I've been struggling with a couple of questions and I'd really appreciate hearing how other Bahá'ís understand them.

1. The oneness of humanity

The Faith teaches the oneness and unity of humanity, but when I look at the world, I find it really hard to believe in that ideal. There are people who commit horrific acts, exploit others, spread hatred, and seem to have no remorse. Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Why should I want unity with people like that?"

I know unity doesn't mean approving of injustice but I still struggle with the idea that humanity as a whole can ever truly unite. Humans seem deeply flawed, and history is full of violence, prejudice, wars and conflict.

The Most Great Peace seems impossible when you look at the human history. I mean just observe the world right now, it is still full of violence, wars, and many bad people exist in society.

How do you reconcile the Bahá'í teachings on the oneness of humanity with the reality of human cruelty and selfishness? Are there writings from Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, or Shoghi Effendi that helped you understand this better?

1. Why does God send us trials?

Another question I wrestle with is about suffering and tests.

In the Hidden Words, Bahá'u'lláh says things like we should seek trials from God and be patient in His tests. I don't fully understand why. If God loves us, why would He send us trouble in the first place?

This is especially difficult for me because my life has already had its share of hardship. Sometimes it feels like I'm already struggling, and then I read passages about God sending more tests or trials, and I don't know how to reconcile that with His love and mercy.

How do you understand these passages? Are trials something God actively sends, or are they simply part of living in this world? How have you made sense of this teaching in your own life?

I'm asking these questions sincerely. I'm not trying to argue against the Faith or provoke anyone. I genuinely want to understand how other Bahá'ís think about these issues and whether there are writings that helped them.

I'd be interested in hearing peoples story of leaving and then coming back to the faith. I was really interested and joined the Bahai faith after a year of reading the writings, and then had a bit of a crisis of faith, now thinking some things through, I think I'm headed in the direction of coming back into the faith again, would love to hear your story if you've had a similar experience!

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to connect with someone who is a Bahá'í and would be willing to chat with me privately. I'd love to learn more about the Bahá'í Faith, ask a few questions, and have an open and respectful conversation.

If you're a Bahá'í and don't mind talking through private messages, please feel free to reach out. I'd really appreciate your time and kindness.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Hello Bahai community!
I want to state that I've mostly been non-religious my whole life. My family is a mixture of Christian and Muslim religion.
But they never forced me into any religious studies and I've just sorta been atheist for a while.
I've studied religions such as Islam and Christianity and I never felt a connection with it.

I came across Bahai faith from my past relationship.
And it truly intrigued me.
I am at a time in my life where I truly need a connection with God. And I would really appreciate any information about the Bahai faith.

How does it work?
How can I educate myself more on the religion?
Just general topics to get me started you know?

I appreciate you for reading and I thank you for any advice on how I can get started on this journey!

When is the celebration of their births? The official website has them on 10 November 2026 and 11 November 2026. Historically however, the dates are Oct. 20th and Oct. 21st? Is there a reason why they change? When is the actual celebration?

https://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=5#n2075

"2075. Women Are Destined to Attain to the Very Highest Station of the World of Humanity--Bahá'u'lláh Has Willed It So!

"In this Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, the women go neck and neck with the men. In no movement will they be left behind. Their rights with men are equal in degree. They will enter all the administrative branches of politics. They will attain in all such a degree as will be considered the very highest station of the world of humanity and will take part in all affairs. Rest ye assured. Do ye not look upon the present condition; in the not far distant future the world of women will become all-refulgent and all-glorious. For His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh Hath Willed It so! At the time of elections the right to vote is the inalienable right of women, and the entrance of women into all human departments is an irrefutable and incontrovertible question. No soul can retard or prevent it.

"But there are certain matters, the participation in which is not worthy of women. For example, at the

Ignoring my strong feeling that "houses of worship" can include neighborhood centers also, I will be traveling to Europe just over a month from now. It will be my first trip to Europe since my declaration, so I would like to visit the European one also (have already been to Wilmette) (privately I call all of these special buildings "cathedrals").

Q: Starting from a different point in Europe, what is the most economical way to "tag" it (i.e., spend 1 day there), and run back to linguistic safety (I know about a mm of Duolingo German, and nothing about their public transit or current culture).

I know about https://hausderandacht.de/besuch-planen-cloned/

Allah u abha und Danke

I had a dream this morning of a voice saying "The Most Great Fire will come" and a large ship carrying roadblocks from Persia. I also remember seeing Donald Trump towards the end.

