Baha'i Writings...

The Baha'i Writings consist of the revealed Writings of Baha'u'llah and the Bab with the commentaries of Abdul-Baha...

Many of these works are available online at

Baha'i Reference Library

Here you have English translations as well as Arabic and Farsi texts.

The original language was in Arabic and Farsi... Later translations were made into English with authorized translations by Shoghi Effendi the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith.. More recently authorized translations were by Habib Taherzadeh as commissioned by the Universal House of Justice.

Provisional translations of the above Writings are more of academic interest and until accepted as authorized are not binding.

There are orally transmitted speeches of the Abdul-Baha or the Guardian Shoghi Effendi that are called "Pilgrim's Notes" what people recalled what was said..these while interesting are not authoritative.

The letters of Shoghi Effendi while accepted as authoritative and having weight are not considered sacred scriptures.

The letters of the Universal House of Justice are accepted as having weight in their particular subjects but are not considered as sacred scripture.

The Baha'i World Centre has compilations of the Writings and authoritative statements on over a hundred subjects.

See:

Browse BWC Compilations, sorted by title, all languages

I would suggest anyone who is curious to the read the Writings of Baha'u'llah or the Bab and understand the conditions they were revealed in... The Bab was a mercer...cloth merchant while Baha'u'llah was a nobleman .. Neither were Mullahs or religious scholars. The interesting thing was Baha'u'llah had little access to the Writings of the Bab.. The Bab was sometimes imprisoned while He revealed and Baha'u'llah also had stints of imprisonment.. neither had access to libraries as we know them today or online resources.

Mullah Husayn described the revelation process he witnessed on the night of the declaration of the Bab in 1844..

He then proceeded to say: "Now is the time to reveal the commentary on the Surih of Joseph." He took up His pen and with incredible rapidity revealed the entire Surih of Mulk, the first chapter of His commentary on the Surih of Joseph. The overpowering effect of the manner in which He wrote was heightened by the gentle intonation of His voice which accompanied His writing. Not for one moment did He interrupt the flow of the verses which streamed from His pen. Not once did He pause till the Surih of Mulk was finished.

http://bahai-library.com/books/dawnbreakers/chapters/3.html

The revelation process was reported by secretaries and those around Them...The Kitab-i-Asma revealed by the Bab is the largest scripture known ... "This work, the complete text of which is more than three thousand pages, is the largest revealed book in sacred history. It consists of nineteen unities and 361 gates (chapters)."

https://archive.org/details/Kitabul-Asma

Baha'u'llah revealed the Kitab-i-Iqan in Baghdad within a few days. It's approximately the size of the Qur'an.

There's also the testimony of the amanuensis of Baha'u'llah Mirza Aqa Jan:

"He was the amanuensis (secretary or scribe) of Bahá'u'lláh, and served him for 40 years. He met Bahá'u'lláh at the age of 16, and was among the first to be aware of Bahá'u'lláh's station as Manifestation of God. Mirza Aqa Jan was honored to be present during the Revelations, and is described as writing so rapidly that the sound of the pen was shrill, and the ink was not dry when the page was completed."

http://bahai-library.com/timeline_tablets_bahaullah_baghdad

A new version of the Baha'i Reference Library can be found at

http://www.bahai.org/library/

I decided to include a rather detailed compilation of Baha'i Prayers as a resource that can be found at


http://thebahaiprayers.com/

Some of these prayers are translations that are provisional.

Baha'i Writings translated in 67 Languages, 6,710 Prayers...

I felt the following site is an excellent vehicle for finding translations of Baha'i Writings... prayers, Hidden Words, Gleanings, Some Answered Questions, etc. and so include it here as a resource:

http://bahaiprayers.net/Home/

Hey, art, it's Deej! I've got a question about the Aqdas and Iqan: how are they organized? By chapters and verses?

DJ_sXe said:

Hey, art, it's Deej! I've got a question about the Aqdas and Iqan: how are they organized? By chapters and verses?

Click to expand...

Excellent question!

Currently Baha'i scriptures such as the Kitab-i-Aqdas and the Kitab-i-Iqan are organized primarily by paragraphs. So if you look in a current edition of the Aqdas you'll note in index it says: "The text of the Kitab-i-Aqdas are by paragraph number...."

You can also see that the Kitab-i-Iqan is also organized by paragraphs..
See:
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KI/ki-6.html

Some years ago when I was first a Baha'i the references were primarily by pages.. The problem with this was that there were sometimes two variants in paginations between say the British edition and the American edition... As long as the paragraph numbering is agreed to it doesn't really matter how many pages are used to print the book.

