bah a if a it hap english

8/4/2019 Bah a if a It Hap English

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The Bah Faith


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The Bah Faith is a world religion whosepurpose is to unite all the races and peoplesin one universal Cause and one commonFaith.

Bahs are followers of Bahaullah, Whothey believe is the Promised One of all Ages.

That which the Lord hath ordained asthe sovereign remedy and mightiest

instrument for the healing of all the worldis the union of all its peoples in one

universal Cause, one common Faith.

AllPeop

les One Common Faith


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Bahaullah teaches us that God is unknowablein His Essence. This means that we should notmake images of God in our mind, thinking ofHim, for example, as a man.

In general, that which has been created cannotunderstand its creator.

God is the Creator of all things and the reason

behind our creation is love. Baha'u'llah teachesus that God loved us, and we were created fromthis love.

God, the unknowable Creator


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O SON OF MAN!I loved thy creation, hence I created thee.Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may namethy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.


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The EternalCovenant

The way this love flows to us is

through His Eternal Covenant.

God never leaves us alone andwithout Guidance; when humanitymoves away from God and forgetsHis Teachings, a Manifestation of

God appears and makes GodsWill and Purpose known to us.


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Manifestation ofGodThe Manifestations of God revealthe Word and Will of God and tolisten to Them is to respond to theCall of God.

The Manifestations of God are likeperfect Mirrors that reflect theLight of God in all its Splendor.And all these Mirrors reflect thesame Light.

While God is beyond our reach,these perfect Beings come to usfrom time to time, live among us,give us guidance, and fill us withthe energy we need to progress,materially and spiritually.


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Bahaullah says:

This is the Day in which God's most excellent favors havebeen poured out upon men, the Day in which His mostmighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It isincumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile theirdifferences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneaththe shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness.

The Plight of Humanity

The Promise of this Day


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Although we differ from one another

physically and emotionally, and have

different talents and capacities, we all

spring from the same root; we allbelong to the same human family.

When a feeling of hatred begins to take

shape in our hearts, we shouldimmediately replace it with a feeling of

love.

The Aim of the Bahai Faith is to Unify Humanity


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Although the oneness of humanity is

an undeniable truth, the peoples of

the world are so far from it that

unifying them is no easy task.

When someone joins the Bahai

Community they participate with

the rest of us in our efforts to build

and maintain unity.

o many passages in the Bahai Writings teach us how to walk

in the ways of unity and how to help others take the same path.

The Oneness of Humanity


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Bahullh, Manifestation ofGody Bahullh was born in 1817 in Tihran, the capital of Iran.

y From His early childhood, He showed signs of greatness.

y He received some instruction at home, but He did not attend school, for Hewas endowed with innate knowledge from God.


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The Life of Bahull

h

Baha ll ah came fr ma le family; he e as a y man e asffere ahi h siti n in the c rt f t he King, t ref se it - e icatingis time insteadt hel ingthe ressed, the sickandthe randt

champi ningthe cau se f justice.


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Bahull

h His Suffering & Influence

Bahaullahs sufferings began the moment He arose to proclaim the Cause

of God He lived a life of exile, imprisonment and persecution; He was put

in chains in a dark and dismal dungeon in Tihran.


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He was exiled four times from land to land until finally being

sent to the Prison City of Akka in the Ottomon Empire. Nothing

could be done to stop Bahaullahs growing influence.

His Exile and Imprisonment


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Remember My days during thy days, and My distress andRemember My days during thy days, and My distress andbanishment in this remote prison. And be thou so steadfastbanishment in this remote prison. And be thou so steadfastin My love that thy heart shall not waver, even if the swordsin My love that thy heart shall not waver, even if the swordsof the enemies rain blows upon thee and all the heavens andof the enemies rain blows upon thee and all the heavens andthe earth arise against thee.the earth arise against thee.

The MostGreat Prison


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The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be boundThe Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound

with chains that mankind may be released from itswith chains that mankind may be released from itsbondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisonerbondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisonerwithin this most mighty Stronghold that the wholewithin this most mighty Stronghold that the wholeworld may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained toworld may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained toits dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of theits dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of theearth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled withearth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with

gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, thegladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, theCompassionate, the Most Merciful. We haveCompassionate, the Most Merciful. We haveaccepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity ofaccepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of

God, that ye may be exalted, and have sufferedGod, that ye may be exalted, and have sufferedmanifold afflictions, that ye might prosper andmanifold afflictions, that ye might prosper andflourish. He Who hath come to build anew the wholeflourish. He Who hath come to build anew the wholeworld, behold, how they that have joined partners withworld, behold, how they that have joined partners withGod have forced Him to dwell within the mostGod have forced Him to dwell within the mostdesolate of cities!desolate of cities!


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The Light of TruthEvery effort was made by two powerful courts,those of the ing of Iran and the OttomanEmperor, to oppose Bahaullah and HisTeachings but the light of Truth is not easilyextinguished.

In spite of constant persecution,Bahaullah continued to reveal the Word ofGod for more than 40 years.


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The Bab, Herald of the Bahai Faith

All of the Manifestations of God have given Their Lives for the

salvation of humanity.


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Thousands upon thousands of people accepted the Message of the Bb and

began to follow His Teachings. But the government of Iran and the powerful

clergy who ruled over the masses rose against Him.

His Suffering & Influence


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Two Prayers of the Bab:

His followers were persecuted

and large numbers were put to

death.

The Bab Himself at the age of 31

was martyred by a regiment ofsoldiers who, at the orders of the

government, suspended Him in a

public square and opened fire on

Him.

