How did the Baháí Faith develop?
The Bahá’í Faith began in 1844 with the Bab Who came before Bahá’u’lláh and foretold the coming of the Promised One. Bahá’u’lláh fulfilled that promise in 1852. Bahá’u’lláh spent the rest His Life (until 1892) as a prisoner and exile while His Teaching spread far and wide. He appointed His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, to be the head of the Faith after Him. Under the guidance of Abdu’l-Baha the Faith spread around the world. Abdu’l-Bahá in turn appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as His successor and passed away in 1921. In the period from 1921 to the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957 the Faith spread to almost every significant country and territory and the administrative structure of the Faith progressed with many communities electing Assemblies. In 1963 the first international administrative body was elected, the Universal House of Justice, which governs the affairs of the Faith today.
