Baha’i: The Bahai symbol of the nine-pointed star reflects the importance of the number for the Faith. The number nine is the highest single digit number symbolizes completement and the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions. The star is often portrayed on Bahai temples, which are nine-sided.

United States, the Baha’i Faith is estimated to have about 175,000 adherents.

There are more than 100,000 local Baha’i communities in places as diverse as Chile, Cambodia and the United States. On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i faith, the question remains: What is the reason for their persecution?

In 1995, the HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion stated: “In 1985, it was estimated that there were between 1.5 to 2 million Baha’is, with the greatest areas of recent growth in Africa, India, and Vietnam.”

seven Baha’i temples
There are seven Baha’i temples , referred to as Baha’i houses of worship, in seven continents of the world. Chile in south America houses the eighth construction, which is underway. The seven places where Baha’i temples are located are North America, Australia, Uganda, Germany, Panama, Samoa and India.

Bahá’ís accept the divine nature of the missions of Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad. They believe each one was a further stage in the revelation of God. Other prophets and Manifestations are also accepted.

Baha’ism and the Struggle to Make Pork Lawful! Whilst not only in Islam, but also in other divine religions, as well as [according to] common sense, the consumption of pork is forbidden.

Names of God The Baháʼí scriptures often refer to God by various titles and attributes, such as Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Wise, Incomparable, Gracious, Helper, All-Glorious, Omniscient and All-Loving. Baha’is believe the greatest of all the names of God is “All-Glorious” or Bahá in Arabic.

Baháʼís are forbidden to drink alcohol or to take drugs, except by a doctor’s order. The reason being that God has given human beings reason and intoxicants take that away and lead the mind astray.

There are 750 Baha’i volunteers from 70 countries in Haifa and Acre. All of them come for limited stints and none stay permanently. Thus, there is no resident Baha’i community in Israel. “Baha’u’llah asked that there be no community in the Holy Land,” Sabet said.

The symbol known as Greatest Name is an Arabic calligraphic rendering of “Yá Baháʼu’l-Abhá” (يا بهاء الأبهى usually translated as “O Thou the Glory of the Most Glorious!”). This rendering was originally drawn by the early Baháʼí calligrapher Mishkín Qalam, and later adopted by Baháʼís everywhere.

While service to the communities in which they live is a matter of faith, Baha’is are supposed to stay out of partisan politics. Thus, there is no resident Baha’i community in Israel. “Baha’u’llah asked that there be no community in the Holy Land,” Sabet said.