Say: God sufficeth all things above allthings, and nothing in the heavens or inthe earth but God sufficeth. Verily, Heis in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer,the Omnipotent.

Is there any Remover ofdifficulties save God? Say:Praised be God! He is God!All are His servants, and allabide by His bidding!

Martyrdom of the Bb


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SpiritualandAdministrative World Center


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Abdul-Bah, Center of the Covenant

The idea most central to our livesas Bahais is that we have enteredinto a Covenant with Bahaullah.

In all other religions, after thepassing of the Manifestation, Hisfollowers had thousands ofdisputes among themselves and, asa result, split the religion into manysects.

Bahaullah has protected HisFaith against such division byendowing it with a unique power,the power of the Covenant.


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He had been raised by BahaullahHimself, had recognized His

Station even as a child, and had

shared the sufferings of His Father.

Abdul-Bah lived on this earthfor

77 years. He was born on the same

night the Bab declared His Mission

in 1844 and passed away in

November 1921.

Before His passing He stated in the clearest terms, in

His written Will, that after Him, all Bahais should

turn to Abdul-Baha.

Sole Interpreter & Perfect Exemplar


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After the passing of His Father, the

responsibility for the Bahai community

fell on His shoulders, and He labored day

and night to spread the Faith throughout

the East and the West.

Abdul-Baha reminds us of our

Covenant with Bahaullah and

we will not allow the unity of His

followers to be broken.

United as a worldwide

community we will labor until

the oneness of humankind has

been firmly established.

AUnified Wor

ld Community


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Shoghi Effendi, theG

uardianIn His Will and Testament,

Abdul-Baha named His

grandson the Guardian of

the Faith and after Hispassing, Shoghi Effendi

became the authorized

interpreter of the Teachings.

For 36 years, he continued the work of His

Grandfather, clarifying the Words of the

Manifestation and firmly establishing His Faith.


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The Universal

House of Justice

The Bahais of the world elected the Universal House of Justice, asenvisioned by Bahaullah and clearly described by Abdul-Baha andthe Guardian.

The Universal House of Justice is the supreme institution of the Faithto which all the Bahais of the world now turn.


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the lamps of My loving providencethe lamps of My loving providenceamong My servants, and the keys ofamong My servants, and the keys ofMy mercy for My creatures.My mercy for My creatures.

Observe My commandments, for theObserve My commandments, for thelove of My beauty.love of My beauty.

The Manifestations ofGodBring Laws to Humanity


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Prayer SpiritualSustenance

I bear witness, O myI bear witness, O myGod, that Thou hast createdGod, that Thou hast created

me to know Thee and tome to know Thee and toworship Thee.worship Thee.I testify, at this moment,I testify, at this moment,

to my powerlessness and toto my powerlessness and toThy might, to my poverty andThy might, to my poverty and

to Thy wealth. There is noneto Thy wealth. There is noneother God but Thee, the Helpother God but Thee, the Helpin Peril, the Selfin Peril, the Self--Subsisting.Subsisting.


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O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!

Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself,Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself,

neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest notneither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest nothear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of othershear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of othersthat thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not thethat thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not theabasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be notabasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be notexposed.exposed.

Live then the days of thy life, that are less than aLive then the days of thy life, that are less than afleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied,fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied,thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free andthy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free andcontent, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repaircontent, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repairunto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom forunto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom forevermore.evermore.

Backbiting Forbidden


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The first duty of the beloved of God and the maidThe first duty of the beloved of God and the maid--servants ofservants ofthe Merciful is this: They must strive by all possible means tothe Merciful is this: They must strive by all possible means toeducate both sexes, male and female; girls like boys; there is noeducate both sexes, male and female; girls like boys; there is nodifference whatsoever between them. The ignorance of both isdifference whatsoever between them. The ignorance of both isblameworthy, and negligence in both cases is reprovable. Areblameworthy, and negligence in both cases is reprovable. Arethey who know and they who do not know equal?they who know and they who do not know equal?

Education ofAllChildren


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Building a World Civilization

IndividualIndividual

CommunityCommunity

InstitutionsInstitutions

First Participant Individual

It is the duty of an individual Bahai to remain firm in the

Covenant, to strive daily to bring his or her life in line withBahaullahs Teachings, and to serve humanity, always

conscious of the fact that life does not end with death and

that ones relation with God is eternal.

After death, our souls become free and continue to progress

towards God for all eternity.


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Human beings were not created toexist alone. We live in communitiesand must work together to build thenew civilization.

The community closest to us is thelocal one which consists of theBahais of our village or town.

It is in the local community where welearn to cooperate with one another,to grow together and become united.

Second Participant Community


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Bahaullah has brought His ownAdministrative Order, whichmeans that He has told us whatinstitutions we must create, howthey should function, and howhumanity should be governed.

There are no priests or clergy inthe Bahai Faith, and it is theLocal Spiritual Assembly thatguides the affairs of the local

community.

A Local Spiritual Assemblyconsists of nine members electedin a prayerful atmosphere bysecret ballot by all the adultbelievers in the community.

Third Participant Institutions


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O God! Refresh and Gladden my spirit. Purify myO God! Refresh and Gladden my spirit. Purify myheart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.

Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longerThou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longerbe sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being.be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being.

O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will IO God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will Ilet trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasantlet trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasantthings of life.things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am toO God! Thou art more friend to me than I am tomyself. I dedicate myself to Thee O Lord.myself. I dedicate myself to Thee O Lord.

Closing Prayer

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