Baháʼí literature in the context of "Baháʼí teachings"

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⭐ Core Definition: Baháʼí literature

Baháʼí literature includes the books, letters, and recorded public talks of the Baháʼí Faith's founders, the clarifying letters of Shoghi Effendi, the elucidations of the Universal House of Justice, and a variety of commentary and history published by Baháʼí authors.

The Faith's scriptural texts are the writings of the Báb, Baháʼu'lláh, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, written in Arabic or Persian in the late 19th and early 20th century Middle East. The religion's most prominent doctrinal foundation comes from the Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude), a work composed by Baháʼu'lláh in 1861. Later in 1873, he wrote the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book), which is the central text of the Baháʼí Faith. Some Answered Questions is a compilation of table talks between ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and a western pilgrim that was recorded in the original Persian language. From 1910-13, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá traveled through Europe and North America giving many public talks that were recorded by stenographers and published under the titles Paris Talks and The Promulgation of Universal Peace.

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👉 Baháʼí literature in the context of Baháʼí teachings

The teachings of the Baháʼí Faith are derived from the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, its founder. A corpus of Baháʼí literature include books and writings of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh, along with the public talks and writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the founder's son. A central tenet of the Baháʼí Faith is the unity of the world's major religions (Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam) as part of a single plan overseen by one God. The teachings also address theological subjects including the oneness of God, humanity and religion, as well as aspects of human life such as the harmony of science and religion, elimination of extreme wealth and poverty, universal compulsory education, and the equality of all people equality, regardless of gender, race, nationality, colour, or social class.

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Baháʼí literature in the context of Baháʼí House of Worship

A Baháʼí House of Worship, or Baháʼí temple, is a place of worship in the Baháʼí Faith. It is also referred to as Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which in Arabic means "Dawning-place of the remembrances of God".

All Baháʼí Houses of Worship have nine sides and are surrounded by nine gardens with pathways, reflecting the number nine's symbolic significance. The interior comprises a prayer hall in which the seats face the direction of the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh. Houses of Worship are open throughout the week to both Baháʼís and non-Baháʼís for prayer and reflection, with some having scheduled weekly devotional services. Scriptural texts from all religions may be recited inside, but sermons, ritualistic ceremonies, and readings from non-scriptural texts are not allowed. In addition, several Houses of Worship have formed choirs which sing music based on the Baháʼí writings, although musical instruments may not be played inside. At present, most Baháʼí devotional meetings occur in individuals' homes or local Baháʼí centres rather than in Houses of Worship.

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Baháʼí literature in the context of Noah

Noah (/ˈnə/; Hebrew: נֹחַ, romanizedNōaḥ, lit.'rest' or 'consolation', also Noach) appears as the last of the Antediluvian patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis, chapters 5–9), the Quran and Baha'i writings, and extracanonically.

The Genesis flood narrative is among the best-known stories of the Bible. In this account, God "regrets" making mankind because they filled the world with evil. Noah then labors faithfully to build the Ark at God's command, ultimately saving not only his own family, but mankind itself and all land animals, from extinction during the Flood. Afterwards, God makes a covenant with Noah and promises never again to destroy the earth with a flood. Noah is also portrayed as a "tiller of the soil" who is the first to cultivate the vine. After the flood, God commands Noah and his sons to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."

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Baháʼí literature in the context of Kitáb-i-Aqdas

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (lit.'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 content deals with other matters, like foundational principles of the religion, the establishment of Baháʼí institutions, mysticism, ethics, social principles, and prophecies. In Baháʼí literature it is described as "the Mother-Book" of the Baháʼí teachings, and the "Charter of the Future World Civilization".

Baháʼu'lláh had manuscript copies sent to Baháʼís in Iran some years after its writing in 1873, and in 1890–91 (1308 AH, 47 BE) he arranged for its first publication in Bombay, India. Parts of the text were translated into English by Shoghi Effendi, which, along with a Synopsis and Codification, were published in 1973 by the Universal House of Justice on the centennial anniversary of its writing. The full authoritative English translation, along with clarifying texts from Baháʼu'lláh and detailed explanatory notes from the Universal House of Justice, was first published in 1992.

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