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{{short description|Concept that refers to what are commonly called prophets}}
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The '''Manifestation of God''' ({{langx|fa|مظهر ظهور|maẓhar ẓohūr}}) is a concept in  the [[Baháʼí Faith]] that refers to what are commonly called [[prophet]]s. The Manifestations of God are appearances of the Divine Spirit or Holy Spirit in a series of personages, and as such, they perfectly reflect the attributes of the divine into the human world for the progress and advancement of human morals and civilization through the agency of that same Spirit.<ref name="manifestation">{{cite journal |first=Juan |last=Cole |author-link=Juan Cole |year=1982 |title=The Concept of Manifestation in the Baháʼí Writings |url=http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation |location=[[Ottawa]] |journal=Baháʼí Studies |volume=monograph 9 |pages=1–38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316121143/http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation |archive-date=16 March 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

In the Baha'i Faith, it is believed that the Manifestations of God are the only channel for humanity to know about [[God]] because contact with the Spirit is what transforms the heart and mind, creating a living relationship between the soul and God. They act as perfect mirrors reflecting the attributes of God into the physical world.<ref name="hatcher118">{{cite book |author1 = Hatcher, W.S. |author2=Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IZmkG1ASirgC |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 |page = 118 }}</ref> [[Baháʼí teachings]] hold that the motive force in all human development is due to the coming of the Manifestations of God.<ref name="hatcher115">{{cite book |author = Hatcher, W.S. |author2=Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 | page = 115}}</ref> The Manifestations of God are directly linked with the Baháʼí concepts of [[Progressive revelation (Baháʼí)|progressive revelation]] and [[Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion|unity of religion]].<ref name="Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Cole |first=Juan |author-link=Juan Cole |title=BAHAISM i. The Faith |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bahaism-i |volume=III/4 |pages=438–446 |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher=[[Columbia University]] |location=[[New York City|New York]] |date=30 December 2012 |orig-year=15 December 1988 |doi=10.1163/2330-4804_EIRO_COM_6391 |doi-access=free |issn=2330-4804 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123112620/https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bahaism-i |archive-date=23 January 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

==Station==
[[File:Ringstone.svg|200px|thumb|left|The [[Baháʼí symbols#Ringstone symbol|Ringstone symbol]] represents humanity's connection to God through the Manifestation of God]]

The Baháʼí concept of the intermediary between [[God]] and [[human]]ity is expressed in the term Manifestation of God.<ref name="manifestation" /><ref name="Iranica"/> Baháʼís believe in a [[God in the Baháʼí Faith|single, imperishable God]], the creator of all things, including all the creatures and forces in the universe.<ref name="Iranica"/><ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia | year = 1988 | title = The Baháʼí Faith | encyclopedia = Britannica Book of the Year | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica | location = Chicago, IL | isbn = 0-85229-486-7 | url = https://archive.org/details/1988britannicabo0000daum }}</ref> Though inaccessible directly, God is nevertheless seen as conscious of his creation, with a mind, will and purpose. Baháʼís believe that God expresses this will at all times and in many ways, including through a series of [[Prophet|divine messengers]] referred to as Manifestations of God.<ref name="Iranica"/><ref name="eor">{{cite encyclopedia | last = Hutter | first = Manfred | editor = Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Religion | title = Bahā'īs | edition = 2nd | year = 2005 | publisher = Macmillan Reference USA | volume = 2 | location = Detroit, MI | pages = 737–740 | isbn = 0-02-865733-0 | url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofre0000unse_v8f2 }}</ref> In expressing God's intent, these Manifestations are seen to establish [[religion]] in the world.<ref name="manifestation"/>

