Bahaikipedia:Today's featured article/June
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Today is Monday, May 12, 2008; it is now 21:42 UTC
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- June 1
The Ministry of the Custodians was described by the Universal House of Justice as a time when "the entire history of religion shows no comparable record of such strict self-discipline, such absolute loyalty, and such complete self-abnegation by the leaders of a religion, finding themselves suddenly deprived of their divinely inspired guide." On November 7, 1957, the Guardian and Head of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, died unexpectedly in London. The period following the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the Universal House of justice was known as the Ministry of the Custodians (more...)
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- June 2
The Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963) was a plan launched by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, to facilitate an organized expansion of the Faith. Among the goals of the plan were to begin the teaching and consolidation of the Faith, develop the institutions at the World Centre, consolidate open territories, and open the remaining "chief virgin territories" around the globe. The title 'Knight of Bahá'u'lláh' was given to those Bahá'ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade and in 1963 the plan culminated with the first election of the Universal House of Justice. (more...)
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- June 3
"Prayer," says 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world. (more...)
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- June 4
A cluster is a small geographic location in to which Bahá'ís are separated. There are close to 17,000 clusters worldwide and exist in all countries where the faith is permitted to operate. Clusters most closely resemble counties that exist in many countries in the world. In 2001 the Universal House of Justice instructed the Continental Board of Counsellors to assist the National Spiritual Assemblies around the world in dividing the localities they govern in to smaller, manageable regions. The criteria laid out by the Universal House of Justice were based on "culture, language, patterns of transport, infrastructure, and the social and economic life of the inhabitants." (more...)
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- June 5
Huqúqu'lláh (Arabic: ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ, "Right of God"), sometimes called the Law of Huqúq, is a socio-economic and spiritual law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. In its most basic form, it states that Bahá'ís should pay a 19% voluntary tax on any wealth in excess of what is necessary to live comfortably, after the remittance of any outstanding debt, to the Universal House of Justice. (more...)
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- June 6
The Nine Year Plan (1964-1973) was the first of many international plans to be given to the Bahá'í world by the newly-formed Universal House of Justice within the framework of the Divine Plan first elaborated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This plan, following on the successful conclusion of the Ten Year Crusade initiated by Shoghi Effendi, was first mentioned by the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated May 7, 1963 to the London National Convention. (more...)
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- June 7
The term study circle has become common terminology in the Bahá'í Faith to describe a specific type of gathering for the study of the Bahá'í teachings, with an emphasis on "promoting the well-being of humanity." Study circles are a form of distance learning designed to systematically bring education about spiritual concepts to the grassroots level. Because they are intended to be sustainable and reproducible on a large scale, study circles shy away from formally taught classes, opting instead for participatory methods. (more...)
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- June 8
The Covenant is the spiritual contract binding God and humanity. The Bahá'í Faith recognizes two covenants: first, the greater covenant, between God, represented by the Manifestation of God, on the one hand, and humanity on the other, in which God promises to continue to send guidance to humankind, while humanity, on its part, promises to obey and follow these teachings when they come. Part of this greater covenant is the obligation which each Manifestation of God places upon his followers to accept the next Manifestation. Second, the lesser covenant, which obliges individual Bahá'ís to accept the leadership of Bahá'u'lláh's appointed successors and the administrative institutions of the Faith. Read more
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- June 9
Progressive revelation is a core teaching in the Bahá'í Faith that suggests religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance. Thus, the Bahá'í teachings recognize the divine origin of several world religions, asserting that God is one and His religion is one, while believing that the revelation of Bahá'u'lláh is the most recent (though not the last), and therefore the most relevant to modern society. (more...)
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- June 10
Shi'i Islam is the branch of Islam that accepted 'Ali ibn Abi-Talib, Muhammad's son-in-law, as the Prophet's legitimate successor. The Twelver Shi`is, the branch of Shi`ism that accepted a line of twelve hereditary successors called Imams, are the majority of modern Shi`is. The Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths arose in the Twelver Shi'i milieu in Iran and are related in many ways to Shi`i belief, practice, and concepts. Shi'i historians tell that during the lifetime of Muhammad, there were a number of indications that he intended `Ali--who was his cousin, foster-brother, and son-in-law--to succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. Read more
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- June 11
Bahá'í sacred history has been divided into a number of Ages and Cycles by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes vast "Universal Cycles," stretching over hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of years, at the end of which "great events" take place as a result of which all traces of the previous cycle are obliterated and a new cycle begins. Within each Universal Cycle, many Manifestations of God appear, each linked to a cycle. At the heart of each Universal Cycle, 'Abdu'l-Bahá states that there appears a Manifestation of God whom he names the "great and universal Manifestation." Read more
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- June 12
The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá'u'lláh, four by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. (more...)
