Bahai9 - User contributions [en]

Bahá'í Faith

2025-03-22T19:58:32Z

Ernobe: /* Bahá'í Faith, Designation of */ use of the name "Bahá'ísm"

For the official Bahá'í website, see https://bahai.org

For the publicly editable wiki article, see [[WikiPedia:Bahá'í Faith]] (see also [[Wikipedia:Category:Baha%27i]] and [[Wikipedia:Category:Baha%27i Practices]])

See [[Central Figures and Institutions]].

==Bahá'í Faith, Designation of==

"In reply to your letter of January 26th, we realize that there are occasions on which the use of the term 'Bahá'í World Faith' may be justified and useful. However, it is our hope that the friends will gradually lose the habit of using this term as widely as they do now. The designation 'The Bahá'í Faith' is more dignified and preferable. Any adjective added to this name tends to a diminution of its stature and might be taken to mean that there are other 'Bahá'í Faiths'."

:(From a letter of the [[Universal House of Justice]] to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, February 5, 1967: Copies to various National Spiritual Assemblies, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:374|374]])

"We constantly used the words Cause and Movement and Shoghi Effendi asked us to try and eliminate these words as they did not convey the deep significance of the Bahá'í Faith or World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, and advised us to teach new believers to use these two expressions and never to permit anyone to use the name Bahá'ísm"

:(From [https://bahai-library.com/ransom-kehler_haifa_talks Haifa Talks], [[pilgrim's notes]] quoting [[Shoghi Effendi]] by Keith Ransom-Kehler and Lorol Schopflocher, 1932.)

==Symbol of Bahá'í Faith--Five-Pointed Star==

"...Strictly speaking the five-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Bab and explained by Him. But the Guardian does not feel it is wise or necessary to complicate our explanation of the Temple by adding this."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, October 28, 1949: U.S. Supplement to Bahá'í News, No. 50, p. 4, April 1962, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:375|375]])

==Unique aspects of==

=== Summary from ''[[Promulgation of Universal Peace]]'', pp. [[pup:453|453]]-457 ===

"All the divine principles announced by the tongue of the Prophets of the past are to be found in the words of Bahá'u'lláh; but in addition to these He has revealed certain new teachings which are not found in any of the sacred Books of former times. I shall mention some of them..." (see ''[[Promulgation of Universal Peace]]'', pp. [[pup:453|453]]-457)

# "Oneness of the world of humanity"
# "injunction to investigate Truth"
# "the foundation of all the Religions of God is One"
# "religion must be the cause of unity, harmony and accord amongst men"
# "religion must be in accord with science and reason"
# "equality between men and women"
# "prejudice and fanaticism-, whether religious, sectarian, sectional, denominational or patriotic,--are destructive to the foundation of the human solidarity"
# "there shall be Universal Peace amongst governments, Universal Peace amongst religions, Universal Peace amongst races, Universal Peace amongst the denizens of all regions"
# "all mankind should partake of both knowledge and education"
# "solution of the economic question"
# "The House of Justice, which is endowed with a political as well as a religious aspect. It embodies both aspects, and it is protected by the Preserving Power of BAHA'O'LLAH Himself."
# "most Great Characteristic,—and it is a specific teaching of the Revelation of BAHA'O'LLAH and not given by any of the Prophets of the past,—it is the teaching concerning The Center of The Covenant"

====See also====
* [[Twelve principles]]

===From [https://bahai-library.org/books/brilliant.proof/proof.html#Heading8 Mirza Abu Fadl's book], ''[[Brilliant Proof]]'' (which 'Abdu'l-Baha recommended), under [https://bahai-library.org/books/brilliant.proof/proof.html#Heading8 "New Bahá'í Teachings"]===

# "abstaining from crediting verbal traditions."
# "law prohibiting the interpreting of the Word of God"
# "if those having two points of view engage in conflict and strife while expressing their views, both of them are rejected."
# "law prohibiting slavery"
# "obligatory upon all to engage in allowable professions as a means of support, and obedience to this law is accepted as an act of worship"
# "law making the education of children of both sexes compulsory"
# "command prohibiting cursing and execration and making it obligatory upon all to abstain from uttering that which may offend men"
# "Relative to the carrying of arms except in time of necessity"
# "the necessity of the creation of the House of Justice and institution of the National Assemblies [i.e., parliaments] and Constitutional Governments"

also:

# "ethics and conditions requisite for a wife's knowledge of her traveling or absent husband"
# "prohibition of haughtiness and egoism"
# "command as to purity of all things, with recommendation and encouragement to observe sanitary measures and cleanliness, and to shun utterly all that tends to filth and uncleanness"
# "command directing the agreement of nations in the abolition of warfare and battles, and the conservation of conditions of security and peace."
# "question of inheritance and the modus operandi of the distribution of legacies among heirs according to the laws of this Dispensation"

===Distinguishing character of Bahá'í character consists not only of validity of this Dispensation and its teachings but also in its suppression of unwarranted practices and rigid/rigorous observances abated===

"We should also bear in mind that the distinguishing character of the Bahá'í Revelation does not solely consist in the completeness and unquestionable validity of the Dispensation which the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá have established. Its excellence lies also in the fact that those elements which in past Dispensations have, without the least authority from their Founders, been a source of corruption and of incalculable harm to the Faith of God, have been strictly excluded by the clear text of Bahá'u'lláh's writings. Those unwarranted practices, in connection with the sacrament of baptism, of communion, of confession of sins, of asceticism, of priestly domination, of elaborate ceremonials, of holy war and of polygamy, have one and all been rigidly suppressed by the Pen of Bahá'u'lláh; whilst the rigidity and rigor of certain observances, such as fasting, which are necessary to the devotional life of the individual, have been considerably abated."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[wob:22|22]])

==See also==
* [[Cause of God]]

[[Category:Bahá'í Faith]]

User talk:Ernobe

2025-03-09T14:36:31Z

Ernobe: /* Teaching page */

Welcome to the site, and thanks for your helpful contribution on the Qur'an page! [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:28, 16 September 2016 (UTC)

== Lippitt comment ==

Thanks for your contributions here! Great to have them...

For the addition to [[Template:Organizing the Writings]], however, I'd prefer we add anything that is not from the Writings (not part of the O, per Lippitt's scheme!) to the likes of Bahaipedia (though we can add a cross-site link like on the bottom of [[Star of the West#Correlated to updated translations]] so people are more likely to find it from Bahai9). On very rare occasions I've made an exception to this, but those exceptions should either be closely derived from the text itself or be otherwise likely to lead to confusion (e.g., "[[biochemical homeopathy]]" where "homeopathy" has a very different connotation in modern discourse).

[[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 11:53, 7 May 2023 (PDT)

I'm thinking of including it in the list of goals at [[Bahai9:Bahai9 wiki]], the goal being to expand the classification system of the topics section of the [[Main Page#subject|Main Page]] on the basis of the Lippitt/Hoagg scheme.

[[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 12:56, 7 May 2023 (PDT)

: If it fits with the approach of those main subject entries being fields of study, then cool. If it is something different, please consider taking an approach like adding something like [[Subject#Dewey classification]]. We can have multiple systems co-exist, but I'd like for the one on the main page to be strictly fields of study (e.g., "Language" is not a field of study but it is used as a top-level classification in Dewey--for the main system, it should instead be "Linguistics" so we have a more easily agreed-upon classification). [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 13:13, 7 May 2023 (PDT)

: It would be fine, btw, for you to have an introductory comment about her system on the main page for her classification scheme (or as a subheading of [[Subject]]). [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 13:14, 7 May 2023 (PDT)

== Teaching page ==

Hi there... Just an FYI on why I reverted the [[teaching]] page-related changes. That page is really just for when Bahá'ís use the word "teaching" as in "Teaching the Faith". If we used the word "Teachings", then it would be suitable to use that page for what is on the [[Social Teachings]] page, but I used the word "Social" to distinguish, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá does, from the "moral" teachings. [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 16:24, 5 March 2025 (EST)
: FWIW you might as well split part of the [[Teaching]] page into a [[Moral teachings]] page. They look kind of the same to me. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 16:59, 5 March 2025 (EST)

:: The [[Teaching]] page is only about teaching others the Faith; do you mean split part of the [[Social Teachings]] page? I think those are social teachings already; [[moral teachings]] would be a good page to have—but it'd be things like not gossiping, showing kindness, etc.--things I think that are always more one-on-one and the same in each age, rather than societal questions. Could link to [[virtues]] as one type of moral teaching. [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 18:01, 5 March 2025 (EST)

::: I think the social and moral teachings, as you've defined them, are what is known as the indirect method of teaching, which naturally tends to split things in two, the natural as opposed to the spiritual. Teachings, without qualification, would be the direct method. It makes sense therefore, as you suggest, to have separate pages for them, as even the indirect teachings require explanation. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 18:35, 5 March 2025 (EST)

:::: I think it would be good to also have a separate page for "indirect vs. direct method of teaching" (and link to it in the "See also" of the "Teaching" page and possibly also the "Social teachings" page) wherein was discussed the fact that there are indeed these two methods of teaching. While the ''sharing'' of the social teachings (without reference to Bahá'u'lláh) is a form of indirect teaching, and the ''practice'' of the moral teachings alone might be seen as a form of indirect teaching, I think we have to distinguish between that sharing and practice of teachings and the actual moral and social teachings themselves.

:::: So, for example, sharing the idea of world government with others without mentioning Bahá'u'lláh is an instance of indirect teaching, but the principle of "world government" itself is a separate idea worthy of its own page as is the notion of there being a listing of social teachings like "world government". And we also need a page to cover what direct vs. indirect teaching means (though I don't think we need a list of direct or indirect teaching, because that would make the most sense as a list of activities, and there are too many kinds of possible activities, e.g., directly mentioning the Faith to a friend at coffee, indirectly sharing teachings on equality on a work break, etc.). Does that make sense? [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 09:52, 7 March 2025 (EST)

::::: Sorry for the time lapse; I've been busy organizing categories at the Spanish Bahaipedia. I think it is important to consider that when we speak of 'direct vs. indirect' we are, strictly speaking, speaking of different teachings, not different methods. So for example, we might be speaking to someone about the Bábs' predilection for green tea as opposed to black tea, as if it was our own (not mentioning the Báb), so as to bring in the subject of the Faith if the person enquires further. What I mean is that the non-essential (material) aspects of the Teachings are the subject matter of indirect teaching, while the essential (spiritual) aspects are generally, the subject matter of direct teaching. To reduce the whole process to a purely methodological one would result in such anachronisms as having to, once the subject of the Faith has been mentioned, distinguish between what '''we''' meant directly vs. indirectly. Once we've made this distinction (between direct/indirect teachings vs. direct/indirect methods) we can more clearly express what those direct and indirect teachings are, free of methodological biases and our own proclivities/ideas about them. In fact, it is the undo mixture of the two that is at the root cause of mistakes in such efforts as the Ruhi courses and firesides (firesides less so because they are not from the get-go a form of direct teaching already, they are generally the result of previous indirect efforts). A practical example of a correct methodology is the "cleaning up" of articles from Wikipedia for inclusion in Bahaipedia. We don't want to exclude anyones' views, but at the same time make clear what the non-Bahá’í context of many of the views is, to the extent of clearing up its logical and other types of errors before the subject of the Faith itself is even mentioned. In sum, I think the social teachings articles would be of benefit to seekers if the authors of them are shown to be conversant with the current thinking on such subjects, in such a way that they can, in the moral teachings articles, intelligently correlate them with the Teachings. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 10:36, 9 March 2025 (EDT)

User talk:Ernobe

2025-03-05T23:36:18Z

Ernobe: /* Teaching page */

User talk:Ernobe

2025-03-05T21:59:28Z

Ernobe: /* Teaching page */

Spiritual-Ethical-Religious

2025-03-05T20:39:00Z

Ernobe: /* Study of Spiritual Subjects */ moral laws and teachings included in Teaching, spiritual-intellectual=philosophical

==Spiritual-Ethical-Religious defined==

'Abdu'l-Bahá in Chapter [https://bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/saq/03.html 3] of [https://bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/saq/ Some Answered Questions], describes spiritual (or "divine") education (here, affairs) in the following terms: "Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it consists in acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this state man becomes the focus of divine blessings, the manifestation of the words, "Let Us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness." <nowiki>[Cf. Gen. 1:</nowiki>[[bible:Genesis 1:26|26]].] This is the goal of the world of humanity."

==Categorization==

===[[Prayer-Mystical-Meditation]] and [[Fast|Fasting]]===

(see also Protagonist--Institution-Community-[[Mashriqu'l-Adhkár]])

===[[Study of Spiritual Subjects]]===
# [[Theology]]
## [[God]]
## [[Religion]] ([[Prophets]] is also relevant and includes other holy figures not designated as Prophets)
## [[Mankind]]
## [[Nature]]
## [[philosophical concepts and realities]]
# [[Reading the Writings]] (Deepening/Scholarship/Training)
# [[History|Bahá'í History]] (prior to Faith and for this Faith, concerning/impacting non-Bahá'í world and within Bahá'í community)
# [[Teaching]] (methods, goals, prerequisites, etc.)
# [[laws]]
# [[Administrative Teachings]]

===[[Virtues]]===
(also integrated (as potentially with all sections) within [[Material-Physical]] and [[Human--Intellectual-Arts-Social-Professional-Administrative]] above as well as [[protagonist]], [[sequences]], etc. sections)
# Subcategorized [[List of virtues]]
===[[Service]] to Cause===
(excluding teaching (below) - e.g., processing paperwork, research, Archives, etc.) and to one's profession/mankind
===[[Bahá'í Funds]]===
(Faith and poor - spiritual and material education, health, etc.)

===[[Spiritual Infrastructure]]===
([[Mashriqu'l-Adhkár]] House of Worship; the "material" "intellectual", "social", and "administrative" dependencies must all be infused with the spirit but are listed under [[Material-Physical]])
===[[Teaching]] (the Cause)===

[[Category:Spiritual-Ethical-Religious]]

Principles

2025-03-05T20:34:13Z

Ernobe: changed redirect

#REDIRECT[[Twelve principles]]

Social Teachings

2025-03-05T19:47:41Z

Ernobe: redirect to Teaching

#REDIRECT [[Teaching]]

Teaching

2025-03-05T19:45:28Z

Ernobe: merge from Social Teachings

==Compilations==
* ''[[Guidelines for Teaching]]''
* ''[[Promoting Entry by Troops]]''
* Particular teaching methods
** ''[[Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith]]''
** ''[[Use of Radio and Television in Teaching, The]]''
* Teaching particular groups
** ''[[Aboriginal and Indigenous People, Teaching Among]]''
** ''[[Teaching the Masses]]''
** ''[[Prominent People (compilation)]]''

==Phases==
* [[Sequence of teaching]]
** [[Proclamation]]
** [[Expansion]]
** [[Consolidation]]

==Themes==
* [[Twelve principles]]
* [[Independent investigation of truth]]
* Promotion of a federated [[world government]]
* Promotion of a [[world auxiliary language]]
* [[Race unity]]
* [[Equality of women and men]]
* [[Harmony of science and religion]]
* [[Elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty]]
* [[Consultation]]

===Other social teachings===
* [[Immigration]]
* [[Free trade]]

==Letters==
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_teaching_role_institutions

==Duty to teach (and promises of blessings and success)==

===Arise to Serve His Cause===

"Whosoever ariseth to aid our Cause, God will render him victorious over ten times ten thousand souls, and, should he wax in his love for Me, him will We cause to triumph over all that is in the heaven and all that is on earth."

:(Bahá’u’lláh: cited by Shoghi Effendi in, Messages to the Bahá’í World, p. 101, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1977|1977]])

===Teaching Enjoined on Believers in Aqdas===

"In the Aqdas Bahá’u’lláh considers teaching as a spiritual obligation imposed upon every devoted believer and servant of His Faith. Should the friends become fully conscious of this duty and arise to do their share, this Cause will soon permeate every home throughout the world and the Kingdom of God will be established."

:(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer: Bahá’í News, No. 85, p. 8, July 1934, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1978|1978]])

====Note====
* See ''[[Kitáb-i-Aqdas]]'', par. [[kap:38|38]]

===The Teachings are not Given to Us to Treasure and Hide===

"The world is in great turmoil and its problems seem to become daily more acute. We should therefore not sit idle; otherwise we would be failing in carrying out our sacred duty. Bahá'u'lláh has not given us His teachings to treasure them and hide them for our personal delight and pleasure. He gave them to us that we may pass them from mouth to mouth until all the world becomes familiar with them and enjoys their blessings and uplifting influence."

:(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the Spiritual Assembly of Eliot, Maine, March 27, 1933: Bahá’í News, No. 73, May 1933, p. 2, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1980|1980]])

===Importance of Teaching—Terrible Problems Confronting Humanity===

"The more one observes the conditions of the world and the terrible problems confronting humanity, the more deeply one realizes that the only remedy is that which Bahá’u’lláh has brought, and yet, alas, the masses of the people seem to not yet be aware that the way out of our problems can only be a divine way, given by something far greater than human understanding! However, many souls are seriously thinking and seeking, and the Bahá’ís must try to bring the knowledge of the teachings to all, so that those prepared to accept may not be denied the Message!"

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] [[to an individual believer]]: Ibid., p. 72, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1999|1999]])

===See also===
* [[Family#Teaching the Faith to one's family]]

==Rewards of teaching==

===Recompense of Martyr Assuredly Recorded===

"In this day, the beloved of God must not hesitate or delay an instant in teaching the Cause of the Manifestation; and reconciling words of the religion of majestic oneness; because, verily, in this day, to the soul who is the cause of guidance to another soul the recompense of a martyr in the way of God will be assuredly recorded by the pen of the Cause for his deed. This is from the Bounty of God unto thee. Do according to what thou hast been commanded and do not be of those who tarry."

:(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 204, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1982|1982]])

==All can and should teach (though depends on effort at study, etc.)==

===Every One is a Potential Teacher===

"… Not until all the friends come to realize that everyone is able, in his own measure, to deliver the Message can they ever hope to reach the goal that has been set for them by a loving and wise Master. It is no use for some able and eloquent teacher to take all the responsibility for the spread of the Cause. For such a thing is not only contrary to the spirit of the Teachings, but to the explicit text of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, both of Whom place the obligation of teaching not on any particular class as in former ecclesiastical organizations but on every faithful and loyal follower of the Cause. The teaching of the Word is thus made universal and compulsory. How long, then, shall we wait to carry out this command, the full wisdom of which only future generations will be able to appreciate? We have no special teachers in this Cause. Everyone is a potential teacher. He has only to use what God has given him and thus prove that he is faithful to his trust."

:(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer: The Bahá’í World, p. 126, Vol. V, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:2001|2001]])

===Each One of the Believers is Like an Ark of Salvation===

"I desire that you may see the divine ships. These ships are the blessed sails who are traversing the sea of Divine mercy; their propellors are the powers of spiritual love and their captains are the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. No ship is ever wrecked in this sea; its waves are life-giving. Each one of the friends of God is like unto an ark of Salvation. Each ark saves many souls from the storms of troubles. The signs and traces of these sails are never-ending and eternal. The future centuries and cycles are like the sea on the surface of which these arks glide blissfully toward their spiritual destination."

:(Talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Star of the West, Vol. 8, No. 8, p. 104, August 11, 1917, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1997|1997]])

===Teaching not Conditioned by Occupation===

"Teaching the Faith is not conditioned by what occupation we have, or how great our knowledge is, but rather on how much we have studied the Teachings, to what degree we live the Bahá’í life, and how much we long to share this Message with others. When we have these characteristics, we are sure, if we search, to find receptive souls.

"You should persevere and be confident that, with effort, success can be yours."

:(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi by his secretary to an American believer, 1957: Bahá’í News, No. 351, p. 2, May 1960, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1983|1983]])

==Conditions for a teacher==

===First Condition of a Religious Teacher===

"It is a wonderful, priceless boon to be a vessel carrying food from God. It cannot be bought with gold. The first condition of a religious teacher is to believe in God; the second, to turn his face toward God; the third to be severed from all save God. Such teachers will constitute illumined lamps of guidance, the stars of the heaven of mercy, the trees of the orchard of Abhá, flowers of the garden of mystery and torches of the path of salvation.

