Bahá'í is a religious sect that branched off from the Bábí religion, which was founded in the 13th century by Mirza Hossein Ali Nouri, known as Bahá'u'lláh. Mirza Hossein Ali was one of the followers of Seyyed Ali Mohammad Bab who founded the Baha'i sect after the death of Bab. After Bahá'u'lláh, his son Abbas Effendi, known as Abdu'l-Bahá, and then Shoghi Effendi, the granddaughter of Abdu'l-Bahá, assumed the leadership of the Bahá'ís. After Shoghi, there was a difference in his succession and the Baha'is were divided into different groups such as Bayt al-Adli Baha'is and Orthodox Baha'is. Today, the leadership of the Baha'is is in the hands of the Supreme Court.
Bahá'ís consider Bahá'u'lláh to be a prophet and Bahá'í to be a new religion that has replaced Islam. Bahá'u'lláh believes that the resurrection of the Muslims began with the coming of the Bab and ended with his death. Also, the Bábían doomsday begins with the appearance of Baha'u'llah and ends with his death. Bahá'ís perform rituals such as prayer, fasting, hajj and hudud with a different quality than Muslims.
Bait al-Adl is the most important center of Baha'is and the reference point for all their affairs. This center is located in Mount Carmel in Haifa, and its members are chosen by national circles, which are the link between the Baha'i community of each country and Bait al-Adl. The House of Ali Muhammad Báb in Shiraz, the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, the Rezvan Garden (the place where the manifestation of Bahá'u'lláh is claimed), Maqam Ala (the tomb of the Báb on Mount Carmel) and the holy shrine (the tomb of Hossein Ali Noori in Acre) are among the holy places of Bahá'ís. Also, Nowruz, the anniversary of his death, and the birthday of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are Bahá'í holidays.
Bahá'u'lláh's works, such as the books of Aqdas, Iqan, Kemal Makununa and Tablets, works of Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, and books of Al-Fareed and the Treasure of Limits and Commandments, are among the sacred books of Baha'ism.
According to Muslims, Baha'i is a deviant sect and outside of Islam. The sources of Shia imitation consider belief in Baha'ism as blasphemy and Baha'is as impure and militant infidels. More than 400 books and articles have been written on Baha'i criticism. Some of these books were written by Baha'is who returned from the Baha'i faith, such as Abdul Hossein Aiti Bafqi Yazdi.
The claim of divinity, prophethood and promise of Bahá'u'lláh is against Islamic beliefs and is considered a form of idolatry and selfishness. The contradictions of the Baha'i beliefs, the great differences between them, and the excommunication of the elders of the sect are among the criticisms of Baha'ism. From the point of view of critics, Baha'i is a political party and sect supported by Russia, England, Israel and America.
