Bahá’í faithful prepare for founder’s 200th anniversary

The local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís is preparing for a special celebration to mark the anniversary of the birth of the founder of its faith.

October 10, 2017

Lowvelder 1 minute read

MBOMBELA - This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh.

The name means “Glory of God”, and he is considered to be the latest manifestation of God, like Jesus and Mohammed, who also brought the Word of God to mankind.

“It teaches the unity of religion and mankind,” explained Deborah Dadgar.

In South Africa, the festivities will involve thousands of people from various ethnic backgrounds, demonstrating one of the fundamental teachings of Baha’u’llah: the principle of the oneness of the human race, the hallmark of Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation.

He delivered a new revelation in the mid-19th century, delineating a framework for an advanced global civilisation.

This reiterated spiritual teachings as old as time, and newer social teachings relevant to this day and age, Dadgar explained.

The Bahá’í faith also recommends to its followers the unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential harmony with science, and recognises it as the foremost agency for the pacification and the orderly progress of human society.

“The global community which Bahá’u’lláh has raised up represents people of all backgrounds and walks of life, who attend to their own spiritual growth as well as humbly trying to contribute to the betterment of their communities,” Dadgar said.

As part of the celebrations in Mbombela, the local group will show a film that explains the significance of the religion on Saturday October 21 and hold meetings with the Bahá’í communities in outlying areas on Sunday October 22.

Anyone is welcome to join. It also offers teaching for youths to enable them to be agents for positive change.

To find out more about them and the celebration, contact Dadgar on 072-657-0616 or Nomfundo on 083-627-6073 or email them on bahais.mbombela@gmail.com.