"Teaching the Cause of God is not only through the tongue; it is through deeds, a good disposition, happiness of nature, kindness and sympathy, good fellowship, trustworthiness, holiness, virtue, purity of ideals, and lastly, speech."

:(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Bahá’í News, No. 243, May 1951, p. 8, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1998|1998]])

===‘Abdu’l-Bahá Teaches How to Teach (role of prayer (and faith?))===

"…in the city of Baghdád, I talked with a learned man, Mulla Hassan, some of whose relatives were believers. No matter how hard they tried to give him the Message, he would not accept it. Once, they brought him to my house when I was just getting up from my sleep and combing my hair. They said, 'We have brought so-and-so here and we beg you to come and speak with him; perhaps, he will become a believer.' I said, 'Very well,' and then I turned to the Blessed Beauty and prayed: 'O Blessed Beauty, confirm me!' Afterwards, I talked to him, and in the same hour he became a believer. He became exceedingly good and was so enkindled that, although he was of high rank, he used to go into the kitchen and cook things with his own hand to entertain the friends."

:(Talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land, translated by Dr. Zia Baghdádi: Star of the West, Vol. IX, No. 3, p. 36, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1981|1981]])

===Need Teachers of Spiritual Capacity, Knowledge of Covenant===

"…the National Assembly should pay particular attention to getting teachers with spiritual capacity and a deep knowledge of the Covenant out to the weaker communities on circuit teaching trips, and that an effort should be made for them to stay for some time in each place. It is evident that one of the reasons that the work on the home front in America is so seriously lagging is that the Bahá’ís themselves, though undoubtedly devoted, loyal and conscientious, are not always very deeply grounded in the spiritual fundamentals of their Faith. This produces a maladjustment, so to speak, in the nature of their service to the Cause; and only through a deeper understanding of their Faith and the inner spiritual strength that this understanding brings, will they be able to reinforce themselves to meet their tasks, to see the joy of discharging their duties and grasping their privileges."

:(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, July 19, 1956: Bahá’í News, No. 307, September 1956, p. 1, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:2000|2000]])

===Teaching acceptable only when done by a firm believer in God===

"Say: Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Bahá, for God hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds. Such a deed is acceptable only when he that teacheth the Cause is already a firm believer in God, the Supreme Protector, the Gracious, the Almighty."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', sec. [[gwbs:128|128]])

===Teacher should teach self before teaching others===

"Whoso ariseth among you to teach the Cause of his Lord, let him, before all else, teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him. Unless he teacheth his own self, the words of his mouth will not influence the heart of the seeker. Take heed, O people, lest ye be of them that give good counsel to others but forget to follow it themselves."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', sec. [[gwbs:128|128]])

===Teachers must be reborn, be satisfied with little food, disengaged from temptation and covetousness, and filled with spirit===

"As regards the teachers, they must completely divest themselves from the old garments and be invested with a new garment. According to the statement of Christ, they must attain to the station of rebirth—that is, whereas in the first instance they were born from the womb of the mother, this time they must be born from the womb of the world of nature. Just as they are now totally unaware of the experiences of the foetal world, they must also forget entirely the defects of the world of nature. They must be baptized with the water of life, the fire of the love of God and the breaths of the Holy Spirit; be satisfied with little food, but take a large portion from the heavenly table. They must disengage themselves from temptation and covetousness, and be filled with the spirit. Through the effect of their pure breath, they must change the stone into the brilliant ruby and the shell into pearl. Like unto the cloud of vernal shower, they must transform the black soil into the rose garden and orchard. They must make the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the extinguished one enkindled and set aglow, and the dead quickened."

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Tablets of the Divine Plan]]'', p. [[tdp:96|96]], in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1985|1985]])

==Need for progressive teaching==

* [[New believers#Need_for_gradual_introduction_to_challenging_laws_and_observances_and_need_not_know_all_proofs.2C_history.2C_and_principles_before_enrolling_.28though_should_be_some_introduction_before_accepting_into_the_Faith_and_should_continue_after_becoming_a_Bah.C3.A1.27.C3.AD.29]]

==Teaching all vs. teaching capable/pure/willing==

===Need to confirm people of true capacity and ability===

"He (the Guardian) feels that the great point is to confirm people of true capacity and ability--from whatever social stratum they may be, because the Cause needs now, and will ever increasingly need, souls of great ability who can bring it before the public at large, administer its ever-growing affairs, and contribute to its advancement in every field."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], 30 October 1941, ''[[Unfolding Destiny]]'', p. [[ud:438|438]])

===Seek pure souls to gain confidence and teach the Faith===

"The Friends should seek pure souls, gain their confidence and then teach that person carefully until he becomes a Bahá'í -- and then nurture him until he becomes a firm and active supporter of the Faith."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Messages to Canada]]'', 10 June 1956, p. [[mc:238|238]])

===Concentrate on pure hearted people===

"The Friends should concentrate on pure hearted people, and continue association and fellowship with them, until they themselves become active workers in the Cause of God."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], letter dated 12/20/55 [[to an individual believer]], attached to letter dated 2/4/85 on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, in the Power of Unity, no. [https://bahai-library.com/taylor_power_unity#sel34 34])

===The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing===

"The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing, even as the cup-bearer, who proffereth not his cup till he findeth a seeker, and the lover who crieth not out from the depths of his heart until he gazeth upon the beauty of his beloved."

:{{Template:Hwp|36}}

==Teaching methods/techniques==

===Meditate on Methods of Teaching (including memorization)===

"The sanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts of the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will have no cause for vacillation…."

:(Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 200, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1979|1979]])

===Quoting/referencing the Writings===

====Be able to recite the divine verses whenever the occasion demands it====

"From the texts of the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[tb:200|200]])

====Be able to quote from Tablets when discussing subjects pertaining to the Faith====

"The friends should read the Writings to be able to quote from the Tablets when discussing subjects pertaining to the Faith."

:(From a letter dated 9 May 1932 written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to an individual believer; in ''[[Importance of Deepening]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#105 105])

====Refer seeker constantly to the Word itself====

"Divine Truth is relative and that is why we are enjoined to constantly refer the seeker to the Word itself--and why any explanations we make to ease the journey of the soul of any individual must be based on the Word--and the Word alone."

:(From a letter dated 4 June 1957 written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; in ''[[Guidelines for Teaching]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_guidelines_teaching#2008 2008])

====Prove our points by constant reference to the actual words of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá (though we are not limited to this in finding new ways of approach to that truth and explain how they influence our life and condition)====

"Surely the ideal way of teaching is to prove our points by constant reference to the actual words of Bahá'u'lláh and the Master. This will save the Cause from being misinterpreted by individuals. It is what these divine Lights say that is truth and therefore should be the authorities of our statements. This, however, does not mean that our freedom of expression is limited. We can always find new ways of approach to that truth or explain how they influence our life and condition. The more deep our studies the more we can understand the significance of the teachings."

:(From a letter dated 16 February 1932 written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to an individual believer; in ''[[Importance of Deepening]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#103 103])

====See also====
* [[Raising concerns with fellow believers about statements or actions apparently undermining the Covenant]] (as such discussions may necessitate reference to the Writings)
* [[Memorization]]

===Indirect teaching===

"As to your question as to what constitutes indirect teaching: it essentially consists in presenting some of the humanitarian or social teachings of the Cause which are shared by those whom we are teaching, as a means of attracting them to those aspects of the Faith which are more challenging in character, and are specifically and solely Bahá’í. The teaching of Esperanto, for instance, has been a very useful way of presenting the Cause indirectly to many people. It has opened many doors of contact for the believers, and has lately proved to be of tremendous help in introducing the Teachings into important social and intellectual circles."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], 28 May 1937 to an individual believer, Materials Provided by the Bahá'í World Centre on Universal Auxiliary Language, no. [https://bahai-library.com/bwc_universal_auxiliary_language#sel7 7])

=== Use method of expression to attract listener; refrain from terms like "Glory of God" if not suited to mentality ===

"The Teacher Should Use Whatever Method of Expression That Will Attract the Listener "English is, compared to Latin and oriental languages, lacking (as spoken in daily use) in flowery terms, and the Guardian feels that in teaching you should always use whatever method will most attract your hearers. If such term as 'The Glory of god' are not suited to certain individuals' mentality you should refrain from using them until they draw really close to the spirit of the Cause. The teaching is of primary, the words of secondary importance."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to an individual believer, January 23, 1945) (''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:2033|2033]], pp. [[log:600|600]]-601)

===To-dos for this section===

* Find other quotes on needing to share the message with all

==See also==
* [[Speech]]
* [[Words and deeds]]
* [[Teaching planning]]
* [[Mass teaching]]
* [[Travel teaching]]
* [[Firesides]]
* [[Pioneering]]
* [[Teaching conference]]
* [[Meetings for teaching]]

Bahá'í Funds

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#REDIRECT [[Bahá’í Funds]]

Bahá’í Funds

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==Compilations==
* https://bahai-library.com/compilation_funds_contributions

==Topics==
* [[Bahá'í Fund - contribution responsibilities]]
* [[Bahá'í Fund - eligibility of contributors]]
* [[Bahá'í Fund - treasurer and Assembly]]
* [[Bahá'í Fund - earmarked funds]]

==7 Major Bahá’í Funds==

"…all the funds need to be supported, both directly by the believers, and also by the making of contributions by Bahá’í Institutions from one fund to another…"

: ([[Universal House of Justice]], [https://bahai-library.com/uhj_messages_1986_2001/#171.3 31 October 1993])

==5 Permanent Funds==
#International Bahá’í Fund
#Continental Bahá’í Fund
#National Bahá’í Fund
#Regional Bahá’í Fund
#Local Fund

==2 Temporary Funds==
#World Center Endowment Fund (Temporary, until the House of Justice tells us)
#Kingdom Project (2001-2006)

==International Fund==

(To-do)

==Continental Fund==

"Nor should the believers, individually or in their Assemblies, forget the vitally important Continental Funds which provide for the work of the Hands of the Cause of God and their Auxiliary Boards. This divine institution, so assiduously fostered by the Guardian, and which has already played a unique role in the history of the Faith, is destined to render increasingly important services in the years to come."

:(From a message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of East and West, December 18, 1963)

==National Fund (US)==

"Regarding the state of the National Fund, which you have reported is suffering from a general slackness in contributions form both individual believers and the Local Assemblies and groups: It is only evident that unless the flow of donations is regularly maintained by means of generous and continual support by all the believers, individually and collectively, the National Fund will never be able to meet the needs and requirements of the Cause, particularly in these days when the national activities of the American believers are assuming such wide and increasing proportions."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], Letter dated February 3, 1941)

==Regional Bahá'í Council Fund==

- [https://www.bahai.org/documents/the-universal-house-of-justice/regional-bahai-councils Establishment of Regional Bahá’í Councils in Certain Countries, their Characteristics and Functions, 30 May 1997]

==Local Fund==

"The universal participation of the believers in every aspect of the Faith - in contributing to the Fund, in teaching, deepening, living the Baha'i life, administering the affairs of the community, and, above all, in the life of prayer and devotion to God - will endow the Baha'i community with such strength that it can overcome the forces of spiritual disintegration which are engulfing the non-Baha'i world, and can become an ocean of oneness that will cover the face of the planet."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], letter dated December 29, 1970)

==World Centre Endowment Fund==

"…we have decided to set up the World Centre Endowment Fund, for the preservation, upkeep, and security of the edifices and precincts of the Spiritual and Administrative Centres of the Faith — activities that currently form so large a part of the responsibilities of the Bahá'í International Fund. This decision follows the example of Shoghi Effendi, who during his ministry dedicated the income from lands in the environs of the Jordan Valley for the upkeep of the Holy Shrines."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], 2001 Nov 12, International Endowment Fund)

==Priority of Funds==

=== Fixing of priorities dependent on the Cause and individual's circumstances ===
The fixing of priorities is dependent on many factors, related both to the Cause as a whole and to each individual in his or her own circumstances."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], August 1993)

===General and national interests and Funds take precedence over local ones===
"The beloved Guardian has explained that the general and national interests of the Cause take precedence over local ones; thus contributions to local funds are secondary to those to national funds."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], August 1985)

=== All funds must be supported, directly by believers and by institutions ===

"As far as the Cause is concerned, all the work must be kept going; all the funds need to be supported, both directly by the believers, and also by the making of contributions by Bahá'í institutions from one fund to another, which do not take the place of contributions from individuals - the source of the life-blood of the Cause.

: ([[Universal House of Justice]], [https://bahai-library.com/uhj_messages_1986_2001/#171.3 31 October 1993])

=== Individual's attention to different Funds parallels loyalty to different levels of mankind ===

"At the level of the individual believer, attention to the needs of the funds of the Faith parallels the principles which govern multiple loyalties. The first loyalty of a Baha'i to the whole of mankind, for the benefit of the part is best achieved through the welfare of the whole. But this widest loyalty does not eliminate the lesser loyalties of love for one's country, for the area in which one lives, or for one's family. They all constitute a network of interdependent and mutually beneficial loyalties. So it is with the individual believer's relationship to the International, Continental, National and Local Funds."

: ([[Universal House of Justice]], [https://bahai-library.com/uhj_messages_1986_2001/#171.4 31 October 1993])

===While using personal judgment, individual contributor should bear in mind priorities of the work of the Cause as a whole===

"Although the setting of priorities for contributing is a matter for personal judgment, the individual believer will certainly bear in mind the priorities of the work of the Cause as a whole."

: ([[Universal House of Justice]], [https://bahai-library.com/uhj_messages_1986_2001/#171.5 31 October 1993])

===Assembly should educate friends of prerogative to contribute directly to all of the Funds===

"In educating the friends to be conscious of contributing to the fund as a fundamental element of Baha'i life, the Assembly should make them aware of the individual believer's prerogative of contributing directly to all the funds of the Faith: international, continental and national as well as local."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Universal House of Justice]] to a National Spiritual Assembly, February 12, 1987, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', p. [[log:260|260]])

User talk:Brettz9

2025-02-13T14:08:53Z

Ernobe: /* link update */ new section

Here is my talk page... Feel free to add comments by adding a section below (easiest to use the plus sign at the top of the page)...

== link update ==

Hi, 
One of the links at your site http://onetongue.com/languagelinks/index.html, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5037/ redirects (according to web.archive.org) to http://interlanguages.net/ [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 06:08, 13 February 2025 (PST)

Talk:Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era

2025-02-09T15:37:49Z

Ernobe:

Hi, 
I think the 2006 edition posted at bahai.org and bahaiebooks.org has a typo. In [https://www.bahai.org/r/439669280 Chapter 5], section "Living the Life", the quote from one of Abdu'l-Bahas' London talks goes on to the end of the section, while the same in [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=5 previous editions] shows it is partly also Esslemonts' words. Does anybody know who's in charge of publications at the World Center? [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 16:22, 6 February 2025 (PST)

: Hi... Sorry just saw this now... The bahai.org website has a contact page, and it mentions one can email webmaster@bahai.org . [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 15:33, 8 February 2025 (PST)

:: I've shared the above info with [https://bics.bwc.org https://bics.bwc.org] at their contact page and am awaiting e-mail reply. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 07:37, 9 February 2025 (PST)

Talk:Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era

2025-02-07T00:54:58Z

Ernobe: typo

Talk:Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era

2025-02-07T00:23:01Z

Ernobe: Created page with "Hi, I think the 2006 edition posted at bahai.org and bahaibookstore.org has a typo. In [https://www.bahai.org/r/439669280 Chapter 5], section "Living the Life", the quote from one of Abdu'l-Bahas' London talks goes on to the end of the section, while the same in [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=5 previous editions] shows it is partly also Esslemonts' words. Does anybody know who's in charge of publications at the World Center? ~~~~"

Hi, 
I think the 2006 edition posted at bahai.org and bahaibookstore.org has a typo. In [https://www.bahai.org/r/439669280 Chapter 5], section "Living the Life", the quote from one of Abdu'l-Bahas' London talks goes on to the end of the section, while the same in [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=5 previous editions] shows it is partly also Esslemonts' words. Does anybody know who's in charge of publications at the World Center? [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 16:22, 6 February 2025 (PST)

Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era

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Ernobe: /* Authoritativeness */ update links

Read online at: https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era

==Authoritativeness==
* From the [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era#intro introduction]: "`Abdu'l-Baha found time, amid His busy life, to correct some three and a half chapters (Chapters [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=1 I], [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=2 II], [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=5 V] and part of [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era&chapter=3 III]) before He passed away."
* From the [https://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era#preface1 1937 preface] "The present edition therefore represents a revision made by the American National Spiritual Assembly, acting under the advice and approval of Shoghi Effendi."

==Need to Read==

"Books such as the Íqán, Some Answered Questions, the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, Nabíl’s Narrative and Dr. Esslemont’s book should be read and read over again by every soul who desires to serve the Movement or considers himself an active member of the group."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Importance of Deepening|Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#109 109])

"He is very eager to have this wonderful book translated well, for it is the best means of grounding those who become interested in the fundamental teachings of the Faith. The Íqán and Dr Esslemont's book will be sufficient to make any seeker a true believer in the divine nature of the Faith."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], quoted in ''A Companion to the Study of the Kitáb-i-Íqán'', p. 2)

From a letter to a believer in India: "Even though the book [Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era] was written by a Christian [Dr. Esslemont] and was meant to be for people of that Faith to read, yet it is a very fine presentation of the teachings as a whole and might prove interesting to other people as well. Shoghi Effendi surely hopes that before long the Cause may produce scholars that would write books which would be far deeper and more universal in scope, but for the present this is the best we possess to give a general idea as to the history and teachings of the Faith to new seekers. After reading this they get the necessary introduction to delve more deeply into the fundamental tenets such as are explained in the Íqán. Shoghi Effendi hopes that these books will greatly stimulate the teaching work in India and become the cause of guidance to many sincere souls."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Messages of Shoghi Effendi to the Indian Subcontinent]]'', October 19, 1932, p. [[msei:88|88]])

"I urge you to study the Teachings and particularly `Abdu'l-Bahá's Some Answered Questions and Dr. Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, two of the outstanding books in our Bahá'í Literature."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Messages to Canada 1999|Messages to Canada (1999 version)]]'', p. [[mc2:20|20]])

==Abiding impact==

"His book,[+F1 Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, by J. E. Esslemont, London, 1922; Bahá'í Publishing Committee, New York, 1927.] however–an abiding monument to his pure intention–will, alone, inspire generations yet unborn to tread the path of truth and service as steadfastly and as unostentatiously as was trodden by its beloved author."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Bahá'í Administration]]'', p. [[bam:97|97]])

==On the possibility of utilizing other newer introductory works==
* See https://bahai-library.com/zamir/salebne.html#intro

==By page==

===p. [[bne:54|54]]?: Question on Munírih Khánum's account of her life===

"With regard to Munírih Khánum's account of her life, concerning which certain questions have been raised by one of the believers; what has been written by Munírih Khánum herself in that account, and also the references to the subject made by Nabíl in his Narrative should be taken as the accurate standard and not what has been reported in Dr. Esslemont's book."

:(''[[Directives from the Guardian]]'', no. 134, p. [[dg:49|49]])

===pp. [[bne:192|192]]-[[bne:195|195]]?: Visions, dreams, etc.===

====Clarifies attitude toward visions, dreams====

"...The Guardian would suggest that you study very carefully the statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in connection with the question of visions, dreams, etc., as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has very fully explained this delicate subject. You will find references to this in “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era,” 'Some Answered Questions' and the Books of Tablets. The Guardian likewise has commented on this matter.

"Briefly, there is no question that visions occasionally do come to individuals, which are true and have significance. On the other hand, this comes to an individual through the grace of God, and not through the exercise of any of the human faculties. It is not a thing which a person should try to develop. When a person endeavours to develop faculties so that they might enjoy visions, dreams etc., actually what they are doing is weakening certain of their spiritual capacities; and thus under such circumstances, dreams and visions have no reality, and ultimately lead to the destruction of the character of the person.”

