Literal vs. figurative

The Manifestations of God speak an unconcealed language to guide and a veiled language to allow the hearts of the malevolent to be disclosed

“It is evident unto thee that the Birds of Heaven and Doves of Eternity speak a two-fold language. One language, the outward language, is devoid of allusions, is unconcealed and unveiled, that it may be a guiding lamp and a beaconing light whereby wayfarers may attain the heights of holiness, and seekers may advance into the realm of eternal reunion. Such are the unveiled traditions and the evident verses already mentioned. The other language is veiled and concealed, so that whatever lieth hidden in the heart of the malevolent may be made manifest and their innermost being be disclosed.”

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 254-255)

Most miracles have an inner meaning

“Moreover, most of the miracles attributed to the Prophets have an inner meaning.”

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, Chapter 10, par. 5)

Cleaning the malice from the heart will allow understanding of symbolic terms

“Wert thou to cleanse the mirror of thy heart from the dust of malice, thou wouldst apprehend the meaning of the symbolic terms revealed by the all embracing Word of God made manifest in every Dispensation, and wouldst discover the mysteries of divine knowledge.”

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 74)

Wrong to divorce either the letter or the spirit from the other

"In this Cause we cannot divorce the letter from the spirit of the words. As Bahá'u'lláh says we should take the outward significance and super-impose upon it the inner. Either without the other is wrong and defective."

(From a letter dated 16 February 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 103)

We must adhere to explicit, literal text, not deviating a hair's breadth from the Tablets

"We must...adhere to the explicit text, to the literal meaning of what is written in the Tablets, and must not deviate from this even to a hair's breadth."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Mahmúd's Diary, April 6, 1912)

Not to interpret some metaphorical prophetic verses literally

All the texts and teachings of the Testaments have intrinsic spiritual not literal meanings

"All the texts and teachings of the holy Testaments have intrinsic spiritual meanings. They are not to be taken literally. I, therefore, pray in your behalf that you may be given the power of understanding these inner real meanings of the Holy Scriptures and may become informed of the mysteries deposited in the words of the Bible so that you may attain eternal life and that your hearts may be attracted to the Kingdom of God. May your souls be illumined by the light of the Words of God, and may you become repositories of the mysteries of God, for no comfort is greater and no happiness is sweeter than spiritual comprehension of the divine teachings."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 459-460)

Holy Books have their own terminologies other than literal interpretation

"The Holy Books have their special terminologies which must be known and understood. Physicians have their own peculiar terms; architects, philosophers have their characteristic expressions; poets have their phrases; and scientists, their nomenclature. In the scripture we read that Zion is dancing. It is evident that this has other than literal interpretation. The meaning is that the people of Zion shall rejoice. The Jews said Christ was not the Messiah but Antichrist, because one of the signs of the Messiah's coming was the dancing of Mount Zion, which had not yet come to pass. In reality, when Christ appeared, not only Mount Zion but all Palestine danced and rejoiced. Again in scriptures it is said, "The trees of the field shall clap their hands." This is symbolical. There are terms and expressions of usage in every language which cannot be taken literally. For instance, in oriental countries it is customary to say, "When my friend entered the house, the doors and walls began to sing and dance." In Persia they say, "Get at the head," meaning engage in the matter according to its own terms and usages. All these have other and inner meanings."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 246)

Christ coming from heaven

"The people of Christianity have clung to literal interpretation of the statement in the Gospel that Christ came from heaven."

"...holding to literal interpretation and visible fulfillment of the text of the Holy Books is simply imitation of ancestral forms and beliefs..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 245)

See also

• Literal vs. figurative in the Bible
• Avoiding extremes of liberality vs. dogmatism
• Reconciling apparent contradictions or dichotomies
• Reason for unclear language of the Scriptures
• Style of writings