Kitáb-i-Íqán

The Book of Certitude
AuthorBahá’u’lláh
Original titleKitáb-i-Íqán
LanguageEnglish
GenreScripture
PublisherBahá’í World Centre
Publication date
1862
First English edition
1931
Pages283 pp (2003 ed.)
ISBN1931847088
9781931847087
OCLC53255802
BWC-LOCBP362.K8-895

The Kitáb-i-Íqán (Listen ) is one of Bahá’u’lláh's most important works. It was revealed over the span of two days and two nights in 1862 during the final years of Bahá’u’lláh's exile in Baghdad in answer to a series of question posed by Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad, a maternal uncle of the Báb.[1] Shoghi Effendi describes it as "setting forth in outline the Grand Redemptive Scheme of God" and that it "occupies a position unequalled by any work in the entire range of Bahá’í literature, except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas".[2]

Background[edit]

The Báb had three maternal uncles. The eldest named Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad was aware of the claims and noble qualities of his Nephew but had difficulty accepting that He was the promised Qá’im of Islám. It was he that posed a series of questions concerning this topic to Bahá’u’lláh and who upon receiving the reply was confirmed in his Faith. The youngest uncle, Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Ḥasan-‘Alí had likewise not immediately accepted the Faith of the Báb during His lifetime, but did eventually come to accept it. The other maternal uncle was named Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí, known as Khál-i-A‘ẓam (the Greatest Uncle). Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid ‘Alí recognized and accepted the Faith of the Báb, and was one of seven believers publicly martyred in Ṭihrán in 1850.[3]

During a discussion between Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad and a follower of the Báb, Áqá Mírzá Núru’d-Dín, the latter suggested a pilgrimage to ‘Iráq and a visit to Baghdád where Bahá’u’lláh was residing at the time, that Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad might put forward any questions that were troubling him. Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad travelled to Baghdád with his younger brother Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Ḥasan-‘Alí, but the latter left Baghdád before meeting with Bahá’u’lláh. Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, wrote his questions down, and receive the Kitáb-i-Íqán in reply. The Kitáb-i-Íqán was initially known and circulated as Risáliy-i-Khál (Epistle to the Uncle).[3]

Questions posed to Bahá’u’lláh[edit]

Writings
of
Bahá’u’lláh

Primary works

Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Kitáb-i-Íqán
The Hidden Words
The Seven Valleys and Four Valleys
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Gems of Divine Mysteries
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
Prayers and Meditations
Summons of the Lord of Hosts
Tabernacle of Unity
Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh

In Bahá’u’lláh The King of Glory, Ḥasan Balyúzí has listed the questions posed to Bahá’u’lláh, from a manuscript in the handwriting of Ḥájí Mírzá Siyyid Muḥammad himself.[4] They are:

  1. The Day of Resurrection. Is there to be a corporeal resurrection? The world is replete with injustice. How are the just to be requited and the unjust punished?
  2. The twelfth Imám was born at a certain time and lives on. There are traditions, all supporting the belief. How can this be explained?
  3. Interpretation of holy texts. This Cause does not seem to conform with beliefs held throughout the years. One cannot ignore the literal meaning of holy texts and scripture. How can this be explained?
  4. Certain events, according to the traditions that have come down from the Imáms, must occur at the advent of the Qá’im. Some of these are mentioned. But none of these has happened. How can this be explained?[5]

In response to these questions Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Kitáb-i-Íqán over a period of two days and two nights. Composed partly in Persian and partly in Arabic, the revelation of this work also fulfilled a prophecy of the Báb that the Promised One would complete the text of the unfinished Persian Bayán.[6] The original manuscript in the handwriting of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with marginal additions by Bahá’u’lláh is part of the collection of documents held at the International Bahá’í Archives.[7]

Significance[edit]

The Kitáb-i-Íqán was one of the earliest writings of Bahá’u’lláh's to appear in print with a lithographed copy, likely printed in Bombay, in circulation during the 1880's. It was first translated into English by Ali Kuli Khan in 1904 and titled The Book of Assurance. Shoghi Effendi retranslated what represented Bahá’u’lláh's primary theological work in 1931 and said of it:

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Balyuzi, H. M. (1980). Bahá’u’lláh The King of Glory (Third ed.). George Ronald. pp. 163–164. ISBN 0 85398 090 X.
  2. ↑ God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi.[1]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Taherzadeh, Adib (1976). The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume 1: Baghdad 1853-63. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
  4. ↑ See Ahang Rabbani, The Conversion of the Great-Uncle of the Báb, pp.32-33
  5. ↑ Balyuzi, H. M. (1980). Bahá’u’lláh The King of Glory (Third ed.). George Ronald. pp. 164–165. ISBN 0 85398 090 X.
  6. ↑ God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi.[1]
  7. ↑ Balyuzi, H. M. (1980). Bahá’u’lláh The King of Glory (Third ed.). George Ronald. p. 165. ISBN 0 85398 090 X.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Buck, Christopher (1995). Symbol & Secret: Qur'án Commentary in Bahá’u’lláh's Kitáb-i-Iqán. Los Angeles, USA: Kalimát Press. ISBN 0933770804.
  • Dunbar, Hooper C. (1998). A Companion to the Study of the Kitáb-i-Íqán. Oxford, United Kingdom: George Ronald. ISBN 0853984301.
  • Hatcher, J.S. (1997). The Ocean of His Words: A Reader's Guide to the Art of Bahá’u’lláh. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877432597.
  • Ahang Rabbani (Spring, 1999). "The Conversion of the Great-Uncle of the Báb". World Order. Vol. 30, no. 3. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. pp. 19–38.

External links[edit]

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