Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i Faith

The process of founding a new religion, in this case the Baha'i faith, doesn't happen overnight. There seems to be a lot of elements that go into it. The two things that stood out to me the most were the eloquent, charismatic leader, and the hardships and oppression of a group of people.

Baha'u'llah didn't start out thinking he was going to found a new religion (at least I don't think so). He started out following the Babi Faith and the words of Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad. Through the years, these followers were hated and feared, and treated badly. Baha'u'llah was imprisoned, put into a dark pit for a while, exiled, and went through many rough times, along with those who followed him as a leader of Babis. Because of the nature of Baha'u'llah, he gained the respect and reverence of many people. He became a comfort in trying times, always strong in his convictions. His generosity captured people's attention and respect. His ability to stay calm, to be unfazed in the face of death, torture, and opposition amazed people. During the time when the Kurds tried to assassinate him, he didn't flinch or try to protect himself, but instead told a story, which touched some of the Kurds so much they "bowed low before Baha'u'llah and left (p 48)." Even though they were there to kill him. During another attempt by the Kurds to assassinate him, Baha'u'llah "sat down and spoke to them in such a way that they left amazed at the way their enmity and anger had been transformed into affection and acquiescence (p 53)." The founder of a religion must have this power of people in order to win them over. This coupled with the hardship and oppression of the Babis lead to them eager and willing to follow him.

The faith also gained prominence as rituals began emerging. "Within the Babi community there had been signs that affairs were about to enter a new phase...it had been the custom of the Babis to gather together in the evenings and chant their holy writings...Baha'u'llah began to give the Babis tablets of his own...to recite every evening (p 59)." Baha'u'llah was becoming a main part of the ceremony of the Babis, someone they listened to regularly. They held rituals around his words, making him the center of their faith.

The declaration of Baha'u'llah's mission made the Baha'i religion really begin. After he had built up his reputation, his respect, and his importance in this community of people, all that they were waiting for was this public declaration. His prestige in the community, which came from his charisma in the face of the hardships, had convinced pretty much everyone of his station already, he just needed to come and claim it. The rest of the work was set up by the many years and events prior.