Saturday, November 7, 2009

Quotations from the Baha'i Writings about the study of the Book of Certitude


"...all the Scriptures and the mysteries thereof are condensed into this brief account. So much so, that were a person to ponder it a while in his heart, he would discover from all that hath been said the mysteries of the Words of God, and would apprehend the meaning of whatever hath been manifested by that ideal King."
(Baha'u'llah, The Book of Certitude, paragraph 266)  www.bahai.org/r/824661299

"This theme hath been set forth in the Book of Certitude, which is indeed the cynosure of all books, and which streamed from the Pen of Glory in the early years of this Most Great Revelation. Blessed is he that hath beheld it and pondered its contents for the love of God, the Lord of creation."
(Baha'u'llah, The Tabernacle of Unity, paragraph 2.45)  www.bahai.org/r/070159104


"Briefly, there hath been revealed in the Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude) concerning the Presence and Revelation of God that which will suffice the fair-minded. We beseech Him - exalted be He - to aid every one to become the essence of truthfulness, and to draw nigh unto Him. He, verily, is the Lord of strength and power." (Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 119)  www.bahai.org/r/661417298

"Refer to it, that you may be informed of the truth of the divine mysteries."
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, Chapter 81)  www.bahai.org/r/305997145


"O thou who are athirst for the water of Life! This manifest Book is the fountainhead of the Water of Life eternal. Drink so much as thou art able from the fountain of the living water. O thou who art seeking after the knowledge of God! Immerse thyself in the ocean of the explanation of the Beauty of the Merciful, so that thou mayest gather from its depths the pearls of the wisdom of God.
"This is a translation of the 'Preserved Tablet,' the 'Expanded Parchment,' the Divine Charter, the Firman of the Merciful, that is, the Book of Iqán which hath emanated from the Supreme Pen and proceeded from the pure lips of the Blessed Beauty (may my soul be a sacrifice to His beloved ones)."

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, first paragraph is from the frontispiece to ‘Ali-Kuli-Khan's 1913 translation of the Kitáb-i-Iqan; second paragraph - source still to be confirmed.)

"...the Kitáb-i-Íqán, revealed in defense of the Bábí Revelation..."
(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 172) www.bahai.org/r/602505988


"The Sacred Books are full of allusions to this new dispensation. In the Book of Iqan, Baha'u'llah gives the key-note and explains some of the outstanding passages hoping that the friends will continue to study the Sacred Books by themselves and unfold the mysteries found therein."
(From a letter dated 11 March 1923 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; quoted in "The Importance of Deepening our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith", compiled by the Universal House of Justice ("The Compilation on Deepening") page 28. https://bahai-library.com/pdf/compilations/deepening.pdf

"As the Iqan is the most important book wherein Baha'u'llah explains the basic beliefs of the Faith, he [Shoghi Effendi] thought a proper rendering of it would infinitely enhance the teaching work in the West."
Excerpt from a letter from the Guardian's secretary on his behalf to
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, Baha'i News #46, November 1930, p. 2. http://irfancolloquia.org/pdf/lights19_kourosh_iqan_concepts.pdf

"Unable to find a good typist, I have had to do the work myself, and I trust that the proofreaders will find it easy to go over and will not mind the type errors which I have tried to correct. I would especially urge you to adhere to the transliteration which I have adopted. The correct title is, I feel, 'The Kitab-i-Iqan' the sub-title 'The Book of Certitude.' May it help the friends to approach a step further, and obtain a clearer idea of the fundamental teachings set forth by Baha'u'llah."
Shoghi Effendi in a letter published in Baha'i News #46, November 1930, p. 2 (Postscript to the immediately above letter on his behalf)  http://irfancolloquia.org/pdf/lights19_kourosh_iqan_concepts.pdf

"Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will exert all your efforts first in deepening your own knowledge of the teachings and then strive to attract other people. You should form study classes and read the important books that have been published, especially the Iqan which contains the basic tenets of the Faith. The one who ponders over that book and grasps its full significance will obtain a clear insight into the old scriptures and appreciate the true mission of the Bab and Baha'u'llah."
The Guardian's secretary on his behalf, in a letter to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of St. Louis, Missouri, Compilation on Deepening.   https://bahai-library.com/pdf/compilations/deepening.pdf

"Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will exert all your effort to deepen your knowledge of the literature of the Movement, until you become fully acquainted with its spirit and tenets. Unless you do obtain such a firm hold you will never be able to teach others and render real service to the promulgation of the Faith. Of special importance is the Book of the Iqan which explains the attitude of the Cause towards the prophets of God and their mission in the history of society. Besides this there is Some Answered Questions of the Master and the Dawn-Breakers of Nabil. Every Baha'i should master these books and be able to explain their contents to others. Besides their importance, they are interesting and most absorbing."
The Guardian's secretary on his behalf, Compilation on Deepening.    https://bahai-library.com/pdf/compilations/deepening.pdf

"Books such as the Iqan, Some Answered Questions, the Tablets of Baha'u'llah, Nabil's Narrative and Dr. Esslemont's books should be read and read over again by every soul who desires to serve the Movement or considers himself an active member of the group."
The Guardian's secretary on his behalf, Compilation on Deepening.   https://bahai-library.com/pdf/compilations/deepening.pdf


"Shoghi Effendi has been lately spending his leisure hours translating the Book of Iqan for he considers it to be the key to a true undersanding of the Holy Scriptures, & can easily rank as one of the most, if not the most, important thing that Baha'u'llah revealed explaining the basic beliefs of the Cause. He who fully grasps the purport of that Book can claim to have understood the Cause."
(Extract from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to Professor Alain Locke dated 15 February 1930) https://bahai-library.com/locke_guardian_correspondence

"The Book of Iqan is translated by Ali-Kuli Khan. We have already written to him to undertake its publication. It will soon be spread amongst the believers. But none will understand its meanings, and none will be informed of its mysteries, except those who may listen attentively and study it with care."
Abdu'l-Baha
(Excerpt from a reported tablet to an individual believer. Not from a confirmed source.)

1 comment:

  1. Thank you, Brent, for the very helpful quotations. I have added the missing ones to http://bahai9.com/wiki/Kit%C3%A1b-i-%C3%8Dq%C3%A1n

    ReplyDelete