Study of The Kitab-i-Iqan/Book of Certitude

Dear folks,

Allaho Abha!

This Baha'i page "Study of The Kitab-i-Iqan/Book of Certitude" has achieved another milestone by reaching more than 3, 000 participants/likes. Let us congratulate ourselves for this amazing achievement. I considered this book as a fundamental theological or doctrinal book that may unseal the deepest metaphor or secret found in passage of the Abrahamic Faiths. I have used most of the important keys found in this book in different Bahai pages in various discussions or discourses.

If time permits, we will re-start in a few months when the condition is ripe. That is when other earlier Baha'i scholars have been informed of an understanding of what could be the meaning for various important theological and philosophical concepts found in the Writings of the Twin Manifestations based principally on this book.

Thanks once again for achieving another milestone in the number of participants.

Have a great Day. ☀️⭐

Rudy G.

Dear folks,

Allahu Abha!

This Page has reached a milestone of having 2, 000 subscribers and I would like to thank all for it. But, however, it will take a little while and patience to see this Page rolling once again searching and digging for beautiful pearls and precious gems from the Book.

Thank you.

The admin

Dear folks,
For this week, we have these Paragraph nos. 7, 8 and 9 for study and this will be the pinned post:

"7 Among the Prophets was Noah. For nine hundred and fifty years He prayerfully exhorted His people and summoned them to the haven of security and peace. None, however, heeded His call. Each day they inflicted on His blessed person such pain and suffering that no one believed He could survive. How frequently they denied Him, how malevolently they hinted their suspicion against Him! Thus it hath been revealed: “And as often as a company of His people passed by Him, they derided Him. To them He said: ‘Though ye scoff at us now, we will scoff at you hereafter even as ye scoff at us. In the end ye shall know.’” (Qur’án 11:38) Long afterward, He several times promised victory to His companions and fixed the hour thereof. But when the hour struck, the divine promise was not fulfilled. This caused a few among the small number of His followers to turn away from Him, and to this testify the records of the bestknown books. These you must certainly have perused; if not, undoubtedly you will. Finally, as stated in books and traditions, there remained with Him only forty or seventytwo of His followers. At last from the depth of His being He cried aloud: “Lord! Leave not upon the land a single dweller from among the unbelievers.” (Qur’án 71:26)

8 And now, consider and reflect a moment upon the waywardness of this people. What could have been the reason for such denial and avoidance on their part? What could have induced them to refuse to put off the garment of denial, and to adorn themselves with the robe of acceptance? Moreover, what could have caused the nonfulfilment of the divine promise which led the seekers to reject that which they had accepted? Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns. Even as He hath revealed: “Do men think when they say ‘We believe’ they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?” (Qur’án 29:2)

9 And after Noah the light of the countenance of Húd shone forth above the horizon of creation. For well-nigh seven hundred years, according to the sayings of men, He exhorted the people to turn their faces and draw nearer unto the Ridván of the divine presence. What showers of afflictions rained upon Him, until at last His adjurations bore the fruit of increased rebelliousness, and His assiduous endeavours resulted in the wilful blindness of His people. “And their unbelief shall only increase for the unbelievers their own perdition.” (Qur’án 35:39)

Dear folks,

For this week, we have paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 to study and discuss. This will be the pinned post for this week.


Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 The Kitab-i-Iqan
4
Ponder for a moment, and reflect upon that which hath been the cause of such denial on the part of those who have searched with such earnestness and longing. Their attack hath been more fierce than tongue or pen can describe. Not one single Manifestation of Holiness hath appeared but He was afflicted by the denials, the repudiation, and the vehement opposition of the people around Him. Thus it hath been revealed: “O the misery of men! No Messenger cometh unto them but they laugh Him to scorn.” (Qur’án 36:30). Again He saith: “Each nation hath plotted darkly against their Messenger to lay violent hold on Him, and disputed with vain words to invalidate the truth.” (Qur’án 40:5)

