiths on equal terms. The Bahá’í Faith has no professional clergy, so the worshiper entering the Temple hears no sermon and takes part in no rituals.
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The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá’ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá’í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá’u’lláh, four by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá’í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
(view edit talk links history)
The Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963) was a plan launched by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, to facilitate an organized expansion of the Faith. Among the goals of the plan were to begin the teaching and consolidation of the Faith, develop the institutions at the World Centre, consolidate open territories, and open the remaining "chief virgin territories" around the globe. The title 'Knight of Bahá’u’lláh' was given to those Bahá’ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade and in 1963 the plan culminated with the first election of the Universal House of Justice.
(view edit talk links history)
"Prayer," says ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world.
(view edit talk links history)
November 12: Progressive revelation is a core teaching in the Bahá’í Faith that suggests religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance. Thus, the Bahá’í teachings recognize the divine origin of several world religions, asserting that God is one and His religion is one, while believing that the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is the most recent (though not the last), and therefore the most relevant to modern society. This teaching is an interaction of simpler teachings and their implications. The basic concept relates closely to Bahá’í views on God's essential unity, and the nature of prophets, termed Manifestations of God. It also ties into Bahá’í views of the purpose and nature of religion, laws, belief, culture and history. Hence revelation is seen as progressive and continuous and never ceases.
(view edit talk links history)
The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Bahá’í Faith. Usually known in the West as a House of Worship, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is a term that means literally, "Dawning-place of the praise of God." Its essential purpose is to provide a community meeting place for all who are seeking to worship God, and achieves this purpose by interposing no man-made veils between the worshiper and the Supreme. Thus, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is freely open to the peoples of all Faiths on equal terms. The Bahá’í Faith has no professional clergy, so the worshiper entering the Temple hears no sermon and takes part in no rituals.
(view edit talk links history)
November 14: The Ministry of the Custodians was described by the Universal House of Justice as a time when "the entire history of religion shows no comparable record of such strict self-discipline, such absolute loyalty, and such complete self-abnegation by the leaders of a religion, finding themselves suddenly deprived of their divinely inspired guide." On November 7, 1957, the Guardian and Head of the Bahá’í Faith, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, died unexpectedly in London. The period following the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the Universal House of justice was known as the Ministry of the Custodians (more...)
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A fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that properly appreciated, science and religion will never conflict, as each are complementary ways of explaining truth, which on any issue must necessarily be singular. The teachings state that whenever conflict arises between religion and science it is due to human error; either through misinterpretation of religious scriptures or the lack of a more complete understanding of science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth.
(view edit talk links history)
November 16: The Regional Bahá’í Council is an element of Bahá’í administration between the local and national levels, established at the discretion of the Universal House of Justice in countries where the condition and size of the Bahá’í community warrant. A means of decentralizing the work of the National Spiritual Assembly, a Regional Council may be formed either by election or by appointment, depending on local requirements and the condition of the Bahá’í community. It provides for a level of autonomous decision making on both teaching and administrative matters. In some countries, State Bahá’í Councils perform these tasks within specified civic jurisdictions.
(view edit talk links history)
The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Bahá’í Faith. Usually known in the West as a House of Worship, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is a term that means literally, "Dawning-place of the praise of God." Its essential purpose is to provide a community meeting place for all who are seeking to worship God, and achieves this purpose by interposing no man-made veils between the worshiper and the Supreme. Thus, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is freely open to the peoples of all Faiths on equal terms. The Bahá’í Faith has no professional clergy, so the worshiper entering the Temple hears no sermon and takes part in no rituals.
(view edit talk links history)
The Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963) was a plan launched by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, to facilitate an organized expansion of the Faith. Among the goals of the plan were to begin the teaching and consolidation of the Faith, develop the institutions at the World Centre, consolidate open territories, and open the remaining "chief virgin territories" around the globe. The title 'Knight of Bahá’u’lláh' was given to those Bahá’ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade and in 1963 the plan culminated with the first election of the Universal House of Justice.
(view edit talk links history)
The Bahá’í Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity transcending all divisions of race, nation, gender, caste, and social class, while celebrating its diversity. Bahá’u’lláh wrote: "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá adds that the "unification of mankind" has now become "the paramount issue and question in the religious and political conditions of the world." For Bahá’ís, the unity of humanity is not a distant prospect, but a present reality. Globalization represents not only the progressively greater manifestation of this principle, but also humankind's progressively greater perception of the bonds which already unite it. The Bahá’í writings affirm the biological, political, and spiritual unity of humankind, while noting that they are not necessarily expected to arise simultaneously.