When I woke up I looked up the term "the Most Great Fire" and it apparently appears in the writings of the Báb and in an exposition by Shoghi Effendi:

"[The Báb] directs the "people of the West" to "issue forth from your cities and aid the Cause of God;" warns the peoples of the earth of the "terrible, the most grievous vengeance of God;" threatens the whole Islamic world with "the Most Great Fire" were they to turn aside from the newly-revealed Law." Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, Ch. II

"O people of the Qur'án! Ye are as nothing unless ye submit unto the Remembrance of God and unto this Book. If ye follow the Cause of God, We will forgive you your sins, and if ye turn aside from Our command, We will, in truth, condemn your souls in Our Book, unto the Most Great Fire. We, verily, do not deal unjustly with men, even to the extent of a speck on a date stone." The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, Ch. LXII

A few months ago I had a similar dream about Lebanon, where I saw a gathering of small children and a voice said in a form of Arabic prose (rough paraphrase) 'Burning they will be thrown in the fire'. I was troubled and confused when I woke up, but the news broke later that same day that a village in Southern Lebanon (I have since forgotten its name) had been suddenly bombed by the state of Israel. This was the first in a long line of bombings in Lebanon.

Since the U.S. has already been in war with Iran for nearly two weeks, I believe God is warning that the war in Iran will soon escalate into a nuclear war.

Other elements of the dream lead me to believe that this will take place in February 2027. If the nuclear bomb was to be named by God ahead of time, I can't think of a title more appropriate than "the Most Great Fire". Again, this is based on my experiences and not authoritative in any sense.

This shouldn't be interpreted as me saying that those in the involved countries deserve any of what is currently happening. I believe we should all strive for peace and unity. I'm only sharing my personal beliefs about what will happen.

Salutations, everyone. I want to know how Baha'i faith handles the Quranic and hadith material on the finality of prophethood. I want to actually work through it with people here, not get redirected to Baha'u'llah's writings and left there.

I already know the standard responses — the cyclical/dispensational reading of "seal of the prophets" and the Kitab-i-Iqan's argument that all Manifestations are expressions of one Reality so "first" and "last" aren't fixed points. Please don't just repeat these at me.

What I'm actually stuck on:

1. Quran 33∶40 — khatam al-nabiyyin.

How is this verse get interpreted by Baha'i Faith? What's the strongest linguistic case, from Arabic usage itself rather than from Baha'u'llah's own authority, that khatam doesn't mean strict finality?

1. Quran 5∶3 — "This day I have perfected your religion for you." Nearly the entire classical tafsir tradition reads this as marking the completion of the religion/law. Is there a real Quran-internal counterargument?

2. The hadith side. Various ahadith stating that Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet. The famous "final brick" hadith and the "no prophet after me" hadith tied to the Aaron/Manzilah narrative are about as strongly attested as hadith get — agreed upon by both Bukhari and Muslim, multiple independent companions. I do want to understand how we're actually supposed to hold this material.

If your honest answer really is "read the Iqan," please tell me which specific passage addresses this and why, rather than just naming the book.

Thanks for engaging seriously!

Hi everyone,
I’m a youth Bahá’í who will be pioneering to another country, so I’ve recently stepped back from many of my responsibilities.

Over the years, I’ve dedicated a huge part of my life to serving my community. Some of my roles have been quite time-consuming, including serving in cluster-level institutions, serving as the chair of a Local Spiritual Assembly, representing the Bahá’í community in an interreligious forum, tutoring Ruhi courses, organizing service projects, and taking on many other responsibilities. Since becoming a Bahá’í, I honestly feel like I’ve poured almost all of my free time into service.

Over the past few weeks, I unexpectedly became part of a group of friends, and we’ve been spending time together almost every day. It made me realize that I may have missed out on many experiences outside of my faith community—friendships, spontaneous evenings, and simply being a young person with a group of friends.

I’m not questioning my faith, and I’m not unhappy with the choices I’ve made. I’m simply reflecting on the opportunity cost, especially now that I’m about to move to another country to pioneer. These thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? How did you reconcile dedicating so much of your life to your faith and service while also wanting a fuller social life outside of that circle?

So I’m going through a difficult situation in my life and I was talking to a Bahai friend and I said, maybe if God sees that I’ve been a good person and I continue doing the right thing and being patient, this situation with naturally resolve. But we got to talking and he was saying that God doesn’t work like that. I can understand how difficulties can make you grow and learn but what I don’t understand is, then what’s the point of praying to God to ease your hardships? If hardships are sent on purpose because he loves us and wants us to grow? If we don’t have hardships, are we not loved or growing? I know you can’t just pray for a better outcome and get it, because I’m sure millions of people pray for a better life but they don’t get that, so should we not hope or pray for better?

