About the Baha'is of New York City

Address:

New York City Baha'i Center
53 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
(between Broadway & University)

Telephone: 212-674-8998 (For Jazz Night info: 212-222-5159)
E-mail: info@bahainyc.org

History

The Baha’i Faith has nearly 100 years of colorful history in New York City. Since our earliest days in the city people of all backgrounds have come together to explore the teachings of Baha’u’llah related to race unity, world peace, spiritual transformation and much more.

In 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’u’llah’s son and appointed successor, traveled to the United States following over 40 years of exile and imprisonment and spent many joyful weeks in New York City. Of New York City, ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote:

“I am greatly pleased with the city of New York. Its harbor entrance, its piers, buildings and broad avenues are magnificent and beautiful. Truly, it is a wonderful city. As New York has made such progress in material civilization, I hope that it may also advance spiritually in the Kingdom and Covenant of God so that the friends here may become the cause of the illumination of America, that this city may become the city of love and that the fragrances of God may be spread from this place to all parts of the world. I have come for this…”

During his time in New York City, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent time with the city’s leading and lowliest citizens who flocked to his talks and receptions to hear firsthand from this luminous Figure about the promised day of peace and the redemptive power of the Divine. While here, He revealed this prayer for the City:

“Bless Thou, O King of Kings, the city of New York!  Cause the friends there to be kind to one another. Purify their souls and make their hearts to be free and detached. Illumine the world of their consciousness. Exhilarate their spirits and bestow celestial power and confirmation upon them.  Establish there a heavenly realm, so that the City of Baha may prosper and New York be favored with blessings from the Abha Kingdom, that this region may become like the all-highest Paradise, may develop into a vineyard of God and be transformed into a heavenly orchard and a spiritual rose garden.”

Today, the Baha’is have a Center at 53 East 11th Street and numerous activities and service programs in all five boroughs. Directions. If you would like to stay informed as to activities and events, you may subscribe to one of our RSS feeds. RSS Feeds page.

Learn more about ‘Abdu’l-Baha in New York.

What is the Bahá’í Faith?

The Bahá’í Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite the peoples of the world. Bahá’ís are the followers of Bahá’u’lláh, who we believe is the Promised One of all Ages. The traditions of nearly every people include the promise of a future when peace will be established and humankind will live in prosperity. We believe that the promised hour has come and that Bahá’u’lláh is the great Personage Whose Teachings will enable humanity to realize the long awaited promise of peace. 

Bahá’ís Believe in:

• The Oneness of God
• The Oneness of Religion
• The Oneness of Humanity

Founded in Iran in 1844, the Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent monotheistic religions. Today, the Faith has more than 5 million followers in 236 countries and territories. Bahá’ís come from nearly every national, ethnic and religious background, making the Bahá’í Faith the second-most widespread religion in the world.

Learn more about the Bahá’í Faith:

• National web site for the United States: http://www.bahai.us/about-bahai
• The International Bahá’í website: http://www.bahai.org

We invite you to learn about the Bahá’í Faith and to join New York City activities that explore and celebrate the oneness of humanity.

Who is Baha'u'llah?

Shrine of Baha'u'llah

The Bahá’í Faith was founded by Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), a Persian nobleman from Tehran who, in the mid-nineteenth century, gave up a princely existence to teach a revolutionary new message of peace, justice and unity.

Bahá'u'lláh suffered the loss of all His worldly possessions and was subjected to imprisonment, torture and a series of banishments. The first was to Baghdad where, in 1863, He announced Himself as the Messenger of God for this age and the Promised One of all ages. From Baghdad, Bahá'u'lláh was banished to Turkey, and finally to Akka, Israel, where He arrived as a prisoner in 1868.

Writing of His sufferings to bring God’s message to the people of the world, Baha’u’llah stated:

"The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!"

Bahá’u’lláh claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God. His life, work and influence parallel that of Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, and Muhammad. Bahá’ís view Bahá’u’lláh as the most recent in this succession of Divine Messengers.

Bahá'u'lláh considered the realization of the organic unity of the entire human race as the purpose of his Revelation. This unity is in accordance with the stage of maturity of the humankind, and calls for the realization that all people are created by one Creator and that we all belong to one race—the human race.

Bahá'u'lláh wrote:

• "Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch."
• "Close your eyes to racial differences and welcome all with the light of oneness."
• "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established."
• "Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love."

Before His death, Bahá'u'lláh provided for the succession of leadership of the Bahá'í community, ensuring its unity and protecting it from schism. His eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, (Servant of the Glory), was appointed the head of the Faith and the sole authorized interpreter of Baha’u’llah writings.

Bahá'u'lláh passed away at Bahjí, just north of Akka in 1892, and is buried there. His teachings had already begun to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East, and His Shrine is today the focal point of the world community that these teachings have brought into being.

To learn more about Baha’u’llah, please visit:

• The Life of Baha’u’llah http://www.bahaullah.org
• Baha’u’llah: Promised One of All Ages  http://www.bahai.us/bahaullah