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- June 13
The Bahá'í Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity transcending all divisions of race, nation, gender, caste, and social class, while celebrating its diversity. Bahá'u'lláh wrote: "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." 'Abdu'l-Bahá adds that the "unification of mankind" has now become "the paramount issue and question in the religious and political conditions of the world." The Bahá'í writings affirm the biological, political, and spiritual unity of humankind, while noting that they are not necessarily expected to arise simultaneously. (more...)
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- June 14
The Nineteen Day Feasts are regular community gatherings, occurring on the first day of each month of the Bahá'í calendar (and so most often nineteen days apart from each other). Each gathering consists of a devotional, administrative, and social part. The devotional part of the Nineteen Day Feast can be compared to Sunday Services in Christianity or Friday Prayers in Islam, though the non-congregational nature of the Bahá'í Faith limits the usefulness of the comparison. (more...)
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- June 15
Bahá'í sacred history has been divided into a number of Ages and Cycles by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes vast "Universal Cycles," stretching over hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of years, at the end of which "great events" take place as a result of which all traces of the previous cycle are obliterated and a new cycle begins. Within each Universal Cycle, many Manifestations of God appear, each linked to a cycle. At the heart of each Universal Cycle, 'Abdu'l-Bahá states that there appears a Manifestation of God whom he names the "great and universal Manifestation." Read more
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- June 16
Shi'i Islam is the branch of Islam that accepted 'Ali ibn Abi-Talib, Muhammad's son-in-law, as the Prophet's legitimate successor. The Twelver Shi`is, the branch of Shi`ism that accepted a line of twelve hereditary successors called Imams, are the majority of modern Shi`is. The Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths arose in the Twelver Shi'i milieu in Iran and are related in many ways to Shi`i belief, practice, and concepts. Shi'i historians tell that during the lifetime of Muhammad, there were a number of indications that he intended `Ali--who was his cousin, foster-brother, and son-in-law--to succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. Read more
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- June 17
The Covenant is the spiritual contract binding God and humanity. The Bahá'í Faith recognizes two covenants: first, the greater covenant, between God, represented by the Manifestation of God, on the one hand, and humanity on the other, in which God promises to continue to send guidance to humankind, while humanity, on its part, promises to obey and follow these teachings when they come. Part of this greater covenant is the obligation which each Manifestation of God places upon his followers to accept the next Manifestation. Second, the lesser covenant, which obliges individual Bahá'ís to accept the leadership of Bahá'u'lláh's appointed successors and the administrative institutions of the Faith. Read more
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- June 18
Haziratu'l-Quds is the designation given to the building that acts as the center of Baha'i administrative activity on a local, regional, or national level. The term Haziratu'l-Quds literally means the "sacred fold" or the "enclosure of sanctity". It has its origins in Islamic mysticism where it designates a divine station. Shoghi Effendi states that the Haziratu'l-Quds should consist of the following components: the secretariat, the treasury, the archives, the library, the publishing office, the assembly hall, the council chamber, and the pilgrims' hostel. He considered that the functions of the Haziratu'l-Quds would be complementary to those of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. Read more
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- June 19
Unity in diversity is a socio-ecological philosophy that describes a sense of oneness despite physical or psychological barriers. Bahá'ís affirm the desirability of the principle of unity in diversity, stating that while recognizing the unity of humankind, cultural diversity should be celebrated. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, states that the purpose of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings is not to stifle national autonomy or to suppress diversity, but to create a wider loyalty to that of humankind. (more...)
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- June 20
The Bahá'í teachings state that there is but one religion which is progressively revealed by God, through prophets/messengers to mankind. As humanity matures and its capacity to understand also grows, and the Bahá'í writings state all Manifestations come from the same God and expound His teachings, Therefore they can be seen in the same light, but at the same times they are separate individuals known by a different name, who fulfills a definite mission, and is entrusted with a particular revelation. (more...)
