Part of the series Bahá'í Faith

Central figures

Bahá'u'lláh The Báb · Abdu'l-Bahá ... Image File history File links Generic Bahai star File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Shrine of Baháulláh Mírzá Husayn-Alí (Persian: میرزا حسینعلی) (b: 1817 - d: 1892), who later took the title of Baháulláh (بهاءالله The Glory of God in Arabic) was the founder-prophet of the Baháí Faith. ... Shrine of the Báb at night from above in Haifa, Israel Siyyid Mírzá Alí-Muhammad (میرزا علی‌محمد in Persian) (October 20, 1819 - July 9, 1850), was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia, who at the age of 25, claimed to be a new and independent Manifestation of God, and the promised... `Abdul-Bahá Sir `Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas Effendi (May 23, 1844 - November 28, 1921) commonly known as `Abdu’l-Bahá, was the son of Baháulláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baháí Faith. ...

Selected scripture

Kitáb-i-Aqdas · Kitáb-i-Íqán The Hidden Words The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the central book of the Baháí Faith, written by Baháulláh, the founder of the religion. ... The Kitáb-i-Íqán (Lit. ... {{Ba[[ == [[Media: --67. ...

Bahá'í Institutions

Administrative Order The Guardian Universal House of Justice Continental Counsellors Spiritual Assembly The Baháí administration refers to the administrative system of the Baháí Faith. ... Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (March 1, 1897 - November 5, 1957) was the Guardian of the Baháí Faith from 1921 until his death. ... For the building, see the Seat of the Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice, or the House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Baháí Faith. ... The Continental Counsellors, more commonly known as simply Counsellors, are part of the administrative order of the Baháí Faith, and are part of a greater administrative branch called the Institution of the Counsellors, established by the Universal House of Justice in 1973. ... Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdul-Bahá to refer to elected leadership councils that govern the Baháí Faith. ...

Holy cities

Haifa · Akká Shiraz · Baghdad For the Lebanese singer, see Haifa Wehbe. ... The Old City of Acre in the 19th or early 20th century, looking south-west from atop the Land Wall Promenade, the open space now a parking lot. ... The arcade of Nasir al-Molk Mosque is a fine display of Shirazi Qajar era architecture. ... Average temperature (red) and precipitations (blue) in Baghdad Baghdad (Arabic: , Persian: بغداد prenounced in arabic as Barhdad) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Province. ...

History

Bahá'í History · Timeline Bábís · Shaykh Ahmad The history of the Baháí Faith represents over 150 years of growth, and this article will attempt to provide more of the details than is possible in a more general overview of the Baháí Faith The religion claims to be part of a long religious tradition begun by Adam, and... This page is dedicated to providing a basic timeline of the Bábí movement and Baháí Faith. ... The room where The Báb declared His mission on May 23, 1844 in His house in Shiraz. ... Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsai (1753 - 1826), better known as Shaykh Ahmad, was the founder of a 19th century Shia religious movement in the Persian and Ottoman empires, whose followers were known as Shaykhis. ...

Key individuals

Táhirih · Quddús · Badí' Shoghi Effendi Rúhíyyih Khanum Táhirih (literally The Pure One) and Qurrat al-Ayn (قرة العين, literally Comfort of the Eyes or Solace of the Eyes) are the religious titles of Fatima Baraghani (1814-1820, died 1852 - birth date uncertain, as birth records were destroyed at her execution), an influential poet and theologian of the B... Quddús was the name given to Mullá Muhammad Alí-i-Bárfurúsh by the Báb meaning The Most Holy. ... Mirzá Áqá Buzurg-i-Nishapuri (born 1853-1870) often known better as Badí (literally wonderful), or by his title, the Pride of Martyrs was the son of Abdul-Majid-i-Nishapuri, a highly praised follower of the Báb and Baháulláh. ... Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (March 1, 1897 - November 5, 1957) was the Guardian of the Baháí Faith from 1921 until his death. ... Amatul-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum (1910-2000) Born Mary Maxwell in New York City in 1910, Amatul-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum was raised in Montreal, Québec. ...

Principal Teachings

Unity of humanity Unity of religion Gender equality Universal education Science and religion Auxilliary language The Bahai Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity transcending all divisions of race, nation, gender, caste, and social class. ... The Baháí Faith states that religion has the same foundation and that there is unity of religion. ... The Baháí Faith teaches and emphasizes sexual equality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Baháí Faith. ... A fundamental principle of the Baháí Faith is the harmony of religion and science. ... Language Policy in the Baháí Faith focuses on a particular teaching; that the world should adopt an international auxiliary language, and everyone should have to learn only two languages, ideally one. ...