The Manifestations of God are not seen as [[incarnation]]s of God as God cannot be divided and does not descend to the condition of his creatures, but they are also not seen as ordinary mortals. Instead, the Baháʼí concept of a Manifestation of God emphasizes the simultaneously existing qualities of humanity and divinity. In the station of divinity, they show forth the will, [[knowledge]], and attributes of [[God]]; in the station of humanity, they show the physical qualities of common man.<ref name="manifestation" /> A common Baháʼí analogy used to explain the relationship between the Manifestation of God and God is that of a perfect [[mirror]]. In the analogy, God is likened to the [[Sun]] – the source of physical life on [[earth]]. The spirit and attributes of God are likened to the rays of the Sun, and the Manifestations of God are likened to perfect mirrors reflecting the rays of the Sun.<ref name="hatcher118"/> Thus, the Manifestations of God act as pure mirrors that reflect the attributes of God onto this material world.<ref name="manifestation" />

The Manifestations of God are seen to represent a level of existence which is an intermediary between God and [[humans]].<ref name="Iranica"/> [[Baháʼu'lláh]], the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, explained that at one extreme the Manifestations of God are [[Humility|humble]] servants of God and at the other extreme they claim to speak with the voice of God, and manifest his attributes to humanity. They may at times emphasize their humanity, and at other times proclaim their divinity. These stations are complementary rather than mutually exclusive.<ref name="manifestation" />

The Manifestations of God are believed to possess capacities that do not exist in humans, and this difference is not a difference in degree but a difference in kind. 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.<ref name="hatcher120">{{cite book |author1 = Hatcher, W.S. |author2 = Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco, CA |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 |page = 120}}</ref> Thus, the Manifestations of God are special beings, having a unique relationship to God as they have been sent by God from the spiritual world as an instrument of divine [[revelation]]. They are understood to have existed in the spiritual world prior to their physical [[birth]] in this life. They are also seen to have [[innate]], divinely revealed knowledge and absolute knowledge of the physical world.<ref name="hatcher120" /> 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.<ref name="fwu">{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |year=1972 |title=Foundations of World Unity |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois |isbn=0-87743-018-7 |url = https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/FWU/ | page = 111}}</ref>

In his book ''The Messiah of Shiraz'', [[Denis MacEoin]] noted a possible discrepancy between the contemporary Baháʼí understanding of [[Baháʼu'lláh]]'s station as a Manifestation of God and that found in Baháʼu'lláh's own works. 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=MacEoin |first=Denis |author-link=Denis MacEoin |date=2009 |title=The Messiah of Shiraz: Studies in Early and Middle Babism |publisher=Brill |page=500 |isbn=978-90-04-17035-3 |doi=10.1163/ej.9789004170353.i-740}}</ref>

==Purpose==
{{Further|Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity}}
The purpose of the Manifestation of God, according to Baháʼí belief, is to educate humanity.<ref name="Iranica"/> The Manifestations of God are seen as divine educators, who are raised up by God with the purpose of uplifting mankind and expressing his will.<ref name="Iranica"/> In expressing God's intent, the Manifestations of God are seen to establish [[religion]] in the world.<ref name="Iranica"/> Each brings a book and [[Revelation|reveals]] teachings and laws according to the time and place which they appear.<ref name="manifestation" /> Baháʼu'lláh used the term ''revelation'' to describe the phenomena that occurs each time a Manifestation of God appears; he stated that the writings of the Manifestation of God represent the infallible word of God, and because the writings remain after the earthly life of the Manifestation they are a very important part of revelation.<ref name="hatcher82">{{cite book |author1 = Hatcher, W.S. |author2 = Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco, CA |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 |page = 82 }}</ref> 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 [[moral character|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 has stated that from time to time an educator will come to teach humanity, and without these teachings humanity would be overcome by such emotions and attitudes as anger, jealousy and hatred.<ref name="manifestation" />

The Baháʼí belief that the primary role of the Manifestation of God is that of an educator is stated by Baháʼu'lláh and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá:

:"The Prophets and Messengers of God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying their revelation hath been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend, in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the throne of the Most High. The light which these souls radiate is responsible for the progress of the world and the advancement of its peoples. They are like unto leaven which leaveneth the world of being, and constitute the animating force through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Through them the clouds rain their bounty upon men, and the earth bringeth forth its fruits. All things must needs have a cause, a motive power, an animating principle. These souls and symbols of detachment have provided, and will continue to provide, the supreme moving impulse in the world of being."<ref name="gleanings">{{cite book |author=Baháʼu'lláh |author-link=Baháʼu'lláh |year=1976 |title=Gleanings from the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |isbn=0-87743-187-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/gleaningsfromwri0000baha_w8j0/page/156 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/gleaningsfromwri0000baha_w8j0/page/156 156–157] }}</ref>