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], May 6, 1952, in )

===pp. [[bne:249|249]]-250: Prophecy of Daniel===

"Regarding the Prophecy of Daniel: The passage in Esselmont should be changed to state that this prophecy refers to the one-hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh, in the Garden of Ridvan, Baghdad--reference to this can be found in 'The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá' in quotation from two of His Tablets."

:(''[[Directives from the Guardian]]'', no. 49, p. [[dg:18|18]])

====See also====
* ''[[Passing of `Abdu'l-Bahá]]'' (pp. [https://bahai-library.com/shoghieffendi_blomfield_passing_abdulbaha#24 24]-25)
* [[Daniel]]
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_prophecy_daniel_esslemont
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_beckwith_allegations
* https://bahai-library.com/nsa_beckwith_esslemont
* ''[[Star of the West]]'', vol. 11, issue 1, p. [[text:Star of the West/Volume 11/Issue 1/Text#pg17|17]]

==See also==
* [[Sequence of teaching]]

Qur'án

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Ernobe: /* English */ wayback link

==Versions of the Qur'án==
* [https://bahai-library.com/writings/quran Yusuf 'Alí's version]
* https://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir (includes version by George Sale and J.M. Rodwell, separately and in multilinear (parallel) format); available in database form at https://bahai-browser.org/ (currently Chrome only)
** A version of Sale's translation with additional commentary from Reverend E.M. Wherry is [http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/mohammed-the-quran-4-vols here] (some of this version is included above as well)
* See http://web.archive.org/web/20090501193744/http://arthursclassicnovels.com/arthurs/koran.html for a variety of other English translations.

==Indexes for the Qur'án==
* http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html (individual links to (interlinear) passages (of English translations))
* http://www.harunyahya.com/indexa.php (more concentration on Arabic transliteration entries (in English)); includes links to excerpted passages rather than individual links
* http://www.ummah.org.uk/what-is-islam/quran/noble/subject1.htm (links to the Arabic text as well as English)

==Audio Versions==
===English===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091019213944/http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6729/acmnk1.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6729/acmnk1.htm] (at Wayback).

===Arabic or English===
* http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=echapters&recitor_id=52
* http://www.ais.org/~islam/subject/recite.html (not presently working)
* http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran/ (requires monthly fee membership)
* (see [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Audio+Qur%27an&btnG=Search Google search for "Audio Qur'an"])

==Study of the Qur'án (by verse) from a Bahá'í Perspective==
*[https://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir] organizes Bahá'í references by Qur'ánic verse (and the versions and notes of Sale and Rodwell)
*[http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita/start/BESTANDEN/koranref.htm] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20050914171315/home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita/start/BESTANDEN/koranref.htm archived]) organizes Bahá'í references by Qur'ánic verse
*[https://bahai-library.com/troxel_kitab_iqan_quran] compares Shoghi Effendi's translations in the Kitáb-i-Íqán to those of Rodwell
* See also [[#Individual Súráhs]] below.

==Aspects of the Qur'án from a Bahá'í Perspective:==
* https://bahai-library.com/articles/lambden.islam.html
* https://bahai-library.com/notes_bahai_proofs_quran

==Authenticity of the Qur'án==

"Muhammad, Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these words: "Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family."...With unswerving vision, with pure heart, and sanctified spirit, consider attentively what God hath established as the testimony of guidance for His people in His Book, which is recognized as authentic by both the high and lowly.

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:222|222]]-223)

"They must...approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur'án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and Bahá'í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Advent of Divine Justice]]'', p. [[adj:49|49]])

"The Qur'án is...more authoritative than any previous religious gospel..."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], quoted in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii, no. [[logn:1670|1670]], p. [[log:498|498]])

"In regard to your question concerning the authenticity of the Qur'án. I have referred it to the Guardian for his opinion. He thinks that the Qur'án is, notwithstanding the opinion of certain historians, quite authentic, and that consequently it should be considered in its entirety by every faithful and loyal believer as the sacred scriptures of the Muhammadan Revelation."

:(From a letter dated July 6, 1934 written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to an individual believer, Letter on [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_scriptures_previous_dispensations#s2 Holy Scriptures of previous Dispensations])

"As to the question raised by the Racine Assembly in connection with Bahá'u'lláh's statement in the 'Gleanings' concerning the sacrifice of Ishmael: Although this statement does not agree with that made in the Bible, Genesis 22:9, the friends should unhesitatingly, and for reasons that are only too obvious, give precedence to the sayings of Bahá'u'lláh which, it should be pointed out, are fully corroborated by the Qur'an, which book is more authentic than the Bible including both the New and the Old Testaments. The Bible is not wholly authentic, and in this respect is not to be compared with the Qur'an, and should be wholly subordinated to the authentic writings of Bahá'u'lláh."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], quoted in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii., no. [[logn:1688|1688]], p. [[log:502|502]])

===See also===
* [[Bible authenticity]]
* [[Writings Buddhist authenticity]]

==Praise of the Qur'án==

"And if thou deniest this, thou hast surely repudiated the truth of the Qur'án, the surest testimony of God unto men."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:160|160]])

"...the Qur'án was an impregnable stronghold unto the people of Muhammad. In His days, whosoever entered therein, was shielded from the devilish assaults, the menacing darts, the soul-devouring doubts, and blasphemous whisperings of the enemy. Upon him was also bestowed a portion of the everlasting and goodly fruits — the fruits of wisdom, from the divine Tree. To him was given to drink the incorruptible waters of the river of knowledge, and to taste the wine of the mysteries of divine Unity.

"All the things that people required in connection with the Revelation of Muhammad and His laws were to be found revealed and manifest in that Ridván of resplendent glory. That Book constitutes an abiding testimony to its people after Muhammad, inasmuch as its decrees are indisputable, and its promise unfailing. All have been enjoined to follow the precepts of that Book until "the year sixty"1 — the year of the advent of God's wondrous Manifestation. That Book is the Book which unfailingly leadeth the seeker unto the Ridván of the divine Presence, and causeth him that hath forsaken his country and is treading the seeker's path to enter the Tabernacle of everlasting reunion. Its guidance can never err, its testimony no other testimony can excel. All other traditions, all other books and records, are bereft of such distinction, inasmuch as both the traditions and they that have spoken them are confirmed and proven solely by the text of that Book. Moreover, the traditions themselves grievously differ, and their obscurities are manifold.

"Muhammad, Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these words: "Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family." Although many traditions had been revealed by that Source of Prophethood and Mine of divine Guidance, yet He mentioned only that Book, thereby appointing it as the mightiest instrument and surest testimony for the seekers; a guide for the people until the Day of Resurrection."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:220|220]]-222)

"Consider, how He hath appointed and decreed this self-same Book, the Qur'án, as a guidance unto all that are in heaven and on earth. He, the divine Being, and unknowable Essence, hath, Himself, testified that this Book is, beyond all doubt and uncertainty, the guide of all mankind until the Day of Resurrection. And now, We ask, is it fair for this people to view with doubt and misgiving this most weighty Testimony, the divine origin of which God hath proclaimed, and pronounced it to be the embodiment of truth? Is it fair for them to turn away from the thing which He hath appointed as the supreme Instrument of guidance for attainment unto the loftiest summits of knowledge, and to seek aught else but that Book? How can they allow men's absurd and foolish sayings to sow the seeds of distrust in their minds? How can they any longer idly contend that a certain person hath spoken this or that way, or that a certain thing did not come to pass? Had there been anything conceivable besides the Book of God which could prove a more potent instrument and a surer guide to mankind, would He have failed to reveal it in that verse?

"It is incumbent upon us not to depart from God's irresistible injunction and fixed decree, as revealed in the above-mentioned verse. We should acknowledge the holy and wondrous Scriptures, for failing to do this we have failed to acknowledge the truth of this blessed verse. For it is evident that whoso hath failed to acknowledge the truth of the Qur'án hath in reality failed to acknowledge the truth of the preceding Scriptures. This is but the manifest implication of the verse. Were We to expound its inner meanings and unfold its hidden mysteries, eternity would never suffice to exhaust their import, nor would the universe be capable of hearing them! God verily testifieth to the truth of Our saying!"

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:224|224]]-225)

"...the unfailing testimony of God to both the East and the West is none other than the Qur'án. Were it beyond the comprehension of men, how could it have been declared as a universal testimony unto all people?"

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:232|232]])

==Importance of studying the Qur'án (though not required to acquire a mastery unless desired)==

"O my friend, were the bird of thy mind to explore the heavens of the Revelation of the Qur'án, were it to contemplate the realm of divine knowledge unfolded therein, thou wouldst assuredly find unnumbered doors of knowledge set open before thee."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:156|156]])

"The truth is that Western historians have for many centuries distorted the facts to suit their religious and ancestral prejudices. The Baha'is should try to study history anew, and to base all their investigations first and foremost on the written Scriptures of Islam and Christianity."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1664|1664]])

“Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deepfelt appreciation of your intention to study the Qur’án. The knowledge of this revealed holy Book is, indeed, indispensable to every Bahá’í who wishes to adequately understand the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. And in view of that the Guardian has been invariably encouraging the friends to make as thorough a study of this Book as possible, particularly in their summer schools.”

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#122 122])

"The Qur'án should be to some extent studied by the Bahá'ís but they certainly need not seek to acquire a mastery over it, which would take years, unless they really want to."

:(On behalf of? Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Unfolding Destiny]]'', pp. [[ud:453|453]]-454)

==Need to unravel mysteries of the Qur'án in teaching==

""Although," Abdu'l-Baha, in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, has written, "in most of the states and cities of the United States, praise be to God, His fragrances are diffused, and souls unnumbered are turning their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the states the Standard of Unity is not yet upraised as it should be, nor are the mysteries of the Holy Books, such as the Bible, the Gospel, and the Qur'an, unraveled. Through the concerted efforts of all the friends the Standard of Unity must needs be unfurled in those states, and the Divine teachings promoted, so that these states may also receive their portion of the heavenly bestowals and a share of the Most Great Guidance.""

:(Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Advent of Divine Justice]]'', pp. [[adj:57|57]]-58)

==Need for Qur'án to be taught in Bahá'í Summer School==

“With regard to the school’s program for the next summer; the Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur’án, as the knowledge of this Sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand, and intelligently read the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Although there are very few persons among our Western Bahá’ís who are capable of handling such a course in a scholarly way yet, the mere lack of such competent teachers should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures of Islám. In this way, there will gradually appear some distinguished Bahá’ís who will be so well versed in the teachings of Islám as to be able to guide the believers in their study of that religion.”

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#125 no. 125])

“Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deepfelt appreciation of your intention to study the Qur’án. The knowledge of this revealed holy Book is, indeed, indispensable to every Bahá’í who wishes to adequately understand the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. And in view of that the Guardian has been invariably encouraging the friends to make as thorough a study of this Book as possible, particularly in their summer schools.”

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', no. [https://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening 122])

"The beloved Guardian stressed that one of the important purposes of Bahá'í summer schools is to deepen the knowledge of the believers in the history and Teachings of the Faith so that they can become better teachers. To this end he emphasized the study of Islám and Qur'án so that the friends would have a background against which to study the Bahá'í Writings..."

:(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii, p. [[log:559|559]])

==How to Study the Qur'án==

"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the Surihs of the Qur'an, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet. The believers cannot possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Surihs after the first or even second or third reading. They have to study them again and again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries, and explanatory notes as found, for instance in the admirable translation made by Sale, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it. For the present, the Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the book according to subjects, and not verse by verse and also in the light of the Bab's, Bahá'u'lláh's, and Abdu'l-Bahá's interpretations which throw such floods of light on the whole of the Qur'an."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, August 22, 1939: Bahá'í News, No. 134, pp. 2-3, March 1940, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1666|1666]])

==General terms in the Qur'an==

===Meaning of "Jin" or "Genii"===

"Regarding your question as to the meaning of Jin or Genii referred to in the Qur'an, these are not beings or creatures that are actually living, but are symbolic references to the power of men of evil and may be likened to evil spirits. But the point to bear in mind is that these have no positive existence of any kind."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, June 26, 1936: Bahá'í News, No. 105, p. 1, February 1937, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1667|1667]])

==Individual Súráhs==

Note: Outlines might be adapted from public domain outlines such as those at https://bahai-library.com/quran/quranoutlines.html to put at the page of each Suráh (the latter's verse numbering would need to be adjusted, however, to match those at https://bahai-library.com/writings/quran ).

Note: https://bahai-browser.org/ (currently Chrome only) allows browsing a good number of references in the Writings to specific Qur'ánic verses or suráhs (and would ideally be incorporated here).

*[[Qur'án supplementary references]]

'''''Suráh No.:'''''
[[Qur'án1|1]]
[[Qur'án2|2]]
[[Qur'án3|3]]
[[Qur'án4|4]]
[[Qur'án5|5]]
[[Qur'án6|6]]
[[Qur'án7|7]]
[[Qur'án8|8]]
[[Qur'án9|9]]
[[Qur'án10|10]]
[[Qur'án11|11]]
[[Qur'án12|12]]
[[Qur'án13|13]]
[[Qur'án14|14]]
[[Qur'án15|15]]
[[Qur'án16|16]]
[[Qur'án17|17]]
[[Qur'án18|18]]
[[Qur'án19|19]]
[[Qur'án20|20]]
[[Qur'án21|21]]
[[Qur'án22|22]]
[[Qur'án23|23]]
[[Qur'án24|24]]
[[Qur'án25|25]]
[[Qur'án26|26]]
[[Qur'án27|27]]
[[Qur'án28|28]]
[[Qur'án29|29]]
[[Qur'án30|30]]
[[Qur'án31|31]]
[[Qur'án32|32]]
[[Qur'án33|33]]
[[Qur'án34|34]]
[[Qur'án35|35]]
[[Qur'án36|36]]
[[Qur'án37|37]]
[[Qur'án38|38]]
[[Qur'án39|39]]
[[Qur'án40|40]]
[[Qur'án41|41]]
[[Qur'án42|42]]
[[Qur'án43|43]]
[[Qur'án44|44]]
[[Qur'án45|45]]
[[Qur'án46|46]]
[[Qur'án47|47]]
[[Qur'án48|48]]
[[Qur'án49|49]]
[[Qur'án50|50]]
[[Qur'án51|51]]
[[Qur'án52|52]]
[[Qur'án53|53]]
[[Qur'án54|54]]
[[Qur'án55|55]]
[[Qur'án56|56]]
[[Qur'án57|57]]
[[Qur'án58|58]]
[[Qur'án59|59]]
[[Qur'án60|60]]
[[Qur'án61|61]]
[[Qur'án62|62]]
[[Qur'án63|63]]
[[Qur'án64|64]]
[[Qur'án65|65]]
[[Qur'án66|66]]
[[Qur'án67|67]]
[[Qur'án68|68]]
[[Qur'án69|69]]
[[Qur'án70|70]]
[[Qur'án71|71]]
[[Qur'án72|72]]
[[Qur'án73|73]]
[[Qur'án74|74]]
[[Qur'án75|75]]
[[Qur'án76|76]]
[[Qur'án77|77]]
[[Qur'án78|78]]
[[Qur'án79|79]]
[[Qur'án80|80]]
[[Qur'án81|81]]
[[Qur'án82|82]]
[[Qur'án83|83]]
[[Qur'án84|84]]
[[Qur'án85|85]]
[[Qur'án86|86]]
[[Qur'án87|87]]
[[Qur'án88|88]]
[[Qur'án89|89]]
[[Qur'án90|90]]
[[Qur'án91|91]]
[[Qur'án92|92]]
[[Qur'án93|93]]
[[Qur'án94|94]]
[[Qur'án95|95]]
[[Qur'án96|96]]
[[Qur'án97|97]]
[[Qur'án98|98]]
[[Qur'án99|99]]
[[Qur'án100|100]]
[[Qur'án101|101]]
[[Qur'án102|102]]
[[Qur'án103|103]]
[[Qur'án104|104]]
[[Qur'án105|105]]
[[Qur'án106|106]]
[[Qur'án107|107]]
[[Qur'án108|108]]
[[Qur'án109|109]]
[[Qur'án110|110]]
[[Qur'án111|111]]
[[Qur'án112|112]]
[[Qur'án113|113]]
[[Qur'án114|114]]

==See also==
* [[Muhammad]]
* [[Islám]]

[[Category:Islám]]

MediaWiki talk:Chameleon.css

2025-01-10T00:39:57Z

Ernobe:

Hi, 
I noticed in [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent Changes]] that the "in other projects" link to nothing shows up in the sidebar and at the top. Following a similar incident in the Spanish version of Bahaipedia, I suggest inserting the following code starting at line 304:

:/* Hide in other projects that link to nothing */
:.navbar-nav.right > .nav-item.p-wikibase-otherprojects-dropdown {
: display: none;
:}
:.sidebar-item.sidebar-menu.col > .nav-item.p-wikibase-otherprojects-dropdown {
: display: none;
:}
:.sidebar-item.sidebar-menu.col > .nav-item.dropdown.p-wikibase-otherprojects-dropdown {
: display: block;
:}
:.dropdown-menu.p-wikibase-otherprojects.show {
: transform: translate3d(115px, 228px, 0px) !important;
:}

: Thanks for this... What happens if you only add the display:none? I.e., why add the display:block and transform? [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 15:54, 9 January 2025 (PST)

:: I don't know; it's code I copied from the English Bahaipedia version of chameleon.css before David added further code, and since I noticed it missing in yours, I thought I'd tell you about it. You'll have to ask him about the details. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 16:05, 9 January 2025 (PST)

::: For now I've just copied the display:none; let me know how that works for ya... [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 16:13, 9 January 2025 (PST)

::: Remember to force reset the cache (shift-refresh or click-refresh). [[User:Brettz9|Brettz9]] ([[User talk:Brettz9|talk]]) 16:13, 9 January 2025 (PST)

:::: The [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent Changes]] issue appears resolved now. But "In other projects" links appear as a drop down menu at Bahaipedia, while here they are included among the "Other projects" links (in the sidebar). [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 16:38, 9 January 2025 (PST)

MediaWiki talk:Chameleon.css

2025-01-10T00:05:21Z

Ernobe:

MediaWiki talk:Chameleon.css

2025-01-09T23:05:16Z

Ernobe: Update to chameleon.css

User:Ernobe

2024-12-25T14:59:19Z

Ernobe: update url

<table class="collapsible collapsed" style="width: 18%; background: lightgreen; color: inherit;">

<tr><td>
<center>[[Image:9pointedstar.png|45px]] 
This user has '''[https://purl.archive.org/bahai Links to Bahá'í Faith]'''. 
At '''[https://curlie.org/en/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Baha%27ism/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_-_Universal_House_of_Justice%2C_Haifa/ Curlie]''' 
'''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170302173300/http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Baha%27ism/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_-_Universal_House_of_Justice%2C_Haifa/ archived]'''</center>
</td></tr>
</table>

Traveler's Narrative

2024-09-27T20:00:44Z

Ernobe: update url

Read online at https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_travellers_narrative

==The Traveler's Narrative is an important epistle which vivifies, civilizes, and educates souls with the best virtues and best of politics==

"As to the Epistles, The Mysterious Forces of Civilization and the Traveler's Narrative: Verily, they are the important epistles which vivify and civilize the souls and educate them with the best virtues and the best of politics. Therefore, attach ye to them great importance, and ye, O ye who are noble, do not waste your time in discussions that are useless and from which no benefit can be obtained; it is encumbent upon ye to elevate the Word of God and to spread the fragrances of God."

:(''[[Star of the West]]'', Volume [[text:Star of the West/Volume 10|10]], Issue [[text:Star of the West/Volume 10/Issue 6|6]], p. [[text:Star of the West/Volume 10/Issue 6/Text#pg108|108]])

===Note===
* The Mysterious Forces of Civilization was an earlier title for ''[[Secret of Divine Civilization]]''.

