BAHÁ'Í FAITH. - A religion developed from the Bábí Faith (v.). Its followers believe that the mysterious "He Whom God shall make manifest," repeatedly mentioned by the Báb, is Mirzà Husein 'Ali Nūrī, known as *Bahá' Ulláh*. He was born in Tehran on 12 Nov. 1817. He was among the first to embrace the Bábí cause and became one of its principal followers. Arrested in Tehran following the attempt on the life of Sháh Násir ad-Dín (1852), after four months he was exiled to Baghdad with his family and a group of believers. After two years of retreat in the desert of Suleimaniijeh (1854-57), by which time divisions were already arising within the Bábí community in Baghdad, Bahá' Ulláh was transferred, at the request of the Persian government, to Constantinople. Shortly before his departure, in a garden near Baghdad (the *Ridván* Garden), Bahá' Ulláh openly declared to some of his followers that he was the awaited divine manifestation. From Constantinople Bahá' Ulláh was again transferred to Adrianople, where he publicly announced his mission, welcomed by the majority of the Bábís. Among these, who from then on called themselves *bahá'ís*, and the minority, led by his half-brother Subh-i Azal, more attached to the literal teachings of the Báb and called *Azalís*, disputes arose which led the Turkish government to exile the Azalís with their leader to Cyprus and Bahá' Ulláh and the Bahá'ís to Acre (*Akká*) in 1868. There Bahá' Ulláh died in 1892, leaving as his successor and interpreter of his teachings, collected in numerous works including the *Kitáb-i-Aqdas* (the "Most Holy Book"), the *Kitáb-i-Íqán* ("Book of Certitude"), the *Kalimát-i-Maknúnih* ("Hidden Words"), etc., his son 'Abbás Effendi, known as 'Abdu'l-Bahá (1844-1921). 'Abdu'l-Bahá traveled extensively in Europe and America, founding Bahá'í communities in those countries as well. At his death, his grandson Shoghi Effendi was designated, not without some controversy, as "Guardian of the Cause."
The doctrine of the Bahá'í Faith is very simple: a Bahá'í publication states, for example, the following principal points: the unity of the human race (we are all leaves of the same tree and fruits of the same branch); independence in the search for truth (nothing should be blindly accepted from the ancients); fundamental unity of all religions (particularistic rites are harmful to religion and cause enmity and fanaticism); the realization of harmony among men as the essential task of religion (if religions cause hatred, better atheism); the harmony of religion with science and reason; social equality (all are equal before God, though the existence of rich and poor is acknowledged); the use of an international auxiliary language; a kind of international tribunal under the protection of God whose decisions would be binding on all individuals and nations; equality between the sexes; the abolition of all exclusivist fanaticism, whether racial, patriotic, or religious; the generalization and dissemination of culture; universal peace. The Bahá'ís have retained the Bábí calendar of nineteen months of nineteen days each, plus some intercalary days. The year begins on 21 March and the last month (2-20 March) is a month of fasting from dawn to sunset. Each Bahá'í community now elects a Spiritual Assembly of nine members (the future so-called *Baytu'l-'Adl* or "House of Justice"). There are about ten religious festivals. Believers are encouraged to hold prayer meetings; there are currently two temples, one in the U.S.S.R. (at Ishqábád) and the other in the United States (Wilmette, Ill.).
The Bahá'í Faith has had considerable diffusion in the West, especially in America, where 'Abdu'l-Bahá traveled extensively, giving lectures and writing to his followers in his characteristic "tablets" (*alwáḥ*). Among the most notable Western Bahá'ís are the American Laura Clifford Barney, who edited the publication of some Bahá'í writings, and the Frenchman H. Dreyfus.