Islam vs. Bahai — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 16, 2024
Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion founded in the 7th century in Arabia, focusing on submission to Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, while the Bahá'í Faith, founded in the 19th century in Persia, emphasizes unity of all religions.
Difference Between Islam and Bahai
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Islam, founded in the 7th century by Prophet Muhammad, is a monotheistic religion emphasizing submission to Allah (God). The Quran, believed to be the final revelation from Allah, and the Hadiths, sayings of Muhammad, are central texts guiding Muslim beliefs and practices. The Bahá'í Faith, established in the 19th century by Bahá'u'lláh in Persia, promotes the unity of all religions and humanity. It teaches that Bahá'u'lláh is the latest in a line of prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad, each bringing progressive revelations.
Islam holds that Muhammad is the final prophet, with the Quran as the ultimate divine revelation. In contrast, the Bahá'í Faith believes in progressive revelation, where religious truth is revealed progressively by different prophets, with Bahá'u'lláh being the most recent.
Muslim worship includes regular prayers and rituals, including communal prayers on Fridays at mosques. Bahá'í worship is more individualistic and community-focused, with no clergy, and includes reading from various religious texts and communal gatherings.
Islamic law, or Sharia, derived from the Quran and Hadith, governs all aspects of a Muslim's life. The Bahá'í Faith, while having its own laws and teachings, emphasizes principles of ethical and moral behavior that are adaptable to different cultural contexts.
Islam primarily focuses on the relationship between individuals and Allah, with community and societal rules derived from religious texts. The Bahá'í Faith stresses the unity and equality of all people, advocating for global governance and cooperation as part of its spiritual and social teachings.
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Comparison Chart
Founding
7th century CE by Prophet Muhammad
19th century CE by Bahá'u'lláh
Central Texts
Quran and Hadith
Kitáb-i-Aqdas and other writings of Bahá'u'lláh
Concept of Prophets
Muhammad as the final prophet
Progressive revelation with Bahá'u'lláh as the latest prophet
Core Beliefs
Submission to Allah, Five Pillars
Unity of religions and humanity
Worship Practices
Five daily prayers, mosque congregations
Individual prayer, community gatherings
Religious Law
Sharia
Ethical and moral principles
Focus
Relationship with Allah and community
Global unity and equality
Compare with Definitions
Islam
A religion emphasizing submission to one God, Allah.
Shahada is the Islamic declaration of faith in the oneness of Allah.
Bahai
A religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh promoting unity of all religions.
The Bahá'í Faith teaches the essential worth of all religions.
Islam
A monotheistic Abrahamic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad.
Islam teaches submission to the will of Allah.
Bahai
A religion advocating for global governance and equality.
The Bahá'í Faith supports the establishment of a world government.
Islam
An organized community following Islamic laws and principles.
Sharia law governs many aspects of a Muslim's life in Islam.
Bahai
A spiritual path that acknowledges progressive revelation.
Bahá'ís believe Bahá'u'lláh brought the most recent divine message.
Islam
A faith with practices including the Five Pillars.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Bahai
A belief system that sees humanity as a single race.
Bahá'ís work towards world peace and unity.
Islam
Islam (; Arabic: اَلْإِسْلَامُ, romanized: al-’Islām, [ɪsˈlaːm] (listen) "submission [to God]") is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion teaching that Muhammad is a messenger of God. It is the world's second-largest religion with 1.9 billion followers, or 24.9% of the world's population, known as Muslims.
Bahai
A faith with no clergy, emphasizing individual and communal worship.
Bahá'í community gatherings often include readings from various scriptures.
Islam
A monotheistic religion characterized by the doctrine of absolute submission to God and by reverence for Muhammad as the chief and last prophet of God.
Bahai
A member of the sect of the Babis consisting of the adherents of Baha (Mirza Husain Ali, entitled "Baha 'u 'llah," or, "the Splendor of God"), the elder half brother of Mirza Yahya of Nur, who succeeded the Bab as the head of the Babists. Baha in 1863 declared himself the supreme prophet of the sect, and became its recognized head. There are upwards of 20,000 Bahais in the United States.
Islam
The people or nations that practice Islam; the Muslim world.
Bahai
A teacher of or believer in Bahaism
Islam
The civilization developed by the Muslim world.
Bahai
Of or relating to Bahaism
Islam
The religion of the Mohammedans; Mohammedanism; Islamism. Their formula of faith is: There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.
Islam
The whole body of Mohammedans, or the countries which they occupy.
Islam
The religion of Muslims collectively which governs their civilization and way of life; the predominant religion of northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and Indonesia
Islam
The monotheistic religion of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Koran;
The term Muhammadanism is offensive to Muslims who believe that Allah, not Muhammad, founded their religion
Islam
The religion of Muslims based on the Quran.
Muslims recite verses from the Quran during daily prayers.
Common Curiosities
Who is the founder of the Bahá'í Faith?
The Bahá'í Faith was founded by Bahá'u'lláh.
What is Islam?
Islam is a monotheistic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, focusing on submission to Allah and following the teachings of the Quran.
What are the central texts of Islam?
The Quran and Hadith are the central texts of Islam.
What is the Bahá'í Faith?
The Bahá'í Faith is a religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th century, promoting the unity of all religions and humanity.
Who is the founder of Islam?
Islam was founded by Prophet Muhammad.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
The Five Pillars are Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage).
How do Islam and the Bahá'í Faith view prophets?
Islam views Muhammad as the final prophet, while the Bahá'í Faith believes in progressive revelation with Bahá'u'lláh as the latest prophet.
Does the Bahá'í Faith have religious laws?
Yes, but it focuses more on ethical and moral principles adaptable to different cultures.
What are key principles of the Bahá'í Faith?
Unity of religions and humanity, world peace, and equality are key principles.
What is the main focus of Islam?
Islam focuses on the relationship between individuals and Allah and community adherence to religious texts.
What are the central texts of the Bahá'í Faith?
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and other writings of Bahá'u'lláh are central to the Bahá'í Faith.
Can Muslims and Bahá'ís intermarry?
Interfaith marriages can occur but may involve complex religious and cultural considerations.
What is Sharia?
Sharia is Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith, governing all aspects of a Muslim's life.
What is the main focus of the Bahá'í Faith?
The Bahá'í Faith stresses global unity, equality, and cooperation.
How do worship practices differ in Islam and the Bahá'í Faith?
Islam includes five daily prayers and mosque congregations, while the Bahá'í Faith emphasizes individual prayer and community gatherings without clergy.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