==Ablest and most valuable presentation of the early history of the Faith==

"It was through His [`Abdu'l-Bahá's] unremitting efforts...that the ablest and most valuable presentation of the early history of the Faith and of its tenets had been transmitted to posterity."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[God Passes By]]'', pp. [[gpb:241|241]]-242)

==Study Outlines==

* https://bahai-library.com/zamir_tn_crossreference (also a cross-reference)

==(Apparent reference to the Master's words regarding the defensive nature of the early disciples of the Báb)==

"Shoghi Effendi is also sending you ... the Master's words concerning the situation which led to the defensive action which the early disciples of the Báb were compelled to take in Mazindaran, Nayriz and Zanjan. From these words it is evident that a systematic campaign of plunder and massacre had been initiated by the central government. Bahá'u'lláh, Who Himself was an active figure in those days and was regarded one of the leading exponents of the Faith of the Báb, states clearly His views in the Iqan that His conception of the sovereignty of the Promised Qá'im was purely a spiritual one, and not a material or political one... His view of the sovereignty of the Qá'im confirms the various evidences given in the text of the narrative itself of the views held by those who actually participated in these events such as Hujjat, Quddús, Mullá Husayn. The very fact that these disciples were ready and willing to emerge from the fort and return to their homes after receiving the assurance that they would be no more molested is itself an evidence that they were not contemplating any action against the authorities.

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], 30 November 1930, ''[[Unfolding Destiny]]'', pp. [[ud:425|425]]-426)

==By page==

===pp. 60 (61) - 83===
* From the [[Lawh-i-Sultán]]. (See https://bahai-library.com/zamir_tn_crossreference#slh for correlation of passages)

==Todos for this page==
* Integrate interview from https://bahai.works/Star_of_the_West/Volume_3/Issue_8/Text#pg6

[[Category:Works of 'Abdu'l-Bahá]]

Twelve table talks given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká

2024-09-27T14:22:43Z

Ernobe: updated url

Read online at https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/twelve-table-talks-abdul-baha/ or at https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_table_talks_bwc

==By section==

===The Three Kinds of Prophets===
* [[Prophets]]

===Two Kinds of Prophecy===
* [[Prophecy]] (see also [[Proofs]])

===The Meaning of Speaking in Tongues===
* [[Speaking in tongues]]

===The Invocation “He Is God”===
* [["He is God"]]

===The Wisdom of Fasting===
* [[Fasting]]

===The Rejection of the Manifestations of God in Every Age===
* [[Manifestation of God]]

===The Meaning of “Mysteries”===
* [[Mystery]]

===The Transformation of Matter across the Kingdoms of Existence===
* [[Physics]]

===Ṭáhirih and the Conference of Badasht===
* [[Ṭáhirih]]
* [[Badasht]]

===Shaykh Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim===

* [[Shaykh Aḥmad]]
* [[Siyyid Káẓim]]

===The Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh===
* [[Bahá’u’lláh]]
* [[Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh]]

===Christ and Bahá’u’lláh===

* [[Christ]]
* [[Bahá'u'lláh]]

[[Category:Works of 'Abdu'l-Bahá]]

User:Ernobe/vector-2022.css

2023-11-26T14:53:19Z

Ernobe: Created page with "/* Remove the max-width settings in the vector-2022 skin */ .mw-page-container, .mw-workspace-container, .mw-content-container, .vector-sticky-header, .mw-article-toolbar-container { max-width: unset !important; } /* Shrink the whitespace gap under the top header as well */ .mw-header { margin-bottom: 0.5em; } /* Fix for menu popup location */ .vector-toc-collapsed #mw-sidebar-checkbox:not(:checked) ~ .mw-table-of-contents-container { margin-left: unset; }"

/* Remove the max-width settings in the vector-2022 skin */
.mw-page-container,
.mw-workspace-container,
.mw-content-container,
.vector-sticky-header,
.mw-article-toolbar-container {
max-width: unset !important;
}

/* Shrink the whitespace gap under the top header as well */
.mw-header {
margin-bottom: 0.5em;
}

/* Fix for menu popup location */
.vector-toc-collapsed #mw-sidebar-checkbox:not(:checked) ~ .mw-table-of-contents-container {
margin-left: unset;
}

Internet

2023-09-11T20:57:00Z

Ernobe: /* Baha'i agency for (and documents regarding) */ wikilink

==Baha'i agency for (and documents regarding)==
* [[Bahá'í Internet Agency]]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20151122081035/http://www.bcca.org/bia/ official site] (archived)
* https://bahai-library.com/author/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD+Internet+Agency

==Courtesy on the internet==

* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings

==Opposition on the internet==

* https://bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_opposition_internet_attacks

==[[Wiki websites]]==

==Voting on newsgroups==
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_talk-religion-bahai

==Technical, publishing, and administrative issues concerning the Bahá'í use of the internet==

* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet
* https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20151009_001/1#574025973

==Publishing pilgrim's notes on the internet==
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_pilgrims_notes_online

==Scholarship and the internet==

* https://bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_scholars_administrative_order

==Permission for personal web pages promoting the Faith==
* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages

==Discussing through the internet==

* https://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj

==Predictions Concerning==

===Prediction partialling fulfilled by the internet (and previously by satellites, etc.)===

"A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity."

:[[Shoghi Effendi]], letter dated March 11, 1936 in ''[[World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[wob:203|203]])

"Such advances in science and technology were reciprocal in their effects. Grains of sand - the most humble and ostensibly worthless of materials - metamorphosed into silicon wafers and optically pure glass, making possible the creation of worldwide communications networks. This, together with the deployment of ever more sophisticated satellite systems, has begun providing access to the accumulated knowledge of the entire human race for people everywhere, without distinction. It is apparent that the decades immediately ahead will see the integration of telephone, television, and computer technologies into a single, unified system of communication and information, whose inexpensive appliances will be available on a mass scale. It would be difficult to exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems - for many, the ultimate fortress of nationalist pride - by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses."

:([[Bahá'í International Community]], [[Who is Writing the Future]], par. [https://bahai-library.com/published.uhj/writing.future.html#22 22])

==Opportunities brought by the Internet==

===Electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends (which is a highly significant opportunity)===

"The opportunity which electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends is highly significant. Without doubt, it represents another manifestation of a development eagerly anticipated by the Guardian when he foresaw the creation of "a mechanism of world intercommunication ... embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity"."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], https://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

===Internet communication marvellously provides for greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals===

"...the House of Justice will continue to encourage use of the greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals, which Internet communication so marvellously provides."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], letter dated 20 July 1997, Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá'í Faith, sel. [https://bahai-library.com/compilations/issues.scholarship.html#sel9-4 9])

===Electronic Communication Presents a Valuable Technology for the Development of the Faith Worldwide===

"The House of Justice understands and appreciates that questions surrounding the use of computer-operated electronic systems such as bulletin boards, libraries, electronic forums, interactive networks, and the like, will no doubt increase as computer technology becomes widespread. The House of Justice has expressed the belief that electronic communication systems present a valuable technology for the development of the Faith worldwide. It will take wisdom on the part of the institutions of the Faith to utilize the positive aspects of the technology for the benefit of the Faith, while at the same time protecting the Faith from its ill-advised or malicious use."

:(The International Teaching Centre, https://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===The internet vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it===

"Just as the migration of money or corporations encounters little hindrance from national borders, neither can the latter any longer exercise effective control over the dissemination of knowledge. Internet communication, which has the ability to transmit in seconds the entire contents of libraries that took centuries of study to amass, vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it, as well as providing sophisticated training in a broad range of professional fields. The system, so prophetically foreseen sixty years ago by Shoghi Effendi, builds a sense of shared community among its users that is impatient of either geographic or cultural distances.

"The benefits to many millions of persons are obvious and impressive. Cost effectiveness resulting from the coordination of formerly competing operations tends to bring goods and services within the reach of populations who could not previously have hoped to enjoy them. Enormous increases in the funds available for research and development expand the variety and quality of such benefits. Something of a levelling effect in the distribution of employment opportunities can be seen in the ease with which business operations can shift their base from one part of the world to another. The abandonment of barriers to transnational trade reduces still further the cost of goods to consumers. It is not difficult to appreciate, from a Bahá'í perspective, the potentiality of such transformations for laying the foundations of the global society envisioned in Bahá'u'lláh's Writings."

:(Prepared on behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], ''[[Century of Light]]'', p. [[cl:133|133]])

===Avail ourselves of potential to spread Word of God and inspire and uplift others in use of the Internet (standing aloof from negative forces and ignoring negative reactions)===

"It is useful to bear in mind that the Internet is a reflection of the world around us, and we find in its infinitude of pages the same competing forces of integration and disintegration that characterize the tumult in which humanity is caught up. In their use of the Internet, Bahá’ís should stand aloof from the negative forces operating within it, availing themselves of its potential to spread the Word of God and to inspire and uplift others, while ignoring any negative reactions their efforts may from time to time elicit."

:([[On behalf of the Universal House of Justice]], from a letter dated 9 April 2008 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; cited in "[https://bahai-library.com/pdf/b/bia_responding_criticism_opposition.pdf Responding to Criticism and Opposition on the Internet]" by the [[Bahá'í Internet Agency]]; also cited in part in Ruhi Book 8 Unit 2)

==Usefulness of Participation of Individual Bahá'ís==

===((Internet) Discussions can be helpful)===

"It is natural that the friends would discuss such matters among themselves, as you and your correspondent have been doing on your Internet discussion group; how otherwise are they to deepen their understanding of the Teachings?"

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], https://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj )

===Many knowledgeable Bahá'ís are involved with discussion groups who provide accurate information and thoughtful ideas===

"...there are many knowledgeable Bahá'ís involved with the discussion groups who help provide accurate information about the Faith as well as thoughtful ideas."

:(The International Teaching Centre, https://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===(Encouragement to someone serving the Faith through online means)===

"We wish you every success with your endeavors to serve the Faith by using your skills in this area."

:([[On behalf of the Universal House of Justice]], https://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages )

==Need for Self-discipline and reference to the Writings amidst consultation==

===The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline===

"The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline than is the case in situations where a spirit of unity is reinforced by the opportunity for direct personal contact and social interaction. In the pursuit of such a spirit of unity, Baha'is will, without doubt, wish to assist the consultative processes by sharing and discussing relevant Baha'i texts. This will itself have the further effect of drawing attention back to the framework of Baha'i belief."

:([[On behalf of the Universal House of Justice]], https://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

==While mastering the new technologies, skills to preserve achievements of the past must be transmitted==

===Master unifying concepts and technologies of communications era and transmit skills to the future in order to preserve the achievements of the past===

"...while aiming at mastering the unifying concepts and swiftly advancing technologies of this era of communications, they {Bahá'í youth} can, indeed they must also guarantee the transmittal to the future of those skills which will preserve the marvelous, indispensable achievements of the past. The transformation which is to occur in the functioning of society will certainly depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], [https://bahai-library.com/uhj/youth3.html Message dated 8 May 1985])

==Need for limited scope of third party activities==

"A related consideration is that the institutions of the Faith are charged with the responsibility for creating and maintaining official sources of information about the Faith, such as national and international websites, regularly assessing the presentation of the Faith on the World Wide Web and providing the necessary guidance to individuals. The friends are generally free to determine what aspects of the Teachings they wish to touch upon in their contributions but in doing so should clearly distinguish their sites from those created by the institutions. This can be accomplished through a variety of means, including the name, description, or design of a site. While in the past the friends have at times been encouraged to refrain from using the word “Bahá’í”, or forms of it, in the name of their websites, experience has demonstrated that this may not always be necessary if other aspects of the site unmistakably identify it as an individual initiative. In addition, individuals will no doubt wish to avoid a tone that could be perceived as authoritative or instructional. They will also want to steer away from areas that lie exclusively within the sphere of institutional responsibility, such as offering a comprehensive collection of the writings and of the messages of the House of Justice or an exhaustive calendar of Bahá’í events across many countries. This becomes particularly significant when the visibility of a website increases and it gains prominence. As the institutions guide the friends in adopting the proper posture, the aim is not to unduly restrict their efforts but to avoid confusion and misinformation."

:([[On behalf of the Universal House of Justice]], [https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20151009_001/1#574025973 9 October 2015])

==See also==
* [[Bahá'í wiki quotes]]

Bahá'í Internet Agency

2023-09-11T20:46:03Z

Ernobe: archived url

==Founding (16 June 2005)==
* http://bahaistudies.net/uhj/internetagency.html
==2015 archived version==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20151122081035/http://www.bcca.org/bia

User:Ernobe

2023-05-09T05:47:52Z

Ernobe:

<table class="collapsible collapsed" style="width: 18%; background: lightgreen; color: inherit;">

<tr><td>
<center>[[Image:9pointedstar.png|45px]] 
This user has '''[https://archive.org/services/purl/bahai Links to Bahá'í Faith]'''. 
At '''[https://curlie.org/en/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Baha%27ism/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_-_Universal_House_of_Justice%2C_Haifa/ Curlie]''' 
'''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170302173300/http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Baha%27ism/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_-_Universal_House_of_Justice%2C_Haifa/ archived]'''</center>
</td></tr>
</table>

Bahai9:Bahai9 wiki

2023-05-07T20:35:32Z

Ernobe: format

Please feel free to add your ideas here on specific goals we might set for ourselves, both immediate and long-term, for the pages at this wiki site:

Collective:

# Flesh out the [[subject]], [[time-sequence]], and [[protagonist]] skeletons to allow people to add new pages readily within a perhaps more simple yet well-organized framework.
# Consider use of adding Category links (multiple links as relevant) to the bottom of each page.
# Add links to relevant https://bahai.org articles in relevant [[subject]], etc. sections
# Add relevant links to http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision, http://bahaindex.com/, etc. to the relevant pages (archived at http://web.archive.org/web/20150221203632/http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision/index.html and https://web.archive.org/web/20141017023503/http://www.bahaindex.com/).
# Scan or type in index pages of all of the Writings (then add HTML links and possibly also to wiki pages onsite here) to use as a basis for compiling into a database of alphabetical references which can then be sorted by subject and then added to the individual subject-sorted pages here (in order to have a fairly exhaustive listing of all of the authoritative Writings pertaining to each particular subject). (very important!!!)
# Expand the topics section of the [[Main Page#subject|Main Page]] on the basis of the work of Marian Crist Lippitt, (for the over-all idea see her curious [http://www.investigatereality.org/Overall.htm|"Over-All" symbol]), which drew on the [http://conditions.structurization.com/ work of Emogene Hoag].

Administrator:

# Continue to edit the Writings (or other) Bahá'í Library Online pages to refer back to their corresponding Wiki page

==To-dos for this page==
* Merge with https://bahaipedia.org/Bahaipedia:To-do and https://bahai-library.com/winters_to_do#brett

Bahai9:Bahai9 wiki

2023-05-07T20:08:52Z

Ernobe: main page organization idea

Please feel free to add your ideas here on specific goals we might set for ourselves, both immediate and long-term, for the pages at this wiki site:

Collective:

# Flesh out the [[subject]], [[time-sequence]], and [[protagonist]] skeletons to allow people to add new pages readily within a perhaps more simple yet well-organized framework.
# Consider use of adding Category links (multiple links as relevant) to the bottom of each page.
# Add links to relevant https://bahai.org articles in relevant [[subject]], etc. sections
# Add relevant links to http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision, http://bahaindex.com/, etc. to the relevant pages (archived at http://web.archive.org/web/20150221203632/http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision/index.html and https://web.archive.org/web/20141017023503/http://www.bahaindex.com/).
# Scan or type in index pages of all of the Writings (then add HTML links and possibly also to wiki pages onsite here) to use as a basis for compiling into a database of alphabetical references which can then be sorted by subject and then added to the individual subject-sorted pages here (in order to have a fairly exhaustive listing of all of the authoritative Writings pertaining to each particular subject). (very important!!!)
# Expand the topics section of the [[Main Page#subject|Main Page]] on the basis of the work of Marian Crist Lippitt, (for the over-all idea see her curious [http://www.investigatereality.org/Overall.htm|"Over-All" symbol]), which drew on the work of [http://conditions.structurization.com/ work of Emogene Hoag].

Administrator:

# Continue to edit the Writings (or other) Bahá'í Library Online pages to refer back to their corresponding Wiki page

==To-dos for this page==
* Merge with https://bahaipedia.org/Bahaipedia:To-do and https://bahai-library.com/winters_to_do#brett

Template:Organizing the Writings

2023-05-07T19:59:53Z

Ernobe: /* Comprehensive indexing of the Writings and Teachings of great interest to Research Department */

==Praise of organizing the Writings==

===Gathering the verses of God into excellent order===

"Spiritual souls will assuredly emerge from behind the veil of divine protection who will gather together the tokens and verses of God and put them into the most excellent order."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], cited in [[Shoghi Effendi]]'s 1954 Naw-Ruz Message to the Baha'is of the East, translated from the Persian; quoted in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:327|327]])

===Comprehensive indexing of the Writings and Teachings of great interest to Research Department===

"Any comprehensive indexing of the Writings and Teachings, of course, would be of great interest to our Research Department, since it has been assigned the task of classifying the texts for study, and, as called for, for application by the House of Justice of these texts to the many needs of the Faith...We appreciate very deeply the devotion manifest in your decades of labor for the Cause, a labor of love which indeed has had its own rewards as you indicate, for you have been able to undertake a thorough study of the Words of the Prophet of God for this day..."

:([[Research Department]], cited in Terry, Peter. [https://bahai-library.com/terry_marian_lippitt_biography Marian Crist Lippitt: Short Biographical Monograph])

User talk:Ernobe

2023-05-07T19:56:42Z

Ernobe: /* Lippitt comment */

Template:Organizing the Writings

2023-05-07T18:45:58Z

Ernobe: /* Comprehensive indexing of the Writings and Teachings of great interest to Research Department */

Bahai9:Bahai9 wiki

2023-05-07T15:49:52Z

Ernobe: added web.archive.org links

Please feel free to add your ideas here on specific goals we might set for ourselves, both immediate and long-term, for the pages at this wiki site:

Collective:

# Develop the [[Bahai9:site rules|site rules]]
# Flesh out the [[subject]], [[time-sequence]], and [[protagonist]] skeletons to allow people to add new pages readily within a perhaps more simple yet well-organized framework.
# Consider use of adding Category links (multiple links as relevant) to the bottom of each page.
# Add links to relevant https://bahai.org articles in relevant [[subject]], etc. sections
# Migrate relevant pages from http://bahai.netunify.com (if can uncover in Archives). Does not appear to have anything Bahá'í related at web.archive.org.
# Add relevant links to http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision, http://bahaindex.com/, etc. to the relevant pages (archived at http://web.archive.org/web/20150221203632/http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision/index.html and https://web.archive.org/web/20141017023503/http://www.bahaindex.com/).
# Scan or type in index pages of all of the Writings (then add HTML links and possibly also to wiki pages onsite here) to use as a basis for compiling into a database of alphabetical references which can then be sorted by subject and then added to the individual subject-sorted pages here (in order to have a fairly exhaustive listing of all of the authoritative Writings pertaining to each particular subject). (very important!!!)