I currently am not sure about my personal belief. I feel spiritually homeless and have been thinking of Baha'i. Why would you recommend Baha'i?

There are probably many posts about this but what are the daily obligations as a Baha’i? I’ve heard someone say the Tablet of Ahmad should be said daily but others saying not. So what are all the obligations??

Hi all, I am a 17 yo who is very interested in religion. I have studied the big four religions relatively closely (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism) but have never stumbled across the Bahá’í faith until recently. I am very fascinated by it because I have identified as an omnist in the past, I ascribed to multiple parts of different faiths. I have a lottttt to learn about this faith but I feel tempted to identify as a Bahá’í, it feels right for me. So far I’ve started reading the Kitáb-i-Íqán and have read The Hidden Words. I am hesitant to read into more about this faith for myself because I am a transgender man and am not fully sure on where the faith stands. I read somewhere that transgender people can be eligible for a Bahá’í marriage after sex assignment surgery. Is this true?
I also am wanting some direction in terms of what else to explore within the faith. There’s obviously a lot to it, there is a daunting amount of scripture which is a bit intimidating. There is a local Bahá’í group that I would like to participate in, but I want to learn more individually first. Where next?
P.S: Do Bahá’í people tend to study scripture outside of the faith, such as the Quran or Torah?

I’m sorry if any of this came off as disrespectful, thank you!

It's been so long since I've talked to one of my countrymen with the same faith

I’m doing a year of service in Haifa. I’m very excited, but still a little nervous. Could anyone let me know what to expect or any information I should know prior?

I don’t know if this is the right place to ask, but I greatly appreciate any feedback.

I have a question that has fascinated me for many years, but first a little context.

Before becoming a Bahá'í in 1986, I considered myself a spiritual agnostic. One of the writers who most influenced me was William Blake. My favorite lines were always：

To see a World in a Grain of Sand,
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.

Even before I encountered the Bahá'í Faith, I was drawn to the idea that the infinite can somehow be reflected in the smallest things—that the microcosm can reveal the macrocosm.

The moment I encountered Bahá'u'lláh's writings, something profound happened. I was lying in bed reading a Tablet that begins, "All glory be to this Day, a Day so blest that ages past can never hope to rival it." As I read it from beginning to end, I had a deeply mystical experience that convinced me, in an instant, that Bahá'u'lláh was who He claimed to be. I've never forgotten that night.

Later, The Seven Valleys became one of my favorite works, especially its rich Sufi imagery. One passage in the Valley of Knowledge has stayed with me ever since:

"Split the atom's heart, and lo! within it thou wilt find a sun."

I've often wondered what Bahá'u'lláh intended by this metaphor.

Was He simply expressing the mystical idea that the infinite is reflected in the infinitesimal, much like Blake's "world in a grain of sand"? Is it connected to the Sufi notion that every created thing contains signs of the Divine?

Or might there be additional layers of meaning? It's hard not to think of modern discoveries—nuclear fission, the immense energy hidden within the atom, the furnaces of stars and supernovas that forged the elements from which we ourselves are made. Of course, I don't want to read modern science back into a 19th-century text. But the imagery is remarkably evocative.

I'm less interested in proving that Bahá'u'lláh was anticipating nuclear physics than in understanding the spiritual symbolism of this passage.

Does anyone know whether Bahá'u'lláh elaborates on this image elsewhere in the Writings? I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if there are related passages that explore this theme of the infinite revealed within the seemingly smallest realities.

Hello, Alláh-u-Abhá.

I need to vent about how I currently feel regarding being a Bahá’í and an active member of the community. I'm simply tired and bored of Bahá’í life. What should be a spiritual refuge increasingly feels like another profession or academic field.

Everything in the Bahá’í Faith seems to revolve around study activities: study this material, study that letter, study another Ruhi book—always following the same formula of reading and discussing. Honestly, I'd rather be doing something else than constantly participating in reading and study sessions. To make matters worse, I'm a member of a Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA), I'm involved with the ISGP, and I've also served on a Regional Council. At times, it honestly feels like we're managing a company rather than serving a religious community.