:"God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose, they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst."<ref>{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |orig-year=1912 |year=1995 |title=Paris Talks |edition=Hardcover |publisher=Baháʼí Distribution Service |isbn=1-870989-57-0 |url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PT/pt-34.html | page = 106}}</ref>

==Equality==
{{Main|Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion}}
[[File:051907 Wilmette IMG 1404 The Greatest Name.jpg|alt=Arabic script inscribed on a metal plate|thumb|250px|right|The calligraphy of the [[Greatest Name]] on a metal plate at the top of the interior of the [[Baháʼí House of Worship (Wilmette, Illinois)|Baháʼí House of Worship]] in [[Wilmette, Illinois]].]]

In the Baháʼí Faith, all of the Manifestations of God are sent from [[God in the Baháʼí Faith|the same God]] and have the same [[Spirituality|spiritual]] and [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] nature, and that there is absolute equality among them.<ref name="Iranica"/> The differences between the various Manifestations of God and their teachings, [[Baháʼu'lláh]] explained, are due to the varying needs and capacities of the civilization in which they appeared, and not due to any differences in their level of importance or nature.<ref name="hatcher116">{{cite book |author = Hatcher, W.S. |author2=Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 | pages = 116–117}}</ref>

The Manifestations of God are taught to be "one and the same", and in their relationship to one another have both the station of unity and the station of distinction.<ref name="manifestation" /> Baháʼu'lláh wrote in the ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán|Book of Certitude]]'' that in respect to their station of unity "if thou callest them all by one name and dost ascribe to them the same attribute, thou hast not erred from the truth."<ref name="iqan">{{cite book |author=Baháʼu'lláh |author-link=Baháʼu'lláh |orig-year=1862 |year=2003 |title=Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Book of Certitude |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |isbn=1-931847-08-8 |url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-5.html#gr34 | pages = 152–177}}</ref> In this sense, the Manifestations of God all fulfill the same purpose and perform the same function by mediating between God and creation.<ref name="Iranica"/> In this way each Manifestation of God manifested the Word of God and taught the same religion, with modifications for the particular audience's needs and culture. Baháʼu'lláh wrote that since each Manifestation of God has the same divine attributes, they can be seen as the spiritual "return" of all the previous Manifestations of God.<ref name="manifestation" />

Baháʼu'lláh then states the diversity of the teachings of the Manifestations of God does not come about because of their differences, since they are one and the same, but because they each have a different mission. Baháʼu'lláh writes regarding this station of distinction, "each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined Revelation, and specially designated limitations."<ref name="iqan" /> Baháʼu'lláh wrote in the ''[[Gems of Divine Mysteries]]'' that those who perceive distinctions and differences between the Manifestations of God, will notice the underlying [[wikt:unity|unity]] of the Manifestations once they continue on their spiritual path.<ref name="gdm">{{cite book |author=Baháʼu'lláh |author-link=Baháʼu'lláh |year=2002 |title=Gems of Divine Mysteries |publisher=Baháʼí World Centre  |location=Haifa, Israel |isbn=0-85398-975-3 |url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GDM/gdm-4.html | pages = 33–37}}</ref> Baháʼu'lláh in several passages goes so far as to say that denial of one Manifestation is equivalent to denial of all of them. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá said that a Baháʼí will choose death over denial of any of the great Prophets, whether Moses, Muhammad or Christ.<ref name="abl">{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |orig-year=1911 |year=1982 |title=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in London |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=London, UK |isbn=0-900125-50-0 | pages = 56–57 |url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/ABL/abl-16.html#pg56}}</ref>