Administrator:

# Continue to edit the Writings (or other) Bahá'í Library Online pages to refer back to their corresponding Wiki page

==To-dos for this page==
* Merge with https://bahaipedia.org/Bahaipedia:To-do and https://bahai-library.com/winters_to_do#brett

Seven Valleys

2017-08-26T21:29:40Z

Ernobe: updated links

Read online at http://www.bahai-library.com/writings/bahaullah/sv/700.html

Leiden no. [[lei:16|16]]

==Reviews/Discussion==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050816101728/http://johnwiegley.com:80/rhapsody.on.seven.valleys.html (archive of dead link http://www.newartisans.com/johnw/rhapsody.on.seven.valleys.html)
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050516221943/http://johnwiegley.com:80/questions.on.seven.valleys.html (archive of dead link http://www.newartisans.com/johnw/questions.on.seven.valleys.html)
* http://bahai-library.com/townshend_seven_valleys_meditation

==Cross-reference (to "Seven Cities") with Gems of Divine Mysteries==
* http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita2/seven-cities.htm (now a dead link; see [http://web.archive.org/web/20070710065710/http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita2/seven-cities.htm])
* http://bahai-library.com/mazandarani_seven_cities_journey

==Seven Valley Notes==
* http://bahai-library.com/resources/tablets-notes/haft-vadi/notes.html
* http://bahai-library.com/resources/tablets-notes/haft-vadi/outline.html (includes a brief outline)
* http://wilmetteinstitute.org/projects/sevenvalleys.html (Knowledge map)
* http://wilmetteinstitute.org/projects/sufis.html (message to the Súfís)

==Terminology==

===[[Preexistence|Pre-existence]]===
"Regarding your question concerning the passage in 'Seven Valleys' referring to pre-existence. This in no way presupposes the existence of the individual soul before conception. The term has not been absolutely accurately translated, and what is meant is that man's soul is the repository of the ancient, Divine mysteries of God."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, January 5, 1948, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1699|1699]])

==By section==

===Valley of Love===

===="Reason" that is consumed by love (p. {{sv|9}}) is not for all reason but that which prevents one from sacrifice====

"Question—Suppose you reason out something, and your reason tells you it is true? In the "Seven Valleys" it is said that when the "fire of Love becomes ablaze, the harvest of reason is consumed." How is this?

"Abdul-Baha—That is not to be taken literally. It has an inner meaning. It refers to ordinary reasoning. For example: a soul in Persia who became a believer endangered his very life. Now, what would the ordinary intellect say? Preserve your life! Preserve your property! But he who is set on fire with God's love will forego all possessions. On such occasions his actions appear insane; but he is in a sacrificial state. Honor, glory, everything pertaining to himself, is sacrificed. BAHA'O'LLAH means that the harvest of reason becomes consumed by the fire of faith. In such a state a man appears insane. Those who see him under such circumstances would say: "Here is a man who has good position, who has honor, affluence, influence,—a man of competence, and he has sacrificed all of these in the path of some mysterious thing!""

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Star of the West]]'', vol. 3, issue 10, pp. [http://bahai.works/Star_of_the_West/Volume_3/Issue_10/Text#pg8 8]-9)

====Seventy-two "lunacies" (p. {{sv|10}}) refers to types of sacrifice====

''Question''—What are the "seventy-two degrees of insanity" spoken of by BAHA'O'LLAH?

''Answer''—One is to forfeit possessions, to forfeit estates. One is to forego name, honor, fame. One is to forsake relatives, station. Et cetera [ended Abdul-Baha, laughing], et cetera, et cetera. Each one of these is a distinct insanity!

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Star of the West]]'', vol. 3, issue 10, pp. [http://bahai.works/Star_of_the_West/Volume_3/Issue_10/Text#pg9 9])

===Valley of Unity===
* See notes on at http://wilmetteinstitute.org/projects/distinction.html

===True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness===

"The word "Guardian" in the Seven Valleys has no connection with the Bahá'í Guardianship."

:(8 January 1949, ''[[Unfolding Destiny]]'', p. [[ud:453|453]])

==See also==
* [[Four Valleys]]

[[Category:Works of Bahá'u'lláh]]

Talk:Qur'án

2017-08-23T15:31:38Z

Ernobe: signing

==On 'Discussion of individual surahs' section==
I have read somewhere that Yusuf-Alis' system of verse numbering does not always correspond with the standard Cairo edition. And I can't remember from where I found out that Baha'u'llah had Himself signed a Qur'án. Is this true? If so, we could use it for the standard verse numbering system.[[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 14:45, 18 January 2017 (UTC)

: I'm not sure about the signing of a Qur'an, but even if true, I'm not sure we can necessarily see that as an endorsement of the numbering system. (FWIW, 'Abdu'l-Baha was to have signed a Bible, per 'Abdu'l-Baha in London, pp. [[abl:17|17]]-18 (it'd be interesting to know if that copy were still around though presumably not in Baha'i hands.)) I think it could as well be a mere act of love for the recipient and endorsement of the sacredness of the Book. And while it would be practically useful to have a standard system (and perhaps the House will one day do so), I think quotations such as at [[Revelation]] suggest to me that the ordering of Revelation is not so critical, spiritually speaking. FWIW, I seem to remember a quote in the Writings speaking to how the Surah's were assembled into order after Muhammad's passing (if so, that might give some further indication). [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:53, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

:: It may be that the ordering of Surahs or verses is not so critical from a spiritual point of view, but what I was referring to was not the ordering itself, but what is being ordered. Taken out of their proper context they can be made to assume the opposite of what was intended. For the ordering of Surahs, there is evidence that the ordering we now have is not the chronological one, and it is debatable that Muhammad had a role in the ordering we now have. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 15:16, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

::: I don't think Muslims (nor Baha'is) have taken it to mean that the current order reflects a chronological order (on the contrary, I understand some propagators of violence use knowledge of the chronologically later revelation of a nevertheless low-numbered Surah 9 to assert that the call to holy war abrogated verses on peace (in later Surahs)). It has been observed that the Surah's are roughly arranged in descending length (with the particularly notable exception of the first Surah). There is apparently a tradition that the order was deliberate and not to be altered despite its non-chronological nature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surah#Chronological_vs_traditional_order . [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 10:50, 22 August 2017 (UTC)

:: As for the verses, there is no disagreement among the various editors, except in a few places where one verse ends and the next begins, and changes in the pronunciation which can alter the meaning (since in the original vowels were not marked). The Cairo edition is the standard throughout the Muslim world, and is significant from a Baha'i point of view because it can be traced directly back to the one commissioned by the Imam Ali. It is the Kufan version (from the region of Kufah where Ali settled) as mentioned in the [https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/2770/AABrockettPhDThesis.pdf study by Adrian Alan Brockett] [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 15:16, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

::: While that appears to me to be a sound line of reasoning, I think we rely would need some guidance from the House to settle on this, and while they have started to ensure standard paragraphing, I wouldn't imagine they'd consider it timely to settle on this question (one which could also perhaps provoke quibbling against the Faith by those of different schools of thought so it might not be deemed wise, or perhaps merely not a priority given resources needed to study the issue toward making a decision). Looking at the practice of numbering used in official Baha'i translations at least (which I'll admit is not necessarily any final indicator of what may be chosen), Rodwell's verse numbering (though not Surah numbering) has been used in past authoritative translations (e.g., http://bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/swab/swaball.html#vii ) though in recent years, the traditional numbering seems it may be the one referenced (e.g., Days of Remembrance refers to 7:107 where the verse would only match the traditional numbering). I'd venture this may be due to the emergence out of obscurity for the Faith and while our reference to Rodwell's numbering may have suited an earlier time as a choice of convenience when Shoghi Effendi relied on the translation at the time that he suggested was "more literary" (compared to Sale's, these being among the handful of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_translations_of_the_Quran#English alternatives of the time]), whereas these days the use of Rodwell's numbering might be seen by a growing number of outsiders as an inevitable embrace of that numbering system which it might not have been. The Research Department, albeit in the context of choosing a translation rather than numbering, stated:

:::: "As to translations of the Qur’án, it is the view of the Research Department that there are a number of very good translations, in addition to those done by Sale and Rodwell. To some extent, the choice of a particular translation is dictated by the specific needs and purpose of the reader–some translations have helpful notes, others number each verse, others include both the Arabic and English texts, some project the approach of the particular sect of Islám they support, some are literary, etc."

::: ...perhaps also thereby pointing to a willingness for a relativistic approach at the current time. I agree it'd be helpful for a choice of standard though, whether for this wiki, for such as [http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir this "Baha'i Qur'an"], etc. [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 10:50, 22 August 2017 (UTC)

:::: Should you venture to secure the UHJ opinion of this issue, make known to them that the Cairo edition is recognized as authoritative by a majority of both Sunni and Shih sects, that it is not a point of contention among them, and serves as a focal center of unity in the Muslim world. Barring this, wouldn't it be better to present the text without any numbering at all, as in Arberrys' version, and more consonant with its character as basically an inspired, poetic work? Arberrys' version, in fact, has [http://www.meforum.org/717/assessing-english-translations-of-the-quran good credibility] to be chosen as the preferred translation. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 02:50, 23 August 2017 (UTC)

From the Dawn-Breakers I found a quote from the Qur'an which does not agree with the Fluegel or Cairo edition numbering: [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/nz/DB/db-34.html#fr18] It mentions verse 9:33 as corresponding to what in those editions is 9:32.
[[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 14:45, 18 January 2017 (UTC)

: Since there can be mistakes even in the Dawn-Breakers (see [[Dawn-Breakers#Potential_for_historical_error]]), not to mention the footnotes or typographical errors (which themselves might be ''attempts'' to be based on Rodwell's numbering, as many [http://bahai-library.com/writings/bab/swb/2/ other Baha'i publications] have done), I'm not sure we could come to this conclusion. (Rodwell's translation too has had some [http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir#VI.%20THE%20KORAN%20%28TRANSLATED%20BY%20GEORGE%20SALE%29%20-%20Full%20British%20Version publication errors in versification], though I haven't been made aware of any problem with numbering in that particular section.) [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:53, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

Talk:Qur'án

2017-08-23T02:50:26Z

Ernobe: reply

==On 'Discussion of individual surahs' section==
I have read somewhere that Yusuf-Alis' system of verse numbering does not always correspond with the standard Cairo edition. And I can't remember from where I found out that Baha'u'llah had Himself signed a Qur'án. Is this true? If so, we could use it for the standard verse numbering system.

: I'm not sure about the signing of a Qur'an, but even if true, I'm not sure we can necessarily see that as an endorsement of the numbering system. (FWIW, 'Abdu'l-Baha was to have signed a Bible, per 'Abdu'l-Baha in London, pp. [[abl:17|17]]-18 (it'd be interesting to know if that copy were still around though presumably not in Baha'i hands.)) I think it could as well be a mere act of love for the recipient and endorsement of the sacredness of the Book. And while it would be practically useful to have a standard system (and perhaps the House will one day do so), I think quotations such as at [[Revelation]] suggest to me that the ordering of Revelation is not so critical, spiritually speaking. FWIW, I seem to remember a quote in the Writings speaking to how the Surah's were assembled into order after Muhammad's passing (if so, that might give some further indication). [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:53, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

:: It may be that the ordering of Surahs or verses is not so critical from a spiritual point of view, but what I was referring to was not the ordering itself, but what is being ordered. Taken out of their proper context they can be made to assume the opposite of what was intended. For the ordering of Surahs, there is evidence that the ordering we now have is not the chronological one, and it is debatable that Muhammad had a role in the ordering we now have. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 15:16, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

::: I don't think Muslims (nor Baha'is) have taken it to mean that the current order reflects a chronological order (on the contrary, I understand some propagators of violence use knowledge of the chronologically later revelation of a nevertheless low-numbered Surah 9 to assert that the call to holy war abrogated verses on peace (in later Surahs)). It has been observed that the Surah's are roughly arranged in descending length (with the particularly notable exception of the first Surah). There is apparently a tradition that the order was deliberate and not to be altered despite its non-chronological nature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surah#Chronological_vs_traditional_order . [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 10:50, 22 August 2017 (UTC)

:: As for the verses, there is no disagreement among the various editors, except in a few places where one verse ends and the next begins, and changes in the pronunciation which can alter the meaning (since in the original vowels were not marked). The Cairo edition is the standard throughout the Muslim world, and is significant from a Baha'i point of view because it can be traced directly back to the one commissioned by the Imam Ali. It is the Kufan version (from the region of Kufah where Ali settled) as mentioned in the [https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/2770/AABrockettPhDThesis.pdf study by Adrian Alan Brockett] [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 15:16, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

::: While that appears to me to be a sound line of reasoning, I think we rely would need some guidance from the House to settle on this, and while they have started to ensure standard paragraphing, I wouldn't imagine they'd consider it timely to settle on this question (one which could also perhaps provoke quibbling against the Faith by those of different schools of thought so it might not be deemed wise, or perhaps merely not a priority given resources needed to study the issue toward making a decision). Looking at the practice of numbering used in official Baha'i translations at least (which I'll admit is not necessarily any final indicator of what may be chosen), Rodwell's verse numbering (though not Surah numbering) has been used in past authoritative translations (e.g., http://bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/swab/swaball.html#vii ) though in recent years, the traditional numbering seems it may be the one referenced (e.g., Days of Remembrance refers to 7:107 where the verse would only match the traditional numbering). I'd venture this may be due to the emergence out of obscurity for the Faith and while our reference to Rodwell's numbering may have suited an earlier time as a choice of convenience when Shoghi Effendi relied on the translation at the time that he suggested was "more literary" (compared to Sale's, these being among the handful of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_translations_of_the_Quran#English alternatives of the time]), whereas these days the use of Rodwell's numbering might be seen by a growing number of outsiders as an inevitable embrace of that numbering system which it might not have been. The Research Department, albeit in the context of choosing a translation rather than numbering, stated:

:::: "As to translations of the Qur’án, it is the view of the Research Department that there are a number of very good translations, in addition to those done by Sale and Rodwell. To some extent, the choice of a particular translation is dictated by the specific needs and purpose of the reader–some translations have helpful notes, others number each verse, others include both the Arabic and English texts, some project the approach of the particular sect of Islám they support, some are literary, etc."

::: ...perhaps also thereby pointing to a willingness for a relativistic approach at the current time. I agree it'd be helpful for a choice of standard though, whether for this wiki, for such as [http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir this "Baha'i Qur'an"], etc. [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 10:50, 22 August 2017 (UTC)

:::: Should you venture to secure the UHJ opinion of this issue, make known to them that the Cairo edition is recognized as authoritative by a majority of both Sunni and Shih sects, that it is not a point of contention among them, and serves as a focal center of unity in the Muslim world. Barring this, wouldn't it be better to present the text without any numbering at all, as in Arberrys' version, and more consonant with its character as basically an inspired, poetic work? Arberrys' version, in fact, has [http://www.meforum.org/717/assessing-english-translations-of-the-quran good credibility] to be chosen as the preferred translation. [[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 02:50, 23 August 2017 (UTC)

From the Dawn-Breakers I found a quote from the Qur'an which does not agree with the Fluegel or Cairo edition numbering: [http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/nz/DB/db-34.html#fr18] It mentions verse 9:33 as corresponding to what in those editions is 9:32.
[[User:Ernobe|Ernobe]] ([[User talk:Ernobe|talk]]) 14:45, 18 January 2017 (UTC)

: Since there can be mistakes even in the Dawn-Breakers (see [[Dawn-Breakers#Potential_for_historical_error]]), not to mention the footnotes or typographical errors (which themselves might be ''attempts'' to be based on Rodwell's numbering, as many [http://bahai-library.com/writings/bab/swb/2/ other Baha'i publications] have done), I'm not sure we could come to this conclusion. (Rodwell's translation too has had some [http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir#VI.%20THE%20KORAN%20%28TRANSLATED%20BY%20GEORGE%20SALE%29%20-%20Full%20British%20Version publication errors in versification], though I haven't been made aware of any problem with numbering in that particular section.) [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:53, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

Talk:Qur'án

2017-08-20T20:16:20Z

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Talk:Qur'án

2017-08-20T15:16:48Z

Ernobe:

User:Ernobe

2017-08-19T21:00:24Z

Ernobe: page

[https://archive.org/services/purl/bahai Links to Baha'i Faith]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170302173300/http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Baha%27ism/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_-_Universal_House_of_Justice%2C_Haifa/ archived]

User:Ernobe

2017-08-19T20:54:52Z

Ernobe: blanking

User:Ernobe

2017-08-19T20:53:54Z

Ernobe: Ernobe moved page User:Ernobe to User talk:Ernobe: talk page

#REDIRECT [[User talk:Ernobe]]

User talk:Ernobe

2017-08-19T20:53:53Z

Ernobe: Ernobe moved page User:Ernobe to User talk:Ernobe: talk page

Welcome to the site, and thanks for your helpful contribution on the Qur'an page! [[User:WikiSysop|WikiSysop]] ([[User talk:WikiSysop|talk]]) 23:28, 16 September 2016 (UTC)

Star of the West

2017-08-06T00:04:55Z

Ernobe: updated link

Read online in stable form at http://bahai-library.com/star_of_the_west .

A more recent endeavor which includes proofreading up through volume 15 (early volumes are in particular need of another run of proofing, however) though on an editable wiki are at http://bahai.works/Star_of_the_West

==Stands out among most conspicuous accomplishments of American believers==

"...the publication of the Star of the West...these stand out as the most conspicuous accomplishments of the American believers which have immortalized the memory of the most turbulent period of their history."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[wob:84|84]])

==Digital publication thereof==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_star_west_electronic

==Authenticity==

===The authenticity of much of the material in Star of the West has not been verified===

"...we have noted Mrs. Toussaint's statement that the computer program will have a feature reminding the users of the electronic version of the Star of the West that "much of this material falls into the category of 'pilgrim's notes'". In light of the fact that no comprehensive study of the Star of the West volumes has been made, it may be better to state that the authenticity of much of the material in these volumes has not been verified."

:(Research Department, [http://bahai-library.com/uhj_star_west_electronic 3 March 1999])

===(Although not all has been authenticated, the friends may continue to use such compilations)===

" In a letter dated 23 March 1987 written on behalf of the House of Justice, the criterion for establishing authenticity is clarified in relation to talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

"We read,

"...'Abdu'l-Bahá did not read and authenticate all transcripts of His other talks, some of which have been translated into various languages and published. For many of His addresses included in The Promulgation of Universal Peace and Paris Talks, for example, no original authenticated text has yet been found. However, the Guardian allowed such compilations to continue to be used by the friends.2

"2 A letter dated 9 March 1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer states that the ruling of the Guardian concerning the use of such compilations also applies to the use of "Star of the West"."

:(Research Department, [http://bahai-library.com/uhj_authenticity_refresh_spirit 5 June 2006])

==Excerpts==
* http://bahai-library.com/compilation_tablets_star_west (Book 1, vol. 1 and 2 from the Central Figures)
* http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita2/sw-netherlands.htm (Extracts concerning the Netherlands)
* http://bahai-library.com/abdulbaha_prayer_fathers (vol. 2, no. 19, p. 319)

==Synopses==
* http://bahai-library.com/mcglinn_star_west_persian (introduction to Persian sections of book 1, vol. 1 and 2)

==Correlated to updated translations==

{| border="1"
! SoW Volume #
! SoW Issue #
! SoW Page #
! Updated Translation
|-
| 1
| 1
| [[text:Bahai News/Volume 1/Issue 1#pg5|5]]
| ''[[Tabernacle of Unity]]'', [[Lawh-i-Manikjí-Sáhib I]], p. [[tu:1|1]]
|-
| 10
| 19
| [[text:Star of the West/Volume 10/Issue 19#pg340|340]]
| ''[[Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá]]'', sec. [[swabs:171|171]]
|-
| 10
| 19
| [[text:Star of the West/Volume 10/Issue 19#pg340|340]]-341
| ''[[Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá]]'', sec. [[swabs:169|169]]
|}

{{Bahaiworks|{{PAGENAMEE}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Bahaikipedia|{{PAGENAMEE}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Bahaimedia|Special:Search/{{PAGENAMEE}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}

Internet

2017-03-12T23:59:22Z

Ernobe: /* Opposition on the internet */ link

==Baha'i agency for (and documents regarding)==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20151122081035/http://www.bcca.org/bia/ official site] (archived)
* http://bahai-library.com/author/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD+Internet+Agency

==Courtesy on the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings

==Opposition on the internet==

* http://www.bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_opposition_internet_attacks

==Voting on newsgroups==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_talk-religion-bahai

==Technical, publishing, and administrative issues concerning the Bahá'í use of the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet

==Publishing pilgrim's notes on the internet==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_pilgrims_notes_online

==Scholarship and the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_scholars_administrative_order

==Permission for personal web pages promoting the Faith==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages

==Discussing through the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj

See also [[Bahá'í wiki quotes]].

==Predictions Concerning==

===Prediction partialling fulfilled by the internet (and previously by satellites, etc.)===

"A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity."

