The article by Pradipa P
he article by Pradipa P. Rasidi is most interesting. As a religion, Baha'i fulfills two requirements: a prophet and a sacred book.
The Baha'i faith was founded in 1844 when a Persian named Mirza Ali Mohammed proclaimed himself 'Bab' (gate in Arabic).
He claimed to have renewed the disrupted communication with the last, 12th imam, Muhammad al-Muntazar, who had disappeared in AD 873. The shahs of Persia ruled in the name of the 'Twelvers' or 'Twelve Imams'.
The Bab was executed in Tabriz in 1850. Before his execution, he had appointed a successor to be called 'Him Whom God Shall Manifest'. This successor, Ezel, and his brother, Baha'u'llah, came into conflict with the Persian authorities and in 1852 they and their followers were banished to Baghdad. From there they were sent to Constantinople.
The brothers were split, due to infighting. Ezel was sent to Cyprus, where he died. Baha'u'llah went to Palestine. He announced that he was the manifestation and gave himself the title 'Glory of God'. He claimed to be a descendent of a son of Abraham and his third wife Keturah (Genesis 25).
The Muslim lunar calendar was replaced with the solar calendar, but they introduced 19 months with 19 days and the added inter-calendar days were celebrated as festivals at Naw Ruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21.
They have no priesthood and do not observe ritual forms of worship. They have spiritual assemblies, usually in private homes.
The religion was introduced in Europe in 1890 and America in 1920. Their temple in Wilmette, Chicago, the US, has the features of a synagogue, a mosque and a cathedral. The Baha'i headquarters are in Haifa, Israel.
Olga Pitcairn
Pennsylvania, the US
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