The Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Bahá'u'lláh

(3 User reviews)   1796
By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892 Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892
English
Ever wonder what a book written by someone claiming to be a new Messenger from God would actually say? This isn't a story with characters and a plot—it's a direct address. Bahá'u'lláh lays out laws, principles, and a vision for a unified world from a prison cell in the 1800s. The central 'mystery' isn't a whodunit, but a 'what now?': How do you build a global society based on justice and peace? It's a challenging, profound read that asks you to consider the very foundations of how we live together. Think of it as a blueprint for a spiritual civilization, straight from the source.
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3. The Content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose. Although this blanket permission to reproduce the Content is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í International Community retains full copyright protection for all Content included at this Site under all applicable national and international laws. For permission to publish, transmit, display or otherwise use the Content for any commercial purpose, please contact us (http://reference.bahai.org/en/contact.html). CONTENTS Baha’i Terms of Use Preface Introduction A Description of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Shoghi Effendi The Kitáb-i-Aqdas Some Texts Revealed By Bahá’u’lláh Supplementary To The Kitáb-i-Aqdas The Tablet of Ishráqát Long Obligatory Prayer Medium Obligatory Prayer Short Obligatory Prayer Prayer For The Dead Questions And Answers Synopsis And Codification Of The Laws And Ordinances Of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas Summary Of Contents Synopsis And Codification Notes 1. the sweet-smelling savour of My garment #4 2. We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. #5 3. We have enjoined obligatory prayer upon you #6 4. nine rak’áhs #6 5. at noon and in the morning and the evening #6 6. We have relieved you of a greater number #6 7. When ye desire to perform this prayer, turn ye towards the Court of My Most Holy Presence, this Hallowed Spot that God hath ... decreed to be the Point of Adoration for the denizens of the Cities of Eternity #6 8. and when the Sun of Truth and Utterance shall set, turn your faces towards the Spot that We have ordained for you #6 9. We have set forth the details of obligatory prayer in another Tablet. #8 10. the Prayer for the Dead #8 11. six specific passages have been sent down by God, the Revealer of Verses #8 12. Hair doth not invalidate your prayer, nor aught from which the spirit hath departed, such as bones and the like. Ye are free to wear the fur of the sable as ye would that of the beaver, the squirrel, and other animals #9 13. We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity #10 14. He hath exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age #10 15. God hath granted you leave to prostrate yourselves on any surface that is clean, for We have removed in this regard the limitation that had been laid down in the Book # 10 16. Let him that findeth no water for ablution repeat five times the words "In the Name of God, the Most Pure, the Most Pure", and then proceed to his devotions. #10 17. In regions where the days and nights grow long, let times of prayer be gauged by clocks and other instruments that mark the passage of the hours. #10 18. We have absolved you from the requirement of performing the Prayer of the Signs. #11 19. Save in the Prayer for the Dead, the practice of congregational prayer hath been annulled. #12 20. God hath exempted women who are in their courses from obligatory prayer and fasting. #13 21. When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye—men and women alike—a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer #14 22. Upon completing your prostrations, seat yourselves cross-legged #14 23. Say: God hath made My hidden love the key to the Treasure #15 24. O Pen of the Most High! #16 25. We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period #16 26. and at its close have designated for you Naw-Rúz as a feast #16 27. Let the days in...

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Okay, let's be clear upfront: this is not a novel. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the central book of laws and teachings for the Bahá'í Faith, written by its founder, Bahá'u'lláh. Imagine receiving a letter that's meant not just for you, but for all of humanity. That's the feel here. He writes from exile and imprisonment, outlining everything from daily prayers and marriage to the structure of future global institutions and the need for universal education. The 'story' is the birth of a new religious system and its plan for the world.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up out of sheer curiosity about how a modern religion starts. What stunned me was its bold, clear-eyed vision. It tackles huge ideas—eliminating extreme wealth and poverty, the essential harmony of science and religion, the equality of men and women—with direct language. Reading it feels like listening in on a monumental conversation. It's less about dogma and more about building blocks: how do we create a society that works for everyone? It challenged my assumptions about what a religious text can be.

Final Verdict

This is for the intellectually and spiritually curious. Perfect for anyone interested in comparative religion, social philosophy, or the mechanics of building a better world. It's dense and requires patience—you won't race through it. But if you've ever asked big questions about justice, unity, or humanity's future, this foundational text offers a radical, century-old answer that still feels urgently relevant today.



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David Anderson
6 months ago

Enjoyed every page.

Mary Brown
7 months ago

Honestly, the storytelling feels authentic and emotionally grounded. Exactly what I needed.

Jackson Williams
8 months ago

If you enjoy this genre, the author's voice is distinct and makes complex topics easy to digest. This story will stay with me.

5
5 out of 5 (3 User reviews )

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