:[[Shoghi Effendi]], letter dated March 11, 1936 in ''[[World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[wob:203|203]])

"Such advances in science and technology were reciprocal in their effects. Grains of sand - the most humble and ostensibly worthless of materials - metamorphosed into silicon wafers and optically pure glass, making possible the creation of worldwide communications networks. This, together with the deployment of ever more sophisticated satellite systems, has begun providing access to the accumulated knowledge of the entire human race for people everywhere, without distinction. It is apparent that the decades immediately ahead will see the integration of telephone, television, and computer technologies into a single, unified system of communication and information, whose inexpensive appliances will be available on a mass scale. It would be difficult to exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems - for many, the ultimate fortress of nationalist pride - by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses."

:([[Bahá'í International Community]], [[Who is Writing the Future]], par. [http://www.bahai-library.com/published.uhj/writing.future.html#22 22])

==Opportunities brought by the Internet==

===Electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends (which is a highly significant opportunity)===

"The opportunity which electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends is highly significant. Without doubt, it represents another manifestation of a development eagerly anticipated by the Guardian when he foresaw the creation of "a mechanism of world intercommunication ... embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity"."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

===Internet communication marvellously provides for greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals===

"...the House of Justice will continue to encourage use of the greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals, which Internet communication so marvellously provides."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], letter dated 20 July 1997, Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá'í Faith, sel. [http://www.bahai-library.com/compilations/issues.scholarship.html#sel9-4 9])

===Electronic Communication Presents a Valuable Technology for the Development of the Faith Worldwide===

"The House of Justice understands and appreciates that questions surrounding the use of computer-operated electronic systems such as bulletin boards, libraries, electronic forums, interactive networks, and the like, will no doubt increase as computer technology becomes widespread. The House of Justice has expressed the belief that electronic communication systems present a valuable technology for the development of the Faith worldwide. It will take wisdom on the part of the institutions of the Faith to utilize the positive aspects of the technology for the benefit of the Faith, while at the same time protecting the Faith from its ill-advised or malicious use."

:(The International Teaching Centre, http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===The internet vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it===

"Just as the migration of money or corporations encounters little hindrance from national borders, neither can the latter any longer exercise effective control over the dissemination of knowledge. Internet communication, which has the ability to transmit in seconds the entire contents of libraries that took centuries of study to amass, vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it, as well as providing sophisticated training in a broad range of professional fields. The system, so prophetically foreseen sixty years ago by Shoghi Effendi, builds a sense of shared community among its users that is impatient of either geographic or cultural distances.

"The benefits to many millions of persons are obvious and impressive. Cost effectiveness resulting from the coordination of formerly competing operations tends to bring goods and services within the reach of populations who could not previously have hoped to enjoy them. Enormous increases in the funds available for research and development expand the variety and quality of such benefits. Something of a levelling effect in the distribution of employment opportunities can be seen in the ease with which business operations can shift their base from one part of the world to another. The abandonment of barriers to transnational trade reduces still further the cost of goods to consumers. It is not difficult to appreciate, from a Bahá'í perspective, the potentiality of such transformations for laying the foundations of the global society envisioned in Bahá'u'lláh's Writings."

:(Prepared on behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], ''[[Century of Light]]'', p. [[cl:133|133]])

==Usefulness of Participation of Individual Bahá'ís==

===((Internet) Discussions can be helpful)===

"It is natural that the friends would discuss such matters among themselves, as you and your correspondent have been doing on your Internet discussion group; how otherwise are they to deepen their understanding of the Teachings?"

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj )

===Many knowledgeable Bahá'ís are involved with discussion groups who provide accurate information and thoughtful ideas===

"...there are many knowledgeable Bahá'ís involved with the discussion groups who help provide accurate information about the Faith as well as thoughtful ideas."

:(The International Teaching Centre, http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===(Encouragement to someone serving the Faith through online means)===

"We wish you every success with your endeavors to serve the Faith by using your skills in this area."

:(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages )

==Need for Self-discipline and reference to the Writings amidst consultation==

===The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline===

"The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline than is the case in situations where a spirit of unity is reinforced by the opportunity for direct personal contact and social interaction. In the pursuit of such a spirit of unity, Baha'is will, without doubt, wish to assist the consultative processes by sharing and discussing relevant Baha'i texts. This will itself have the further effect of drawing attention back to the framework of Baha'i belief."

:(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

==While mastering the new technologies, skills to preserve achievements of the past must be transmitted==

===Master unifying concepts and technologies of communications era and transmit skills to the future in order to preserve the achievements of the past===

"...while aiming at mastering the unifying concepts and swiftly advancing technologies of this era of communications, they {Bahá'í youth} can, indeed they must also guarantee the transmittal to the future of those skills which will preserve the marvelous, indispensable achievements of the past. The transformation which is to occur in the functioning of society will certainly depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], [http://bahai-library.com/uhj/youth3.html Message dated 8 May 1985])

Internet

2017-02-11T22:08:01Z

Ernobe: updated link

==Baha'i agency for (and documents regarding)==
* http://bahai-library.com/author/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD+Internet+Agency

==Courtesy on the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings

==Opposition on the internet==

* http://www.bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai

==Voting on newsgroups==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_talk-religion-bahai

==Technical, publishing, and administrative issues concerning the Bahá'í use of the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet

==Publishing pilgrim's notes on the internet==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_pilgrims_notes_online

==Scholarship and the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/compilation_issues_study_bahai
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_scholars_administrative_order

==Permission for personal web pages promoting the Faith==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages

==Discussing through the internet==

* http://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj

See also [[Bahá'í wiki quotes]].

==Predictions Concerning==

===Prediction partialling fulfilled by the internet (and previously by satellites, etc.)===

"A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity."

:[[Shoghi Effendi]], letter dated March 11, 1936 in ''[[World Order of Bahá'u'lláh]]'', p. [[wob:203|203]])

"Such advances in science and technology were reciprocal in their effects. Grains of sand - the most humble and ostensibly worthless of materials - metamorphosed into silicon wafers and optically pure glass, making possible the creation of worldwide communications networks. This, together with the deployment of ever more sophisticated satellite systems, has begun providing access to the accumulated knowledge of the entire human race for people everywhere, without distinction. It is apparent that the decades immediately ahead will see the integration of telephone, television, and computer technologies into a single, unified system of communication and information, whose inexpensive appliances will be available on a mass scale. It would be difficult to exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems - for many, the ultimate fortress of nationalist pride - by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses."

:([[Bahá'í International Community]], [[Who is Writing the Future]], par. [http://www.bahai-library.com/published.uhj/writing.future.html#22 22])

==Opportunities brought by the Internet==

===Electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends (which is a highly significant opportunity)===

"The opportunity which electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends is highly significant. Without doubt, it represents another manifestation of a development eagerly anticipated by the Guardian when he foresaw the creation of "a mechanism of world intercommunication ... embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity"."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

===Internet communication marvellously provides for greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals===

"...the House of Justice will continue to encourage use of the greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals, which Internet communication so marvellously provides."

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], letter dated 20 July 1997, Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá'í Faith, sel. [http://www.bahai-library.com/compilations/issues.scholarship.html#sel9-4 9])

===Electronic Communication Presents a Valuable Technology for the Development of the Faith Worldwide===

"The House of Justice understands and appreciates that questions surrounding the use of computer-operated electronic systems such as bulletin boards, libraries, electronic forums, interactive networks, and the like, will no doubt increase as computer technology becomes widespread. The House of Justice has expressed the belief that electronic communication systems present a valuable technology for the development of the Faith worldwide. It will take wisdom on the part of the institutions of the Faith to utilize the positive aspects of the technology for the benefit of the Faith, while at the same time protecting the Faith from its ill-advised or malicious use."

:(The International Teaching Centre, http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===The internet vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it===

"Just as the migration of money or corporations encounters little hindrance from national borders, neither can the latter any longer exercise effective control over the dissemination of knowledge. Internet communication, which has the ability to transmit in seconds the entire contents of libraries that took centuries of study to amass, vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it, as well as providing sophisticated training in a broad range of professional fields. The system, so prophetically foreseen sixty years ago by Shoghi Effendi, builds a sense of shared community among its users that is impatient of either geographic or cultural distances.

"The benefits to many millions of persons are obvious and impressive. Cost effectiveness resulting from the coordination of formerly competing operations tends to bring goods and services within the reach of populations who could not previously have hoped to enjoy them. Enormous increases in the funds available for research and development expand the variety and quality of such benefits. Something of a levelling effect in the distribution of employment opportunities can be seen in the ease with which business operations can shift their base from one part of the world to another. The abandonment of barriers to transnational trade reduces still further the cost of goods to consumers. It is not difficult to appreciate, from a Bahá'í perspective, the potentiality of such transformations for laying the foundations of the global society envisioned in Bahá'u'lláh's Writings."

:(Prepared on behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], ''[[Century of Light]]'', p. [[cl:133|133]])

==Usefulness of Participation of Individual Bahá'ís==

===((Internet) Discussions can be helpful)===

"It is natural that the friends would discuss such matters among themselves, as you and your correspondent have been doing on your Internet discussion group; how otherwise are they to deepen their understanding of the Teachings?"

:(On behalf of the [[Universal House of Justice]], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_challenging_authority_uhj )

===Many knowledgeable Bahá'ís are involved with discussion groups who provide accurate information and thoughtful ideas===

"...there are many knowledgeable Bahá'ís involved with the discussion groups who help provide accurate information about the Faith as well as thoughtful ideas."

:(The International Teaching Centre, http://bahai-library.com/uhj_monitoring_internet )

===(Encouragement to someone serving the Faith through online means)===

"We wish you every success with your endeavors to serve the Faith by using your skills in this area."

:(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_personal_webpages )

==Need for Self-discipline and reference to the Writings amidst consultation==

===The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline===

"The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline than is the case in situations where a spirit of unity is reinforced by the opportunity for direct personal contact and social interaction. In the pursuit of such a spirit of unity, Baha'is will, without doubt, wish to assist the consultative processes by sharing and discussing relevant Baha'i texts. This will itself have the further effect of drawing attention back to the framework of Baha'i belief."

:(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://bahai-library.com/uhj_character_internet_postings )

==While mastering the new technologies, skills to preserve achievements of the past must be transmitted==

===Master unifying concepts and technologies of communications era and transmit skills to the future in order to preserve the achievements of the past===

"...while aiming at mastering the unifying concepts and swiftly advancing technologies of this era of communications, they {Bahá'í youth} can, indeed they must also guarantee the transmittal to the future of those skills which will preserve the marvelous, indispensable achievements of the past. The transformation which is to occur in the functioning of society will certainly depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit."

:([[Universal House of Justice]], [http://bahai-library.com/uhj/youth3.html Message dated 8 May 1985])

Covenant-breakers - books by

2017-02-08T20:24:57Z

Ernobe: /* Literature Written by Enemies of the Faith */ link

==References==
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj/covenant.breakers.html
* http://bahai-library.com/uhj/cbreakers.and.photos.html

==Literature Written by Enemies of the Faith==

"In reply to your letter of September 20, 1975, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that the friends should be advised to ignore these books and any similar ones which might be written by enemies of the Faith. There should certainly be no attempt made to destroy or remove such books from libraries. On the other hand there is no need at all for the friends to acquire them and, indeed, the best plan is to ignore them entirely."

:(Referring to books by Hermann Zimmer and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McElwee_Miller William Miller]. Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama, October 2, 1975, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:627|627]])

==Books by Unenlightened Enemies of the Cause==

"It is better not to read books by Covenant-breakers because they are haters of the Light, sufferers from a spiritual leprosy, so to speak. But books by well meaning yet unenlightened enemies of the Cause can be read so as to refute their charges."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, March 19, 1945: Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, pp. 107-108, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:628|628]])

[[Category:Covenant-breaking]]

Writings Bahá'u'lláh 1853-1863

2017-01-26T15:08:20Z

Ernobe: updated link

To view an introduction to this page (and the page the following is based from), visit http://bahai-library.com/winters_bibliography_tablets_1853-63