See Also

Symbols · Humor · Laws Calendar · Teachings Index of Bahá'í Articles The Baháí Faith is an independent world religion and it seems reasonable to expect it to possess a body of jokes and other examples of humor, as other religions do. ... Baháí laws are laws and ordinances used in the Baháí Faith, according to the instructions of the Baháulláh, and written in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. ... The Baháí calendar, common to the Baháí Faith, is a solar calendar with regular years 365 days long and leap years 366 days long as explained within the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. ... The Baháí teachings represent a considerable number of theological, social, and spiritual ideas that were established in the Baháí Faith by its central figures. ...

There are currently seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship around the world, although Bahá'í communities own many properties where they plan for Houses of Worship to be constructed as the Bahá'í community grows and develops. Most Bahá'í meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Bahá'í centers, or rented facilities. ...

Description

The name used in the Bahá'í writings for Houses of Worship is Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (Dawning-place of the Remembrance of God). All Bahá'í temples share certain architectural elements, only two of which are specified by Bahá'í scripture, that they are nine-sided and surmounted by domes. To date all the temples built or planned have a single, undivided room under the dome. In all seven, the seats in the auditorium face the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Acca, Israel. In the field of building architecture, the skills demanded of an architect range from the more complex, such as for a hospital or a stadium, to something simpler, such as planning simple residential houses. ... St Peters Basilica, Rome A dome is a common structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. ... Shrine of Baháulláh Mírzá Husayn-Alí (Persian: میرزا حسینعلی) (b: 1817 - d: 1892), who later took the title of Baháulláh (بهاءالله The Glory of God in Arabic) was the founder-prophet of the Baháí Faith. ...

The seven existing Houses of Worship were built as the regional community could support their construction. They express local design and culture in their selection of materials, landscaping and architecture. The word culture, from the Latin colere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Landscape architecture is the art, planning, design, management, preservation and rehabilitation of the land and the design of man-made constructs. ...

Bahá'í Houses of Worship are open to people of all faiths - or of no particular faith. Services focus solely on the worship of God. There are no collections and no sermons. Only the Word of God is uttered within the Temple, with readings from all the Holy Writings of the earth. The only instrument used is the human voice, and the choir in any Bahá'í House of Worship sings without instrumental accompaniment. No sermons or lectures are permitted inside the House of Worship. As the Bahá'í Faith has no priesthood, ordinary members of the community - men and women, adults and children - read the texts. God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being believed by the vast majority [1] [2] to be the creator, ruler and/or the sum total of, existence. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A choir or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. ... ... A priesthood is a body of priests, shamans, or oracles who are thought to have special religious authority or function. ...

There are no collections during the service. Only Bahá'ís are permitted to contribute to the upkeep of the House of Worship.

These buildings are the key element of a complex of facilities such as schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and other social and humanitarian institutions to serve the neighborhoods in which they are located.

Bahá'u'lláh said that any work done in a spirit of service is a form of prayer. The educational, humanitarian and scientific institutions to be built around the Temple will allow the Bahá'ís to complete their dedication of the individual to God. To Bahá'ís there is no particular division between the spiritual and practical parts of life. `Abdu'l-Bahá taught that we should walk the spiritual path with practical feet. `Abdul-Bahá Sir `Abdu’l-Bahá Abbas Effendi (May 23, 1844 - November 28, 1921) commonly known as `Abdu’l-Bahá, was the son of Baháulláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baháí Faith. ...

Note that the Bahá'í gardens and the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Israel are not part of a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár although tourist material generally refer to the Shrine as a Bahá'í temple. Shrine of the Báb at night from above in Haifa, Israel Siyyid Mírzá Alí-Muhammad (میرزا علی‌محمد in Persian) (October 20, 1819 - July 9, 1850), was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia, who at the age of 25, claimed to be a new and independent Manifestation of God, and the promised...

History

Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan

First Bahá'í House of Worship

The first Bahá'í Temple was completed around 1908 in Ishqábád or Ashkhabad, then ruled by Russia and now the capital of Turkmenistan. Ashkhabad is located in the desert plain of western Turkmenistan near the foothills of the Alborz Mountains. Under the protection and freedom given by the Russian authorities, the number of Bahá'ís there rose to over 1,000 and for the first time anywhere in the world a true Bahá'í community was established, with its own schools, medical facilities, cemetery, etc. Eventually the Bahá'ís in 'Ishqábád decided to build the institution that Bahá'u'lláh has ordained as the spiritual and social heart of the Bahá'í community, the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. Bahai House of Worship Ashkabad Turkministan image derives from photo published prior to 1900 - no copyright This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Bahai House of Worship Ashkabad Turkministan image derives from photo published prior to 1900 - no copyright This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ashgabat (also Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, in Persian عشق آباد Eshgh_abad) is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. ... Alborz Mountains underneath clouds seen from Tehran Alborz (in Persian البرز), also written as Alburz or Elburz, is a mountain range in northern Iran, stretching from the borders of Armenia in the north-west to the southern end of the Caspian Sea, where also Tehran and Irans highest peak, Damavand...