The Baháʼí belief in the oneness of the Manifestations of God does not mean, however, that the same individual soul is born again at different times and in different physical bodies. In the Baháʼí Faith, the various Manifestations of God were all different personalities and had separate individual realities. Instead, their equality is due to that Manifestation of God manifested and revealed the qualities of God to the same degree.<ref name="hatcher116"/>

==Religious perennialism==
{{See also|Progressive revelation (Baháʼí)}}
Baháʼu'lláh taught that Manifestations have always been sent by God, and always will, as part of the single [[progressive revelation (Baháʼí)|progressive religion]] from God bringing more teachings through time to help humanity progress.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-10.html | title = The Changeless Faith of God | access-date = 2006-11-12 | year = 2006 | author = bahai.org | publisher = bahai.org | archive-date = 6 December 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206041041/http://www.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-10.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> In the Baháʼí view the succession of Manifestations of God had no beginning and will have no end.<ref name="hatcher128">{{cite book |author = Hatcher, W.S. |author2=Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 | pages = 128–129}}</ref> [[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."<ref name="dnd">{{cite book |first=Shoghi |last=Effendi |author-link=Shoghi Effendi |year=1970 |title=Dawn of a New Day |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=India |url= https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/DND/dnd-257.html | page = 202}}</ref><ref name="sab">{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |year=1978 |title=Selections From the Writings of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |edition=Hardcover |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |isbn=0-85398-081-0 |url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAB/sab-34.html | pages = 66–67}}</ref>

While Manifestations of God are explained to have always come to humanity and will continue to do so, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá explained that there are distinct cycles within this process.  The cycles consist of hundreds of thousands of years and are characterized by three periods. The first period involves the coming of a series of Manifestations of God who prepare humanity for a universal [[theophany]]; the second period involves the appearance of the Manifestation of God that brings the universal theophany and his dispensation; finally the third period includes the Manifestations of God that come after. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá stated that in the current cycle, the first period was started by [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]] and extended to the time of the [[Báb]]. Baháʼu'lláh is seen as the universal Manifestation of God, and the current cycle will continue for another 500,000 years.<ref name="manifestation"/>

Baháʼís do not claim that the Baháʼí revelation is the final stage in God's direction in the course of human spiritual evolution.<ref name="Iranica"/> The Baháʼí writings contain assurances that at least after 1000 years of Baháʼu'lláh's coming, [[Baháʼí prophecies#Future Manifestation of God|another Manifestation of God]] will appear to advance human civilization.<ref name="Iranica"/><ref name="hatcher128"/><ref>{{cite book |first=Michael D. |last=McMullen |year=2000 |title=The Baha'i: The Religious Construction of a Global Identity |publisher=Rutgers University Press |location=Atlanta, Georgia |isbn=0-8135-2836-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bahaireligiousco0000mcmu/page/7 7] |url=https://archive.org/details/bahaireligiousco0000mcmu/page/7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |year=1978 |title=Selections From the Writings of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |edition=Hardcover |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |isbn=0-85398-081-0|url=https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAB/sab-34-printable.html |page=67}}</ref>

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá writes in the ''Tablet of the Universe'' (''"Lawh-i-Aflákiyyih"'') that there are infinite Manifestations of God in the [[Baháʼí cosmology|infinite worlds of God]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hatcher |first=John S. |title=Close Connections: The Bridge Between Spiritual and Physical Reality |year=2005 |place=Wilmette, Illinois |isbn=1-931847-15-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xxJCt1Kj--8C |pages=150–151 }}</ref>

==Minor prophets==
In the Baháʼí definition, there is a distinction between minor prophets and the Manifestations of God, the major prophets. This distinction is also referred to as lesser/greater, dependent/independent, follower/universal, and other similar phrases. The Manifestations of God or the major prophets are compared to the sun, which produces its own heat and light, and the minor prophets are likened to the moon, which receives its light from the sun.

