The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is considered the most important and sacred text of the Bahá’í Faith, a religion with some eight million adherents, found in nearly every country of the world. It sets out the laws, teachings, and institutions that shape and influence individual and collective life for members of the Bahá’í community. Despite the Kitáb-i-Aqdas’s significance, it has not been extensively researched. Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Laws and Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith now offers a comprehensive academic study of the text.
This important new publication explores and analyzes the significance and history of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; its language, style, and translation; and its theological and spiritual foundations, including its conceptions of God, religion, and human beings. The book, moreover, examines the Kitáb-i-Aqdas’s provisions for succession, interpretation, and administration within the Bahá’í religion; its devotional and other personal laws; its ordinances for promoting unity; its perspectives on justice and law; and its addresses to the world’s political and religious leaders. Academically rigorous yet eminently clear and accessible, Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is an essential read for students of religion and Middle East studies.
By:
Omid Ghaemmaghami,
Shahin Vafai
Imprint: I.B. Tauris
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 248mm,
Width: 190mm,
Spine: 32mm
Weight: 1.120kg
ISBN: 9780755606252
ISBN 10: 0755606256
Pages: 496
Publication Date: 01 May 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Images Preface The Bahá’í Faith: An Introduction Introduction 1: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: History 2: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Language, Style, and Translation 3. Theological Foundations: God and the Manifestation of God 4. Human Beings: Identity, Nature, Purpose, and Journey 5. The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh: Succession, Interpretation, and the Bahá’í Administrative Order 6. Personal Devotional Laws: Prayer, Fasting, and Other Practices 7. A Holy and Pure Life: Virtues and Laws 8. Laws Related to Personal Status and Death: Marriage, Divorce, Burial, and Inheritance 9. Community Laws: Education, Consultation, the Calendar, the Feast, and the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár 10. Unity: Vision and Provisions 11. Justice and Law: Principles and Administration 12. Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation: Addresses to Kings, Rulers, and Religious Leaders Conclusion Bibliography Index to Paragraph Numbers of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and “Questions and Answers” Index
Omid Ghaemmaghami is Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, USA. He is the author of works in Islamic, Bábí, and Bahá’í studies. Shahin Vafai is an attorney with nearly three decades of experience in law. He is the co-author of a legal treatise on appellate practice and of works in Bahá’í studies.
Reviews for Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Laws and Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith
By exploring the history and contents of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Omid Ghaemmaghami and Shahin Vafai have expanded our knowledge of the laws and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. Such a work, perfectly grounded in textual and intellectual history, is a major step in 19th century Near Eastern studies. With impressive skill it makes clear the complex formation of belief and law in a new-born religious community. -- Roberto Tottoli, Professor, Università di Napoli L’Orientale, Italy The Kitáb-i Aqdas, Most Holy Book, is the central authoritative scripture from Baha’ullah (d.1892), founder of the Bahai faith. This excellent and much-needed exploration is the first in-depth scholarly study and analysis of this important text, for Bahais the most important Text. As such, it sets the tone and provides categories for further discussion, debate and analysis. It is a long-awaited and most welcome addition to scholarship on the Bahai Faith and will remain a primary reference work for some time to come. -- Todd Lawson, Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Canada
