Baha'i Faith, Washington DC

Upcoming Events

Wed Jul 01st, 08:00 pm
Devotions, Cleveland Park

Sun Jul 05th, 11:30 am
Children's Classes

Wed Jul 08th, 08:00 pm
Reflections - South East Style

Thu Jul 09th, 12:00 am
Holy Day: Martyrdom of the Bab

Thu Jul 09th, 11:00 am
Commemoration: Martyrdom of the Bab [RSVP Requested]

Color of Worship

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The Baha'is and the Howard University community held a unique inter-religious worship service commemorating the visit of Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith, to Howard University in 1912.

We celebrated on April 4th.  View the photographs here...

Who We Are

Baha'is believe all humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race.

Learn more about DC Baha'is...

Thoughts on Iran

With aching hearts, Baha'is of the world focus on the events unfolding in Iran, the birthplace of their religion.

We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it.  - Baha'u'llah

 
Baha’is commemorate Ascension of Baha’u’llah

May 29 marks the anniversary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. The day is one of nine holy days on which Baha'is suspend work and school.

Room in which Baha'u'llah passed awayBaha’u’llah died after a brief illness in 1892 in the mansion of Bahji outside Akka, in what is now northern Israel. After spending most of His life in exile, He was able to live his later years at Bahji in relative tranquility. He was buried in a small stone house adjacent to the mansion. This Shrine is the holiest place on earth for Baha’is, the place toward which they turn in prayer each day.

Six days before His death, Baha’u’llah gathered his followers and family members and delivered what would be His last address to them:

"I am well pleased with you all. Ye have rendered many services, and been very assiduous in your labors. Ye have come here every morning and every evening. May God assist you to remain united. May He aid you to exalt the Cause of the Lord of being."

For a week after Baha’u’llah’s death, writes Shoghi Effendi, “a vast number of mourners, rich and poor alike, tarried to grieve with the bereaved family. . . Notables, among whom were numbered Shí'ahs, Sunnis, Christians, Jews and Druzes, as well as poets, ulamas and government officials, all joined in lamenting the loss. . .”

Read more...
 
Celebrating the Declaration of the Báb, Herald of Bahá'u'lláh

On the evening of May 22, Baha'is throughout the world commemorate the Declaration of the Bab, which took place in this room (pictured) in the Persian city of Shiraz in 1844.

 

This Friday evening, the Baha’is of Washington, D.C. will commemorate the Declaration of the Bab at the D.C. Baha’i Center.

The Báb—born Siyyid `Alí-Muhammad in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran)—announced on May 22, 1844, that He was the bearer of a Divine Revelation which would prepare humanity for the advent of the Promised One of all religions. That Promised One, the Báb declared, was destined to usher in the age of justice, unity and peace promised in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and all the other world religions. Bahá'u'lláh, one of the Báb's leading advocates, announced in April 1863 that He was the Divine Messenger the Báb had promised.

The Báb’s announcement in the middle of the 19th century came at a time when many Christians were expecting the return of Christ based on their reading of Biblical prophecy. Simultaneously, half way around the world, in the Middle East, many followers of Islam were also expecting their Promised One to appear.
Read more...
 
Baha'is of Washington, D.C. Mark Anniversary of Imprisonment of Baha'i Leaders in Iran

Leaders of Baha'i Faith in Iran have been imprisoned and will be tried.

[Update: 04/14/09 - CNN Story today]

Today, May 14, marks the one-year anniversary of the imprisonment of seven Baha'i leaders in Iran, who have spent a year in jail without formal charges or access to their lawyer, Shirin Ebadi.  The families of the prisoners were recently informed that a new accusation has been lodged against them by the Iranian government, the charge of “spreading corruption on earth,” which carries the threat of death under Iran's penal code.

These charges are completely baseless, and the Baha’is of D.C. are very concerned for the safety and well-being of their co-religionists in Iran.

D.C. Baha’is are writing to their members of Congress, and urging others to do the same, to gather additional cosponsors for two resolutions, H.Res 175 and S.Res.71, currently before the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate respectively, which call for the release of the Iranian Baha'i leaders and other Baha’i prisoners.

Read more...

Upcoming Events

Wed Jul 01st, 08:00 pm
Devotions, Cleveland Park

Sun Jul 05th, 11:30 am
Children's Classes

Wed Jul 08th, 08:00 pm
Reflections - South East Style

Get Involved

The best way to meet the Baha'is is to join us in our regular activities including:

*Sunday morning devotions & presentation.
*Devotions in neighborhoods throughout DC.
*Classes for children and youth.
*Study classes for adults.

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Personal Intro to the Faith

Reading a web site about the Baha'is is great but what is even better is to meet Baha'is in your neighborhood.  We can meet with you in a comfortable public setting and engage in a relaxed one-on-one conversation to learn about the Baha'i Faith.  If you are interested in learning more just contact us!

What is the Bahai Faith?

Founded by Baha'u'llah in the mid-1800s, the Baha'i Faith is among the fastest-growing of the world's religions. Baha'is live in more than 100,000 localities around the world, which reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship.

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