The Manifestations of God are described as prophets endowed with constancy. The term endowed with constancy refers to prophets to whom a book was revealed (in which the book contained legislation) and with whom lasting [[Covenant (religion)|covenants]] with God were made, abrogating past covenants. For example, Baháʼu'lláh describes [[Moses]] as a Manifestation of God and his brother [[Aaron]] a minor prophet; Moses spoke on behalf of God, and Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 4:14–17).<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|4:14–17|HE}}</ref> 

The distinction can also be described as the difference between inspiration and [[revelation]]. Revelation is seen to be the direct and infallible perception of God's word and is only accessible to the Manifestations of God who transmit it to humanity. On the other hand, inspiration is seen to be the indirect and relative perception of spiritual truths that each person may have access to. Baháʼu'lláh stated that at times, God chooses ordinary people to act as ''prophets'' and thus inspires them to play certain roles in human affairs; these people however remain ordinary people whose powers of inspiration have been further developed by God.<ref name="hatcher122">{{cite book |author = Hatcher, W.S. |author2=Martin, J.D. |year = 1998 |title = The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher = Harper & Row |location = San Francisco |isbn = 0-87743-264-3 | page = 122}}</ref>

==Other possible divine teachers==
{{see also|Baháʼí Faith and Native Americans}}
It is implied, though not specifically stated, that the [[Americas|American continents]] have had their share of divine revelations, which somewhat have been lost to time except in oral traditions. A quote exists by 'Abdu'l-Bahá:

{{blockquote|In ancient times the people of America were, through their northern regions, close to Asia, that is, separated from Asia by a strait. For this reason, it hath been said that crossing had occurred. There are other signs which indicate communication. As to places whose people were not informed of the appearance of Prophets, such people are excused. In the Qur'án it hath been revealed: "We will not chastise them if they had not been sent a Messenger" (Q. 17:15). Undoubtedly in those regions, the Call of God must have been raised in ancient times, but it hath been forgotten now.<ref name="Buck">{{cite journal |last=Buck |first=Christopher |year=1996 |title=Native Messengers of God in Canada? A Test Case for Bahá'í Universalism |url=https://bahai-library.com/buck_native_messengers |journal=[[The Baháʼí Studies Review]] |publisher=Association for Baháʼí Studies English-Speaking Europe |location=[[London]] |pages=97–133 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410064225/https://bahai-library.com/buck_native_messengers |archive-date=10 April 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>}}

Academics are researching Native Messengers and some have connected the signs of a Prophet with the [[Great Peacemaker]] of the [[Haudenosaunee]]. As such, some Baháʼí's revere the Peacemaker as a Manifestation of God.<ref name="Buck"/> 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.

In regards to the Asiatic prophets, Shoghi Effendi wrote:

{{blockquote|The only reason there is not more mention of the Asiatic Prophets is because Their names seem to be lost in the mists of ancient history. Buddha is mentioned, and Zoroaster, in our Scriptures – both non-Jewish Prophets or non Semitic Prophets. We are taught there always have been Manifestations of God, but we do not have any record of Their names.<ref>{{cite book |author=Shoghi Effendi |editor-last=Hornby |editor-first=Helen |year=1983 |title=Lights of Guidance: A Baháʼí Reference File |url=http://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2&chapter=4#n1696 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=[[New Delhi, India]] |isbn=81-85091-46-3 |page=503 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407093846/https://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2&chapter=4 |archive-date=7 April 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>}}[[Joseph Smith]], the Prophet of the [[Latter Day Saint movement|Mormon religion]] founded around the same time as the Baha'i, is not officially recognised as a Manifestation of God or as a minor prophet, but is thought to have spoken of the coming of [[Baháʼu'lláh]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baha'i and Joseph Smith |url=https://mormonperfection.com/bahai.htm |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=mormonperfection.com}}</ref>