Sometimes I just wish I could go to a church, listen to a priest or pastor, go back home, and simply live my life. But Bahá’í service seems to be almost entirely centered on expansion and consolidation through the Ruhi study cycles, and I just can't take it anymore. I've lost count of how many times I've studied the Nine Year Plan, and I feel like the Bahá’í Faith is consuming my life. It's not enough that I spend the entire week working and studying; then the weekends come, and there are even more study sessions and training materials.

Now I also feel trapped by my responsibilities in the LSA and the ISGP. It feels like there's no way out because, due to my "reputation" in the community, I'll probably always be elected or invited to serve in these institutions.

I was born into a Bahá’í family, so I'm deeply connected to its history and teachings. But today, it all feels much more like a movement focused on study and training than like a religion in the spiritual sense.

As a Baha'i of 47 years, I am well aware that in primaries where you have to declare yourself as belonging to a party in order to vote, we can't participate. However, I'm in a location where all 3 primaries are on one sheet, and I can choose the candidates I want, but only within a certain party.

So I'm not declaring myself as belonging to a given party in any statement, but once I choose a candidate in one party, all the rest of my votes need to be within the same party.

Is this permitted as a Bahá'í?

I've lived in other states where I would have had to declare myself as a member of a party in order to vote in the primary, but this seems different to me.

Where or in what Baha’u’llah Writings the Institution of guardianship originate from?

In the Most Holy Book, there are references made to House of Justice and Aghsans, but no references are made to Guardianship. It seems to me that this was devised by Abdul’Baha as a temporary buffer to fill in the gap for leadership and prevent schism after His passing.

According to Rúhíyyih Khánum in Priceless Pearl, Shoghi Effendi, himself, also was not aware of the Institution of Guardianship when Abdul’Baha ascended and appointed him as the Guardian.

My own view is that all of this was divinely ordained, both the creation of this institution in Will and Testament of Abdul’Baha and the subsequent passing of the only Guardian and initiation of Universal House of Justice without a Guardian as its head.

I was always interested in the reason behind the regiment of soldiers that were charged with executing the Bab. 750 seems like and extreme overkill. In the US army it is a platoon with one man firing a blank. There are 3 reasons I found:

Persia did not normally execute people with a regiment of soldiers. The gran vizier wanted shock and awe, to send a message to the Babis and the Persian populace in general.

There were a lot of Babis in the area and Tabriz was near the Kurdish part of Iran and the prime minister was afraid of uprisings by the local population

Because the Bab was a siyyid 750 soldiers would be absolved of guilt because no one would know who fired the fatal shot

After the first attempt failed. The ropes were severed and neither the Bab or Anis had a scratch on them. The Christian regiment refused to participate in the execution. I believe the Christian regiment was chosen first because a Muslim regiment would not want to kill a descendant of the prophet.

The second time a Muslim regiment executed the Bab. It is interesting to note that within a few years none of the soldiers remained alive. 250 were executed by firing squad for mutiny. The other 500 were resting under a wall to escape the noon day sun and the wall collapsed killing all. The commander of the regiment died by cannon blast in a conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Aside from his antipathy toward the Babis, the Grand Vizier was a pretty good statesman and instituted many reforms in Persia. There is even a statue of him in Iran. He also was also executed by the order of the shah.

After the martyrdom of the Bab there was a tremendous dust storm that darkened the sky from the time of the martyrdom until sunset.

Hello.

I have some questions I wanted to ask.

Bahaullah said: “Among the Prophets was Noah. For nine hundred and fifty years He prayerfully exhorted His people and summoned them to the haven of security and peace. None, however, heeded His call. Each day they inflicted on His blessed person such pain and suffering that no one believed He could survive. How frequently they denied Him, how malevolently they hinted their suspicion against Him! Thus it hath been revealed: “And as often as a company of His people passed by Him, they derided Him. To them He said: ‘Though ye scoff at us now, we will scoff at you hereafter even as ye scoff at us. In the end ye shall know.’” Long afterward, He several times promised victory to His companions and fixed the hour thereof. But when the hour struck, the divine promise was not fulfilled. This caused a few among the small number of His followers to turn away from Him, and to this testify the records of the best-known books.” (The Kitáb-i-Íqán) 

www.bahai.org/r/968834317

I have some questions regarding the last 3 sentences: Doesn’t this contradict the belief that Prophets are infallible?

Which best-known books does Bahaullah mean?

Hey guys, I'm exploring the Baha'i faith and I was considering converting but I've come across a bit of a problem.

