Becoming a Bahá’í

What does it mean to become a Bahá’í?

Becoming a Bahá’í means recognising Bahá’u’lláh as the Manifestation of God for this age and accepting to follow His laws and teachings and the Bahá’í way of life. To be a Bahá’í one must also accept the authority of the administrative institutions He established for the unification of humankind.

There are no rituals involved and any one can become a Bahá’í. Becoming a Bahá’í is a highly significant spiritual process, the implications of which are between the individual and God.

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.
-Abdu’l-Bahá

Why should I consider becoming a Bahá’í?

If you choose to become a Bahá’í you will join the rest of the global Bahá’í community in building and maintaining unity in the world. As Bahá’ís, we do this by putting into practice the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh; by applying the healing Medicine, brought by the Divine Physician, to the ills afflicting the world today.

For Bahá’ís the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh represent the Word of God revealed to humanity through His Manifestation for this time. Bahá’u’lláh teaches that the Word of God is endowed with a unique potency to transform human hearts and build a new world.

"The vitality of men's belief in God is dying out in every land; nothing short of His wholesome medicine can ever restore it. The corrosion of ungodliness is eating into the vitals of human society; what else but the Elixir of His potent Revelation can cleanse and revive it? Is it within human power, O Hakim, to effect in the constituent elements of any of the minute and indivisible particles of matter so complete a transformation as to transmute it into purest gold? Perplexing and difficult as this may appear, the still greater task of converting satanic strength into heavenly power is one that We have been empowered to accomplish. The Force capable of such a transformation transcendeth the potency of the Elixir itself. The Word of God, alone, can claim the distinction of being endowed with the capacity required for so great and far-reaching a change."
-Bahá’u’lláh

What do I need to know?

It is certainly not expected that an individual should know about all aspects of the Bahá’í Faith before becoming a Bahá’í. The individual should however be informed of fundamental Bahá’í concepts as well as basic Bahá’í laws and principles, in particular those relating to:

Daily Prayers ( » Read more at www.info.bahai.org » )
Fasting ( » Read more at www.info.bahai.org » )
Marriage and Divorce ( » Read more at www.info.bahai.org » )
Avoidance of Drugs and Alcohol
Obedience to the Law of the Land
Non-Involvement in Politics ( » Read more at www.bahai.org » )
A chaste and moral life ( » Read more at www.info.bahai.org » )

Will I have to practise all the Bahá’í laws?

Becoming a Bahá’í is a life-long journey of learning and growing. No Bahá’í can claim to be living the perfect Bahá’í life. But Bahá’ís accept all the laws of Bahá’u’lláh and strive daily to uphold them and thereby grow stronger spiritually day by day.

It is not necessary that individuals be living according to the Bahá’í standards at the time of their declaration, but they need to be informed of the above laws so that they can begin their journey as a Bahá’í and strive daily to bring their inner lives closer to the spirit of teachings and laws of Baha'u'llah. Every Bahá’í strives to attain to pure and selfless deeds and to lead others by their example and conduct.

How do I become a Bahá’í?

To become a member of the British Bahá’í community, simply declare your interest in joining the Bahai community by contacting one of the Bahá’ís. For administrative purposes, you will need to fill in a Declaration Card to enable you to become a voting member and participate in the administrative functions of the Bahá’í community, including the Bahá’í elections, where the individual can vote and be elected to serve on Bahá’í institutions.

Contact someone to findout more

If you have any questions about the Bahá’í Faith or becoming a Bahá’í, please contact: Robin at 01926 - 447753
or send an email to cswarksbahais@gmail.com

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