The Temple itself was surrounded by gardens. At the four corners of the garden were four buildings. A school, a hostel where traveling Bahá'ís were entertained, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers. The Bahá'ís lived as much as possible in proximity to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. It was the center of the community materially, as well as spiritually.

After the Soviet conquest of Turkmenistan, the Temple was secularized by the Soviets and was used for some time as a museum. It was eventually demolished after severe damage caused by an earthquake rendered the building unsafe.

Existing structures

There are currently seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship.

Wilmette, Illinois USA

Bahá'í House of Worship, Wilmette, USA

Designed by Louis Bourgeois, the Bahá'í Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, USA was completed in 1953, the Wilmette House of worship is the largest and the oldest surviving Bahá'í Temple. It stands north of Chicago, Illinois on the shores of Lake Michigan. Constructed entirely out of cast concrete its inner and outer lace domes have been awarded numerous design awards and it is a prominent Chicago landmark. The Wilmette temple is unique in that it has a clerestory balcony from which the Temple choir performs. The Wilmette Temple has some, but not all the ancillary functions required to complete a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.
US Bahai temple, Willmette, IL. at night in winter. ... US Bahai temple, Willmette, IL. at night in winter. ... Wilmette is a town located in Cook County, Illinois and New Trier Township. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Clerestory or (clear storey), in architecture, denotes an upper storey of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. ...

• Satellite image

Kampala, Uganda

Bahá'í House of Worship, Kampala, Uganda

The Mother Temple of Africa is situated on Kikaya Hill on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda. Its foundation stone was laid in January 1958, and was dedicated on January 13, 1961.
Bahai Temple Kampala, Uganda Publicity still from Bahai world center web site. ... Bahai Temple Kampala, Uganda Publicity still from Bahai world center web site. ... // Etymology World map showing Africa (geographically) The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra — land of the Afri (plural, or Afer singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day... Location of Kampala within Uganda. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Sydney, Australia

Bahá'í House of Worship, Sydney, Australia

The Temple in Sydney, Australia was completed in 1961. It was constructed of local hardwoods and concrete surmounted by a dome and is capable of accommodating up to six hundred people. It is set high in a natural bushland setting of 380,000 square metres in Ingleside, a northern suburb overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This Temple serves as the Mother Temple of Australasia.
Sydney is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of New South Wales, as well as Australias largest and oldest city (founded in 1788). ... Ingleside is the name of some places in the United States of America: Ingleside, Arkansas Ingleside, Illinois Ingleside, Kentucky Ingleside, Louisiana Ingleside, Maryland Ingleside, Massachusetts Ingleside, Mississippi Ingleside, Nebraska Ingleside, New York Ingleside, North Carolina Ingleside, Pennsylvania Ingleside, Texas Ingleside, West Virginia Ingleside is also the name of a neighborhood... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Oceania. ...

Langenhain, Germany

Bahá'í House of Worship, Langenhain, Germany

The European House of Worship is located at the foot of the Taunus Mountains in the village of Langenhain (part of the town of Hofheim) approximately 25 km west of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was completed in 1964 and is constructed of steel, aluminum and glass. Five hundred and forty diamond-shaped windows give the dome an optical lightness and permit the sunlight to play in it. The outstanding characteristic acoustics of this setting are created by the reverberation within the dome and the resonation of its myriad window ledges. More information here: Bahá'í Chants at the European House of Worship.
Bahai Temple Frankfurt Germany publicity still - no rights claimed derived from temple home page. ... Bahai Temple Frankfurt Germany publicity still - no rights claimed derived from temple home page. ... A satellite composite image of Europe // Etymology Picture of Europa, carried away by bull-shaped Zeus. ... Frankfurt am Main [ˈfraŋkfʊrt] is the largest city in the German state of Hessen and the fifth largest city of Germany. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ...

Panama City, Panama

Bahá'í House of Worship, Panama City, Panama

The Bahá'í temple in Panama City, Panama completed 1972, serves as the mother temple of Central America. It is perched on a high cliff overlooking the canal, and is constructed of local stone laid in a pattern reminiscent of Native American fabric designs.
Bahai House of Worship Panama publicity still - no copyright claimed This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Bahai House of Worship Panama publicity still - no copyright claimed This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Panama City (Spanish: Ciudad de Panamá), population 708,738, is the capital of Panama, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, at 8°58´N 79°32´W. Panama City is the political, administrative and cultural center of the country. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Commonly, Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ...

