Growing out of the teachings of the Báb, who introduced the idea of the coming of a great prophet (the one promised in the scriptures of all the world's major religions), the Bahá'í Faith was founded by Bahá'u'lláh, when in 1866 he publicly declared that he was the One the Báb prophesized. The 2nd edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Bahá'í Faith presents a general historical overview of both Bábí and Bahá'í religions, as well as a theological overview of the Bahá'í Faith, from their inception in the mid 19th century to the middle of 2005. It presents biographical details of the Founders and Central Figures along with numerous leaders and pioneers, most of the basic principles and precepts, as well as aspects of its organization and administration.

Through the use of photographs, a list of acronyms, a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on nearly every aspect of the religion, and appendixes listing the genealogy of the Founders, statistical information, and lists of apostles, disciples, Hands of the Cause, Knights of Bahá'u'lláh as well as of more than 930 believers who have contributed to its growth and development, this book is a fundamental tool for finding information on all things related to the Bahá'í Faith.