Kitáb-i-Badíʻ
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The ''Kitáb-i-Badíʻ'' (English: The Wondrous or Unique Book; Persian: كتاب بديع; Arabic: الكتاب البديع) is a book composed by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the
Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. Established by Baháʼu'lláh in the 19th century, it initially developed in Iran and parts of the ...
, in 1867-68 in Adrianople. Twice the size of the ''
Kitáb-i-Íqán The ''Kitáb al-Íqán or Kitáb-i-Íqán'' ( fa, كتاب ايقان, ar, كتاب الإيقان "Book of Certitude") is one of many books held sacred by followers of the Baháʼí Faith; it is their primary theological work. One Baháʼí sch ...
'', it contains insights into the prophecies of the
Báb The Báb (b. ʿAlí Muḥammad; 20 October 1819 – 9 July 1850), was the messianic founder of Bábism, and one of the central figures of the Baháʼí Faith. He was a merchant from Shiraz in Qajar Iran who, in 1844 at the age of 25, claimed ...
concerning ' Him Whom God shall make manifest' and was written in defence of the Baháʼí Revelation. The work has not yet been translated into English.


Background

The book was written in
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
but includes quotations from the Báb's writings in Arabic. Mírzá Mihdíy-i-Rashtí, a supporter of Baháʼu'lláh's half-brother, Mírzá Yahyá, and his companion Siyyid Muhammad wrote a letter to Áqá Muhammad-'Alí, a companion of Baháʼu'lláh, containing various arguments against Baháʼu'lláh's claim to be 'He Whom God shall make manifest', whose advent was promised in the Báb's writings. Áqá Muhammad-'Alí presented the letter to Baháʼu'lláh, who composed the Kitáb-i-Badíʻ in response. As with many other works by Baháʼu'lláh, the entire text was dictated by Baháʼu'lláh, speaking in the voice of his amanuensis — in this case, Áqá Muhammad-'Alí.


Contents of the book

Shoghi Effendi Shoghí Effendi (; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, appointed to the role of Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. He created a series of teaching plans that over ...
referred to the work as Baháʼu'lláh's "apologia, written to refute the accusations levelled against Him by Mírzá Mihdíy-i-Rashtí, corresponding to the Kitáb-i-Iqan, revealed in defense of the Bábí Revelation". The book consists of short quotes from Mírzá Mihdí's letter followed by numerous pages refuting each argument. Baháʼu'lláh includes extensive quotations from the Báb's writings in support of his refutations. A major portion of the work is devoted to explaining the Báb's prophecies concerning 'Him Whom God shall make manifest'. He includes numerous quotations from the Báb's writings, such as the following (referring to 'Him Whom God shall make manifest'): :Were He to make of every one on earth a Prophet, all would, in very truth, be accounted as Prophets in the sight of God...In the day of the revelation of Him Whom God shall make manifest all that dwell on earth will be equal in His estimation. Whomsoever He ordaineth as a Prophet, he, verily, hath been a Prophet from the beginning that hath no beginning, and will thus remain until the end that hath no end, inasmuch as this is an act of God. And whosoever is made a Viceregent by Him, shall be a Viceregent in all the worlds, for this is an act of God. For the will of God can in no wise be revealed except through His will, nor His wish be manifested save through His wish. He, verily, is the All-Conquering, the All-Powerful, the All-Highest. Baháʼu'lláh, quoted in
Adib Taherzadeh Adib Taherzadeh (29 April 1921 in Yazd, Iran – January 26, 2000) was a Baháʼí author who also served as a member of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Baháʼís, between 1988 and 2000. Biography Taherzadeh was ...
, ''The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Vol. 2 Adrianople 1863-68'' (Oxford: Ronald, 1972), p. 380
Baháʼu'lláh includes strong language concerning Mírzá Mihdí, whom he refers to as the 'wicked one', 'the evil plotter', 'the impious', 'the impudent', 'the outcast', 'the faithless soul', 'the froward', and 'he who contends with God'. He also refers to Siyyid Muhammad in the text as 'one who joined partners with God', 'the prime mover of mischief', 'the embodiment of wickedness and impiety', and 'one accursed of God'. Baháʼu'lláh furthermore stigmatizes his half-brother, Mírzá Yahyá, as the idol of the Bábí community and accuses Siyyid Muhammad of disseminating Baháʼu'lláh's writings in his own name.


See Also

*
Kitáb-i-Íqán The ''Kitáb al-Íqán or Kitáb-i-Íqán'' ( fa, كتاب ايقان, ar, كتاب الإيقان "Book of Certitude") is one of many books held sacred by followers of the Baháʼí Faith; it is their primary theological work. One Baháʼí sch ...
(The Book of Certitude) *
Kitáb-i-Aqdas The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Arabic: The Most Holy Book) is the central religious text of the Baháʼí Faith, written by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the religion, in 1873. Though it is the main source of Baháʼí laws and practices, much of the co ...
(The Most Holy Book) * Gems of Divine Mysteries * Baha'i Literature


References


Further reading

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External links


The Kitáb-i-Badíʻ in Persian and Arabic
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitab-i-Badi' Works by Baháʼu'lláh 1867 books 1867 in religion