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Reworking the lead section for Baháʼí House of Worship. Based on a version copied from the article on 23 October 2023 (so check back for edits at the article).

New version

A Baháʼí House of Worship or Baháʼí temple is a place of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to by the name Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is Arabic for "Dawning-place of the remembrance of God".

All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have a round, nine-sided shape and are surrounded by nine pathways leading outwards and nine gardens.

Baháʼí Houses of Worship are open to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection. Open throughout the week, and many have weekly scheduled devotional services. Only scriptures can be read, though of any religion. Things that aren't allowed inside like musical instruments, sermons, ritualistic ceremonies.

Baháʼí scripture envisages Houses of Worship surrounded by a number of dependencies dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits, although no Baháʼí House of Worship has yet been built up to that extent. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Baháʼí Houses of Worship.

The first Baháʼí House of Worship was planned during the lifetime of Baháʼu'lláh (1817–1892), the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, and completed in 1919, though it has since been destroyed. The next House of Worship was completed in 1951, and since then Houses of Worship have been completed on all continents except Antarctica. As of 2023, fourteen Baháʼí Houses of Worship have been completed around the world. Eight of the thirteen that are still standing are continental Houses of Worship, located in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, India, and Chile. The continental Houses of Worship in the United States, India, and Chile have won architectural awards. Of the other five standing Baháʼí Houses of Worship, four are local Houses of Worship and one is a national House of Worship. Work on another two Baháʼí Houses of Worship is ongoing, and plans for three more were announced in 2023 by the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the world's Baháʼís. Baháʼí communities own over 120 properties intended for future Houses of Worship.

Original version as copied

A Baháʼí House of Worship or Baháʼí temple is a place of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to by the name Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is Arabic for "Dawning-place of the remembrance of God".

Baháʼí Houses of Worship are open to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection. All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have a round, nine-sided shape and are surrounded by nine pathways leading outwards and nine gardens. Baháʼí scripture envisages Houses of Worship surrounded by a number of dependencies dedicated to social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific pursuits, although no Baháʼí House of Worship has yet been built up to that extent. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Baháʼí Houses of Worship.

As of 2023, fourteen Baháʼí Houses of Worship have been completed around the world (including one that was later destroyed). Eight of the thirteen that are currently standing are continental Houses of Worship, located in the United States, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, India, and Chile. The continental Houses of Worship in the United States, India, and Chile have won architectural awards. Of the other five standing Baháʼí Houses of Worship, four are local Houses of Worship and one is a national House of Worship. Work on another two Baháʼí Houses of Worship is ongoing, and Baháʼí communities own over 120 properties intended for future Houses of Worship.

Needs to be added

• Explain distinction between continental, national, and local
• Significance of number nine?
• More on what does (and doesn't) take place inside
• Funding (voluntary from Baha'is, none from non-Baha'is)
• Three more announced recently

Other to-do's

• See if lead section needs to follow same organization as article body