 The Bahá 'í writings state that human beings have a " rational soul " , and that this provides the species with a unique capacity to recognize God 's station and humanity 's relationship with its creator . Every human is seen to have a duty to recognize God through His messengers , and to conform to their teachings . Through recognition and obedience , service to humanity and regular prayer and spiritual practice , the Bahá 'í writings state that the soul becomes closer to God , the spiritual ideal in Bahá 'í belief . When a human dies , the soul passes into the next world , where its spiritual development in the physical world becomes a basis for judgment and advancement in the spiritual world . Heaven and Hell are taught to be spiritual states of nearness or distance from God that describe relationships in this world and the next , and not physical places of reward and punishment achieved after death . 