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="100%">
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''Name of Tablet''' </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">'''Brief notes'''</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">'''Primary Sources'''</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">'''Secondary sources: first key texts, then supplementary texts'''</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''Overviews of this period''' </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">1853-63, Tablets in both Arabic and Persian</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Many of these works haven't been authoritatively translated</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Brief mention by Bahá'u'lláh of this period ''Epistle to the Son of the Wold'' 22; overview ''God Passes By'' 120-24, 137; ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol. 1 ''in toto''; ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 115-22 Overviews of this period can be found in John Hatcher ''Ocean of His Words'' 77-80; Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 62-65; Juan Cole "Bahá'u'lláh and the Naqshbandi Sufis" in ''From Iran East to West: Studies in Babi and Bahá'í History'' vol. 2; Kamran Ekbal "The Zoroastrian Heritage of the 'Maid of Heaven'" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 131</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Az-Bágh-i-Iláhí]] '''(From The Garden of Holiness) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Alternating Persian and Arabic. </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Gan 66 (incomplete)</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 211, 218-20</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Four Valleys]]''' (Chihar-Vadi) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">late Baghdad, 1858-1862. Persian. Addressee Shaykh Abdu'r-Rahman of Karkuk</td> <td valign="top" width="17%"> AQA3 140-157. Trans. by Gail & Khan published in numerous forms. A partial academic prov. trans. by Juan Cole posted Irfan Nov/Dec 96 exists.</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">mentions ''God Passes By'' 120-22 and 140; brief mention in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 163; discussion ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 104; mention of recipient ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''1 62 Julio Savi explores themes of Tablet in "Will, Knowledge, and Love as Explained in Bahá'u'lláh's Four Valleys" in the ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 6:1 (1994), available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.6-1.savi.html; overview of history Bijan Ma'sumian "Bahá'u'lláh's Seclusion in Kurdistan" in ''Deepen'' magazine, available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/kurdistan.masumian.html; John Walbridge discusses these in ''Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Tim''e, 157-158 and 288; David Langness meditates on the Tablet in "Mystical Content and Symbology of Bahá'u'lláh's Four Valleys," available online at http://bahai-library.com/ essays/four.valleys.html; passing mentions Jack McLean ''Dimensions of Spirituality ''7-8; Zaid Lundberg ''Bahá'í Apocalypticism: The Concept of Progressive Revelation,'' available only online at http://bahai-library.com/theses/apocalyptic/apocalypticism.05.html; see also student papers on Tablet at http://bahai-library.com/students</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''[[Hidden Words]]''' / ''Book of Fatimih'' / ''Hidden Book of Fatimih ''(Kalimat-i- Maknunih, Sahifiy-i- Fatimiyyih, Sahifiyyih- Maknuniyh- Fatimiyyih) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic and Persian. 1274/1857</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">MaM 17-32; MaM 373-398; INBA 30; Law-gold 1-55. Five trans. by Shoghi Effendi with slight variants, published in many forms: the first in 1923, the second in 1924, the third in 1925, the fourth in 1929, with a final revision in 1954. Earlier trans. of Arabic HW in Kheirella and McNutt, 1894 and 1900; E.G. Browne first translated parts for his rendition of A Traveller's Narrative in 1891; a Mrs. Stannard rendered it in English in 1921; and Amin Fareed trans. and published it in 1905; also French transl. by Dreyfus, Oeuvre1</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Quoted in Bahá'u'lláh's "Book of the River," available online at http://bahai-library.com/provisionals/river.html; Definition ''Messages 1963-86'' 743; mention in ''Promulgation of Universal Peace'' 46, 148, 457; ''Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá'' #17 and #181 (on interpretations of a number of symbols); ''Traveller's Narrative'' 68-69 (abridged Wilmette edition); mention ''Vignettes from the Life of Abdu'l-Bahá'' 49; mentions in ''World Order of Bahá'u'lláh'' 46 (on Persian#63), 59-60 (on P.#77) and 116 (also on P.#77); discussion ''God Passes By'' 140; mentions (mostly regarding translation and publication) in ''Unfolding Destiny'' 14, 23, 55, 86-87, and general comments 429-30, 456; ''Directives of the Guardian'' 37 (on A.#13); ''The Light of Divine Guidance'' vol. 2 65-67 (on Arabic#1, A.#70, and A.#71, as well as comments on translation); ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 71-83; brief mentions ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''4 53, discussed in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 159, sample of Mishqin-Qalam's calligraphy of the Tablet ibid. 161 and 251; mentions of dating and naming of Hidden Words in George Latimer's 1920 pilgrim's notes ''The Light of the World'', 98; brief mentions of translation in Ruhiyyih Rabbani ''The Priceless Pearl'' 38, 205, 219; brief mention ''Dawnbreakers'' 9 Complete discussion in Diana Malouf ''Unveiling the Hidden Words'' and also her article "The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh: Translation Norms Employed by Shoghi Effendi," in'' The Vision of Shoghi Effendi''; literary and symbolic analyses in John Hatcher ''Ocean of His Words'' 36-40, 108-111, 181-193; full coverage Julio Savi "The Love Relationship between God and Humanity: Reflections on Bahá'u'lláh's Hidden Words" in ''Scripture and Revelation,'' available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/hiddenwords.savi.html; brief mentions in Bahiyyih Nakhjavani ''Asking Questions'' 3, 26; E.G. Browne discusses this Tablet and its mythological origins in the original ''Traveller's Narrative'' 122-126, available online at http://bahai-library.com/books/tn/tn.translation.html; coverage in Franklin Lewis' "Scripture as Literature," available only online at http://bahai-library.com/ conferences/scripture.lit.html; comments John Hatcher "The Validity and Value of an Historical-Critical Approach" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 34 (on Persian#77), 39; David Hofman discusses George Townshend's role in the authorized translation in ''George Townshend'' 56-59, 78-79; discussion Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi: Studies in the Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' vol. 5 120-22 and Stephen Lambden "Apophatic Theology in Babi and Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Revisioning the Sacred: Studies in the Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' vol. 8 59; comments Stephen Lambden "The Word ''Bahá''': The Quintessence of the Greatest Name of God" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:2 (1997-1998) [republished from ''Bahá'í Studies Review'' 3.1 (1993)] 18 and n.10 (on P.#77), 38 (on intro), available online in two drafts, one at http://bahai-library.com/articles/baha.2.html and one at http://bahai-library.com/encyclopedia/greatest.name.html; brief mentions Ramona Brown ''Memories of Abdu'l-Bahá'' 6, 28; Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 64; Sen McGlinn "Commentary on Kitab-i Aqdas verse one," available online at http://bahai-library.com/essays/aqdas.verse1.html (on P.#19); calligraphic renditions of some Hidden Words by Mishqin Qalam reproduced in Julie Oeming Badiee and Heshmatollah Badiee "The Calligraphy of Mishkin-Qalam" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 3:4 (1990-1991) 5, 11, discussion ibid. passim; Jack McLean ''Dimensions of Spirituality ''121-23 (on P.#19), 185-86 (on P.#26), 218, 244, 261 (on Arabic#55); symbolism of the Maiden in Hidden Words in Ross Woodman "In the Beginning was the Word: Apocalypse and the Education of the Soul" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:4 (1993-1994) 37, 43, 55; symbolism of creation of humankind Michael Sours "Bahá'í Cosmological Symbolism and the Ecofeminist Critique" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 7:1 (1995) 30; brief discussion of Divine "Feminine" Ross Woodman "The Role of the Feminine in the Bahá'í Faith" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 7:2 (1995) 95-96; Christopher Buck "A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá'í Faith" ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:4 (1998) 30 (on P.#1), 32 (on A.#63); discussion on the place of the Iqan in the Bahá'í Faith in Seena Fazel and Khazeh Fananapazir "The Station of the Kitab-i-Iqan" in ''Bahá'í Studies Review'' 3:1 (1993), online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/station.iqan.html; see also student papers on Tablet at http://bahai-library.com/students</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Húr-i-Ujáb]]''' (The Wondrous Maiden) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic, rhyming prose</td> <td valign="top" width="17%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 211, 218 Brief description of content in John Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 239</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Hurufat-i-'Allin]], Musibat-i- Hurufat-i- 'aliyyat''' (The Exalted Letters)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic, but also translated by Bahá'u'lláh into Persian. Often used as a prayer for the deceased. Addressees Maryam and Havva </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">T&T 242-270; AHM 217-8</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion in ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 122-25; mention of recipient (Maryam) ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''1 12-13, 61; mention of recipient (Maryam) ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 14, 102, 117 Coverage by John Walbridge in ''Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time'' 267-268</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''Javáhiru'l- Asrár''' (The Essence of Mysteries, The [[Gems of Divine Mysteries]])</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic. In reply to questions of Siyyid Yusuf-i-Sidihi </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">AQA3 4-88; Leiden Ms Or 4970, item 1. A prov. trans. exists by Juan Cole </td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Mentioned ''God Passes By ''140; Discussed ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 151-52. Discussion by Stephen Lambden in "Apophatic Theology in Babi and Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Revisioning the Sacred: New Perspectives on a Bahá'í Theology ''63 and 77n.121; brief discussion in Juan Cole, "The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings" 18 and 24, available online at http://www-personal.umich.edu/ ~jrcole/bhmanif.htm; passing mention Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 83; discussion of Biblical quotations in this Tablet Stephen Lambden "Paraclete, Ahmad and the Comforter" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 90, 102, 121-22 (notes 100, 104)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]''' (The Book of Certitude)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad, dated in various Mss as A.H. 1278 or 1280 (1861/2 or 1863/4), the latter date possibly marking an editing with marginal glosses by Bahá'u'lláh. Persian, with Arabic quotations. Addressee Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Various printings. Bibliographical history in C. Buck, ''Symbol and Secret,'' pp. 14-37. Persian. English trans. Shoghi Effendi 1946; Earlier trans. by Ali Quli Khan is more literal. French trans. "Le Livre de la Certitude" by Hippolyte Dreyfus & Mirza Habib-Ullah Chirazi, Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1904, contains an additional excordium. The 1893 lithograph, in the hand of Mishqin Qalam, has been published online in .gif format at h-net2.msu.edu/ ~bahai/areprint/ baha/G-/I/ iqan1893/ iqan1893.htm. Ishraq-Khavari wrote a 4-volume tafsir dictionary of the Iqan, ''Qamus-i-Iqan''; a translation of the original four questions submitted to Bahá'u'lláh, in answer to which the Iqan was revealed, are available only online at http://bahai-library.com/ histories/ iqan.questions.html</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Brief mention in ''Promulgation of Universal Peace'' 151; ''God Passes By'' 138-39; various topics in ''Unfolding Destiny'' 424-26, 430, 432, 451; ''Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-86 ''547; discussed ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 163-67, 266; mention of recipient ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 344, 388, 405; discussion ''Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh'' 74-76, 101, 201; mention of recipient ''Eminent Bahá'ís in the Time of Bahá'u'lláh'' 35 (footnote), 121, 217-18, 220-21, 226-27, 229; discussion of recipient and the Iqan ''The Bab'' 86-87, 107; mention ''Abdu'l-Bahá: The Centre of the Covenant'' 109, 527 (n.62); discussion ''Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 153-197; ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''2 52, 68-70, 101, 219-20, 370; brief mentions ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''3 39, 93, 98, 275, 302-03, 334; ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''4 95, 136, 140, 152, 154, 207, 295, 322, 329, 385, 421; mention of addressee ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''4 329; comment in Ruhiyyih Rabbani ''The Priceless Pearl'' 214, repeated in her ''Shoghi Effendi'' 91 The most complete discussion is by Christopher Buck, ''Symbol and Secret: Qur'an Commentary in Bahá'u'lláh's Kitab-i-Iqan,'' where translation history, theology, and symbolism are discussed; see also review of same by Frank Lewis in ''Bahá'í Studies Review'' 6 (1996); Buck also published a study online, "The Kitab-i Iqan: An Introduction to Bahá'u'lláh's Book of Certitude with Two Digital Reprints of Early Lithographs," at http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol2/iqan&sn.htm and a lengthy meditation on Bahá'u'lláh's program of "world reform" as delineated by the Iqan in "Bahá'u'lláh as World Reformer" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 3:4 (1999-1991) 23-68 passim; brief summary of themes and history of Iqan in Nasser Sabet "An Introduction to the Kitab-i-Iqan" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 3:4 (1999-1991) 71-75; John Hatcher's ''Ocean of His Words'' includes much discussion of the Iqan: passing mentions 45-49, 73-76, 111-114, discussion of the "true seeker" 152-53, complete treatment and a detailed outline 247-337; discussion of the content and publication history of the Iqan by E.G. Browne in Moojan Momen ''Selections from the Writings of E. G. Browne'' 250-254; short literary discussion Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 63-65; discussion Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi: Studies in the Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' vol. 5 122 and Stephen Lambden "Apophatic Theology in Babi and Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Revisioning the Sacred ''64; mentions in Hatcher and Martin ''The Bahá'í Faith'' 37, 81, 84, 116; Bahiyyih Nakhjani ''Asking Questions'' 132; John Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 157, 159; John Hatcher "The Validity and Value of an Historical-Critical Approach" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 35-36, 39; Robert Stockman "Revelation, Interpretation, and Elucidation" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 58, 60, 64-65; discussion of Biblical quotations in this Tablet Stephen Lambden "Paraclete, Ahmad and the Comforter" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 90-91; discussion of some of the Iqan's "inner teachings" in Ross Woodman "The Inner Dimensions of Revelation" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 343-47; comments on symbolism in Michael Sours "The Maid of Heaven, the Image of Sophia, and the Logos" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 4:1 (1991) 49 and passim; comments on interpretation in Seena Fazel and Khazeh Fananapazir "Some Interpretive Principles in the Bahá'í Writings" in ''Bahá'í Studies Review'' 2:1 (1992) 4-8 and Dann May "A Preliminary Survey of Hermeneutical Principles Found within the Bahá'í Writings" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 1:2 (1989) 41-52; short discussion of theology in the Iqan in Michael Sours "Seeing with the Eye of God" in ''Bahá'í Studies Review'' 1:1 (1991) 31-32 and some notes; comments on Iqan's reception in Moojan Momen "Learning from History" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 2:2 (1989-1990) 57, 63; some discussion of eschatology in Ross Woodman "The End of the World" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 3:2 (1990-1991) passim; mention of relevance of Iqan to Bahá'í theology Jack McLean "Prolegomena to a Bahá'í Theology" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992) 49-50, 61; passing mentions Jack McLean ''Dimensions of Spirituality ''5, 11-12, 23, 156, 247; discussion of theology Michael Sours "Immanence and Transcendence in Divine Scripture" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:2 (1992) passim; discussion of Islamic symbolism Seena Fazel and Khazeh Fananapazir "A Bahá'í Approach to the Claim of Finality in Islam" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:3 (1993) passim, available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.5-3.fazel.html; symbolism of the Maiden in Iqan in Ross Woodman "In the Beginning was the Word: Apocalypse and the Education of the Soul" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:4 (1993-1994) 36, 39-40, 52-54; passing mentions of "social theology" John Hatcher "Unsealing the Choice Wine at the Family Reunion" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 6:3 (1994); comments on cosmology and ecology Michael Sours "Bahá'í Cosmological Symbolism and the Ecofeminist Critique" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 7:1 (1995) passim; discussions of gender symbolism Ross Woodman "The Role of the Feminine in the Bahá'í Faith" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 7:2 (1995) passim; examination of meaning of metaphor in Iqan in Ross Woodman "Metaphor and the Language of Revelation" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:1 (1997) 18-25; comments on epistemology and the Iqan Jalil Mahmoudi "Irfan, Gnosis, or Mystical Knowledge" in ''World Order'' 7:4 (1973) 5-15 and Jack McLean "The Knowledge of God: An Essay on Bahá'í Epistemology" in ''World Order'' 12:3 (1978) 48-49; discussion of the Islamic concept of "corruption of texts" (''tahrif'') William Collins "Islam's Tahrif: Implications for the Bahá'í Faith" in ''World Order'' 11:1 (1976) 22-30</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Lawh-i-Ayiy-i-Núr]]''' (Tablet of the Verse of Light) Also known as Tafsir-i- Hurufat-i- Muqatta'ib (Interpretation of the Isolated Letters)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic. Addressee is Mirza Aqay-i- Rikab-Saz </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">MA4 49-82. A prov. trans. by Stephen Lambden exists</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">circumstances and discussion in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 125-28; mention ''God Passes By'' 140; on the meaning of the isolated letters, see Kitab-i-Iqan 202-203 and Dawnbreakers p. 156 (posted with other secondary quotations at Bahá'í Academics Bulletin Board archive, available online at http://bahai-library.com/ wwwboard/index98.html). Lengthy discussion of symbolism Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi'' 117-120</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Lawh-i-Ayyúb]]''' (Tablet of Job) Also known as Suriy-i-Sabr and Madinatu's- Sabr (Surih- or City of Patience)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad (Ridvan, on 22 April 1863). Arabic. Addressee Haji Muhammad- Taqi-i-Nayrizi (not to be confused with Haji Mirza Muhammad-Taqi, Vakilu'd-Dawlih) </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">AyT 262-304; LAnv1 379-408. Prov. trans.s exist by Khazeh Fananapazir, Habib Taherzadeh, and Stephen Lambden</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">discussed ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 263-73 passim; mention of recipient ibid. 141 (and footnote); mention ''God Passes By'' 140; Bio of recipient in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 130-131; Tablet mentioned in ibid. 195; partial bio of recipient ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh'' vol.1 138-44; Brief definition John Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 239; discussion of symbolism Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi'' 125; some history of recipient Ali-Akbar Furutan, comp., ''Stories of Bahá'u'lláh'' 17-18</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Lawh-i-Fitnih]]''' (Tablet of the Test)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad or Edirne. Arabic. Addressee Shams-i-Jahan, entitled Varaqatu'r- Ridvan (one of several tablets for her). </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">MA4 261-265</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 128-129, 136-37</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Lawh-i-Ghulámu'l-Khuld]]''' (Tablet of the Deathless Youth, Eternal Youth, Youth of Paradise)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic and Persian </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">AyT 92-99. Prov. trans. exists.John Walbridge with annotations online</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 211-14 discussion in Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 159, 161-163, 222, and also his "Erotic Imagery In the Allegorical Writings of Bahá'u'lláh" available online at http://bahai-library.com/unpubl.articles/erotic.allegory.html</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Lawh-i-Húríyyih]]''' (Tablet of the Maiden, Tablet of the Houri)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic, dialogue form. </td> <td valign="top" width="17%"> AQA4(i) 342-350; AQA4(rev) 379-391. Prov. trans. Juan Cole, available online exists</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Brief discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 125; mention ''God Passes By'' 140; Mention in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 167 Discussion in David Ruhe ''Robe of Light: The Persian Years of the Supreme Prophet Bahá'u'lláh 1817-1853'' 187-88; brief mention in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 167, where it is referred to as "Prayer of the Maiden;" discussion in Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 158-161, and also his "Erotic Imagery In the Allegorical Writings of Bahá'u'lláh" available online at http://bahai-library.com/ unpubl.articles/erotic.allegory.html Discussions of the Maiden, though without mention of this Tablet, include Kamran Ekbal "The Zoroastrian Heritage of the 'Maid of Heaven'" in ''Scripture and Revelation''; Ross Woodman "The Inner Dimensions of Revelation" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 347-49, 353-56, 362-64; Michael Sours "The Maid of Heaven, the Image of Sophia, and the Logos" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 4:1 (1991) passim; Paula A. Drewek "Feminine Forms of the Divine in Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992) passim; Michael Sours "Immanence and Transcendence in Divine Scripture" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:2 (1992) 40-44</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''Lawh-i- Kullu't- Ta'am '''(Tablet of All Food)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad, probably late 1853, certainly before April 1854. Arabic. An esoteric commentary on Qur'an 3:87, and against antinomian tendencies in Babi community. Addressee Haji Mirza Kamalu'd-Din </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Partial trans. Shoghi Effendi in GPB 116. A good text in INBA 36:268-277; MA4 265-276 (or is it 260-70?) said to be 'inadequate'; RM2 416-426 (slightly better). Prov. trans. has been published by Stephen Lambden, ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 3:1 (June 1984): 4-67</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">mentions in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 50-55 passim; discussed in ''God Passes By'' 116-117 and a short passage translated on p. 118; Discussed in ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 112-113; mention ''Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh'' 69 Full discussion Bijan Ma'sumian "The Realms of Divine Existence as Described in the Tablet of All Food" in ''Deepen'' magazine 3:2:2 (Summer, 1994), available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/allfood.masumian.html; Stephen Lambden "A Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh: The Tablet of All Food" in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 3:1 (June 1984) 4-67; full discussion of cosmology of Tablet Moojan Momen "Relativism: A Basis for Bahá'í Metaphysics," in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi: Studies in the Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' vol. 5 190-94; brief discussion Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi'' 110 and Stephen Lambden "Apophatic Theology in Babi and Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Revisioning the Sacred: Studies in the Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' vol. 8 59; Juan Cole addresses terminology in "Bahá'u'lláh and the Naqshbandi Sufis" in ''From Iran East to West: Studies in Babi and Bahá'í History'' vol. 2; Jack McLean produces a thorough analysis of the worlds of God in "Prolegomenon to a Bahá'í Theology" ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992), esp. 58-60, with a description of this Tablet page 53n.55, available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.5-1.mclean.html; passing mentions John Hatcher ''Ocean of His Words'' 82, 84; Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 62</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="10%">[[Lawh-i-Madínatu't-Tawhíd]] (The City of Divine Unity, or, in the Guardian's translation, Tablet of the City of Unity)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad ca. 1858 (or later?). Arabic. Addressee Shaykh Salman </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Section trans. in Gleanings XXIV. AQA4 313-329; MA4 313-29. Unpublished study and prov. trans. by Steve Lambden has been done</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">biography of subject in Memorials of the Faithful 13-16; mentions in 109, 113-19 passim; mention ''God Passes By'' 140-41; discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 109-119; mention of subject ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 255-56; vol.2 67, 168, 208, 263, 283, 384, 400; vol.3 174-75; vol.4 172; ''Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh'' 63-64, 87; '''Abdul-Bahá: Centre of the Covenant'' 96; ''Stories from the Delight of Hearts'' 133 discussion Stephen Lambden in "Apophatic Theology in Babi and Bahá'í Scripture" ''Revisioning the Sacred'' 62-63; discussion of Divine Unity (though without mention of this Tablet) Mirza Abu'l-Fadl Golpaygani "Treating of the meaning of Divine Unity..." in ''The Bahá'í Proofs'' 137-153; mentions in Juan Cole "The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings" (''Bahá'í Studies ''vol. 9) 3 and Jack McLean "Prolegomena to a Bahá'í Theology" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992) 51 </td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''[[Madínatu'r-Ridá]]''' (City of Radiant Acquiescence)</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Published in AQA4 (first edition) 135-149: in the second edition (AQA4(i)) it is listed among the tablets removed because no reliable MS could be found. Prov. trans. Juan Cole exists</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 108-09</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Qasídiy-i-Varqá'íyyih]]'''(Ode of Dove); full title ''Qasidiy-i-'Izz- Varqa'iyyih''</td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Sulaymaniyyih. Arabic, with Persian notes by Bahá'u'lláh </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Short extract transl. Shoghi Effendi GPB 116. AQA3 196-215; MA4 197-209. Prov. trans.s of both the (Arabic) Tablet and Bahá'u'lláh's (Persian) notes on it exist, one published by Denis MacEoin, ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 2:2, & comments 2:3, 2:4; also trans. Juan Cole, available online</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 62-64, 84-85; ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''3 206; discussion ''God Passes By'' 123, mention ibid. 118; discussed ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 118, and briefly 294, 415; ''Eminent Bahá'ís in the Time of Bahá'u'lláh'' 98; brief mention ''Dawnbreakers'' 9 Lengthy discussion of symbolism Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi'' 111-16; discussion of historical context in Juan Cole "Bahá'u'lláh and the Naqshbandi Sufis," in ''From Iran East to West: Studies in Babi and Bahá'í History'' vol. 2; some coverage in Franklin Lewis' "Scripture as Literature," available online at http://bahai-library.com/conferences/scripture.lit.html; discussion of literary form and this Tablet's Sufi background in Jonah Winters Themes of 'The Erotic' in Sufi Mysticism," available online at http://bahai-library.com/personal/jw/my.papers/ Erotic.mystcsm.html; dialogue on translation Juan Cole and Denis MacEoin "Exchanges on Bahá'u'lláh's al-Qasida al-Warqa'iyya" in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 2:4 (March 1984) 44-57; brief mention Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 64; the original poem which Bahá'u'lláh is modelling is, to my knowledge, only available in (partial) translation in R. A. Nicholson ''Studies in Islamic Mysticism''</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Rashh-i-'Amá]]''' (Sprinkling of the Cloud of Unknowing) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Tehran, 1853/3. Persian</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">M4:184-6; INBAMC 36:460-1. Persian. Prov. trans. & commentary has been published by Stephen Lambden, ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 3:2 September 1984</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 45-46, 51; discussion ''Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh'' 52-53 Very detailed discussion Stephen Lambden "An Early Poem of Bahá'u'lláh: The Sprinkling of the Cloud of Unknowing" in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 3:2 (Sept. 1984) 4-114; description David Ruhe ''Robe of Light'' 164, brief discussion Stephen Lambden "Sinaitic Mysteries: Notes on Moses/Sinai Motifs" in ''Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi,'' 109; detailed discussion in Juan Cole "Bahá'u'lláh and the Naqshbandi Sufis," in ''From Iran East to West''; discussion of the role of the Maid of Heaven in Kamran Ekbal "The Zoroastrian Heritage of the 'Maid of Heaven'" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 129</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''[[Sahífiy-i-Shattíyyih]]''' (Book of the Tigris, Book of the River) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad (1857?). Persian, with Arabic citations</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">MA4 142-149; RM1 349-357. Prov. trans. Juan Cole. exists</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Mention ''God Passes By'' 141; Discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 105-8</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Seven Valleys]]'''(Haft-Vadi) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">late Baghdad, 1858-1862. Persian. Written in response to questions of Muhyi'd-Din, Shaykh </td> <td valign="top" width="17%"> Numerous published trans. see Collins; trans. of Excordium by Stephen Lambden, with occasional notes, Pt. 01 BSB 6:2-3 (26-74). AQA3 92-137; INBA35. French trans. by Dreyfus and Chirazi bound with Les Paroles cachées contains additional excordium; French transl. by Dreyfus Oeuvre1 1923. First translated into English by Ali Kuli Khan in 1906 and reprinted frequently. A revised trans. published in 1945, done by Khan and his daughter Marzieh Gail, is to this day the standard trans. Hippolyte Dreyfus also trans. it into French directly from the Persian a year before Kuli Khan's English version, in 1905, with Julie Chanler then re-translating it from the French into English in 1936</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">mention in ''Promulgation of Universal Peace'' 244, ''God Passes By'' 140; mention of meaning of "guardian" ''Unfolding Destiny'' 453; Discussed ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 161-63; mentioned ibid. 139; discussion ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 96-104; mentioned ibid 151; ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''2 26, ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''4 142, 181 Complete treatment in Stephen Lambden "The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh: A Provisional Translation with Occasional Notes, pt. 1," in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 6:2-3 (Feb. 1992) 26-74, continued in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 6:4-7:2 (1992) 129-34 and John Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 150-157 and 287-288; discussion of the Valleys of Love and Knowledge in B. Hoff Conow ''The Bahá'í Teachings ''122-24; brief notes on the Valley of Nothingness Rodney Clarken "Absolute Poverty and Utter Nothingness" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:1 (1997) 30, 40; passing mentions in John Hatcher ''Ocean of His Words'' 87, 103-107, 134-135, 194-201; Peter Smith ''The Babi and Bahá'í Religions'' 64, 81; Stephen Lambden "Paraclete, Ahmad and the Comforter" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 89; Jack McLean "Prolegomena to a Bahá'í Theology" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992) 54-55; Julio Savi "Will, Knowledge, and Love as Explained in Bahá'u'lláh's Four Valleys" in the ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 6:1 (1994), available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/jbs.6-1.savi.html; relation of Seven Valleys to Attar's ''Conference of the Birds'' Michael Sours "Immanence and Transcendence in Divine Scripture" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:2 (1992) 16-18 and notes; detailed discussion of symbolic relations between Attar's ''Conference'' and Seven Valleys Christopher Buck "A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá'í Faith" ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:4 (1998) 26-30; comments on mystic knowledge Jack McLean "The Knowledge of God: An Essay on Bahá'í Epistemology" in ''World Order'' 12:3 (1978) 50-52; see also student papers on Tablet at http://bahai-library.com/students Discussions of mysticism, many with passing references to the Seven Valleys, in Glenn Shook ''Mysticism, Science, and Revelation''; Farnaz Ma'sumian "Mysticism and the Bahá'í Faith" in ''Deepen'', 6.3 (1995), available online at http://bahai-library.com/articles/mysticism.masumian.html; Moojan Momen "The Psychology of Mysticism and its Relationship to the Bahá'í Faith" in ''Bahá'í Studies Bulletin'' 2.4 (1984); William S. Hatcher "Myths, Models, and Mysticism" in ''Logic and Logos: Essays on Science, Religion, and Philosophy''; Jack McLean ''Dimensions of Spirituality'' 8, 82-88, 130, 244</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"> '''[[Shikkar-Shikan-Shavand]]''' (Sweet Scented Being) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Persian. Addressee Mirza Sa'id Khan, although Taherzadeh says it was Siyyid Husayn-i- Mutivvaly-i -Qumi</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">First half trans. in "The Bahá'í World", vol 18, p 11 (by Habib Taherzadeh?). DiD 147-153; INBA30. Prov. trans. also existsShahrokh Monjazeb</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussed ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 147-50; ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 149 (see also footnote), 446; mention of addressee ibid 89, 100-01; mention of Sa'id Khan ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''1 225-26, ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''2 131-34 Leiden List adds: Ishraq-Khavari and Muhammad-Ali Faizi consider this was the tablet referred to in the Tablet to the Shah, cited in Traveller's Narrative p 110 of Browne's trans., p 62 of the abridged Bahá'í edition, but the content does not seem to match. </td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Subhána-Rabbíya'l-A'lá]]''' (Praise to the Exalted Lord) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic. A Maiden tablet. Addressee Haji Mirza Musay-i- Javahiri, known as Harf-i-Baqa</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Gan 61-64</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 211-13; mention of addressee ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''2 329; mention addressee ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 174, 250</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''Súriy-i- Nush''' (Tablet of Advice) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic. Addressee Siyyid Ja'far-i-Yazdi</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">MA4 135-136 (incomp.)</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussed ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 137, 142, 146; mention of addressee ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''1 331</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Súriy-i-Qadír]]''' (Súrih of the Omnipotent) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Taherzadeh dates Baghdad; Cole dates Edirne (?1866?) </td> <td valign="top" width="17%">AQA4(i) 317-320; AQA4(rev) 373-378. Prov. trans. exists Juan Cole</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Discussion in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 119-22</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="10%">'''[[Tablet of the Holy Mariner]]''' (Lawh-i- Mallahu'l- Quds) </td> <td valign="top" width="18%">Baghdad. Arabic and Persian sections</td> <td valign="top" width="17%">Arabic section trans. Shoghi Effendi and published in many sources, including Prayers for Special Occasions (=Bahá'í Prayers, British) 51-7; ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 228-244; 'Rituals' 127-8. Photographic reproduction in frontispiece of ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1. AQA4 335-341; ?MA4 335-41?. Earlier trans. in Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 75-77 contains misprints. Prov. trans. of Persian section also exists Shahroakh Monjazeb</td> <td valign="top" width="55%">Mention ''Selections from the Writings of Abdul-Bahá'' para. 233.15 (p. 314); discussion in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.1 228-243; mention in ''Rev. Bahá'u'lláh ''vol.'' ''2 6; discussion ''God Passes By'' 147-48; mention ibid. 140; ''Bahá'u'lláh: King of Glory'' 154; brief discussion ''Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh'' 167-68 Full treatment in Michael Sours ''Beyond the Mystic Veil: An Illustrated Guide to Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet of the Holy Mariner ''(as yet unpublished); John Walbridge ''Sacred Acts'' 159-165, 234; John Hatcher ''Ocean of His Words'' 39, 49-51, 88-96, 135-137; discussion of historical context John Hatcher "The Validity and Value of an Historical-Critical Approach" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 41-42; discussion of the role of the Maiden in Kamran Ekbal "The Zoroastrian Heritage of the 'Maid of Heaven'" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 155-56; discussion of the Maiden in Ross Woodman "The Inner Dimensions of Revelation" in ''Scripture and Revelation'' 347-49, 353-56, 362-64; Paula A. Drewek "Feminine Forms of the Divine in Bahá'í Scripture" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 5:1 (1992) 20-21; detailed overview of symbolism Christopher Buck "A Symbolic Profile of the Bahá'í Faith" in ''Journal of Bahá'í Studies'' 8:4 (1998) 37-44</td> </tr></table>

