Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)

The Manifestation of God (Persian: مظهر ظهور, romanized: maẓhar ẓohūr) is a concept in the Baháʼí Faith that refers to what are commonly called prophets.

[2] Baháʼí teachings hold that the motive force in all human development is due to the coming of the Manifestations of God.

[3] The Manifestations of God are directly linked with the Baháʼí concepts of progressive revelation and unity of religion.

[1][4] Baháʼís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things, including all the creatures and forces in the universe.

Instead, the Baháʼí concept of a Manifestation of God emphasizes the simultaneously existing qualities of humanity and divinity.

The Manifestations of God are not seen to be simply great thinkers or philosophers who have a better understanding than others, but that, by their nature, they are inherently superior to the average human.

[7] According to ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, the son and successor of the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, the Manifestations of God must be distinguished above any other person in every aspect and qualification, in order that they can effectively train and educate people.

Specifically, he contrasted the "official modern Bahāʾī doctrine reject[ing] any notion of incarnationism and stress[ing] instead his status as a locus of divine manifestation [...] comparable to a mirror with respect to the sun," to several quotes from the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, which he argued are suggestive of a more radical interpretation.

[10] The laws and precepts revealed by the Manifestation of God lie in different spheres and levels and include elements intended to help individuals develop a sound character and acquire divine attributes, as well as laws and principles designed to help improve the welfare of society and advance civilization.

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá said that a Baháʼí will choose death over denial of any of the great Prophets, whether Moses, Muhammad or Christ.

[18] Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Baháʼí Faith in the first half of the 20th century, stated that Manifestations will continue to come about every thousand years, extending "over many ages into the unborn reaches of time.

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá stated that in the current cycle, the first period was started by Adam and extended to the time of the Báb.

[4] The Baháʼí writings contain assurances that at least after 1000 years of Baháʼu'lláh's coming, another Manifestation of God will appear to advance human civilization.

[25] It is implied, though not specifically stated, that the American continents have had their share of divine revelations, which somewhat have been lost to time except in oral traditions.

[26]Academics are researching Native Messengers and some have connected the signs of a Prophet with the Great Peacemaker of the Haudenosaunee.

[26] However, as the Great Peacemaker was never named specifically in the Writings, he cannot be officially listed as a Manifestation of God within the Baháʼí Faith.

[27]There is no definitive list of Manifestations of God, but Baháʼu'lláh and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá referred to several personages as Manifestations; they include: Zoroaster, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, all the Jewish prophets, Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and ultimately Baháʼu'lláh.

[28][29] Thus, religious history is interpreted in the Baháʼí Faith as a series of periods or "dispensations", where each Manifestation brings a somewhat broader and more advanced revelation, suited for the time and place in which it was expressed.