== Known messengers ==
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]], [[Vāsudeva|Krishna]], [[Gautama Buddha]], all the [[Prophets in Judaism|Jewish prophets]], [[Adam]], [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]], [[Muhammad in the Baháʼí Faith|Muhammad]], the [[Báb]], and ultimately Baháʼu'lláh.<ref name="Iranica2">{{cite encyclopedia |title=BAHAISM i. The Faith |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher=[[Columbia University]] |location=[[New York City|New York]] |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bahaism-i |access-date=13 January 2021 |last=Cole |first=Juan |date=30 December 2012 |author-link=Juan Cole |orig-year=15 December 1988 |volume=III/4 |pages=438–446 |doi=10.1163/2330-4804_EIRO_COM_6391 |issn=2330-4804 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123112620/https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bahaism-i |archive-date=23 January 2013 |doi-access=free |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PSmith2">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2000 |title=Manifestations of God |encyclopedia=A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith |publisher=[[Oneworld Publications]] |location=[[Oxford]] |url=https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/231 |last=Smith |first=Peter |page=[https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/231 231] |isbn=1-85168-184-1}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Iranica2" /> Furthermore, the other prophets of the [[Old Testament]] such as [[Jeremiah]], [[David]], [[Solomon]], [[Ezekiel]], and [[Isaiah]] are described as minor prophets as they came in the shadow of the dispensation of Moses to develop and consolidate the process he set in motion.<ref name="manifestation2">{{cite journal |last=Cole |first=Juan |author-link=Juan Cole |year=1982 |title=The Concept of Manifestation in the Baháʼí Writings |url=http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation |url-status=live |journal=Baháʼí Studies |location=[[Ottawa]] |volume=monograph 9 |pages=1–38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316121143/http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation |archive-date=16 March 2015 |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> There is, however, no definite list of who is or is not a minor prophet in the Baháʼí understanding.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Table of the known messengers of God in Baháʼí Faith
!Name
!Main article
!Also venerated in
|-
|[[Adam|Ádam]]<ref name="PSEncyclo2000">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2000 |title=Adam |encyclopedia=A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith |publisher=[[Oneworld Publications]] |place=[[London]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yhy9DwAAQBAJ |access-date=2021-06-26 |last=Smith |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Smith (historian) |isbn=978-1-78074-480-3 |oclc=890982216 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |url=https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/7#001171118 |title=Some Answered Questions |publisher=Baháʼí World Centre |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-87743-374-3 |edition=newly revised. |location=Haifa, Israel |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |orig-year=1908}}</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|[[Christianity]], [[Islam]], [[Druze#Beliefs|Druze Faith]], [[Mandaeism]] 
|-
|[[Enoch|Edrís]]<ref name="Brown">{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Keven |date=1997 |editor-last=McLean |editor-first=Jack |title=Hermes Trismegistus and Apollonius of Tyana in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh |url=https://bahai-library.com/brown_hermes_apollonius |journal=Studies in the Bábí and Baháʼí Religions |series=Revisioning the Sacred: New Perspectives on a Bahá'í Theology |location=[[Los Angeles]] |publisher=Kalimat Press |volume=8 |pages=153–187 |isbn=0-933770-96-0 |via=Bahá'í Library Online}}</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, [[Judaism]] 
|-
|[[Noah|Núh]]<ref name="Dann J. May5">{{Cite thesis |last=May |first=Dann J |title=The Baháʼí Principle of Religious Unity and the Challenge of Radical Pluralism |date=December 1993 |pages=102 |publisher=University of North Texas, Denton, Texas |url=https://iii.library.unt.edu/record=b1785599~S12 |contribution=Web Published |contribution-url=https://bahai-library.com/may_principle_religious_unity |access-date=2010-01-02}}</ref>
|[[Noah#Baháʼí Faith|Noah in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze Faith, Mandaeism, [[Yazidism]]
|-