(view edit talk links history)
The Bahá’í Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity transcending all divisions of race, nation, gender, caste, and social class, while celebrating its diversity. Bahá’u’lláh wrote: "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá adds that the "unification of mankind" has now become "the paramount issue and question in the religious and political conditions of the world." For Bahá’ís, the unity of humanity is not a distant prospect, but a present reality. Globalization represents not only the progressively greater manifestation of this principle, but also humankind's progressively greater perception of the bonds which already unite it. The Bahá’í writings affirm the biological, political, and spiritual unity of humankind, while noting that they are not necessarily expected to arise simultaneously.
(view edit talk links history)
A fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that properly appreciated, science and religion will never conflict, as each are complementary ways of explaining truth, which on any issue must necessarily be singular. The teachings state that whenever conflict arises between religion and science it is due to human error; either through misinterpretation of religious scriptures or the lack of a more complete understanding of science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth.
(view edit talk links history)
The term study circle has become common terminology in the Bahá’í Faith to describe a specific type of gathering for the study of the Bahá’í teachings, with an emphasis on "promoting the well-being of humanity." Study circles are a form of distance learning designed to systematically bring education about spiritual concepts to the grassroots level. Because they are intended to be sustainable and reproducible on a large scale, study circles shy away from formally taught classes, opting instead for participatory methods. They are usually led by a tutor whose role is not to act as an expert but rather to facilitate the rhythm and pace of the study circle. In this way, attendees of study circles are expected to become active participants in their own learning process.
(view edit talk links history)
The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá’ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá’í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá’u’lláh, four by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá’í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
(view edit talk links history)
The Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963) was a plan launched by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, to facilitate an organized expansion of the Faith. Among the goals of the plan were to begin the teaching and consolidation of the Faith, develop the institutions at the World Centre, consolidate open territories, and open the remaining "chief virgin territories" around the globe. The title 'Knight of Bahá’u’lláh' was given to those Bahá’ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade and in 1963 the plan culminated with the first election of the Universal House of Justice.
(view edit talk links history)
November 25: The Regional Bahá’í Council is an element of Bahá’í administration between the local and national levels, established at the discretion of the Universal House of Justice in countries where the condition and size of the Bahá’í community warrant. A means of decentralizing the work of the National Spiritual Assembly, a Regional Council may be formed either by election or by appointment, depending on local requirements and the condition of the Bahá’í community. It provides for a level of autonomous decision making on both teaching and administrative matters. In some countries, State Bahá’í Councils perform these tasks within specified civic jurisdictions.
(view edit talk links history)
November 26: Progressive revelation is a core teaching in the Bahá’í Faith that suggests religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance. Thus, the Bahá’í teachings recognize the divine origin of several world religions, asserting that God is one and His religion is one, while believing that the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is the most recent (though not the last), and therefore the most relevant to modern society. This teaching is an interaction of simpler teachings and their implications. The basic concept relates closely to Bahá’í views on God's essential unity, and the nature of prophets, termed Manifestations of God. It also ties into Bahá’í views of the purpose and nature of religion, laws, belief, culture and history. Hence revelation is seen as progressive and continuous and never ceases.
(view edit talk links history)
A fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that properly appreciated, science and religion will never conflict, as each are complementary ways of explaining truth, which on any issue must necessarily be singular. The teachings state that whenever conflict arises between religion and science it is due to human error; either through misinterpretation of religious scriptures or the lack of a more complete understanding of science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth.
(view edit talk links history)
"Prayer," says ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world.
(view edit talk links history)
A fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that properly appreciated, science and religion will never conflict, as each are complementary ways of explaining truth, which on any issue must necessarily be singular. The teachings state that whenever conflict arises between religion and science it is due to human error; either through misinterpretation of religious scriptures or the lack of a more complete understanding of science. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth.
(view edit talk links history)
The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá’ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá’í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá’u’lláh, four by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. The most complete list of the Hands available is from "The Bahá’í World: Vol XIV". The Universal House of Justice has confirmed that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this station.
(view edit talk links history)
Today's featured article archive
January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December
Today is Tuesday, September 16, 2025; it is now 11:51 UTC