Tiapapata, Samoa

Bahá'í House of Worship, Tiapapata, Samoa

The Bahá'í Temple in Tiapapata, eight km from Apia, Samoa was completed in 1984. It is completely open to the island breezes. It was dedicated by King Malietoa Tanumafili II, King of Samoa, who is the first reigning monarch who is a Bahá'í. Its 30 meter dome is used for individual prayer, and holy days and weekly devotions.
Bahai House of Worship, Apia Western Samoa publicity still - no copyright claimed This work is copyrighted. ... Bahai House of Worship, Apia Western Samoa publicity still - no copyright claimed This work is copyrighted. ... Apia, Samoa is the capital of Samoa. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

New Delhi, India

Bahá'í House of Worship, New Delhi, India

The Bahá'í temple in New Delhi, India was completed in 1986. It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. Bahai House of Worship Delhi, India Publicity still from the Delhi temple website for public use. ... Bahai House of Worship Delhi, India Publicity still from the Delhi temple website for public use. ... This article deals with the metropolis of Delhi. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Inspired by the lotus flower, its design is composed of 27 free-standing marble clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides. Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ...

Nine doors open onto a central hall, capable of holding up to 2,500 people. Slightly more than 40 meters tall, its surface luminous, the temple at times seems to float above its 26 acre (105,000 m²) site on the outskirts of the Indian capital.

Since its inauguration to public worship in December 1986, the Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi has, as of late 2002, attracted more than 50 million visitors, making it the most visited edifice in the world, its numbers of visitors during those years surpassing those of the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. On Hindu holy days, it has drawn as many as 150,000 people. The Tower at sunrise The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel; IPA pronunciation: , eye-full English; , a-fell French) is an iron tower built on the Champ de Mars, beside the River Seine in Paris. ... The Taj Mahal is a monument located in Agra, India, constructed between 1631 and 1653 by a workforce of more than twenty thousand. ... A Hindu (also spelt Hindoo) is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan (सनातन) Dharma, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural systems of Bharat (India) and Nepal and the island of Bali A popular name for India is Hindustan, or Land of the Hindus. ...

The Indian Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly reports that many Indian visitors expressed perplexity at the absence of any idols. The Bahá'í guides have a hard task explaining to them their belief that the all-pervasive Almighty cannot be put in any limited form. Often the visitors ask the guides where the object of adoration is. Some have placed flowers before the lectern used during regular prayer services.

This temple is generally referred to as the "Lotus Temple" by Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís alike.

Planned constructions

Tehran, Iran

Proposed Bahá'í House of Worship, Tehran, Iran

A site has been selected, and plans drawn for the Bahá'í Temple of Tehran, Iran, but Iranian government action has thus far blocked the start of construction.
architects elevation of proposed Bahai temple, Tehran, Iran comman image used all over various Bahai web sites and books, no copyright seen or claimed that I know of. ... architects elevation of proposed Bahai temple, Tehran, Iran comman image used all over various Bahai web sites and books, no copyright seen or claimed that I know of. ... Tehran (also spelled Teheran) (تهران in Persian), population 8,000,000 (metropolitan: 10,000,000), is the capital of Iran and one of the major world cities. ...

Santiago, Chile

The night view of a model of the new Bahá'í House of Worship to be built in Chile.

In late 2002, the National Bahá'í Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chile and the Universal House of Justice announced a competition for the design of the mother temple of South America, to be built outside Santiago, Chile. The selection chosen can be seen (along with an article about its selection) at http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story.cfm?storyid=223. The official website for this temple is: http://temple.cl.bahai.org
Press Version of architects elevation Chile Bahai House of Worship File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Press Version of architects elevation Chile Bahai House of Worship File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Santiagos Metropolitan Cathedral Santiago (officially in Spanish, Santiago de Chile) is Chiles capital and largest city. ...

Haifa, Israel

Obelisk marking the position of the future Bahá'í House of Worship, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel

A site has been selected for a Bahá'í Temple in the vicinity of the Bahá'í World Centre on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It is supposedly near the spot where Bahá'u'lláh chanted the Tablet of Carmel, the "Charter of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centers of the Faith on that mountain" according to Shoghi Effendi. A design by Charles Mason Remey was approved by Shoghi Effendi. The site is currently marked by an obelisk. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x3072, 2970 KB) This picture has been taken, uploaded and the copyright owned by Tom Habibi, but released in the licences below. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x3072, 2970 KB) This picture has been taken, uploaded and the copyright owned by Tom Habibi, but released in the licences below. ... Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (March 1, 1897 - November 5, 1957) was the Guardian of the Baháí Faith from 1921 until his death. ... Mason Remey, Hand of the Cause of God and Second Guardian of the Orthodox Bahai Faith Charles Mason Remey (May 15, 1874-1974) claimed to be the second Guardian of the Baháí Faith in 1960 after the passing of Shoghi Effendi. ...