|[[Krishna]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2000 |title=Manifestations of God |encyclopedia=A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |publisher=Oneworld Publications |location=Oxford |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yhy9DwAAQBAJ |last=Smith |first=Peter |page=231 |isbn=1-85168-184-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Esslemont, J. E. |url=https://www.bahai.org/library/other-literature/publications-individual-authors/bahaullah-new-era/2#185131703 |title=Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era |publisher=US Baháʼí Publishing Trust |year=1980 |isbn=0-87743-160-4 |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA |page=2 |author-link=John Esslemont}}</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|[[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], Islam (only [[Ahmadiyya]])
|-
|[[Hud (prophet)|Húd]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Islam
|-
|[[Saleh (prophet)|Sálih]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Saleh (prophet)#In the Baháʼí Faith|Saleh in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Islam
|-
|[[Zoroaster]]<ref name="bh2">[[Moojan Momen|Momen, Moojan]] (1995). ''[https://bahai-library.com/momen_prophetology_archetypes Baha'u'llah's Prophetology: Archetypal patterns in the lives of the founders of the world religions]''. Baháʼí Studies Review, 5.1.</ref>
|[[Zoroaster#In the Bahá'í Faith|Zoroaster in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|[[Zoroastrianism]], [[Manichaeism]], [[Mithraism]], Islam (only Ahmadiyya)
|-
|[[Abraham|Ibráhím]]<ref name="bh2" />
|[[Abraham#Baháʼí Faith|Abraham in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Lot (biblical person)|Lúta]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Ishmael|Ismá‘íl]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Ishmael#Bahá'í Faith|Ishmael in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Isaac|Isháq]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Jacob|Yaqúb]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Joseph (Genesis)|Yusúf]]<ref>Stokes, Jim. ''[https://bahai-library.com/stokes_joseph_babi_bahai The Story of Joseph in the Babi and Baha'i Faiths]'' in World Order, '''29:2''', pp. 25–42, 1997–98 Winter.</ref>
|[[Joseph (Genesis)#Baha'i tradition|Joseph in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Job (biblical figure)|Ayyúb]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Job (biblical figure)#Baháʼí|Job in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Shuaib|Shu'ayb]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Islam, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Aaron|Harún]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Dunbar |first=Hooper C. |title=A Companion to the Study of the Kitáb-i-Íqán |publisher=George Ronald |year=1998 |isbn=0-85398-430-1 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |pages=112}}</ref>
|[[Aaron#Baháʼí Faith|Aaron in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, [[Samaritanism]] 
|-
|[[Moses|Musá]]<ref name="bh2" />
|[[Moses#Baháʼí Faith|Moses in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Joshua]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|"Prophet of the [[Sabaeans]]"<ref name="Sabaeans">Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. ''[https://bahai-library.com/uhj_sabaeans_american_religions The Sabaeans and African-based Religions in the Americas]'', in Lights of Irfan, 13, pp. 415–420. Wilmette, IL: Haj Mehdi Armand Colloquium, 2012.</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|{{Centre|–}}
|-
|[[David]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Solomon|Sulaymān]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Solomon#Baháʼí Faith|Solomon in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Elijah|Élyás]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Elijah#In Baháʼí faith|Elijah in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Jonah|Yúnus]]<ref>'Abdu'l-Bahá. ''[https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_tablet_jonah_whale Tablet about Jonah and the Whale]''.</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Buddha|Búdá]]<ref>[https://bahaiteachings.org/buddhism-and-the-bahai-faith Buddhism and the Baháʼí Faith]</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|[[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]]
|-
|[[Isaiah|Íshiya]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Jeremiah|Ermíya]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Ezekiel|Za'l Kifl]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zakariyá]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Cynthia C. Shawamreh |date=December 1998 |title=Comparison of the Suriy-i-Haykal and the Prophecies of Zechariah |url=http://bahai-library.com/students/temple.zechariah.html |publisher=Wilmette Institute |access-date=27 June 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004134242/http://bahai-library.com/students/temple.zechariah.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{Centre|–}}
