Who is Baha’u’llah?

Bahá’u’lláh was born in 1817 in Ṭihrán, the capital of Iran. From His early
childhood, He showed signs of greatness. He received some instruction at home, but did not need to attend school, for He was endowed by God with innate knowledge.

Bahá’u’lláh came from a noble family and when he was a young man,
was offered a high position in the court of the King, but He refused it. He wished to dedicate His time to helping the oppressed, the sick and the poor, and to champion the cause of justice.

Baha’u’llah’s Suffering and Influence

There are two aspects of Bahá’u’lláh’s life which are often of interest to those who are learning about Baha’u’llah. One is the suffering He endured. The other is the tremendous influence He had on the hearts and minds of people. These actually characterize the lives of all the Manifestations of God.

Bahá’u’lláh’s sufferings began the moment He arose to proclaim the Cause of God. His life was one of exile, imprisonment and persecution. He was put in chains in a dark and dismal dungeon in Ṭihrán. He was exiled four times from land to land, finally being sent to the Prison City of ‘Akká in the Ottoman Empire. So intense were His sufferings there that He has referred to ‘Akká as the “Most Great Prison”. In one of His writings we read:

“Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote prison. And be thou so steadfast in My love that thy heart shall not waver, even if the swords of the enemies rain blows upon thee and all the heavens and the earth arise against thee.”

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