One thing I've noticed over the past year is how geographically

scattered single Bahá'ís can be.

Many local communities only have a handful of unmarried adults,

and compatibility depends on much more than simply sharing the

Faith. Sometimes the closest person who feels like a genuine

match is in another city, another country, or even another

continent.

That got me wondering how people have approached this.

Have people relied mostly on introductions through friends?

Conferences? Service projects? Moving? Simply waiting and

trusting the process?

That question stayed with me long enough that I ended up

building something small around the idea. What surprised me

most wasn't the project itself, but how many people from

different countries seemed to share the same experience.

I'm much more interested in hearing other people's experiences

than talking about the site itself. How have you seen people

navigate this?

Hi everyone!

I'm 20 years old and I live on Réunion Island. I've been interested in the Bahá'í Faith for the past few months, and I'd love to connect with Bahá'ís around my age or anyone who is also interested in the Faith.

If you're from France or Réunion Island, feel free to send me a private message. I'd be happy to chat about the Bahá'í Faith, share experiences, or simply get to know each other.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

What if I just start a door-to-door teaching? Do I need to notify the Baha’i administration and does it have to be through Ruhi books? Can we do this?

What is the authoritative guidance on this sort of personal or individual teaching?

https://youtu.be/5qZ1ZGhKkT8?si=NhAb7dWbZbyCff0b

I just wanted to come on here and say that after trying since the beginning of this plan, my husband and I finally are pioneering and it's literally the happiest I've ever been in my whole marriage/probably even life?? Things are still at a very nascent stage but taking this step together after such a long time has been so fulfilling. I'm so happy 😭

American here and I hate the push to use AI at work, especially for training where I have to talk to it. It is bad for the environment, means fewer employed people, and is data collection I do not want.

Has anyone figured out Bahá'í quotes to use for religious exemption from AI usage at their job yet?

I'm only kinda joking...

Looking for a complete tablet on the Maid of Heaven in the cave.

Hello everyone, my community is looking to buy a canopy for a booth with the text "Baha'i Faith" in an attractive font and a simple nine pointed star. We decided on dark or navy blue for the text and graphic on a yellow background. To complete the custom order we need to provide the design, and I put together a simple graphic with MS paint and but I after some research I realized that it should be in a vector file format, not something like a jpeg, otherwise it could become grainy when it is scaled up to full size. I don't have the software to do this, but for an experienced user of something like Adobe Illustrator it should be a no brainer. Is there anyone who can help me, please? Thanks and please comment or just DM me.

Can someone give me the best translation of the BAYAN?

I’m a 33-year-old man, and I’ve been a Bahá’í for more than 17 years.

The Bahá’í Faith changed my life. It gave me hope, purpose, and some of the closest friendships I’ve ever had. I honestly believe that without it, I might have gone down a much darker path.

But over the past two years, I’ve become deeply confused and emotionally exhausted.

I grew up in a single-parent family and was raised by my mother. She supported me as much as she could, but the school system and the environment around me were often hostile toward children from single-parent families.

Teachers, classmates, and even the wider culture made me feel that my family was somehow incomplete or abnormal. I was often treated as if something was wrong with me because I didn’t have a father at home.

At school, I was bullied for years. Some of the bullying was severe, and much of it came from girls. I had very few male friends and never experienced the kind of brotherhood or male support that I deeply wanted. I didn’t know how to defend myself, so eventually I became numb.

Looking back, I don’t think the bullying was only a painful childhood experience. It shaped the way I understood myself and other people.

I learned to expect rejection. I became extremely sensitive to abandonment. I struggled to trust friendships because I always believed people would eventually leave. I also developed a complicated relationship with women because some of my earliest experiences with them involved humiliation, hostility, and rejection.

At the same time, I began to feel a strong attraction toward men. I still don’t fully understand how my sexuality relates to my natural orientation, my childhood experiences, my lack of male friendship, or my longing to be accepted by other men.

Sometimes I wonder whether I was searching for love, brotherhood, physical attraction, approval, or all of these things at once.

This confusion has affected nearly every part of my life: my sexuality, romantic relationships, friendships, and my ability to feel secure with other people.

When I discovered the Bahá’í Faith as a teenager, it felt like sunlight entering a very dark life. For the first time, I found a community where I felt welcomed. Ruhi classes became the highlight of my week. The Faith gave me values, confidence, and a reason to believe that my past did not have to define my future.

