Born in 1817, Bahá'u'lláh was a member of one of the great patrician families of Persia. Historical research also revelaed that he was a descendant of Zoroaster and of the Sásáníyán kings of Persia, and thus of pure Persian lineage. He was also a descendant of Jesse and of Abraham through his third wife Katurah. Although endowed with wealth and vast estates, Bahá'u'lláh turned His back on a position at court and became known for His generosity and kindliness which made Him deeply loved among His countrymen.

Due to His support for the message of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh's was subjected to imprisonment, torture, and a series of banishments to Iraq, Turkey and finally Israel where He passed away in 1892 and was buried a few miles outsdie of Aka.

During His 10 year exile in Baghdad, it gradually becasme clear to many that Bahá'u'lláh was the Manifestation heralded by The Báb and He Himself confirmed this shortly before He left for Constantinope (now Istanbul), by a momentous announcement in April 1863, in which He claimed to be the Promised One of all ages. For books about Bahá'u'lláh's life and exiles, see under History.

On May 23, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), a young man later entitled the Báb announced that He was the One expected not only by the Moslems, some of whom were actively seeking the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God, but also that He represented the return awaited by all the peoples of the world, and of all the major religions. Scholars have since demonstrated that many prophecies centred on this time and place and predicted the coming of One who would herald the appearance of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

The title Báb means "the Gate" and although Himself the bearer of an independent revelation from God, the Báb declared that His main purpose was to prepare mankind for the advent of One greater than Himself, who would appear very soon.

The Báb's momentous claims angered the clergy and he was arrested, beaten, imprisoned, and finally on July 9, 1850, executed in the public square of the city of Tabriz. Some 20,000 of His followers were subsequently martyred in a series of massacres throughout Persia. The remains of the body of The Báb, initially throne into the city moat, were recovered and eventually taken to Israel where today they lie entombed in a golden domed shrine surrounded by beautiful gardens, on mount Carmel, overlooking the Bay of Haifa.

From earliest childhood, `Abbas Effendi, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, shared His father's sufferings and banishments. He took as His title `Abdu'l-Bahá, the "servant of Bahá" and his only wish was to serve His illustrious father.

In His will, Bahá'u'lláh appointed `Abdu'l-Bahá as his successor, as leader of the Bahá'ís, and the only person authorised to interpret Bahá'u'lláh's writings. Due to his life of service and humility, `Abdu'l-Bahá is also given the title of the 'Perfect Exemplar'. He wrote many letters to the Bahá'is in the East and the West and in later life, was able to travel to Europe and America where his talks were recorded and translated into English. His many writings express Bahá'u'lláh's teachings in a dignified, loving and straighforward manner.

`Abdu'l-Bahá passed away in 1921, having consolidated the foundations of the Bahá'í Faith and greatly expanded its reach. His body is interred in a corner of Shrine of the Báb, on Mount Carmel, Haifa.

The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abd'ul Bahá all revealed prayers which epitomize the way we, as humble servants should approach the Unknowable Essence of God. Bahá'is use these prayers in their private devotions and at Bahá'í gatherings.

See also Childrens' Prayer Books

Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) was, on his mother's side, a great-grandson of Bahá'u'lláh; on his father's side was related to the Báb. The most potent influence on his life was his grandfather, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi studied at Oxford, England, the better to serve as his assistant. Whilst in England, however, 'Abdu'l-Bahá passed away and the young Shoghi Effendi found himself the appointed successor and authorised interpreter, known as The Guardian, of the Bahá'í Faith.

Shoghi Effendi married a Canadian Bahá'í and from a base in Haifa, devoted his life to the numerical and geographical expansion of the Faith, achieving its deserved recognition as an Independent World Religion, and the expansion of the Shrines and administrative centre on Mount Carmel. He passed away in 1957 whilst in London and is buried in the New Southgate cemetary. He wrote several volumes in his inimitable sweeping English prose, which unambiguously set forth and explain the significance of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation.

The divinely ordained Universal House of Justice was first elected in April 1963 in accordance with the writings of Bahá'u'llah and is the single, supreme, international administrative body in the Bahá'í world.

Elections are held every five years at an international convention, and all members of every National Assembly around the world ( the governing bodies of the Faith in each country), vote for the membership of nine people. There is no electioneering and the vote is by secret ballot. Candidates are chosen for their integrity, loyalty and experience.

The Universal House of Justice legislates on any matter not specifically addressed in the existing Writings and acts as leader to the Bahá'í world.