Baha'u'llah converted to Babism at the age of 27, at the age of 31 he chose the name 'Baha' for himself.

In 1844 Mirza Husayn Ali received a visit from Mulla Husayn, one of the Bab’s early disciples. The Bab sent Mulla Husayn to Tehran to deliver a letter to Mirza Husayn Ali (Baha'u'llah), he converted to Babism at the age of 27.In 1848 Mirza Husayn Ali organized and helped to direct the gathering of Babis in the village of Badasht; this conference at...

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They purchased land by force from the Israelis

In the interviews taken by some Israeli researchers, they found that:Interviewees from all groups, with the exception of site promoters, perceived the Baha'i as exerting power over the residents, in some cases with the help of the courts, to induce them to sell their apartments. In most instances, references were not to physical force but to the power...

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Baha'is may receive contributions from non-Baha'is

"Your letter ... about accepting donations from non-Bahá'ís for the maintenance of tutorial schools has been received, and we have been asked to reply as follows."Bahá'ís may receive contributions from non-Bahá'ís for charitable activities whose beneficiaries are non-Bahá'ís as well. However, it is very important to ensure that the acceptance of funds...

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Individuals can also be shunned for expressions of conscience.

Former Bahá'í, Juan Cole stated:The most serious sanction of all is being declared a “covenant breaker.” Although Baha’u’llah himself attempted to abolish the practices of shunning and ritual pollution, contemporary Baha’is, like members of the Watchtower and other cults, shun those who are excommunicated. Only the head of the Baha’i faith can impose...

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Baha'u'llah was unhappy with the uprisings of Nayriz and Zanjan

Whatever his attitude towards the exploits of the Bābīs at the Shaykh Ṭabarsī shrine, it is evident that Ḥusayn 'Alī (Baha'u'llah) was generally unhappy about the course of events after 1848 and that he viewed the uprisings in Nayrīz and Zanjān as contrary to the divine purpose. Writing in later years, he expresses his disapproval of Bābī militancy...

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Babi killing of non-Babis and Baha'i killing of Azalis

Babis (predecessors of the Baha'is) have killed many Muslims in Iran. Baha'is have also killed many Azalis....the Bab ordered to kill non-Babis, burn all non-Babi books, destroy Muslim shrines, shun all non-Babis, remove all non-Babis from 5 major cities of Iran. The Babis were a cause of at least 3 civil wars in Iran. At least 20 Azalis were killed...

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Punishments for those who are eligible but do not pay Huququ'llah

"While Bahá’u’lláh promises us many blessings when we are honest in our duty to pay Ḥuqúqu’lláh, He also warns us not to neglect our duty or to be dishonest in calculating it. No one can force us to pay Ḥuqúqu’lláh, but, if we are eligible but do not pay, or we are not trustworthy and honest in calculating it, God will punish us. In the first quote...

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Bahá’ís Cannot Associate with Those Who Have Left the Cause and are Associating with Covenant-Breakers

"There is no excuse for believers continuing to associate with … and those who, knowing everything, still insist on doing so, should be shunned by their fellow-Bahá’ís. The same applies to people who have left the Cause and associate with …. The point is that if the believers know and meet with people who are acquainted with Covenant-breakers there...

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Committee of Vigilance to watch over the Faith

"He feels that your Assembly should redouble its vigilance, in fact he feels that the National Assembly should consider itself, aside from its other duties, as a Committee of Vigilance to watch over the Faith and protect it from its internal enemies, and from the constantly carried on and insidious activities…."(From a letter written on behalf of the...

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In the future world civilization envisaged by the Baha'is, secular law would have to comply with the higher principles of Baha'i law and administration.

In the future world civilization envisaged by the Baha’is, secular law would have to comply with the higher principles of Baha’i law and administration. According to Shoghi Effendi, these are not ‘‘an idle imitation of any form of absolutistic ecclesiastical government, whether it be the Papacy, the Imamate or any other similar institution’’ because...

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Efforts that prevented the splitting of the American Bahá'í community into sects

'Abdu'l-Bahá warned against association with Covenant-breakers, gave examples of communities that were politely avoiding them effectively, and noted that communities with enduring connections to them tended to be stagnant. He warned specific Bahá'ís about their connections with Covenant-breakers and, in 1913, even temporarily expelled Howard MacNutt...

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Association with Covenant-breakers is the same as a person nurturing a snake in his shirt or giving a home to a scorpion in his sleeve.

"Tamaddunu'l-Mulk caused mischief amongst the friends and perpetrated such disunity that the foundation of the divine Faith was nearly destroyed. On numerous occasions, he repented. And yet, after each contrition, he would cause further mischief. Eventually, I telegraphed that Tamaddun is expelled and association with him is not permissible." [Tablet...

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Baha'i leaders employ a number of important control mechanisms

Baha'i leaders employ a number of important control mechanisms to shape the speech and behavior of Baha'is. These include removal of voting rights, shunning, demands for conformity, accusations of “weakness in the covenant,” informing and surveillance, and various forms of censorship. Many of these tools are employed primarily against persons who are...

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The Babi split

According to Baha'i scholars Farshid Kazemi, Armin EschraghiThe writings of the Bab, often collectively called Bayan (exposition) (his two law books in Arabic and Persian are also called Bayan specifically), were couched in enigmatic and arcane locutions as they were phrased in the mystical and esoteric lexicon of its Shiʿi-Shaykhi milieu, but with...

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