Bahá'í Books & Authors

Thornton Chase: First American Bahá'í with Robert H. Stockman

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:28:42 GMT

Thornton Chase believed that "Religion is Life, and Life is Love, and Love is God." This is the story of one of the most significant figures in American Bahá'í history—from the time he joined the Bahá'í Faith in 1894 until his death in 1912. The author traces Chase's years of spiritual search and yearning, his departure from mainstream Protestant belief, and his discovery of the life and teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Despite fierce tests and difficulties, Chase became a leading American Bahá'í writer, speaker and organizer. This is one man's spiritual odyssey, a shining example of how to live, love and worship one's Creator.

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Dimensions of Bahá'í Law with Roshan Danesh

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Roshan Danesh has devoted his career to the study of law and religion with a particular focus on the Bahá’í Faith and its central legal text, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. In this collection of essays—previously published in a variety of academic journals, including the prestigious Journal of Law and Religion—Danesh invites the reader into an exploration of largely unchartered waters. As he states in the introduction to this collection, “understanding Bahá’í law challenges us to question, and ultimately abandon, our taken-for-granted ways of thinking, talking about, and using law.”

Organized around four distinct areas— Bahá'u'lláh's conception of law, the constitutional dimensions of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh's theory of social change, and scholarship and discourses concerning Bahá'í law—the essays collected here are expansive and illuminating, and they provide an invaluable contribution to discourse on the subject, with a foreword by Kiser Barnes.

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Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Baha'is in North America, 1898-2000 with Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis and Richard W. Thomas

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Rarely does a book cover a historically and culturally important topic that has never been written about before. Yet Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Bahá'ís in North America, 1898-2000 accomplishes precisely this through an absorbing collection of glimpses into the lives of some extraordinary individuals who devoted themselves to a common cause and made outstanding contributions toward building a unified society.

Edited by Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis, a professor of English at Miami University in Ohio, and Richard Thomas, a professor of history at Michigan State University, the book brings to light the stories of a diverse group of people including attorney Louis Gregory, poet Robert Hayden, jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, Broadway actress Dorothy Champ, and Canadian singer Eddie Elliot, to name a few.

Lights of the Spirit is divided into two sections. Part one offers a helpful introduction to the Bahá'í Faith and six highly readable essays that comprehensively describe the black experience in the North American Baha'i community. Chapters by Etter-Lewis, Thomas, and others address African-Americans and the development of the Faith in the U.S. and Canada, contributions of African-American women, and the role African-Americans in the global expansion of the Baha'i Faith.

Part two contains documents from nine historically prominent African-American Bahá'ís, providing insights into how these remarkable individuals perceived themselves and the larger communities in which they lived. Here, readers will find creative and social commentaries, letters, and family histories. Many of the documents are previously unpublished. Written from a first-person point of view, they preserve a largely unknown history that expands our notions of African-American religious traditions.

The unique content of the book will appeal to readers interested in Black history, race relations, and the history of religion in North America.

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In Full Partnership: Thirty Years of Women's Advancement at the United Nations and Beyond with Bani Dugal

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:48:39 GMT

The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has published a book compiling three decades of its statements to the UN on gender equality. In Full Partnership is part of global “Beijing+30” initiatives reflecting on commitments, challenges, and progress around advancing gender equality over three decades. In Full Partnership is intended as a resource as well as an invitation for collective action and consultation on practical steps that could lead to lasting gender equality and justice.

The release of In Full Partnership aligns with the international community’s assessment of the persistent challenges and setbacks faced by the gender equality movement—including rising political polarization and entrenched patriarchal attitudes. At the same time, the publication underscores significant achievements, offering hopeful and practical examples from Bahá’í communities in over 100,000 localities worldwide, working alongside friends, co-workers, government officials, and like-minded organizations to promote societies that embody the principle of gender equality.

