Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Diane Robinson Kerr, Islam and the Baha'i Faith, bahai-library.com.
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ISLAM AND THE BAHA’I FAITH
It is with great reverence to the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon Him, that I attempt to
write this paper. May He accept this humble offering I lay at His threshold as a small token of my love and
respect.

Similarities and Differences:

Islam is the Mother Religion of my Faith and in it I see so many similarities and concepts

that I accept as part of my own religious understanding. This comes as no surprise as all of the

prophets from God, or Allah, reveal the same spiritual teachings, the same tawhid. Differences

are most obvious in the social teachings, which are adjusted and changed to fit the needs of the

society and times. Some of the most obvious parallels can be found by comparing the five pillars.

I especially love this quote by Abdu’l Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah in reference to the pillars of

faith.

There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakable supports of the
Faith of God. The mightiest of these is learning and the use of the mind, the expansion of
consciousness, and insight into the realities of the universe and the hidden mysteries of
Almighty God.1                                                        – Abdu’l Baha

(Abdu’l Baha), ( Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l Baha, p. 153)

First Pillar:

In the first few lines of The Words of Wisdom in the Tablets of Baha’u’llah, we see this

primary directive expressed which corresponds with the first pillar, the Shahadah.

In the Name of God, the Exalted, the Most High. The source of all good is trust in God,
submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure.
The essence of wisdom is the fear of God, the dread of His scourge and punishment, and
the apprehension of His justice and decree. The essence of religion is to testify unto that
which the Lord hath revealed, and follow that which He hath ordained in His mighty
Book…2
- Baha'u'llah

Submission to God, the Unknowable, the All Wise, is also reflected in the daily,

obligatory noon-day prayer.

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify,
at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is
none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
- (Baha'u'llah, 3

The acceptance of God and His messengers is a fundamental verity of both Islam and

Baha’i. A common belief among Muslims is that there can be no further revelation beyond

Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon Him. Baha’is believe that God’s revelation to humans

is infinite and not limited. We see the allegorical reference to this in the Quran.

And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans
behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted (in the
writing): for Allah is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom.
- (The Holy Quran4

One of the most distinguishable methods used by all of the prophets it seems is the use of

metaphor as in the quote above. When holy scriptures are interpreted too literally, it leads to

misunderstandings that result in wrong action such as the rigid refusal of both Christians and

Jews in accepting Muhammad or any other messengers. This has led to violence, wars, and

(Baha’u’llah), (Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 153)
(Baha’u’llah), (Prayers and Meditation by Baha’u’llah, p. 313 )
(The Holy Quran, 31:27)

religious pogroms such as the one against Baha’is in Iran. Christians are still waiting for Christ

to come down on the clouds: Jews, the Messiah. Many Muslims (not all), understand that the title

Seal of the Prophets means that God’s bounty is finite. Baha’is view this title as the distinction

that Muhammad was the seal of the prophets in that he ended the cycle of prophesy began by

Adam. The cycle of fulfillment, which is to last fifty thousand years, began with the advent of

the Bab (means gate), who was the forerunner of Baha’u’llah.

In order to be a Baha’i one must declare their belief in God and acceptance of His

messengers, including God’s most recent one, Baha’u’llah. This is done in the heart after

personal investigation of the claims of Baha’u’llah and witnessed by the nearest Spiritual

Assembly, (local governing body), once they receive the signed declaration card.

Second Pillar:

Prayer is a very vital part of life for a Baha’i. There are three obligatory prayers to choose

from the short noon-day prayer above, the medium prayer which must be said in the morning,

noon, and evening, or the long obligatory prayer which must be said once a day. These prayers

are the obligatory ones but there are many others that have been revealed by Baha’u’llah. We can

also pray from our own hearts but there is a special potency when using the words from the

prophet as these are seen as the words of God and have many levels of meaning.

One distinctive difference is the abolishment of congregational prayer except the prayer

for the dead. Baha’is can pray in gatherings but not in any rigid or ritualistic way. The daily use

of obligatory prayers are said in private. Baha’u’llah also abolished the institution of priesthood.