For me "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" was a good summary of the Baha'i Faith.. You can easily find topics of interest and there is good documentation. It's one of the two books that convinced me to be a Baha'i!

It's online at

http://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era

Can be downloaded at

https://sites.google.com/site/ebook...he-New-Era-An-Introduction-to-the-Bahai-Faith

and is readily available commercially:

https://www.amazon.com/Bahaullah-New-Era-Introduction-Bahai/dp/1931847274

"In this compact work, J. E. Esslemont comprehensively yet succinctly sets forth the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith. He outlines the religion's early history; explains its theology; incorporates extracts from Baha'i scripture; and provides information on Baha'i spiritual practices. This is essential reading for students of comparative religion."

arthra said:

For me "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" was a good summary of the Baha'i Faith.. You can easily find topics of interest and there is good documentation. It's one of the two books that convinced me to be a Baha'i!

It's online at

http://bahai-library.com/esslemont_bahaullah_new_era

Can be downloaded at

https://sites.google.com/site/ebook...he-New-Era-An-Introduction-to-the-Bahai-Faith

and is readily available commercially:

https://www.amazon.com/Bahaullah-New-Era-Introduction-Bahai/dp/1931847274

"In this compact work, J. E. Esslemont comprehensively yet succinctly sets forth the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith. He outlines the religion's early history; explains its theology; incorporates extracts from Baha'i scripture; and provides information on Baha'i spiritual practices. This is essential reading for students of comparative religion."

Click to expand...

Arthra, I have it in my possession currently. It is a treasure!

The following is a brief chronology of translated Baha'i Writings and historical anecdotes since the end of the nineteenth century

http://bahai-library.com/pdf/b/bolhuis_chronology_bahai_literature.pdf

A new book entitled "Days of Remembrance" has been published.. You can also access the book online at

Days of Remembrance | Bahá’í Reference Library

A hardbound edition can be purchased online as well at

Days of Remembrance

For those interested there is a site where you can download books about Baha'i Faith and other subjects for free at

The Knowledge of God

The Kitab-i-Aqdas (“The Most Holy Book”) is actually a Holy Book revealed by Baha’u’llah in Akka in 1873 and as per the statement of the Guardian Shoghi Effendi:

“The laws and ordinances that constitute the major theme of this Book, Baha’u’llah, moreover, has specifically characterized as the breath of life unto all created things, as the mightiest stronghold, as the fruits of His Tree, as the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples, as the lamps of His wisdom and loving-providence, as the sweet smelling savour of His garment, and the keys of His mercy to His creatures. This Book, He Himself testifies, is a heaven which We have adorned with the stars of Our commandments and prohibitions.”

Kitab-i-Aqdas - Description

and the Universal House of Justice:

“May the friends of God ever be mindful of its exalted rank among the sacred texts of the Faith; treasure it as the bread of life; regard possession of it as a sacred honour, as a priceless legacy from the Pen of the Most High, as a source of God’s greatest bounty to His creatures; place their whole trust in its provisions; recite its verses; study its contents; adhere to its exhortations; and thus transform their lives in accordance with the divine standard.”

~ From a Letter from The Universal House of Justice March 5, 1993

Study Guide - Foreword

You can study the Kitab-i-Aqdas online at

THE KITAB-I-AQDAS

Bahá’í Reference Library

There are actually at least three sections you will need to study the Kitab-i-Aqdas as follows:

• The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
• Some Supplementary Texts
• Questions and Answers
• A Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
• Notes

In order to fully understand the text you also need to know the interpretation by Abdul-Baha and Shoghi Effendi. There is also a “Questions and Answers” section that more fully explains the text:

Questions and Answers

Many of the provisions of the Aqdas are not fully implemented until such time as the circumstances are deemed appropriate by the House of Justice.