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Sparks of Fire: Unknown Poetry of Tahirih with John S. Hatcher and Amrollah Hemmat

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT

"The exceptional character of Táhirih in the secular and sacred history of humanity is increasingly being discovered and disclosed. Táhirih’s transcendental and transformative universal love, expressed in her poetry, announces the onset of a new era in human civilization. Sparks of Fire, the fourth volume containing original poems of Táhirih and their English translation by Hemmat and Hatcher, is one of the most wonderful scholarly events of the twenty-first century. It is most unfortunate that the publication of Hemmat and Hatcher’s previous volumes translating Táhirih’s poetry—'The Poetry of Táhirih, Adam’s Wish,' and 'The Quickening'—has been largely met with silence or disbelief from scholars in the field. The fact is that these volumes are so amazing and wonderful that even experts in the field find it difficult to believe that their publication can be a real event, but the time has come to enthusiastically embrace, recite, and loudly celebrate the exceptional treasure of this historical and spiritual gift." —Nader Saiedi, Retired Professor of Sociology and Iranian Studies at Carleton College and UCLA, and author of Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb

"Táhirih’s poetry is a window to her profound insights on the station and mission of the Báb. Hatcher and Hemmat’s eloquent English translations of her verse convey the fire and sublime beauty of those insights. Their introduction and commentary aids readers to appreciate Táhirih’s ecstatic faith and understand the depth and profundity of her knowledge. Sparks of Fire is a must-read for anyone interested in the potential of art and the power of language to challenge the status quo and proclaim the dawn of a new age. —Omid Ghaemmaghami, Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, State University of New York at Binghamton, and co-editor of “‘From the Seed of Love We Sow’: Further Research on Tahirih Qurrat al-Ayn” (Hawwa, vol. 21, no. 4)

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The Sweetness of His Love: Stories of 'Abdu'l-Baha with Jacqueline Mehrabi

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMT

How can we devote our lives to the service of others? How can we approach every interaction we have with love and humility? How can we place the needs of others above our own? Time and time again we can look to the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In The Sweetness of His Love, author Jacqueline Mehrabi shares thirty-eight simple stories that stretch from the early days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s childhood to the last years of His life. In each of these brief episodes, we can learn valuable lessons from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example. Produced specially for the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, this volume is enhanced by the beautiful, full-page illustrations of Jaci Ayorinde. It is hoped that young children and their families will draw deep inspiration from this lovingly crafted book.

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Light of the Kingdom: Biblical Topics in the Baha'i Writings with JoAnn Borovicka

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMT

A comprehensive and eye-opening guide to biblical topics as they are addressed in the Bahá’í writings.

In Light of the Kingdom, author JoAnn Borovicka explores questions relating to the Bible and its significance and meaning from a Bahá’í perspective. The purpose of the book is to provide an introductory compilation of the wealth of insights on biblical topics offered in the Bahá’í Writings. To this end, it starts with an overview of Bahá’í teachings about the Bible in general, and then explores Bahá’í guidance on a variety of topics as they arise from the first book of the Old Testament through the last book of the New Testament. The result of years of exploration and research, the book provides samples of Bahá’í guidance on a wide range of biblical topics in a way that is accessible to anyone regardless of their prior knowledge of the Bible or the Bahá’í Faith.

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Anchor of Faith: The Enduring Spirit of the Black Men's Gathering with Frederick Landry and Richard Thomas

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Born of the need to address the plight of men of African descent in the United States, and the unique afflictions imposed upon them, the Black Men's Gathering was founded in 1987 as an individual initiative. From its humble origins in a Greensboro hotel room where the original twelve participants met, the Gathering would grow and evolve over the course of a quarter-century to embrace hundreds in an atmosphere of love, fellowship, and devotion to the Cause of God. Anchor of Faith gives us a glimpse of the vibrant spirit of the Gathering; details its history, evolution, and influence; and brings to light the countless avenues of service pursued by its participants both at home and across the globe.