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Joel (prophet)|Yu'íl]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Joel (prophet)#In the Baháʼí Faith|Joel in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Daniel (biblical figure)|Danyál]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|[[Daniel_(biblical_figure)#Baháʼí|Daniel in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Judaism
|-
|[[Confucius]]<ref name="Dann J. May5" />
|{{Centre|–}}
|[[Confucianism]]
|-
|[[John the Baptist|Yúna]]<ref>McLean, Jack (2013). ''[https://bahai-library.com/mclean_john_baptist John the Baptist and Baha'i Prophetic Categories: An Atypical Paradigm]''.</ref>
|[[John the Baptist#Baháʼí view|John in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Mandaeism, Druze Faith 
|-
|[[Jesus|Jesus Christ]]<ref>Stockman, Robert. ''[https://bahai-library.com/stockman_jesus_bahai_writings Jesus Christ in the Bahá'í Writings]'', in Baháʼí Studies Review, 2:1, Association for Baha'i Studies English-Speaking Europe, London, 1992.</ref>
|[[Jesus#Baháʼí_Faith|Jesus in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Christianity, Islam, Druze Faith, Manichaeism 
|-
|[[Muhammad]]<ref name="bh2" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Momen |first=Moojan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMAQAQAAIAAJ |title=Islam and the Baháʼí Faith |publisher=George Ronald |year=2000 |isbn=0-85398-446-8 |location=Oxford, UK}}</ref>
|[[Muhammad in the Baháʼí Faith]]
|Islam, Druze Faith
|-
|[[Báb]]
|{{Centre|–}}
|[[Bábism]], [[Azalism]]
|-
|[[Baháʼu'lláh]]
|{{Centre|–}}
|{{Centre|–}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Abrahamic Religions]]
* [[Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion]]
* [[Buddhahood]]
* [[Culture hero]]
* [[Dashavatara]]
* [[List of founders of religious traditions]]
* [[Messiah]]
* [[Manifestation of God]]
* [[Perennial philosophy]]
* [[Saoshyant]]
* [[Sidrat al-Muntaha]]
* [[Son of Heaven]]
* [[Table of prophets of Abrahamic religions]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
 |author=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
 |author-link=ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
 |year=1981
 |title=Some Answered Questions
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois
 |isbn=0-87743-190-6
 |url = https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/
 |orig-year=1904-06
 }}
*{{cite book
 |author=Baháʼu'lláh
 |author-link=Baháʼu'lláh
 |year=1976
 |title=Gleanings from the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois
 |isbn=0-87743-187-6
 |url=https://archive.org/details/gleaningsfromwri0000baha_w8j0
 |url-access=registration
 }}
*{{cite book
 |author=Baháʼu'lláh
 |author-link = Baháʼu'lláh
 |orig-year=1862
 |year=2003
 |title = Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Book of Certitude
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois
 |isbn=1-931847-08-8
 |url = http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/
 }}
*{{cite book
 |first=Shoghi
 |last=Effendi
 |author-link=Shoghi Effendi
 |year=1981
 |title= The Dispensation of Baháʼu'lláh
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA
 |isbn=0-900125-46-2
 |url = https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/WOB/wob-37.html
 }}
*{{cite book
 |author= Esslemont, J.E.
 |year= 1980
 |title= Baháʼu'lláh and the New Era
 |edition= 5th
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA
 |isbn = 0-87743-160-4
 |url = https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/je/BNE/
 }}
*{{cite book
 |author1=Hatcher, W.S.
 |author2=Martin, J.D.
 |year= 1998
 |title=The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion
 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust
 |location=Wilmette, Illinois
 |isbn = 0-87743-264-3
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IZmkG1ASirgC
 }}
*{{cite book
 |first=Wendi
 |last=Momen
 |year=1989
 |title=A Basic Baháʼí Dictionary
 |publisher=George Ronald
 |location=Oxford, England
 |isbn= 0-85398-231-7
 }}
*{{cite book
 |first=Peter
 |last=Smith
 |year=1988
 |title=The Baháʼí Religion, A Short Introduction to its History and Teachings
 |publisher=George Ronald
 |location=Oxford, England
 |isbn= 0-85398-277-5
 }}
*{{cite book
 |first=Peter
 |last=Smith
 |year=1999
 |title = A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith
 |publisher=Oneworld Publications
 |location=Oxford, England
 |isbn=1-85168-184-1
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pYfrAQAAQBAJ
 }}
{{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manifestation Of God}}
[[Category:Baháʼí belief and doctrine]]
[[Category:Prophets]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}