ON November 12 this year about six million Baha’is around the world, together with many millions of their friends, commemorated the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, prophet founder of the Baha’i faith.

This is an opportunity for Bahá’ís and their friends to come together in homes or community centres to share prayers, food and engage in artistic performances. It is one of the nine holy days on which work is suspended to allow Bahá’ís to dedicate the day to celebrating the birth of the founder of their faith and reflect on his life and teachings .

Bahá’u’lláh, known as Mírzá Husayn-’Alí at birth, was born into a noble family on November 12, 1817 in Tehran, the capital of Persia, today’s Iran. His father was a wealthy government minister.

His son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: “From earliest childhood he was distinguished among his relatives and friends. In wisdom, intelligence and as a source of new knowledge, he was advanced beyond his age and superior to his surroundings.

“All who knew him were astonished at his precocity. It was usual for them to say: ‘Such a child will not live’ for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach maturity. Bahá’u’lláh became known for his intelligence and knowledge even though he did not enjoy formal education.” Baha’u’llah’s writings teach us that the “Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens”. They place great importance on the principle of unity in diversity by which the world can be likened to a garden made up of many different flowers that contribute to its beauty. They argue that “the wellbeing of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” Baha’is around the world, together with their friends of all faiths or non, work to bring about this unity of mankind to make this world a better place, an ever-advancing civilisation.

Carlo Schroder, Near Neighbours Co-ordinator