Guidance for Life

For Bahá’ís the central principles of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings, together with the laws and ordinances of the Faith, are to be found in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. His written work is very extensive, with a very large quantity of tablets, books and prayers. He refers to his Writings as an ocean. The Kitáb-i-Iqán, the “Book of Certitude”, is his main theological work, tackling many of the important questions facing Jews, Christians and Muslims in the interpretation of Holy Texts. “The Hidden Words” purports to include the essential spiritual teachings of all religions. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the “Most Holy Book”, contains ordinances pertaining to the future. “The Seven Valleys” describes the progress of the soul in a mystical style. The book, “Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh” contains a number of tablets concerned with the social principles of the new religion. Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings are the repository of his teachings, and Bahá’ís are encouraged to read them for themselves. Bahá’u’lláh also appointed his son `Abdu’l-Bahá as the authorised interpreter of his teachings, and Bahá’ís treat his Writings as authoritative.

Some of Bahá’u’lláh’s main teachings could be summarised as: belief in one God, one Creative Force; the divine origin of all religions; the oneness of humanity; the elimination of prejudice; the equality of men and women; harmony between religion and science; the individual investigation of truth; the elimination of the extremes of poverty and wealth; world government; a world tribunal; a world police force; choice of a common world language; universal education.