Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, each of whom has founded a great religion. The Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad.

The latest of these Messengers is Bahá’u’lláh, who brings new spiritual and social teachings for our modern age. He taught that there is only one God, that all of the world’s religions are from God, and that now is the time for humanity to recognize its oneness and unite.

The photographs that follow give a glimpse into the extraordinary life of Bahá’u’lláh, known to the worldwide Bahá’í community as the latest “Manifestation of God.” They present His story in pictures: His birthplace, the cities of His exile, the cell in which He was confined for two years and His final resting place. Here, too, are examples of His handwriting, relics of His remarkable life, and photographs of the beautiful gardens in the Holy Land which His life inspired.

What is not here is a picture of Bahá’u’lláh Himself. For Bahá’ís, the station of Bahá’u’lláh is such that even His photograph is very precious. It should, therefore, only be viewed with the utmost reverence and respect and not displayed openly, even in the private homes of Bahá’ís.

Photos: The entrance to the tomb of Bahá’u’lláh. The inscription, an invocation in Arabic meaning “O Glory of Glories,” is a reference to Bahá’u’lláh.