Tablets of Baha'u'llah - listed chronologically

Tehran period:

• Rashhi-i-‘Amá (Revealed in the Síyáh-Chál

Baghdad period:

• Az-Bágh-i-Iláhí
• Báz-Áv-u-Bidih-Jámí
• Chihár-Vádí (The Four Valleys)
• Ghulámu'l-Khuld (The Youth of Paradise)
• Haft-Vádí (The Seven Valleys)
• Halih-Halih-Yá Bishárat
• Húr-i-'Ujáb (The Wondrous Maiden)
• Hurúfát-i-Állín (The Exalted Letters)
• Javáhiru'l-Asrár (The Essence of Mysteries)
• Kalimát-i- Maknúnih (The Hidden Words) (circa 1858)
• The Kitáb-i-Iqán (The Book of Certitude) (1862)
• Lawh-i-Kullu't-Ta'ám (Tablet of All Food)
• Lawh-i-Bulbulu'l-Firáq (Tablet of the Nightingale of Bereavement)
• Lawh-i-Fitnih (Tablet of the Test)
• Lawh-i-Hawdaj (Tablet of the Howdah) (Revealed on the journey to Constantinople)
• Lawh-i-Huríyyih (Tablet of the Maiden)
• Lawh-i-Malláhu’l-Quds (Tablet of the Holy Mariner) (Naw-Ruz 1863)
• Lawh-i-Maryam
• Madínat'ur-Ridá (The City of Radiant Acquiescence)
• Madínatu'r-Tawhíd (The City of Unity)
• Munáját-i-Huríyyih (Prayer of the Maid of Heaven)
• Prayers (Revealed in Kurdistán)
• Qasídiy-i-Varqá’íyyih (Revealed in Kurdistán)
• Sahífiy-i- Shattíyyih (Book of the River)
• Saqí-Az-Ghayb-i-Baqá (Revealed in Kurdistán)
• Shikkar-Shikan-Shavand
• Subháná-Rabbíya'l-A'lá
• Súratu'lláh (Súrih of God)
• Súriy-i-Nush
• Súriy-i-Qadír (Súrih of the Omnipotent)
• Súriy-i-Sabr (Súrih of Patience, also known as Lawh-i-Ayyúb , Tablet of Job) (First day of Ridván , 1863)
• Tafsír-i-Hú
• Tafsír-i-Hurúfát-i-Muqatt'ih (Interpretation of the Isolated Letters, also known as Lawh-i-Áyiy-i-Núr, Tablet of the Verse of Light)

Constantinople period

• Lawh-i-'Abdu'l-'Azíz Va-Vukalá (Tablet to Sultan 'Abdu'l-'Azíz)
• Mathnavíy-i-Mubárák
• Subhánáka-Yá-Hú (also known as Lawh-i-Náqús , Tablet of the Bell) (19 October 1863)

Adrianople period:

• Alváh-i-Laylatu'l-Quds
• Kitab-i-Badí
• Lawh-i-Ahmad-i-'Arabí (Tablet of Ahmadmad, Arabic) (circa 1865)
• Lawh-i-Ahmad-i-Fársí (Tablet of Ahmad , Persian)
• Lawh-i -Ashraf (Tablet of Ashraf)
• Lawh-i-Bahá (Tablet of Bahá)
• Lawh-i-Khalíl
• Lawh-i-Nápulyún I (First Tablet to Napoleon III)
• Lawh-i-Nasír
• Lawh-i -Nuqtih (Tablet of the Point)
• Lawh-i-Qamís (Tablet of the Shirt or Robe)
• Lawh-i-Ridván
• Lawh-i-Rúh (Tablet of the Spirit)
• Lawh-i-Salmán I (Tablet of Salmán)
• Lawh-i-Sayyáh (Tablet of Sayyáh)
• Lawh-i-Siráj
• Lawh-i-Sultán (Tablet to the Sháh of Persia, Násiri’-Dín Sháh)
• Lawh-i-Tuqá (Tablet of Piety or the Fear of God)
• Munájátháy-i-Síyám (Prayers for Fasting)
• Ridvánu'l-Iqrár
• Súriy-i-Ahzán
• Súriy-i-Amr (Súrih of the Command)
• Súriy-i-Asháb (Surih of the Companions)
• Súriy-i-Bayán
• Súriy-i-Damm (Tablet of Blood)
• Súriy-i-Ghusn (Tablet of the Branch)
• Suriy-i-Hajj I (Tablet of Pilgrimage for House of the Báb)
• Suriy-i-Hajj II (Tablet of Pilgrimage for House of Bahá'u'lláh)
• Súriy-i-Hijr
• Súriy-i-'Ibád (Súrih of the Servants)
• Suriy-i-Mulúk (Tablet of the Kings)
• Súriy-i-Qalam
• Súriy-i-Qamís
• Súriy-i-Ra'ís (Revealed on the journey to 'Akká)
• Súriy-i-Vidád

Akka period:

• Lawh-i-'Abdu'l-Vahháb
• Lawh-i-Ahbáb (Tablet of the Friends)
• Lawh-i-Fu'ád
• Lawh-i-Haft Pursish (Tablet of Seven Questions)
• Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom)
• Lawh-i-Hirtík
• Lawh-i-lttihád (Tablet of Unity)
• Lawh-i-Malik-i-Rús (Tablet to the Czar)
• Lawh-i-Malikih (Tablet to Queen Victoria)
• Lawh-i-Mánikchí Sáhib
• Lawh-i-Nápulyún II (Second Tablet to Napoleon III)
• Lawh-i-Páp (Tablet to the Pope)
• Lawh-i-Pisar-'Amm (Tablet to the Cousin)
• Lawh-l-Qad Ihtaraqa'l -Mukhlisún (The Fire Tablet) (circa 1871)
• Lawh-i-Raís
• Lawh-i-Ru'yá (Tablet of Vision) (1 March 1873)
• Lawh-i-Salmán II (Tablet of Salmán)
• Lawh-i-Tibb (Tablet of Medicine)
• Súriy-i-Haykal (Súrih of the Temple)
• Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book) (1873)

Akka – Mazra’ih & Bahji period:

• Bishárát (Glad-Tidings)
• Ishráqát (Splendors)
• Kalimát-i-Firdawsíyyih (Words of Paradise)
• Lawh-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Tablet)
• Lawh-i-Ard-i-Bá (Tablet of the Land of Bá) (1879)
• Lawh-i-Burhán (Tablet of the Proof)
• Lawh-i-Dunyá (Tablet of the World)
• Lawh-i-Maqsúd (Tablet of Maqsúd)
• Lawh-i-Siyyid Mihdíy-i-Dahají
• Súriy-i-Vafá (Tablet to Vafá)
• Tablet of Trustworthiness (circa 1879)
• Tablet revealed in the house in the Garden of Ridván
• Tablet to The Times of London (1891)
• Tajallíyát (Effulgences) (1885-86)
• Tarázát (Ornaments)
• Lawh-i-Karmil (Tablet of Carmel) (1891)
• Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (1891)
• Kitab-i-'Ahd (The Book of the Covenant) (1892)

Bahá’u’lláh - The Glory of God: Tablets of Baha'u'llah - listed chronologically

I'm posting a Baha'i glossary here that may be of use

Glossary of Bahá'í terms

The current Writings of Baha'u'llah translated into English:

The Works of Bahá'u'lláh

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Gems of Divine Mysteries — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book) — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
The Kitáb-i-Íqán (The Book of Certitude) — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh
The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
The Summons of the Lord of Hosts — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
The Tabernacle of Unity — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — View on the new Baha’i Reference Library »
Baha'i Reference Library: The Works of Bahá'u'lláh

There is an online site that has some helpful references to the Baha'i Writings and I want to include it here:

Days of Remembrance - Bahá’í Holy Days

More about the site:

"This website is the result of the team work of dedicated individuals who throughout many years have cooperated with one another in order to bring about these collections of the Best-Known Works of the Major Figures and the Supreme Institution of the Bahá’í Faith.

The major feature, perhaps, among the distinctive features of this website is that its contents have been categorized based on tablets rather than books. It includes the Best-Known Tablets of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh as being identified by Shoghi Effendi, as well as the best-known works of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, letters of Shoghi Effendi and the messages of the Universal House of Justice.

"The ultimate objective of this site is to provide the seekers of truth, researchers, scholars and all those who are interested, an easy access to the systemic and in-depth study of the Bahá’í Writings."

One of the exciting things about being a Baha'i are the new translations of the Writings that occur from time to time and recently the Baha'i Reference Library is featuring a section for recently translated Writings from Farsi and Arabic into English. They can be accessed at

Recent Additions – Authoritative Writings and Guidance | Bahá’í Reference Library

Recent Additions
Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

• Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh

Writings and Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

• Additional Prayers Revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
• Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks

Compilations

• Give Me Thy Grace to Serve Thy Loved Ones

One of the Tablets of Abdul-Baha recently translated follows:

Extract from a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

"In ancient times the people of America were, through their northern regions, close to Asia, that is, separated from Asia by a strait. For this reason, it hath been said that crossing had occurred. There are other signs which indicate communication.


"As to places whose people were not informed of the appearance of Prophets, such people are excused. In the Qur’án it hath been revealed: “We will not chastise them if they had not been sent a Messenger.”1


"Undoubtedly in those regions the Call of God must have been raised in ancient times, but it hath been forgotten now."

• 1 Qur’án 17:15