Talk:Qur'án

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Talk:Qur'án

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Talk:Qur'án

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Qur'án

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Ernobe: /* Versions of the Qur'án */ updated links

==Versions of the Qur'án==
*[http://bahai-library.com/writings/quran Yusuf 'Alí's version]
*[http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir] (includes version by George Sale and J.M. Rodwell, separately and in multilinear (parallel) format)
** A version of Sale's translation with additional commentary from Reverend E.M. Wherry is [http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/mohammed-the-quran-4-vols here] (some of this version is included above as well)
* See http://web.archive.org/web/20090501193744/http://arthursclassicnovels.com/arthurs/koran.html for a variety of other English translations.

==Indexes for the Qur'án==
* http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html (individual links to (interlinear) passages (of English translations))
* http://www.harunyahya.com/indexa.php (more concentration on Arabic transliteration entries (in English)); includes links to excerpted passages rather than individual links
* http://www.ummah.org.uk/what-is-islam/quran/noble/subject1.htm (links to the Arabic text as well as English)

==Audio Versions==
===English===
* http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6729/acmnk1.htm
===Arabic or English===
* http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=echapters&recitor_id=52
* http://www.ais.org/~islam/subject/recite.html (not presently working)
* http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran/ (requires monthly fee membership)
* (see [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Audio+Qur%27an&btnG=Search Google search for "Audio Qur'an"])

==Study of the Qur'án (by verse) from a Bahá'í Perspective:==
*[http://bahai-library.com/quran_rodwell_sale_zamir] organizes Bahá'í references by Qur'ánic verse (and the versions and notes of Sale and Rodwell)
*[http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita/start/BESTANDEN/koranref.htm] organizes Bahá'í references by Qur'ánic verse
*[http://bahai-library.com/troxel_kitab_iqan_quran] compares Shoghi Effendi's translations in the Kitáb-i-Íqán to those of Rodwell

==Aspects of the Qur'án from a Bahá'í Perspective:==
* http://bahai-library.com/articles/lambden.islam.html
* http://bahai-library.com/notes_bahai_proofs_quran

==Authenticity of the Qur'án==

"Muhammad, Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these words: "Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family."...With unswerving vision, with pure heart, and sanctified spirit, consider attentively what God hath established as the testimony of guidance for His people in His Book, which is recognized as authentic by both the high and lowly.

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:222|222]]-223)

"They must...approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur'án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and Bahá'í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God."

:([[Shoghi Effendi]], ''[[Advent of Divine Justice]]'', p. [[adj:49|49]])

"The Qur'án is...more authoritative than any previous religious gospel..."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], quoted in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii, no. [[logn:1670|1670]], p. [[log:498|498]])

"The Bible is not wholly authentic, and in this respect is not to be compared with the Qur'án, and should be wholly subordinated to the authentic writings of Bahá'u'lláh."

:([[On behalf of Shoghi Effendi]], quoted in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii., no. [[logn:1688|1688]], p. [[log:502|502]])

"In regard to your question concerning the authenticity of the Qur'án. I have referred it to the Guardian for his opinion. He thinks that the Qur'án is, notwithstanding the opinion of certain historians, quite authentic, and that consequently it should be considered in its entirety by every faithful and loyal believer as the sacred scriptures of the Muhammadan Revelation."

:(From a letter dated July 6, 1934 written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] to an individual believer, Letter on [http://bahai-library.com/compilation_scriptures_previous_dispensations#s2 Holy Scriptures of previous Dispensations])

==Praise of the Qur'án==

"And if thou deniest this, thou hast surely repudiated the truth of the Qur'án, the surest testimony of God unto men."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:160|160]])

"...the Qur'án was an impregnable stronghold unto the people of Muhammad. In His days, whosoever entered therein, was shielded from the devilish assaults, the menacing darts, the soul-devouring doubts, and blasphemous whisperings of the enemy. Upon him was also bestowed a portion of the everlasting and goodly fruits — the fruits of wisdom, from the divine Tree. To him was given to drink the incorruptible waters of the river of knowledge, and to taste the wine of the mysteries of divine Unity.

"All the things that people required in connection with the Revelation of Muhammad and His laws were to be found revealed and manifest in that Ridván of resplendent glory. That Book constitutes an abiding testimony to its people after Muhammad, inasmuch as its decrees are indisputable, and its promise unfailing. All have been enjoined to follow the precepts of that Book until "the year sixty"1 — the year of the advent of God's wondrous Manifestation. That Book is the Book which unfailingly leadeth the seeker unto the Ridván of the divine Presence, and causeth him that hath forsaken his country and is treading the seeker's path to enter the Tabernacle of everlasting reunion. Its guidance can never err, its testimony no other testimony can excel. All other traditions, all other books and records, are bereft of such distinction, inasmuch as both the traditions and they that have spoken them are confirmed and proven solely by the text of that Book. Moreover, the traditions themselves grievously differ, and their obscurities are manifold.

"Muhammad, Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these words: "Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family." Although many traditions had been revealed by that Source of Prophethood and Mine of divine Guidance, yet He mentioned only that Book, thereby appointing it as the mightiest instrument and surest testimony for the seekers; a guide for the people until the Day of Resurrection."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:220|220]]-222)

"Consider, how He hath appointed and decreed this self-same Book, the Qur'án, as a guidance unto all that are in heaven and on earth. He, the divine Being, and unknowable Essence, hath, Himself, testified that this Book is, beyond all doubt and uncertainty, the guide of all mankind until the Day of Resurrection. And now, We ask, is it fair for this people to view with doubt and misgiving this most weighty Testimony, the divine origin of which God hath proclaimed, and pronounced it to be the embodiment of truth? Is it fair for them to turn away from the thing which He hath appointed as the supreme Instrument of guidance for attainment unto the loftiest summits of knowledge, and to seek aught else but that Book? How can they allow men's absurd and foolish sayings to sow the seeds of distrust in their minds? How can they any longer idly contend that a certain person hath spoken this or that way, or that a certain thing did not come to pass? Had there been anything conceivable besides the Book of God which could prove a more potent instrument and a surer guide to mankind, would He have failed to reveal it in that verse?

"It is incumbent upon us not to depart from God's irresistible injunction and fixed decree, as revealed in the above-mentioned verse. We should acknowledge the holy and wondrous Scriptures, for failing to do this we have failed to acknowledge the truth of this blessed verse. For it is evident that whoso hath failed to acknowledge the truth of the Qur'án hath in reality failed to acknowledge the truth of the preceding Scriptures. This is but the manifest implication of the verse. Were We to expound its inner meanings and unfold its hidden mysteries, eternity would never suffice to exhaust their import, nor would the universe be capable of hearing them! God verily testifieth to the truth of Our saying!"

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', pars. [[kip:224|224]]-225)

"...the unfailing testimony of God to both the East and the West is none other than the Qur'án. Were it beyond the comprehension of men, how could it have been declared as a universal testimony unto all people?"

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:232|232]])

==Importance of studying the Qur'án (though not required to acquire a mastery unless desired)==

"O my friend, were the bird of thy mind to explore the heavens of the Revelation of the Qur'án, were it to contemplate the realm of divine knowledge unfolded therein, thou wouldst assuredly find unnumbered doors of knowledge set open before thee."

:([[Bahá'u'lláh]], ''[[Kitáb-i-Íqán]]'', par. [[kip:156|156]])

"The truth is that Western historians have for many centuries distorted the facts to suit their religious and ancestral prejudices. The Baha'is should try to study history anew, and to base all their investigations first and foremost on the written Scriptures of Islam and Christianity."

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', p. [[log:497|497]])

“Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deepfelt appreciation of your intention to study the Qur’án. The knowledge of this revealed holy Book is, indeed, indispensable to every Bahá’í who wishes to adequately understand the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. And in view of that the Guardian has been invariably encouraging the friends to make as thorough a study of this Book as possible, particularly in their summer schools.”

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', no. [http://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening 122])

"The Qur'án should be to some extent studied by the Bahá'ís but they certainly need not seek to acquire a mastery over it, which would take years, unless they really want to."

:(Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Unfolding Destiny]]'', pp. [[ud:453|453]]-454)

==Need to unravel mysteries of the Qur'án in teaching==

""Although," Abdu'l-Baha, in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, has written, "in most of the states and cities of the United States, praise be to God, His fragrances are diffused, and souls unnumbered are turning their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the states the Standard of Unity is not yet upraised as it should be, nor are the mysteries of the Holy Books, such as the Bible, the Gospel, and the Qur'an, unraveled. Through the concerted efforts of all the friends the Standard of Unity must needs be unfurled in those states, and the Divine teachings promoted, so that these states may also receive their portion of the heavenly bestowals and a share of the Most Great Guidance.""

:(Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Advent of Divine Justice]]'', pp. [[adj:57|57]]-58)

==Need for Qur'án to be taught in Bahá'í Summer School==

“With regard to the school’s program for the next summer; the Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur’án, as the knowledge of this Sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand, and intelligently read the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Although there are very few persons among our Western Bahá’ís who are capable of handling such a course in a scholarly way yet, the mere lack of such competent teachers should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures of Islám. In this way, there will gradually appear some distinguished Bahá’ís who will be so well versed in the teachings of Islám as to be able to guide the believers in their study of that religion.”

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', [http://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening#125 no. 125])

“Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deepfelt appreciation of your intention to study the Qur’án. The knowledge of this revealed holy Book is, indeed, indispensable to every Bahá’í who wishes to adequately understand the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. And in view of that the Guardian has been invariably encouraging the friends to make as thorough a study of this Book as possible, particularly in their summer schools.”

:(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ''[[Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith]]'', no. [http://bahai-library.com/compilation_importance_deepening 122])

"The beloved Guardian stressed that one of the important purposes of Bahá'í summer schools is to deepen the knowledge of the believers in the history and Teachings of the Faith so that they can become better teachers. To this end he emphasized the study of Islám and Qur'án so that the friends would have a background against which to study the Bahá'í Writings..."

:(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', vol. iii, p. [[log:559|559]])

==How to Study the Qur'án==

"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the Surihs of the Qur'an, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet. The believers cannot possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Surihs after the first or even second or third reading. They have to study them again and again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries, and explanatory notes as found, for instance in the admirable translation made by Sale, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it. For the present, the Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the book according to subjects, and not verse by verse and also in the light of the Bab's, Bahá'u'lláh's, and Abdu'l-Bahá's interpretations which throw such floods of light on the whole of the Qur'an."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, August 22, 1939: Bahá'í News, No. 134, pp. 2-3, March 1940, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1666|1666]])

==General terms in the Qur'an==

===Meaning of "Jin" or "Genii"===

"Regarding your question as to the meaning of Jin or Genii referred to in the Qur'an, these are not beings or creatures that are actually living, but are symbolic references to the power of men of evil and may be likened to evil spirits. But the point to bear in mind is that these have no positive existence of any kind."

:(From a letter written [[on behalf of the Guardian]] to an individual believer, June 26, 1936: Bahá'í News, No. 105, p. 1, February 1937, in ''[[Lights of Guidance]]'', no. [[logn:1667|1667]])

==Discussion of individual Súráhs:==

Note: Outlines might be adapted from public domain outlines such as those at http://www.bahai-library.com/quran/quranoutlines.html to put at the page of each Suráh (the latter's verse numbering would need to be adjusted, however, to match those at http://bahai-library.com/writings/quran ).

*[[Qur'án supplementary references]]

'''''Suráh No.:'''''
[[Qur'án1|1]]
[[Qur'án2|2]]
[[Qur'án3|3]]
[[Qur'án4|4]]
[[Qur'án5|5]]
[[Qur'án6|6]]
[[Qur'án7|7]]
[[Qur'án8|8]]
[[Qur'án9|9]]
[[Qur'án10|10]]
[[Qur'án11|11]]
[[Qur'án12|12]]
[[Qur'án13|13]]
[[Qur'án14|14]]
[[Qur'án15|15]]
[[Qur'án16|16]]
[[Qur'án17|17]]
[[Qur'án18|18]]
[[Qur'án19|19]]
[[Qur'án20|20]]
[[Qur'án21|21]]
[[Qur'án22|22]]
[[Qur'án23|23]]
[[Qur'án24|24]]
[[Qur'án25|25]]
[[Qur'án26|26]]
[[Qur'án27|27]]
[[Qur'án28|28]]
[[Qur'án29|29]]
[[Qur'án30|30]]
[[Qur'án31|31]]
[[Qur'án32|32]]
[[Qur'án33|33]]
[[Qur'án34|34]]
[[Qur'án35|35]]
[[Qur'án36|36]]
[[Qur'án37|37]]
[[Qur'án38|38]]
[[Qur'án39|39]]
[[Qur'án40|40]]
[[Qur'án41|41]]
[[Qur'án42|42]]
[[Qur'án43|43]]
[[Qur'án44|44]]
[[Qur'án45|45]]
[[Qur'án46|46]]
[[Qur'án47|47]]
[[Qur'án48|48]]
[[Qur'án49|49]]
[[Qur'án50|50]]
[[Qur'án51|51]]
[[Qur'án52|52]]
[[Qur'án53|53]]
[[Qur'án54|54]]
[[Qur'án55|55]]
[[Qur'án56|56]]
[[Qur'án57|57]]
[[Qur'án58|58]]
[[Qur'án59|59]]
[[Qur'án60|60]]
[[Qur'án61|61]]
[[Qur'án62|62]]
[[Qur'án63|63]]
[[Qur'án64|64]]
[[Qur'án65|65]]
[[Qur'án66|66]]
[[Qur'án67|67]]
[[Qur'án68|68]]
[[Qur'án69|69]]
[[Qur'án70|70]]
[[Qur'án71|71]]
[[Qur'án72|72]]
[[Qur'án73|73]]
[[Qur'án74|74]]
[[Qur'án75|75]]
[[Qur'án76|76]]
[[Qur'án77|77]]
[[Qur'án78|78]]
[[Qur'án79|79]]
[[Qur'án80|80]]
[[Qur'án81|81]]
[[Qur'án82|82]]
[[Qur'án83|83]]
[[Qur'án84|84]]
[[Qur'án85|85]]
[[Qur'án86|86]]
[[Qur'án87|87]]
[[Qur'án88|88]]
[[Qur'án89|89]]
[[Qur'án90|90]]
[[Qur'án91|91]]
[[Qur'án92|92]]
[[Qur'án93|93]]
[[Qur'án94|94]]
[[Qur'án95|95]]
[[Qur'án96|96]]
[[Qur'án97|97]]
[[Qur'án98|98]]
[[Qur'án99|99]]
[[Qur'án100|100]]
[[Qur'án101|101]]
[[Qur'án102|102]]
[[Qur'án103|103]]
[[Qur'án104|104]]
[[Qur'án105|105]]
[[Qur'án106|106]]
[[Qur'án107|107]]
[[Qur'án108|108]]
[[Qur'án109|109]]
[[Qur'án110|110]]
[[Qur'án111|111]]
[[Qur'án112|112]]
[[Qur'án113|113]]
[[Qur'án114|114]]

==See also==
* [[Muhammad]]
* [[Islám]]

[[Category:Islám]]