Sects of Baha’is

By: Dr. Mohammed Alam Qurayshi

Whenever you would come across a Baha’i he would invariably speak about peace and unity, that all religions have come from God and we should not kill and divide ourselves on the basis of religion. And subtly it would be mentioned that all adherents of the Baha’i Faith have always remained unified.

Sounds impressive. But, let’s leave it at that. Such statements are only for public consumption. Baha’is are a fragmented lot. Despite their very small numbers (5-7 million is an exaggeration), the Baha’is have splintered into many sects since its inception a 150 years ago.

They have broken into various factions at every step. Two separate groups were formed when Bahaullah died. Few more when Abdul Baha died, and a further few when Shoghi died. There has never been unanimity amongst the Baha’is on leadership. It was only on the basis of force and high-handedness that one group dominated the other. But groups splintered off. So much so, that today the Baha’is are divided into many groups. Each group intolerant to the views of the other, labeling the other as a “Covenant Breaker”.

Some of the prominent Baha’is sects are listed below:

1. Heterodox Baha’is (followers of UHJ)

2. Orthodox Baha’i Faith

3. Tarbiyat Baha’i Community

4. 5 Elders

5. Heart of Baha’i Faith

6. Baha’is Under the Provisions of the Covenant

7. Unitarian Baha’is (followers of Mirza Mohammed Ali)

8. New History Society (followers of Mirza Ahmed Sohrab)

9. Reform Baha’i Faith (followers of Mirza Ahmed Sohrab and Ruth White)

10. Free Baha’is (followers of Zimmer Hermann and Ruth White)

11. Essence of Baha’i Faith (followers of Jamshid Mani)

So many sects amongst the few followers of a recent religion? What has happened to Unity? Where are teachings which will unite all religions? Where are the teachings which would remove religious differences? When the Baha’i teachings have divided the people of its faith, how will it unite people of different faiths?

For Baha’is “Unity” is only lip-service, a tool to attract people. They have never demonstrated Unity in any of their affairs.

The Baha’is, as I have always maintained, surpass anyone in show-casing their religion in the best possible manner. But as witnessed time and again, that has got very little to do with the reality of the Baha’i Faith.

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