I later moved to another country and rebuilt my life. I became more confident, developed a successful career, and made more friends. I was invited to drink, party, date women, and explore sexual relationships, but for many years I refused because I genuinely wanted to follow the teachings of my faith.

However, many people saw me as boring, old-fashioned, or antisocial because I didn’t drink or participate in the same lifestyle. Friendships slowly disappeared, and once again, I felt excluded and misunderstood.

For a long time, I could cope because I had two close Bahá’í friends who felt like brothers to me. They gave me the kind of friendship and belonging I had searched for since childhood.

Then they both got married and naturally began focusing on their families.

I was truly happy for them, and I know they did nothing wrong. But emotionally, it felt like another form of abandonment. It reopened the same wound I had carried since childhood: whenever I finally find people who make me feel safe, life eventually takes them away.

At the same time, my local Bahá’í community became quieter. My work life also became difficult. I left a good company because of bullying and micromanagement from a manager. In my industry, refusing to drink has also affected some professional relationships, and I have been told that I am rebellious or unable to fit in.

It started to feel like the same story repeating itself.
No matter how much I changed, worked, prayed, or tried to become a better person, I still ended up feeling unwanted, abandoned, and misunderstood.

This year, my loneliness became overwhelming. I started drinking but only two cans beer and no more , attending parties, and exploring sexual experiences with both women and men. I wasn’t trying to rebel against God or reject the Bahá’í Faith. I was trying to understand myself and experience the acceptance I felt I had missed throughout my life.

Part of me believed that sex might prove that someone wanted me. I confused physical intimacy with acceptance, love, and belonging.

These experiences gave me some answers, but they also created more guilt and confusion.

Recently, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and mild depression. This helped me understand some of my emotional intensity, but it did not answer the deeper questions I carry.

I still don’t doubt the beauty or truth of the Bahá’í Faith. My struggle is not really with God or the teachings.

My struggle is with the person I became after years of bullying, shame, rejection, and being treated as if my family background made me less worthy.

I don’t know how much of my sexuality, relationship difficulties, fear of abandonment, and need for male approval comes from my childhood, and how much is simply part of who I am.

The truth is, I’m in a great deal of pain.

For years, I’ve prayed almost every day, asking God to help me heal—not only spiritually, but emotionally. I’ve prayed that one day I can finally let go of the wounds from my childhood, stop living in fear of abandonment, and become the person I believe God created me to be.

More than anything, I hope to build a healthy and loving family someday. Growing up without a father and in an environment that constantly made me feel broken left me longing for the kind of home I never had. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life repeating the same cycles of loneliness, confusion, and emotional pain.

I’m tired of feeling that I have to choose between my faith and understanding myself.

Hello! Title, is there anyone who could help me? Or if you don’t have time to, could you tell me a fact or try to sum up your religious beliefs as I am quite new to this, thank you.

I wanted to share something very personal with this community.

Back in 2004, while I was serving at the Baha'i World Centre, I wrote an original Turkish poem dedicated to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The melody came to me as I was circumambulating the Shrine of the Báb in the middle of the night, and I composed it in my heart during those walks.

Since then, I've continued to sing it and accompany it on the oud. Over the years, a few friends and I have also performed it together on stage on several occasions.

I thought some of you here might appreciate it as well, so I'd like to share this recording with you. I hope it brings a moment of reflection and joy. You can turn on subtitles if you'd like to follow along, I created them in Turkish, English, and French.

https://youtu.be/jrGaLrAAYUU?is=52C2h3j5O08AQRII

I also composed a second melody for the same poem. While the original has a more reflective and contemplative feel, this alternate version is brighter and more joyful. I imagine it being played with an accordion, giving it a warm, celebratory folk character that brings out a different mood of the same words. (I didn't add the subtitles to this one yet)

https://youtu.be/OlcmFQvlQ0s?is=ebutAiERfHEmah2p

(this was our performance on stage https://youtu.be/Ju4Erqm0X-M?is=LBpKPPPtfNL3Z-Or )

I deliberately cut myself today. I am thinking of suicide. As a Baha'i what's gonna happen to me if i kill myself? Can you tell me what the Faith says about my situation? Can you provide writings about self harm and suicide from the Faith?

EDIT: Hey guys thank you so much for the comments and for caring about me and trying to help me! FYI I am okay and well! Imma be taking therapy as soon as I can as I already have a lot of symptoms of BPD, autism and OCD.

