Some answered questions, 1908 edition by abdul baha. Baha u llah went on to found his own religion, and in 1873 revealed a new, concise book of laws. This is a fourvolume series surveying the writings of bahaullah. The book of certitude kitabi iqan is the preeminent doctrinal work of the bahai faith. In the sentences immediately following in the persian text, bahaullah states. Syllabus for a study of bahaullahs kitabiiqan, the. Dec 20, 2007 the kitabiiqan is the creative word of god written by baha u llah from god. The kitabiiqan, the book of certitude, is one of the an important scriptural works in the bahai faith. Unlike the kitabiaqdas which is the most holy book of laws, this book was written because the babs the gate uncle was perplexed to find that his nephew was a prophet of god. The key to unsealing the symbols in the bible offsite divine verses cited in the ruhi books on holding gatherings for recitation of the divine verses. He, in truth, is the great giver, the allbountiful. Let us examine how baha u llah deals with the major events and themes in the life of jesus.
This old version of the bahai reference library will be replaced at a later date. Gazing with the eye of god, he will perceive within every atom a door that leadeth him to the stations of absolute certitude. Baha u llah s kitabiiqan revealed in 1861, is one of the foremost among the works of his revelation, unequalled by any work in the entire range of baha i literature, except the kitabiaqdas. The book was originally known as risaliyikhal, epistle to the uncle, and later entitled by bahaullah himself as the kitabiiqan. The second of the two major works composed by bahaullah during this period is the book of certitude, a comprehensive exposition of the nature and purpose of religion. The remedy the world needeth in its presentday afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. A treatise revealed by bahaullah in baghdad in 186162 in response to questions posed by one of the maternal uncles of the bab, translated by shoghi effendi and first published in english in 1931. The book of certitude an online bahai learning center.
Bahaullah authored many religious works, most notably the kitabiaqdas and the book of certitude. The book of certitude may be among the first texts by bahaullah explicitly designated as revelation, since the colophon at the end of the book refers to it as having been revealed almanzul british museum ms. Persian, with quotations from the quran in arabic name of recipient. I have written a very brief article on this subject on the huffington post, and i would like to. See also an introduction to bahaullahs book of certitude and dating. C revelation, is arguably one of the most important scriptural works in all of religious history. The book of certitude by bahaullah, paperback barnes. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The page is dedicated to the study of a bahai book entitled, the kitabiiqan or book of certitude. The kitabiiqan, the book of certitude, is one of the an important scriptural works in the baha i faith.
At the same time the tribunal condemned in most unequivocal and emphatic language the followers of baha u llah as the believers in heresy, offensive and injurious to islam, and wholly incompatible with the accepted doctrines and practice of its orthodox adherents. Bahaullahs megalomania and narcissistic selfpity bahai. His vision of humanity as one people and of the earth as a common homeland, dismissed out of hand by the world leaders to whom he first wrote 150 years ago, has today become the focus of human hope. With a certitude that none can question, all men would cleave to his commandments, and would scrupulously observe them. Baha u llah s book of certitude kitabiiqan buck, christopher. Study guide to baha u llah s epistle to the son of the wolf. One of the foremost books of the revelation of baha u llah, the kitabiiqancontains baha u llah s explanations of the basic tenets of the baha i faith and of the continuity of religion as it has been revealed throughout the ages. It was revealed in baghdad about two years before his declaration, in honour of haji mirza siyyid muhammad, the babs maternal uncle. Hippolyte dreyfusbarney bahaipedia, an encyclopedia. In the whole range of bahaullahs writings, the kitabiiqan the book of certitude has most importance, with the exception of the kitabiaqdas the most holy book. Bahai reference library the kitabiiqan, pages 4180.
Out of the immense treasury of all the writings, i memorized one sentence and did my utmost. An introduction to baha u llah s book of certitude, with two digital reprints of early lithographs. The kitabiaqdas is bahaullah s charter of his new world order. His son abdul baha, the appointed interpreter of his teachings, applied the key baha u llah provided in the book of certitude in his many explanations of bible verses. They describe the content and background of numerous tablets and books. Bahaullah called it the lord of the books, and in his last major writing, the epistle to the son of the wolf, states. Absolutely, it is really one of the most profound religious texts in history and one of the most sacred books in the baha i faith and also considered by baha is as the completion of the persian bayan previously revealed by the bab. He will discover in all things the mysteries of divine revelation, and the evidences of an everlasting manifestation. Baha u llah refers to the virgin birth in his book of certitude, in the course of an argument for the humanity of past holy figures. He begins with the words, in the name of our lord, the exalted. That noah actually lived 950 years or that his dispensation lasted that long. The work holds a position of unsurpassed preeminence among baha u llah s ethical writings. A decade before that momentous declaration, in 1853, the persian government had exiled baha u llah to baghdad, fearing the rapid spread of his teachings and their progressive impact on society. In it baha u llah gives a sweeping overview of religious truth, explaining the underlying unity of the worlds religions, describing the universality of the revelations humankind has received from the prophets of god, illuminating their fundamental teachings, and.
