This is a list of converts to the Baháʼí Faith organised by former religion.
Converted from Abrahamic religions
From Islam Most of the early followers of Baháʼu'lláh came from an Islamic background.
Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl (1844–1914) – foremost Baháʼí scholar who helped spread the Baháʼí Faith in Egypt, Turkmenistan, and the United States. Mishkín-Qalam (1826–1912) – prominent Baháʼí and one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh, as well as a famous calligrapher of 19th-century Persia. Nabíl-i-Aʻzam (1831–1892) – Baháʼí historian and one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh Hají Ákhúnd (1842–1910) – eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh. Ibn-i-Abhar (died 1917) – appointed a Hand of the Cause, and identified as one of the nineteen Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh. Mírzá Mahmúd (died 1927/1928) – eminent follower of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. Núrayn-i-Nayyirayn – two brothers who were beheaded in the city of Isfahan in 1879. Somaya Ramadan (born 1951) – 2001 winner of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature. Hasan M. Balyuzi (1908–1980) – a descendant of relatives of the Báb, he was nevertheless a Muslim until he joined the religion following developing a friendship with Shoghi Effendi circa 1925, and eventually was named a Hand of the Cause of God.Hasan M. Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause of God - the Treasure of All Humanity, by Richard Francis, 1998, Bahai-library.com
From Judaism Lidia Zamenhof (1904–1942) – Polish writer, translator, active promoter of Esperanto (daughter of L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto), killed by Germans during the Holocaust. John Ferraby (1914–1973) – British, Baháʼí Hand of the Cause Flora Purim (born 1942) – Brazilian jazz singer Ethel Jenner Rosenberg (1858–1930) – painter, the first English Baháʼí, secretary and publisher of Baháʼí books. Steve Sarowitz (born 1965/1966) – American billionaire businessman, the founder of Paylocity.
From Christianity
Russell GarciaRussell Garcia (1916–2011) – motion picture composer David KrummenackerRunning the race of his life (born 1975) – Track & Field indoor World Champion in 800m in 2003, NCAA Champion (Georgia Tech) 1997, 1998 Jacqueline Left Hand Bull (born 1943) – American Indian Health care policy administrator (from Catholicism)Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, A Baha'i Perspective (Podcast and radio), August 14, 2010 Queen Marie of Romania (1875–1938) – final Queen of Romania as the wife of Ferdinand I of Romania. Jesse O. McCarthy (1867–1937) Toronto municipal politician and social reformer. Previously a Methodist. Luke McPharlinA player and more by Les Everett, Australian Rules, from the Fremantle Herald (born 1981) – Australian footballer for the Fremantle Dockers Julia Lynch Olin (1882–1961) – American author and Baháʼí who co-founded the New History Society in New York City. Enoch Olinga (1926–1979) – born to an Anglican earned the title Hand of the Cause of God. Mason RemeyRemey, 1960 p. 2 (1874–1974) – prominent American Baháʼí.
Converted from unknown religions Arvid Nelson – American comic book writer, best known for Rex Mundi Zhang Xin (born 1965) – Chinese businesswoman.Macau Daily Times: SOHO not interested in Macau's casinos (09-02-2010) David Kelly (1944–2003) – former employee of the British Ministry of Defence and a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq who was an authority on biological warfare."Profile: Dr David Kelly" BBC
See also List of Baháʼís List of excommunicated Baháʼís
Further reading
References