This does not mean that one cannot have a teacher or a guide but with the understanding that the

only real authority is the revelation from God through his manifestations. The Writings of

Baha’u’llah were written over a period of forty years as a prisoner and this is the first time in

history that we have the original writings of the manifestation. Nothing was allowed to leave His

hands unless it was signed and stamped with His seal.

Third Pillar:

Zakat is similar to Huququ’llah, meaning the rights of Allah. The payment of

Huququ’llah is based on one’s income. After all debts have been paid and once what is left over

reaches to 19% in gold mithqals, 19% of that is considered the Right of God. A gold mithqals is

equivalent to 2.2246 ounces of gold. Other than this, we donate to the Baha’i Fund throughout

the rest of the year. It is confidential, voluntary, and reserved for Baha’is only. We have often re-

directed funds donated by non Baha’is to other charities. Donating to the Fund is considered an

honor and a way of attracting God’s grace.

Fourth Pillar:

Baha’is have also been enjoined to fast. Ours is shorter and based on the calendar system

revealed by Baha’u’llah. It is a solar calendar made up of nineteen months. Each month has

nineteen days and is named after an attribute of God. There are several extra days which are

known as Ayyam-i-Ha. This is a period that happens from February 25th to March 1st. Gift giving

and acts of service during this period prepare one for the fast which begins on March 2nd to

March 20th. The fast has the same requirements, no food, drink, smoke, sex, during the daylight

hours. It is an intensive time of prayer and a preparation for the new year which begins on March

21st, spring equinox. This is celebrated before sunset and is Naw-Ruz, a Feast of hospitality and

rejoicing.

Fifth Pillar:

Pilgrimage is also a duty for Baha’is unless ill. Baha’u’llah has exempted women as a

mercy on His part. They are free of the obligation but encouraged to take pilgrimage. When

Baha’u’llah was exiled to Akka Israel, He was imprisoned in the fortress prison in Akka which is

across the bay from Haifa. Later He was released under house arrest. After forty years as a

prisoner, He died and was buried just outside of Akka. When Baha’is go on pilgrimage, they

visit the shrines of Baha’u’llah and the shrines of Abdul’Baha and the Bab which are on Mount

Carmel. The Baha’i World Center is also on Mount Carmel and this is where the Universal

House of Justice, (an elected body of nine members, elected from delegates who represent every

part of the planet), sits as the world governing body for Baha’is.

What It All Means To Me:

As long as I can remember, I have always known that God is one. I eschewed churches or

groups for years because I did not believe that anyone had the right way and I still don’t. I love

the Baha’i Faith however, because its main goal is the desire of my heart: peace on earth. I know

that this is the goal of all faiths but I have not found one that has such specific instructions. I

believe that the reason for this is that the religions of the past were concerned more with the

individual and the tribe: salvation, enlightenment, etc. The world was not viewed as one round,

blue planet hanging in space until recently. The Baha’i Teachings offer a very detailed blueprint

of how to bring peace to humanity because now is the time that we can understand the statement

“The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.” – Baha’u’llah

Revelation is progressive. Although the Baha’i revelation is mystical in nature and this is

the same truth revealed in the past and will be again in the future, those of us who have missed

previous revelations have missed so much. If each revelation could be compared to a chapter in

God’s great book, missing chapters has consequences. Learning more about Islam helps me to

fill out some missing pieces. For instance, I love the deep dedication and unquestioned loyalty to

the teachings I see in true Muslims. I need that piece just as I need the lessons of mindfulness I

find in the Buddhist teachings. Baha’is in the west are strongly encouraged to study the Quran.

I want time to delve more deeply into Islam and Sufism. I need time to really digest these

teachings and start applying them more in my daily life. It encourages me to be a more faithful

Baha’i and to appreciate the context where Baha’u’llah’s revelation was born. Baha’u’llah tells

us that there will be another messenger from God in approximately nine hundred and some years.

Will we have matured enough to welcome the next one?