Later printing, baha i publishing trust, wilmette, illinois, 1974. The revelation of bahaullah, volume 3, chapter github pages. Mr bijan motlagh, understanding the kitabiiqan, book of certitude. In it, bahaullah gives a sweeping overview of religious truth, explaining the underlying unity of the worlds religions, describing the universality of the revelations humankind has revceived from the prophets of god. It is text as both experience and presence, a personal initiation into both the whole of the abrahamic religious tradition and the teachings of bahaullah as the prophet of the bahai era, the age of fulfillment. The book of certitude bahaullah, shoghi effendi on. In it bahaullah explains the underlying unity of the worlds religions, describes the universality of the revelations humankind has received from the prophets of god, explains their fundamental teachings, and the book of certitude, by bahc. This firstever trade edition of bahaullahs book of certitude offers the prolific authors account of the tenets of the faith and the universal mission of all religions. This course will study the kitabiiqan the book of certitude, an early work by baha u llah.
This is the day in which the testimony of the lord hath been fulfilled, the day in which the word of god hath been made manifest, and his evidence firmly established. As the new millennium approaches, the crucial need of the human race is to find a unifying vision of the nature of man and society. The book of certitude was written in 1862, a year or so before baha u llah declared himself to be the messianic figure, he whom god shall make manifest, foretold by the bab. Verily, no god is there but me, the wronged one, the exile. Bahaullahs kitabiiqan, revealed in 1861, is one of the foremost among the works of his revelation, unequalled by any work in the entire range of bahai literature, except the kitabiaqdas. The book was originally known as risaliyikhal, epistle to the uncle, and later entitled by baha u llah himself as the kitabiiqan. The earliest bahai publication the british library. The kitabiiqan the book of certitude an online bahai. A new version of the bahai reference library is now available. Bahai reference library the kitabiiqan, pages 221257. Shoghi effendi states that the book of certitude occupies a position unequalled by any work in the entire range of bahai literature, except the kitabiaqdas, bahaullahs most holy book god passes by9. Study of the kitabiiqanbook of certitude home facebook. Jan 15, 2018 heres a single sentence that captures bahaullahs megalomania and narcissistic selfpity to an extent that perhaps no other statement of his does. Refer to the library to find the volume relevant to your studies.
Baghdad 185363 including the kitabiiqan, seven valleys and the tablet of the holy mariner volume 2. A treatise revealed by baha u llah in baghdad in 186162 in response to questions posed by one of the maternal uncles of the bab, translated by shoghi effendi and first published in english in 1931. The bab was considered both by babis and baha is an independent. The writings of bahaullah comprise about 100 volumes, including books such as the kitabiaqdas the most holy book and many thousands of letters or tablets to individuals. Study of the kitabiiqanbook of certitude posts facebook. Baha i books were printed in india from about 1882 onwards at baha u llah s direction. For the past century humanitys response to this impulse has driven a succession of ideological upheavals that have convulsed our world and that appear now to have exhausted themselves. Nov 07, 2011 mr bijan motlagh, understanding the kitabiiqan, book of certitude. Reading and rereading all of baha u llah s writings, gradually, consistently. His son abdul baha, the appointed interpreter of his teachings, applied the key baha u llah provided in the book of certitude in his many. The kitabiiqan, the book of certitude, is one of the. Dreyfusbarney translated from arabic or persian, the following works of baha u llah into french. Of the kitabiaqdas, bahaullah states, this book is a heaven which we have adorned with.
A decade before that momentous declaration, in 1853, the persian government had exiled bahaullah to baghdad, fearing the rapid spread of his teachings and their progressive impact on society. Bahaullah revealed this book within the space of two days and two nights, in the last years of his stay in baghdad ah 1278ad 1862. Study guide to bahaullahs epistle to the son of the wolf. He went to bahaullah the twin manifestation of this age. And now, with fixed gaze and steady wings enter thou the way of certitude and truth. On 22 october 2017, bahais around the world are celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of bahaullah. Baha u llah is not in the practice of overstating things, so what is he saying exactly.
