Introduction
This bibliography gives all of the relevant primary and secondary
citations I could find for each of the Tablets discussed by Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh vols. 3-4 1868-1892.
I went through every potentially relevant book, journal, and website I
could find that's been written in English—about 400—to find
all mentions of each Tablet. About 1/3 of these mentions contained no
significant information and weren't included in this list. The other 2/3
have been included. Most citations that contained extensive information
have been annotated, i.e. I've included a short sentence describing the
topic of the treatment in question. Citations without annotation just
feature brief but useful information.
Notes
- When preparing this section I only had time to search the Bahá'í Academics
Resource Library for the first three Tablets. Many more materials, both primary
and secondary, are online than are listed here.
- There is no need to use the Leiden List
to the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh for these Tablets for this course,
because all information it contains has been provided below. I am
indebted to Sen McGlinn and its other contributors for the information
they have provided.
- I arranged the Secondary Sources first by key texts, then
supplementary ones. The key texts are in the order of (1) definitions,
(2) authoritative writings, (3) authoritative histories. The specific
order is as follows: Basic Bahá'í Dictionary and
Chronology; writings of Shoghi Effendi; letters from the
Universal House of Justice; descriptive books by Taherzadeh; and
official histories by Balyuzi. The supplementary ones following are
first journal articles and then other secondary books, in no particular
order.
- The only notable items which have not been consulted for citations are Moojan Momen's The Babi and Bahá'í Religions 1844-1944: Some Contemporary Western Accounts and all Bahá'í Worlds prior to 1979. As well, the Internet has not been searched, nor even this site, so there are doubtless numerous other materials online only that have not been included.
|
Name of Tablet
|
Brief
notes |
Primary
Sources |
Secondary
sources: first key
texts, then supplementary texts |
| Overviews
of this period
|
1853-63,
Tablets in both Arabic and Persian |
Many
of these works haven't been authoritatively translated |
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 |
| Az-Bágh- i-Iláhí
(From The Garden of Holiness)
|
Alternating
Persian and Arabic. |
Gan
66 (incomplete) |
Revelation
of Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 211, 218-20 |
| Four
Valleys (Chihar-Vadi)
|
late
Baghdad, 1858-1862. Persian. Addressee Shaykh Abdu'r-Rahman of Karkuk |
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. |
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 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
https://bahai-library.com/ articles/kurdistan.masumian.html; John Walbridge
discusses these in Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time, 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 https://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
bahai-library.com/ theses/apocalyptic/apocalypticism.05.html; see also student
papers on Tablet at bahai-library.com/ students |
|
Hidden Words / Book of Fatimih / Hidden Book of Fatimih
(Kalimat-i- Maknunih, Sahifiy-i- Fatimiyyih, Sahifiyyih- Maknuniyh- Fatimiyyih)
|
Baghdad.
Arabic and Persian. 1274/1857 |
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 |
Quoted
in Bahá'u'lláh's "Book of the River," available online at
https://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 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
https://bahai-library.com/ books/tn/tn.translation.html; coverage in Franklin
Lewis' "Scripture as Literature," available only online at 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 bahai-library.com/ articles/baha.2.html and one at
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 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 bahai-library.com/ articles/station.iqan.html; see also student
papers on Tablet at bahai-library.com/ students |
| Húr-i-Ujáb
(The Wondrous Maiden)
|
Baghdad.
Arabic, rhyming prose |
|
Discussion
Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 211, 218
Brief description of content in John Walbridge Sacred Acts 239 |
| Hurufat-i -'Allin,
Musibat-i- Hurufat-i- 'aliyyat (The Exalted Letters) |
Baghdad.
Arabic, but also translated by Bahá'u'lláh into Persian. Often used as a prayer
for the deceased. Addressees Maryam and Havva
|
T&T
242-270; AHM 217-8 |
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 |
| Javáhiru'l- Asrár
(The Essence of Mysteries, The Gems of Mysteries) |
Baghdad.
Arabic. In reply to questions of Siyyid Yusuf-i-Sidihi
|
AQA3
4-88; Leiden Ms Or 4970, item 1. A prov. trans. exists by Juan Cole
|
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) |
|
Kitáb-i- Íqán (The Book of Certitude) |
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
|
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-net.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 bahai-library.com/
histories/ iqan.questions.html |
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://h-net.msu.edu/
~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
https://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 |
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) |
Baghdad.