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- June 21
Progressive revelation is a core teaching in the Bahá'í Faith that suggests that religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance. Thus, the Bahá'í teachings recognize the divine origin of several world religions, asserting that God is one and His religion is one, while believing that the revelation of Bahá'u'lláh is the most recent (though not the last), and therefore the most relevant to modern society. (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 22
The Covenant is the spiritual contract binding God and humanity. The Bahá'í Faith recognizes two covenants: first, the greater covenant, between God, represented by the Manifestation of God, on the one hand, and humanity on the other, in which God promises to continue to send guidance to humankind, while humanity, on its part, promises to obey and follow these teachings when they come. Part of this greater covenant is the obligation which each Manifestation of God places upon his followers to accept the next Manifestation. Second, the lesser covenant, which obliges individual Bahá'ís to accept the leadership of Bahá'u'lláh's appointed successors and the administrative institutions of the Faith. {more...}
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- June 23
The theme of education in the Bahá'í Faith is given emphasis. The Bahá'í teachings focus on promoting a moral and spiritual education, in addition to the arts, trades, sciences and professions. The emphasis on education is a means for social and national improvement. Since all Bahá'ís have the duty to do work that is useful to humanity, Bahá'í education is meant to prepare Bahá'ís to perform such work. Bahá'u'lláh wrote: "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
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- June 24
The Hands of the Cause of God were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith on the international level. In all there were fifty Hands of the Cause, four named by Bahá'u'lláh, four by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). The title is no longer given out, and there are no longer any living Hands of the Cause, the last surviving Hand being Dr. 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá. The work of the Hands of the Cause is now carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Boards. (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 25
The Ministry of the Custodians was described by the Universal House of Justice as a time when "the entire history of religion shows no comparable record of such strict self-discipline, such absolute loyalty, and such complete self-abnegation by the leaders of a religion, finding themselves suddenly deprived of their divinely inspired guide." On November 7, 1957, the Guardian and Head of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, died unexpectedly in London. The period following the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the Universal House of justice was known as the Ministry of the Custodians (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 26
The Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963) was a plan launched by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, to facilitate an organized expansion of the Faith. Among the goals of the plan were to begin the teaching and consolidation of the Faith, develop the institutions at the World Centre, consolidate open territories, and open the remaining "chief virgin territories" around the globe. The title 'Knight of Bahá'u'lláh' was given to those Bahá'ís who arose to open new territories to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade and in 1963 the plan culminated with the first election of the Universal House of Justice. (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 27
"Prayer," says 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "is conversation with God." In order that God may make known His mind and will to human beings, He must speak to us in a language which we can understand, and this He does through the guidance of the Manifestations of God. While the Manifestations are alive They speak face to face with man and convey to them the Message of God, and after Their death Their message continues to reach people's minds through their recorded sayings and writings. But this is not the only way in which God can commune with and inspire those whose hearts are seeking after truth, wherever they are, and whatever their native race or tongue. By this language the Manifestation continues to hold converse with the faithful after His departure from the material world. (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 28
A cluster is a small geographic area in to which Bahá'ís are separated. There are close to 17,000 clusters worldwide and exist in all countries where the faith is permitted to operate. Clusters most closely resemble counties that exist in many countries in the world. In 2001 the Universal House of Justice instructed the Continental Board of Counsellors to assist the National Spiritual Assemblies around the world in dividing the localities they govern in to smaller, manageable regions. The criteria laid out by the Universal House of Justice were based on "culture, language, patterns of transport, infrastructure, and the social and economic life of the inhabitants." (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 29
Huqúqu'lláh (Arabic: ﺣﻘﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ, "Right of God"), sometimes called the Law of Huqúq, is a socio-economic and spiritual law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. In its most basic form, it states that Bahá'ís should pay a 19% voluntary tax on any wealth in excess of what is necessary to live comfortably, after the remittance of any outstanding debt, to the Universal House of Justice. (more...)
view - talk - history
- June 30
The term study circle has become common in the Bahá'í Faith to describe a specific type of gathering for the study of the Bahá'í teachings, with an emphasis on "promoting the well-being of humanity." Study circles are a form of distance learning designed to systematically bring education about spiritual concepts to the grassroots level. Because they are intended to be sustainable and reproducible on a large scale, study circles shy away from formally taught classes, opting instead for participatory methods. (more...)
view - talk - history
Today's featured article archive
January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December
Today is Monday, May 12, 2008; it is now 21:42 UTC