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The Story of Baha'u'llah: Promised One of All Religions with Druzelle Cederquist

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Brings to life in rich detail the compelling story of the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith. An inspiring and dramatically paced introduction to the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith, The Story of Baha'u'llah presents in a clear narrative style the life of the Prophet from His birth into a wealthy and noble family, through His transforming spiritual experience while incarcerated in the infamous Black Pit of Tehran, and over the decades of harsh and increasingly remote exile that followed. Woven into the story are Baha'u'llah's principal teachings and references to historical events and persons that place the development of the new religion in a global context. This book chronologically follows the story told in Release the Sun (Baha'i Publishing, 2003).

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A World Without War: 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Discourse for Global Peace with Janet Khan and Hoda Mahmoudi

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

June 2020 marks one hundred years since the two historic Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were delivered to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace at The Hague. The Tablets, combined with His public talks that were presented during His travels in the West between 1911 and 1913, offer comprehensive insights about Bahá’u’lláh’s panoramic vision for the attainment of universal peace.

In this volume, the historical circumstances that shaped nineteenth-century peace movements and the catastrophic impact of the First World War are examined. During the time these significant events were unfolding, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was actively engaged in promoting a clear understanding of the Bahá’í perspective on peace. Far more than simply focusing His discourse on the means to end wars, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offered the holistic, all-inclusive vision for global peace—the oneness of humanity—outlined in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

This book illustrates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s engagement with intellectuals and leaders of thought on the subject of the implementation of peace. His example has continuing relevance for the state of the world and the discourse on peace in the twenty-first century.

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Champions of Oneness: Louis Gregory and His Shining Circle with Janet Ruhe-Schoen

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Taking as its focus the years 1898–1921, Champions of Oneness portrays the lives of a handful of brilliant pioneers of race amity in the United States who gave everything they could to promote the principle of the oneness of humanity. The thread common among each of their lives was the Bahá’í Faith. Many of them had the fortune of meeting 'Abdu'l-Baha, and would place His guidance and loving counsel at the center of their efforts. At great personal sacrifice, these early Bahá’ís traveled extensively to share the teachings of their new found Faith, and often were faced with severe challenges from those who were resistant to change.

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Crossing the Line, A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Change with Richard Abercrombie and JoAnn Borovicka

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT

At 14, Richard (Ricky) Abercrombie was besieged by prejudice because of his multi-racial background and angered by unsatisfactory answers to his heartfelt questions about religious truth. The time was 1960, and the place was Greenville, South Carolina. Ricky began carrying a gun, skipping school, and numbing his painful emotions with alcohol. His parents were worried and his future looked bleak. What happened next – an invitation to a birthday party at the home of a Bahá’í family – changed his life forever. Ricky became intrigued by Bahá’í teachings on racial equality, peaceful strategies for social justice, and the fundamental unity of religion. As he investigated these teachings, Ricky experienced a profound spiritual awakening that led him to give up the gun, stop drinking, and engage in life with hope and joy. His friends and family initially opposed his dangerous new association with racially integrated groups, but Ricky’s steadfastness drew them into investigating his new beliefs themselves. This true story of how a rebellious teenager transformed his own character and affected the lives of dozens of friends and family members is a cover-to-cover delight.

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A Child in the Holy Land with Gisu Mohadjer

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMT

One can only wonder at the awe experienced by those who attained the presence and were blessed to spend time in the company of the Holy Family of the Baha’i Faith. Among the sweetest and most approachable accounts left by those who made pilgrimages to the Holy Land are those of children and youth, who in the earliest days of their lives came face to face with these illumed beings.

In A Child in the Holy Land, Gisu Mohadjer collects stories of encounters with the members of the Holy Family. These stories are tinged with tenderness, kindness, love, and laughter, and they offer us a small window into the extraordinary life of the holy household as seen through the eyes of children. It is hoped that families and readers of all ages will treasure this collection and revisit it often for inspiration and solace and to deepen their love for the Holy Family.

Visit BahaiBookStore.com to purchase this book.