Arabic. Addressee is Mirza Aqay-i- Rikab-Saz
|
MA4
49-82. A prov. trans. by Stephen Lambden exists |
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 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 |
Lawh-i- Ayyúb
(Tablet of Job)
Also known as
Suriy-i-Sabr and Madinatu's- Sabr (Surih- or City of Patience) |
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)
|
AyT
262-304; LAnv1 379-408. Prov. trans.s exist by Khazeh Fananapazir, Habib
Taherzadeh, and Stephen Lambden |
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 |
| Lawh-i- Fitnih
(Tablet of the Test) |
Baghdad
or Edirne. Arabic. Addressee Shams-i-Jahan, entitled Varaqatu'r- Ridvan (one of
several tablets for her).
|
MA4
261-265 |
Discussion
Rev. Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 128-129, 136-37 |
| Lawh-i- Ghulámu'l- Khuld
(Tablet of the Deathless Youth, Eternal Youth, Youth of Paradise) |
Baghdad.
Arabic and Persian
|
AyT
92-99. Prov. trans. exists.John Walbridge with annotations online |
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
bahai-library.com/ unpubl.articles/erotic.allegory.html |
| Lawh-i- Húríyyih
(Tablet of the Maiden, Tablet of the Houri) |
Baghdad.
Arabic, dialogue form.
|
AQA4(i) 342-350; AQA4(rev) 379-391. Prov. trans. Juan Cole, available
online exists |
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 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 |
| Lawh-i- Kullu't- Ta'am
(Tablet of All Food) |
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
|
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 |
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 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 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 |
| Lawh-i- Madínatu't- Tawhíd
(The City of Divine Unity, or, in the Guardian's translation, Tablet of the
City of Unity) |
Baghdad
ca. 1858 (or later?). Arabic. Addressee Shaykh Salman
|
Section
trans. in Gleanings XXIV. AQA4 313-329; MA4 313-29. Unpublished study and prov.
trans. by Steve Lambden has been done |
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 Gulpaygani "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
|
|
Madínatu'r- Ridá (City of Radiant Acquiescence) |
Baghdad.
Arabic
|
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 |
discussion
Rev. Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 108-09 |
| Qasídiy-i- Varqá'íyyih
(Ode of Dove); full title Qasidiy-i-'Izz- Varqa'iyyih |
Sulaymaniyyih.
Arabic, with Persian notes by Bahá'u'lláh
|
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 |
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 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
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 |
| Rashh-i- 'Amá
(Sprinkling of the Cloud of Unknowing)
|
Tehran,
1853/3. Persian |
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 |
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 |
|
Sahífiy-i- Shattíyyih (Book of the
Tigris, Book of the River)
|
Baghdad
(1857?). Persian, with Arabic citations |
MA4
142-149; RM1 349-357. Prov. trans. Juan Cole. exists |
Mention
God Passes By 141; Discussion Rev. Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 105-8 |
| Seven
Valleys (Haft-Vadi)
|
late
Baghdad, 1858-1862. Persian. Written in response to questions of Muhyi'd-Din,
Shaykh |
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 |
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 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 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 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 |
|
Shikkar- Shikan -Shavand
(Sweet Scented Being)
|
Baghdad.
Persian. Addressee Mirza Sa'id Khan, although Taherzadeh says it was Siyyid
Husayn-i- Mutivvaly-i -Qumi |
First
half trans. in "The Bahá'í World", vol 18, p 11 (by Habib Taherzadeh?). DiD
147-153; INBA30. Prov. trans. also existsShahrokh Monjazeb |
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. |
| Subhána- Rabbíya'l- A'lá
(Praise to the Exalted Lord)
|
Baghdad.
Arabic. A Maiden tablet. Addressee Haji Mirza Musay-i- Javahiri, known as
Harf-i-Baqa |
Gan
61-64 |
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 |
| Súriy-i- Nush
(Tablet of Advice)
|
Baghdad.
Arabic. Addressee Siyyid Ja'far-i-Yazdi |
MA4
135-136 (incomp.) |
Discussed
Rev. Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 137, 142, 146; mention of addressee Rev.
Bahá'u'lláh vol. 1 331 |
| Súriy-i- Qadír
(Súrih of the Omnipotent)
|
Taherzadeh
dates Baghdad; Cole dates Edirne (?1866?) |
AQA4(i)
317-320; AQA4(rev) 373-378. Prov. trans. exists Juan Cole |
Discussion
in Rev. Bahá'u'lláh vol.1 119-22 |
| Tablet
of the Holy Mariner (Lawh-i- Mallahu'l- Quds)
|
Baghdad.
Arabic and Persian sections |
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 |
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 |
|
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