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A view of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah
near Acre, Israel
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The Faith's Founder was Baha'u'llah, a Persian
nobleman from Teheran who, in the mid-nineteenth century, gave
up a princely existence of comfort and security for a life of
persecution and deprivation. Turning His back on the position
at court which these advantages offered Him, Baha'u'llah
became known for His generosity and kindliness which made Him
deeply loved among His countrymen.
Baha'u'llah suffered not only the
loss of all His worldly endowments but was subjected to imprisonment,
torture, and a series of banishments. The first was to Baghdad
where, in 1863, He announced Himself as the Messenger of God for
this age and the Promised One of all ages. From Baghdad, Baha'u'llah
was sent to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to Acre,
in the Holy Land, where He arrived as a prisoner in 1868.
Baha'u'llah claimed to be nothing less than a
new and independent Messenger from God. His life, work and influence
parallel that of Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ,
and Muhammad. Baha'is view Baha'u'llah as the most recent in this
succession of Divine Messengers.
Baha'u'llah considered the realization
of the organic unity of the entire human race as the purpose of
his Revelation. This unity is in accordance with the stage of
maturity of the humankind, and calls for the realization that
all people are created by one Creator and that we all belong to
one household. Baha'u'llah says, "Ye are the
fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." "Close
your eyes to racial differences and welcome all with the light
of oneness." "The well-being of mankind, its peace and
security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly
established." "Blessed is he who mingleth with all men
in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love." Baha'u'llah
passed away at Bahjí, just north of Acre, and is buried
there. His teachings had already begun to spread beyond the confines
of the Middle East, and His Shrine is today the focal point of
the world community which these teachings have brought into being.
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