1. Bahá’u’lláh Founder of the Bahá’Í Faith
Key Person - Bahá’u’lláh

2. Bahá’u’lláh – Whose given name was Mirza Husayn-Ali - was the eldest son of a distinguished nobleman who held a high position in the court of the King of Persia. He was born in Tehran in Persia (now Iran) on the 12th November 1817

3. The house where Bahá’u’lláh was born.

4. As a baby, it is said that He never cried, and as a child He was well-mannered and well-behaved. Though He never went to school, he was known for His knowledge and understanding of religion.
When He was 22, His father died. Though Bahá’u’lláh was expected to take on His father’s job, He was not interested in money or power, and devoted Himself to helping poor people in Tehran.

5. Bahá’u’lláh became known as ‘The Father of the Poor’ and His wife Asíyi Khánum was known as ‘Mother of Consolation’

6. Bahá’u’lláh became a follower of The Báb.
Like many others, He was arrested because of His beliefs , beaten on the soles of His feet and put into a dungeon known as the Black Pit.

7. The entrance to the Síyáh-Chál, or ‘Black Pit’
Siyah-Chal- ‘The Black Pit’, a filthy and ice-cold dungeon, held the worst type of criminals. Bahá’u’lláh was placed in stocks and heavy chains – the heaviest weighed 50 kilos and its burden affected him for the rest of his life.

8. It was whilst He was in this terrible place that Bahá’u’lláh realised that He was the Messenger promised by the Báb.

9. Once He was released from prison, Bahá’u’lláh was sent away with His family to Iraq in the Turkish Empire.

10. Map of Bahá'u'lláh's Exile
From Baghdad, Bahá’u’lláh and His family were exiled first to Constantinople, Adrianople and finally to Palestine.

11. Entrance to the Garden of Ridvan, Baghdad
It was during this tremendous journey that Bahá’u’lláh revealed to others that He was the Promised One foretold by The Báb.
Entrance to the Garden of Ridvan, Baghdad

12. Bahá’u’lláh, His family and about 70 followers arrived in Constantinople in Four months later they were sent away again to Adrianople.
(An example of travel by howdah in Bahá'u'lláh’s time. Photo:

13. (Picture credit: iichs.org)
The winter’s journey took twelve days through snow and ice. They had to walk or ride in open wagons without warm clothing, and many of the travellers became ill.

14. During this time in Adrianople, Bahá’u’lláh wrote to kings and rulers of the world.
He told them His message of unity, and told them how they should work together to bring about world peace. He said that they should hold a peace conference and agree to reduce wars and weapons. He said slavery should be abolished and that they should share out wealth more fairly.

15. Bahá’u’lláh described the receiving of His Revelation as “a copious rain”. In His writings, He set out His prescription for the world to live in unity and peace.
Original scriptures of Bahá’u’lláh in His own hand – these are kept in the Archives building in Haifa, Israel.

16. The Turkish Authorities finally exiled Bahá’u’lláh and His family to the prison city of `Akká in Palestine (now in Israel). `Akká was a terrible and unhealthy place and they expected that Bahá’u’lláh would die there.

17. The Prison city of ‘Akká
It was said that the city of ‘Akká was so filthy that birds flying overhead would drop dead out of the sky from its stench.
Bahá’u’lláh lived there for 22 years.

18. Local people came to love Bahá’u’lláh and knew that He was not a threat. He was eventually allowed to move away from the city to the countryside, where He lived for the rest of His life.

19. Bahá’u’lláh passed away on 29th May, 1892
Bahá'u'lláh's Taj, displayed in His room in Bahji
When Bahá’u’lláh died, thousands of people – of all faiths and from many countries – came to grieve. 500 people camped out in the gardens for nine days.

20. The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh
Bahá’u’lláh passed away in Bahji at the hour of dawn on 29th May. He was in the 75th year of His life.
The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh

21. Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh and The Báb is an obligation that Bahá’ís should fulfill at least once in their lifetime if they are able. Centered around Haifa and Bahji in Israel, pilgrims visit the Holy places to pray, learn more of the history of their Faith and meet with other pilgrims from around the world.
The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahji

22. The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and gardens in Bahji, Israel.

23. Further Investigation:
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All images were copied (free download)with permission from the Bahá’í Media Bank, unless otherwise stated:
With grateful thanks to the Farmington Institute for the opportunity to develop
these materials: