Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah: A Life of Spiritual Vision and Revelation
Full Name and Common Aliases
Mírzá Husayn-`Alí Núrí, known to his followers as Baha'u'llah (meaning "The Glory of God" in Arabic), was a renowned spiritual leader, prophet, and founder of the Bahá'í Faith.
Birth and Death Dates
Baha'u'llah was born on November 12, 1817, in Tehran, Persia (modern-day Iran), and passed away on May 29, 1892, in Akka, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Israel).
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: Persian/Iranian; Professions: Spiritual leader, prophet, writer, poet, and philosopher.
Early Life and Background
Baha'u'llah was born into a noble family of the Qajar dynasty. His father, Mírzá Abbás Núrí, was a high-ranking government official, and his mother, Ásíyih Khánum, was known for her piety and spiritual devotion. From an early age, Baha'u'llah demonstrated exceptional intelligence, compassion, and spirituality.
As he grew older, Baha'u'llah became increasingly disillusioned with the social injustices and spiritual emptiness of his time. He was particularly drawn to Sufi mysticism and Islamic theology, which would later shape his own spiritual teachings.
Major Accomplishments
Baha'u'llah's life is marked by a series of dramatic events that culminated in the establishment of the Bahá'í Faith. Some of his most significant accomplishments include:
Revelation of new scripture: Baha'u'llah claimed to have received direct revelation from God, which he recorded in various writings, including "The Kitáb-i-Aqdas" (The Book of Laws) and "The Hidden Words".
Founding the Bahá'í Faith: In 1863, Baha'u'llah declared himself a prophet and founder of a new faith, which emphasized unity, equality, and the oneness of humanity.
Establishment of the Bab's succession: Baha'u'llah claimed to be the successor of the Bab (Siyyid `Alí Muhammad), a Persian spiritual leader who had been executed in 1850 for his teachings.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Baha'u'llah's most notable works include:
"The Kitáb-i-Aqdas": A comprehensive book of laws and guidance for the Bahá'í community, which emphasizes social justice, moral values, and spiritual growth.
"The Hidden Words": A collection of prayers and meditations that reflect Baha'u'llah's mystical teachings on the nature of God and humanity.Impact and Legacy
Baha'u'llah's life has had a profound impact on world history. His teachings have inspired millions of people across the globe to strive for unity, justice, and spiritual growth. The Bahá'í Faith has spread to over 200 countries, with a community of around six million adherents.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Baha'u'llah's quotes and writings continue to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds and faiths. Some reasons for his enduring popularity include:
Universal principles: Baha'u'llah's teachings emphasize universal values such as love, compassion, justice, and equality, which resonate with people across cultures and time.
* Spiritual guidance: His writings offer practical advice on spiritual growth, self-improvement, and personal development, making him a beloved figure among seekers of truth and wisdom.
Quotes by Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah's insights on:
All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.
Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words.
It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world.
Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
O SON OF MAN! For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.
What profit is there in agreeing that universal friendship is good, and talking of the solidarity of the human race as a grand ideal? Unless these thoughts are translated into the world of action, they are useless. The wrong in the world continues to exist just because people only talk of their ideals, and do not strive to put them into practice. If actions took the place of words, the world's misery would very soon be changed into comfort.
A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.
Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity, Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility.
Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he has seen, and heard, and understood (before), all must he set at naught, that he may enter the Realm of the Spirit, which is the City of God.