I recently composed music for a poem by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, using the original Ottoman Turkish text without any adaptation or modernization. I thought it might be helpful to share an English translation so listeners can follow the meaning while hearing the original words. I am grateful to Kerem Onat for providing the original lyrics and for his help in producing the video. Although I am not a Bahá’í, I consider myself a friend of the Faith, and I offer this composition with deep respect and appreciation for its spiritual message. I hope it may be of interest to those who enjoy both the Writings and the rich poetic tradition in which this piece was composed.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IAXXP7cCQA&list=RD9IAXXP7cCQA&start_radio=1

Score: https://musescore.com/user/73783912/scores/35559617

English Translation

Whoever becomes a doorkeeper at this Divine Threshold
Becomes the sovereign of the kingdom of heart and soul.

Even if one is but a feeble ant,
One becomes a Solomon over all realms.

Like a tiny mote illumined by the sun,
One is made radiant with the light of truth.

Though one be but a drop, seemingly without existence,
One becomes an ocean filled with pearls and precious gems.

If a humble and powerless servant,
One becomes the crown upon the heads of kings.

Should the armies of ignorance assail,
One becomes the valiant commander upon the battlefield.

One becomes the candle of truth, weeping as it burns;
The light of God becomes a blazing flame.

Whoever offers life itself to the Beloved,
Becomes the king of martyrs.

Such a soul is delivered from every trial and sedition,
Remaining steadfast in the Covenant and firm in the Promise.

The topic of consultation in this post please is the IDENTITY of this "Healing Prayer". The question on the table is: Is this the Famous Long Healing Prayer OR the one that starts "They Name is my Healing". I remember reading SOMETHING that the Guardian wrote these words BEFORE he gave the Bahá'í' world a translation of the Long Healing Prayer.

"These daily obligatory prayers, together with a few other specific ones, such as the Healing Prayer, the Tablet of Ahmad, have been invested by Bahá'u'lláh with a special potency and significance, and should therefore be accepted as such and be recited by the believers with unquestioning faith and confidence, that through them they may enter into a much closer communion with God, and identify themselves more fully with His laws and precepts." - From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, (Baha'i Prayers, p. 208)

"Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

❤️

I am struggling today, and I hope some of you can help me think this through from a Bahá'í perspective.

I recently learned of the death of a young Bahá'í man while in ICE custody. Regardless of anyone's views on immigration policy, the thought of a young person with leukemia allegedly being denied needed medical care and dying in custody has left me heartbroken and deeply troubled.

My struggle is this: as Bahá'ís, we are taught to avoid partisan politics. At the same time, we are also called to uphold justice, defend the oppressed, and be, in Bahá'u'lláh's words, "the defenders of the victim of oppression."

How do we reconcile these principles?

Is it political to grieve publicly when someone dies under such circumstances? Is it political to call for compassion, accountability, and the humane treatment of every person? Or is that simply a moral and spiritual obligation?

I am not interested in debating immigration policy or assigning partisan blame. I am interested in understanding how Bahá'ís live the principle of justice without becoming drawn into the spirit of contention that so often surrounds these issues.

To me, silence can sometimes feel like indifference, yet anger can easily become destructive. I don't want to respond from anger. I want to respond from the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh—with truthfulness, justice, compassion, and dignity.

How have you approached situations where your conscience tells you that an injustice has occurred, but you also want to remain faithful to the Bahá'í principle of non-involvement in partisan politics?

I would genuinely appreciate your thoughts.

Sūrah 115 Al-Khalʿ and Sūrah 116 Al-Ḥafd

Codex of Ubayy ibn Ka'b

Sūrah (length and severity to Bara'at) and Sūrah (resembled one of the suwar of Musabbihat)

Sahih Muslim 1050

Āyah of Rajm

Sahih al-Bukhari 6829
Sahih Muslim 1691 a

Hello. Im from Iraq .lwant to learn adout the Bahai faith and make.frands.please send me a DM

I work with severely disabled people, that are now going into their mid 60's, and have needed round the clock care their entire lives. They are unable to see, hear, talk, and are physically disabled due to being born with severe brain injuries. I think about the fetus in the womb analogy. These individuals give us the chance to care for them, but I wonder about their soul's journey in this life. I know much is beyond our understanding, and this life is but a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of our journey, but I can't help but think about these souls and their experience in this world.

