Bahai, the world’s newest religion and its hanging gardens of Haifa, plus the disreputable history of the German Colony

Bahai religion is based on the teachings of its religious leader Baha'ullah (1817–1892), its five million followers today are spread across the globe and it is the second most widespread independent religion in the world in terms of numbers of countries represented. In its country of origin Iran, Bahai is the largest religious minority and is subject to great persecution. Bahai religion does not have a priesthood, it is organised on local, national and international scales through elected bodies.

There are currently over 180 national and 12,000 local bodies. The international body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is located in the Bahai centre of the world, the harbour town of Haifa, Israel. The story of Bahai begins with two men: Sayyid Ali Muhammad (1819–1850), known as ‘Bab’ (Arab: ‘the gate’) and Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri (1817–1892), known as ‘Baha'ullah’ (Arab: ‘glory of god’). Baha'ullah is the actual founder of the religion. The Bahai see Bab as his companion.

Wikipedia on the history : On May 23, 1844 Siyyid `Alí-Muhammad of Shiraz, Iran proclaimed that he was "the Báb" (الباب "the Gate"), referencing his later claim to the station of Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam of Shi`a Islam. His followers were therefore known as Bábís. As the Báb's teachings spread, which the Islamic clergy saw as a threat, his followers came under increased persecution and torture. The conflicts escalated in several places to military sieges by the Shah's army. The Báb himself was imprisoned and eventually executed in 1850.

Bahá'ís see the Báb as the forerunner of the Bahá'í Faith, because the Báb's writings introduced the concept of "He whom God shall make manifest", a Messianic figure whose coming, according to Bahá'ís, was announced in the scriptures of all of the world's great religions, and whom Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, claimed to be in 1863.

The Bab’s remains were kept for 60 years and brought secretly from Iran to the Holy Land and interred in a tomb by the Mount Carmel. The Baha'ullah (1817-1892) died in exile after a life sentence in Akká, present day Israel. Towards the end of his life, his sentence was gradually relaxed, and he was allowed to live in a country house called Bahjí (=happiness), where he died. It is the holiest of places to the Bahai.

At the foot of the Bab shrine one stumbles across the remnants of the German Colony. This can be traced back to 1868 when German Protestant Templers first started to whip the Oriental town of Haifa into shape. They were successful – at first. Indeed, proud Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II came to visit on October 25 1898 before travelling onwards to Jerusalem. Upon arrival he met Theodor Herzl who asked him for the German patronage for the Jewish state in Palestine.

The story met a late but abrupt end. When the colony celebrated the Nazi victory after Adolf Hitler rose to power, they were banished from the city. Israel’s main harbour of Haifa by Mount Carmel is just one hour away from Tel Aviv – the ideal distance for a relatively short day trip. After all there is a good reason why the saying goes: Haifa works, Jerusalem plays - Tel Aviv plays.


Bahai Terraces
Haifa, Israel