I used to think Baha'u'llah was unaware to his being a prophet until his vision in that dungeon, but apparently that's wrong.
I saw an interview with Adib Taherzadeh (who was in the Universal House of Justice) where he said that this is a misconception.
That apparently Abdu'l-Baha said in ''Some Answered Questions'' that manifestations of God inherently know their prophethood from birth.
And that they are all-knowing, that they inherently possess all knowledge there is to know and know everything that will happen in the future.
But if manifestations of God are all-knowing, then why did Baha'u'llah have to ask God to put a book (like the Bible) in front of him if he wanted to know something?
If he was all-knowing then he already knew everything said in that book.
So there seems to be a contradiction here.
And didn't the Bab and Baha'u'llah have some correspondence through letters?
Why do that if you're both all-knowing and already know what the other party is going to answer to your letter?

Baha'u'llah also says in one of his books that ''copper turns to gold if left in it's original mine for 70-120 years''
With the knowledge of modern science this is scientifically incorrect.
Shoghi Effendi (who is infallible) has said that Baha'is are not allowed to interpret this metaphorically, that they have to interpret this literally.
And the reason that he gave is because manifestations of God are all-knowing, and can therefore not make a mistake like that.
So he argues that modern science is wrong, and that one day we will discover that Baha'u'llah was correct.
But here he does clearly state his belief that manifestations of God are all-knowing, that they know everything there is to know.
So this creates the problem as to why Baha'u'llah then said if he wants to know something, God will lay out a book infront of him that contains that information.
Because Shoghi Effendi (and possibly also Abdu'l-Baha) seems to contradict this and says manifestations of God are inherently all-knowing.
NOTE: I am not 100% sure if Shoghi Effendi really said that Baha'i have to interpret the ''copper turns to gold if left in it's original mine for 70-120 years'' statement literally.
Maybe he said it can be interpreted purely metaphorically, maybe he said it also has to be interpreted literally.
I am not 100% sure, please do your own research on this topic and don't take my word for it.

I hope someone here can help me with this issue because right now this seems to be a big contradiction in Baha'i teachings

Edit: ok so I am not entirely sure if Abdu'l-Baha has ever said that manifestations of God are inherently all-knowing without having to ask God for information.
According to Adib Taherzadeh he did say that they know from birth that they are prophets, but I'm not entirely sure if he also said all manifestations of God are inherently all-knowing and know all information there is to know and know all future events.
Can anyone who knows more about this maybe clarify this?

Edit 2: I watched a part of the interview again and Adib Taherzadeh really does seem to say that manifestations of God have the ''knowledge of all things'' when they are born.
Suggesting that they are truly all-knowing.
This seems to be a contradiction with other things said in the faith.

From my understanding Bahá'ís aren't allowed to be in any government position that legislates the law or requires partisan identification, so of course any Federal positions of government, as well as the main positions of the State government (i.e Governors, Mayors, and State Congress). But that we are allowed to hold positions which only provide executive function of the law of the land. I believe that would then qualify smaller positions like District Supervisors, City Council, and smaller local Councils; but besides that what other positions of government would we be allowed to fill?

“Whenever the faithful hear the verses of this Book being recited, their eyes will overflow with tears and their hearts will be deeply touched by Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance for the love they cherish for God, the All-Praised. He is God, the All-Knowing, the Eternal. They are indeed the inmates of the all-highest Paradise wherein they will abide for ever. Verily they will see naught therein save that which hath proceeded from God, nothing that will lie beyond the compass of their understanding. There they will meet the believers in Paradise, who will address them with the words ‘Peace, Peace‘ lingering on their lips…

O concourse of the faithful! Incline your ears to My Voice, proclaimed by this Remembrance of God. Verily God hath revealed unto Me that the Path of the Remembrance which is set forth by Me is, in very truth, the straight Path of God, and that whoever professeth any religion other than this upright Faith, will, when called to account on the Day of Judgement, discover that as recorded in the Book no benefit hath he reaped out of God’s Religion…

Fear ye God, O Concourse of Kings, lest ye remain afar from Him Who is His Remembrance [the Bab], after the Truth hath come unto you with a Book and signs from God, as spoken through the wondrous tongue of Him Who is His Remembrance. Seek ye grace from God, for God hath ordained for you, after you have believed in Him, a Garden the vastness of which is as the vastness of the whole of Paradise. Therein ye shall find naught save the gifts and favours which the Almighty hath graciously bestowed by virtue of this momentous Cause, as decreed in the Mother Book.” Chapter LXIII

Excerpts From the Qayyumu’L-Asma’

Selections From the Writings of the Bab