Some Principles of the Bahá'í Faith

Bahá'u'lláh teaches that God has sent Prophets to help advance human society as well as to provide for the spiritual growth of individuals. Together, these successive appearances of divinely inspired Messengers are part of one overall plan. Bahá'ís see the process of divine revelation as a continuum, without beginning or end. All religions are chapters in one great unfolding religion of God. This evolution of God's religion is called "progressive revelation," because each Prophet brings new spiritual laws and teachings that enable humankind to progress to the next stage of social and spiritual insight. Divine Educators

A helpful analogy is that of the child attending school. The child progresses from one grade to the next, at each level receiving instruction from a different teacher. The depth of the lessons is not dependent on the knowledge of the teacher. Rather, the lessons become more complex as the child grows in maturity and knowledge. The teacher offers the child only what he or she can handle at each level of development. Each successive teacher reinforces what the child has learned from previous teachers and also adds more. The same is true of the Prophets. In fact, Bahá'u'lláh refers to them as "Divine Educators".

All Prophets Speak with the Voice of God

God has ordained, in the words of Bahá'u'lláh, "that in every age and dispensation a pure and stainless Soul be made manifest in the kingdoms of earth and heaven." The voice of the Prophet is "the voice of God Himself." All of the divine Messengers "are regarded as one soul and the same person," and "all abide in the same tabernacle, soar in the same heaven, are seated upon the same throne, utter the same speech, and proclaim the same Faith."

God's Light Comes through the Prophets

According to Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophets are like perfect mirrors reflecting the rays of the sun. God's light is reflected in them. This reflection, however, is not identical with the source of light. The mirror is not God.

"Manifestations of God"

Bahá'u'lláh often uses the term "Manifestation of God" in referring to these chosen Messengers, because they are the perfect embodiments of God's attributes. They show or "manifest" to us the qualities and perfections of God.

'Abdu'l-Bahá further clarified that, "...The Manifestations of universal Prophethood Who appeared independently are, for example, Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. But the other (type of prophet) are followers and promoters like Solomon, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. For the independent Prophets are founders; They establish a new religion and make new creations of men; They change the general morals, promote new customs and rules, renew the cycle and the Law. Their appearance is like the season of spring, which arrays all earthly beings in a new garment, and gives them a new life."

With regard to the second sort of Prophets who are followers, these also promote the Law of God, make known the Religion of God, and proclaim His word. Of themselves they have no power and might, except what they receive from the independent Prophets.

(copyright 2003 by the Bahá'ís of the United States)