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'Adasíyyih: The Story of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Model Farming Community with Paul Hanley

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Why would you want to read a book about a farming village? The story of 'Adasíyyih will open your eyes to the society building power within the Bahá'í Faith. 1901, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá purchased land in what is now Jordan that would become the village of ‘Adasíyyih. Through His guidance and unending inspiration, Bahá’í pioneers from Iran would soon settle there and transform a degraded parcel of land—which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reportedly described as the most inhospitable place on Earth—into the site of a thriving farm and prosperous community whose residents embodied the Bahá’í teachings.

The story of ‘Adasíyyih is offered within the context of the extensive agricultural activities of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith and the early Bahá’í communities They nurtured. It was this farming village—along with several others in the region of the Galilee—that produced a surplus of crops, which enabled ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to keep famine at bay for so many people during World War I, a feat that would earn Him a knighthood from the British Empire and a title that He would never use. In time, ‘Adasíyyih would become a model village for Jordanians, and Jordan’s royalty would become frequent guests.

This podcast is an interview with Paul Hanley, the author of 'Adasíyyih. Visit BahaiBookStore.com to purchase this book.

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Servant to the Servants: Roy C. Wilhelm, Hand of the Cause of God with Joel Nizin, Kathryn Jewett Hogenson and Gary Hogenson

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Roy Wilhelm is described by his biographers as quiet and gentle, but iron-willed. Relative to some of his contemporaries in the early Bahá'í community of North America, his is a life perhaps less explored and examined so far by historians. This may be in part because many of the services he rendered were of a behind-the-scenes or administrative nature. What becomes abundantly clear when reading about the life of this brilliant and steadfast individual, however, is that he earned the unwavering trust of both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi for his tireless and selfless devotion to the Cause.

Wilhelm’s life story is a rich and varied one that takes the reader from the coffee farms of Costa Rica to Wall Street to the picturesque environs of the properties that remain associated with his life and the Faith he held so dearly. He was a smart businessman with a keen intellect and a wide range of interests. The extent of his services to the Faith and the establishment of its institutions in North America is hard to overstate. A pivotal figure in laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Bahá'í Administrative Order, Roy was also a dynamic and effective teacher of the Faith who shared its message with many people, including Martha Root and Curtis Kelsey. Shouldering massive responsibility for the well-being and functioning of the early American Bahá'í community throughout the years of the first World War and the Great Depression, he was called upon time and time again by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and later Shoghi Effendi to rise to numerous roles and challenges. When one reads of his wisdom, discretion, and generosity, it is no surprise that the beloved Guardian described him as an “immovable pillar” and a “Herald of the Covenant,” and posthumously appointed him as a Hand of the Cause of God.

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When the Moon Set Over Haifa with Angelina Diliberto Allen

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:59 GMT

When the Moon Set Over Haifa by Angelina Allen is a moving account of the time surrounding the passing of the head of the Bahá’í Faith, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, on November 28, 1921. There were six Western believers in Haifa on the night of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: John Bosch and Louise Stapfer Bosch; Dr. Florian Krug and Grace Krug; and Johanna Hauff. All of them were there as pilgrims. The only other Western believer present in Haifa was Curtis Kelsey, who was in Haifa to install electrical power plants to light the shrines of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.

“This book tells the story of these believers—their journeys to the Bahá’í Faith, the circumstances that brought them to Haifa, and how their experiences during the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá influenced their paths of service to the Cause. The intent is to transport the reader to the Holy Land one hundred years ago, when the moon of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set over Haifa.”

—Excerpted from When the Moon Set Over Haifa

This episode of Bahá’í Books & Authors features an interview with author Angelina Allen. Hosted by Jan Grammer, the discussion delves into the backstories of the book and provides a deeper look at the historical period marking the beginning of the Formation Age of the Bahá’í Faith which began with the passing of the ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This episode also highlights the lives of individuals who experienced this poignant moment in history.

Purchase When the Moon Set Over Haifa here or visit www.BahaiBookStore.com.

This podcast was produced by World Unity Media. Music by The Licata Brothers.

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