Baha u llah revealed this book, his last great work, to a renowned enemy of the baha i faith, a muslim clergyman residing in persia. This most holy book sets forth laws of god for the bahai dispensation, and ordains necessary institutions through which the integrity and the unity of bahaullah. It was revealed by aha ullah in aghdad, in january 1861. Interview of hooper dunbar regarding the importance of studying the book of certitude. Bahai faith writings including volumes, letters and tablets.
The kitabiiqan, pages 97120 bahai reference library. Bahaullahs writings an introduction beyond foreignness. In it, baha u llah gives a sweeping overview of religious truth, explaining the underlying unity of the worlds religions, describing the universality of the revelations humankind has revceived from the prophets of god, illuminating their fundamental teachings, and elucidating allegorical. Feb 06, 2012 a journey through the book of certitude the kitabiiqan is one of the most important writings of bahaullah, the founder of the bahai faith. The kitabiiqan, the book of certitude, is one of the most important scriptural works in all of religious history. This book affirms the unity of the prophets, the universality of their message, the identity of their fundamental teachings, the sanctity of their. Briefly, there hath been revealed in the kitabiiqan book of certitude concerning the presence and revelation of god that which will suffice the fairminded. Baha u llah s presentation of the major themes of progressive revelation. The kitabiiqan, the book of certitude, is one of the most important scriptural works in all of the religious history.
Furthermore, the sign of truth and falsehood is designated and appointed in the book. The significance and essential purpose underlying these words is to reveal and demonstrate unto the pure in heart and the sanctified in spirit that they who are the luminaries of truth and the mirrors reflecting the light of divine unity, in whatever age and cycle they are sent down from their invisible habitations of ancient glory unto this world, to educate the souls of men and endue with. There have been 15,000 works written by him identified. Baha u llah, book of certitude what is baha u llah saying here. They that say our lord is god, and continue steadfast in his way, upon them, verily, shall the 43 angels descend. The book remains a source of proof and certitude for modern readers, which gives the title contemporary meaning, too. Next to it in rank is the kitabiiqan book of certitude. The kitabiiqanthe book of certitude was written by bahaullah around 1861. I have been reading the book of certitude, which i really love i am a muslim, though somewhat unorthodox, and really enjoyed the alternate take on exegesis.
The iqan is the most important book written on the spiritual significance of the cause and is. The work holds a position of unsurpassed preeminence among bahaullahs ethical writings. Feb 24, 2020 bahaullah, as all the prophets, offers us a personal initiation into gnosis in his book of certitude. From the very first verse of this sacred book, baha u llah demonstrates that his theme is to prove the mission of the bab. Jul 11, 2010 the process of breaking those seals began with the babs commentary on the surah of joseph, titled by him the qayyumulasma and reached its maturity with baha u llah s revelation of the book of certitude. The book of certitude is a work of exegesis, where nontransparent passages of the ible and the qur an parables. We, verily, have decreed in our book a goodly and bountiful reward to whosoever will turn away from wickedness and lead a chaste and godly life. In passages that draw not only on the quran, but with equal facility and insight on the old and new testaments, the messengers of god are depicted as agents of a. The book of certitude paperback published october 28th 1983 by baha i distribution service paperback, 274 pages.
One of the foremost books of the revelation of bahaullah, the kitabiiqan contains bahaullahs explanations of the basic tenets of the bahai faith and of the continuity of religion as it has been revealed throughout the ages. Unlike the kitabiaqdas which is the most holy book of laws, this book was written because the babsthe gate uncle was perplexed to find that his nephew was a prophet of god. As a result of hbahai discussions of my paper conversion of the great uncle of the bab the issue came up regarding a letter of the khali akbar, dated 5 rajab 1277 a. Shown here is the opening of what is believed to be the earliest publication of a baha i book, a lithograph of kitabi iqan book of certitude, which was published in india around 1882.
Bahaullahs most important book is the book of laws, also called the most holy book kitabiaqdas, which was completed in the house of abbud around 1873. Kitabiiqan, the book of certitude bahai library online. Translated by shoghi effendi, reprinted in many editions. Shoghi effendi also is quite definite about the fact that the book of certitude was. Bahaullahs book of certitude and the sun of iqan certainty hnet. In passages that draw not only on the quran, but with equal facility and insight on the old and new testaments, the messengers of god are depicted as agents of a single. The kitabiiqan is the creative word of god written by bahaullah from god. Bah ullah describes the role of prophets throughout history and calls some of his contemporaries to task for promulgating false or selfserving views about religion. Bahaullahs son, abdulbaha, also wrote several books and letters, and many of his talks and conversations have been written down. Baha i the kitabiiqan the book of certitude revealed by baha u llah. May 01, 2003 the book of certitude baha u llah, shoghi effendi on. Gleanings from the writings of bahaullah, pages 115117.
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