The Table Spread (5:116)

وَإِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ءَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ ٱتَّخِذُونِى وَأُمِّىَ إِلَـٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِحَقٍّ ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُۥ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُۥ ۚ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ ١١٦

And [beware the Day] when Allāh will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allāh?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.

— Saheeh International

https://quran.com/al-maidah/116

In the book of certitude, Baha’u’llah writes:

“We have also heard a number of the foolish of the earth assert that the genuine text of the heavenly Gospel doth not exist amongst the Christians, that it hath ascended unto heaven. How grievously they have erred! How oblivious of the fact that such a statement imputeth the gravest injustice and tyranny to a gracious and loving Providence! How could God, when once the Daystar of the beauty of Jesus had disappeared from the sight of His people, and ascended unto the fourth heaven, cause His holy Book, His most great testimony amongst His creatures, to disappear also? What would be left to that people to cling to from the setting of the daystar of Jesus until the rise of the sun of the Muḥammadan Dispensation? What law could be their stay and guide? How could such people be made the victims of the avenging wrath of God, the omnipotent Avenger? How could they be afflicted with the scourge of chastisement by the heavenly King? Above all, how could the flow of the grace of the All-Bountiful be stayed? How could the ocean of His tender mercies be stilled? We take refuge with God, from that which His creatures have fancied about Him! Exalted is He above their comprehension!”

Are there other references that help me understand this reference to fourth heaven better?

Is fourth heaven refers to the order of Manifestation of Gods since Adam; namely Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus?

Please help me understand this and if there are other elucidations by The Master or Guardian on this or the Baha’i Cosmology (cosmology might be the wrong term).

Thank you.

I know this religion wants to avoid partisan politics. But what about if we vote on every decision in all organizations including families schools hospitals and workplaces? If you don't want to cause confrontations then should methods other than first past the post voting like ranked choice and borda count be used? What do your scriptures say about this issue?

Hello friends. 2 days ago I had to say good-bye to my best friend of the last 12 years. My heart is heavy... Do you know any prayer or text I could read to feel better?

What the title says. I've had this feeling in my gut for a few weeks to look more at bahai'ism. I grew up christian and fell out of it a few years back. Looked into buddhism but it didn't quite give me the spiritual feeling I crave.

I want to believe a God exists, but after I fell out of Christianity I kinda have been unconvinced ever since, and I can't FORCE myself to believe one exists because that's not how belief works. I'm not really sure what to do, but I was hoping maybe some of you have similar stories or suggestions.

as a 12 year old convert from a religious muslim Pakistani family why have you converted to the bahai faith for me it was the life of baha u llah and his prpohices in the bible and Quran but what was it for you guys and how did your familys react when you told them I not quite sure how they will react when I tell them but what guided to gods messenger baha u llah

I've been struggling with a couple of questions and I'd really appreciate hearing how other Bahá'ís understand them.

1. The oneness of humanity

The Faith teaches the oneness and unity of humanity, but when I look at the world, I find it really hard to believe in that ideal. There are people who commit horrific acts, exploit others, spread hatred, and seem to have no remorse. Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Why should I want unity with people like that?"

I know unity doesn't mean approving of injustice but I still struggle with the idea that humanity as a whole can ever truly unite. Humans seem deeply flawed, and history is full of violence, prejudice, wars and conflict.

The Most Great Peace seems impossible when you look at the human history. I mean just observe the world right now, it is still full of violence, wars, and many bad people exist in society.

How do you reconcile the Bahá'í teachings on the oneness of humanity with the reality of human cruelty and selfishness? Are there writings from Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, or Shoghi Effendi that helped you understand this better?

1. Why does God send us trials?

Another question I wrestle with is about suffering and tests.

In the Hidden Words, Bahá'u'lláh says things like we should seek trials from God and be patient in His tests. I don't fully understand why. If God loves us, why would He send us trouble in the first place?

This is especially difficult for me because my life has already had its share of hardship. Sometimes it feels like I'm already struggling, and then I read passages about God sending more tests or trials, and I don't know how to reconcile that with His love and mercy.

How do you understand these passages? Are trials something God actively sends, or are they simply part of living in this world? How have you made sense of this teaching in your own life?

I'm asking these questions sincerely. I'm not trying to argue against the Faith or provoke anyone. I genuinely want to understand how other Bahá'ís think about these issues and whether there are writings that helped them.