The Sunday Mail
Flora Teckie
ON November 14, Bahá’ís of Harare joined Bahá’í communities all over the world in celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
Gatherings are held in thousands of localities – in homes, at public facilities, Bahá’í centers, and Bahá’í Houses of Worship.
Bahá’u’lláh – meaning the Glory of God – is regarded by the Bahá’ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God. Bahá’u’lláh was born in 1817.
In 1863 He announced that He was the bearer of a new revelation from God that would bring unity to the peoples of the world. For 40 years thousands of verses, letters and books flowed from His pen. These form the Sacred Scriptures of the Bahá’í Faith.
In His writings, Bahá’u’lláh outlined a framework for development of a global civilisation taking into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life.
The Writings of Bahá’u’lláh offer spiritual guidance as well as directives for personal and social conduct and address the problems confronting humanity today.
“I have never aspired after worldly leadership. My sole purpose hath been to hand down unto men that which I was bidden to deliver by God . . . ” asserts Bahá’u’lláh.
For bringing God’s latest message to humanity, Bahá’u’lláh suffered four decades of imprisonment, torture and exile.
Today, His life and mission are increasingly well-known across the planet and a growing number of people have found in His teachings a vision of a better world.
Throughout His Writings, Bahá’u’lláh called for a complete restructuring of the global social order. His vision of renewal touches on all aspects of life.
The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one, that the diversity of ethnic backgrounds adds to the beauty and perfection of the whole, and that the day has come for the unification of humanity into one global society.
As Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men,” and “the well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established”.
While reaffirming the core ethical principles common to all religions, Bahá’u’lláh also revealed new laws and teachings to lay the foundation of a global civilisation.
The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh include the elimination of all forms of prejudice – whether of race, class, creed, nation or religion; recognition of the essential oneness of the world’s great religions; fundamental equality of men and women; the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth; universal education; a high standard of personal conduct; the harmony between science and religion; and the establishment of a world federal system, based on collective security and the oneness of humanity.
An important concept in the Bahá’í teachings is that refinement of one’s inner character and service to humanity should go hand in hand. For example, Bahá’ís are not only expected to pray and reflect daily in their personal lives, but also to make effort to bring a devotional spirit to their surroundings.
They are not only asked to deepen their own knowledge of the Faith, but to share this knowledge also with others. Bahá’u’lláh regards the ‘love of mankind’ and service to its interests as the worthiest and most laudable objects of human endeavour”.
While sharing a common goal of serving humanity, Bahá’ís try to refine their inner-lives in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
The community to which they belong is one of learning and action, free from any sense of superiority or claim to exclusive understanding of truth.
It is a community that strives to cultivate hope for the future of humanity, to foster purposeful effort, and to celebrate the endeavours of all those in the world who work to promote unity and alleviate human suffering.
“It is with such thoughts in mind that Bahá’ís enter into collaboration, as their resources permit, with an increasing number of movements, organisations, groups and individuals, establishing partnerships that strive to transform society and further the cause of unity, promote human welfare, and contribute to world solidarity”.
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