Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892) was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Bahá'ís regard his teachings as authoritative because they recognize him as a Manifestation of God, a divinely appointed revealer of God's will, rather than simply a religious philosopher or reformer.
Who Was Bahá'u'lláh?
Born Mírzá Husayn-'Alí in Tehran, Persia (now Iran), Bahá'u'lláh became a follower of the Báb, whose religious movement prepared the way for a further divine messenger. In 1863, while exiled in Baghdad, Bahá'u'lláh declared that he was the promised figure foretold by the Báb. He experienced imprisonment and successive exiles, eventually reaching 'Akká in Ottoman Palestine.
His name means “the Glory of God.” His writings address spiritual development, ethical conduct and the organization of human society.
Why Do His Teachings Have Authority?
Bahá'ís understand religious history through progressive revelation: God reveals guidance through successive Manifestations, including Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. They believe these figures share a divine source, while their teachings respond to different historical circumstances.
Within this understanding, Bahá'u'lláh's authority rests on divine revelation, not election, scholarly expertise or popularity. Bahá'ís accept his writings, including the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (“Most Holy Book”), as sacred scripture containing guidance appropriate to humanity's present stage of development.
A common misconception is that Bahá'u'lláh is worshipped as God. Bahá'í teaching distinguishes the unknowable divine essence from its Manifestations, who reveal God's attributes and will.
How Does This Shape Practice?
Recognizing Bahá'u'lláh's authority entails aligning life with his teachings. Obligatory prayer and fasting express obedience to revealed guidance; efforts to overcome prejudice and promote education express his teaching on the unity of humanity.
IB Exam Technique
For Part 1, connect this explanation to “How do we get there?” Explain the chain from recognition of Bahá'u'lláh to obedience and spiritual development. Attribute divine-authority claims to Bahá'ís rather than presenting them as independently established facts.