5
In like manner, those words that have streamed forth from the source of power and descended from the heaven of glory are innumerable and beyond the ordinary comprehension of man. To them that are possessed of true understanding and insight the Súrah of Húd surely sufficeth. Ponder a while those holy words in your heart, and, with utter detachment, strive to grasp their meaning. Examine the wondrous behaviour of the Prophets, and recall the defamations and denials uttered by the children of negation and falsehood, perchance you may cause the bird of the human heart to wing its flight away from the abodes of heedlessness and doubt unto the nest of faith and certainty, and drink deep from the pure waters of ancient wisdom, and partake of the fruit of the tree of divine knowledge. Such is the share of the pure in heart of the bread that hath descended from the realms of eternity and holiness.

6
Should you acquaint yourself with the indignities heaped upon the Prophets of God, and apprehend the true causes of the objections voiced by their oppressors, you will surely appreciate the significance of their position. Moreover, the more closely you observe the denials of those who have opposed the Manifestations of the divine attributes, the firmer will be your faith in the Cause of God. Accordingly, a brief mention will be made in this Tablet of divers accounts relative to the Prophets of God, that they may demonstrate the truth that throughout all ages and centuries the Manifestations of power and glory have been subjected to such heinous cruelties that no pen dare describe them. Perchance this may enable a few to cease to be perturbed by the clamour and protestations of the divines and the foolish of this age, and cause them to strengthen their confidence and certainty.

IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, THE EXALTED, THE MOST HIGH.

Paragraph
1 NO man shall attain the shores of the ocean of true understanding except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth. Sanctify your souls, O ye peoples of the world, that haply ye may attain that station which God hath destined for you and enter thus the tabernacle which, according to the dispensations of Providence, hath been raised in the firmament of the Bayán.

2 THE essence of these words is this: they that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly— their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in His way. Then will they be made worthy of the effulgent glories of the sun of divine knowledge and understanding, and become the recipients of a grace that is infinite and unseen, inasmuch as man can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the AllGlorious, can never quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and wisdom, can never enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of divine nearness and favour, unless and until he ceases to regard the words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for the true understanding and recognition of God and His Prophets.

3 CONSIDER the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment, and be made manifest to all the world. And whensoever the portals of grace did open, and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon mankind, and the light of the Unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial might, they all denied Him, and turned away from His face—the face of God Himself. Refer ye, to verify this truth, to that which hath been recorded in every sacred Book.

Re: This Thread is for the Author of book/s Only

Dear folks,

Some of the friends may have an enrapturing devotion and attraction to the Blessed Beauty and his Creative Word to the point that they are able to share the lofty and spiritual message to others and with great delight and enthusiasm they are able to author great book or books. That in doing so, they may have forgotten to earn for themselves and their family a living or might have adversely affected their financial earnings and might have, therefore, wished to engage, or are already engaging, in some kind of work or business for living aside from those directly connected with the Faith’s activities which may have resulted to the dilemmatic fragmentation of their activity between serving the interest of the Faith and their wish to earn for themselves and their family a living.

To acknowledge those friends (authors) for their selfless effort for sharing the Creative Word of Hazrat Baha’u’llah and in the field of intellectual endeavor, this thread is for them to share the link/s to the book or books authored by them for friends to have opportunity to avail the same.

Folks (authors), please feel free to share the link/s here.

No ADDS for other goods or merchandise please.

Rudy D. Gumban
Acting Facilitator/Coordinator

Re: Process of Facilitating the Discussion

Dear folks,

Allah’u’Abha!

This is the suggested dynamics of facilitating the discussion which the friends may give their valuable inputs for modifications to bring out its best refinement, if not perfection.

I don’t have exact idea how the discussion will be facilitated in the Facebook On-line Study, but of course I have experienced attending numerous Ruhi study circles from which a framework and workable process of facilitating the discussion can be gained, nor have I experienced joining Baha’i Facebook On-line Study in the past for neither there is an existing one which we may look-up to as a model for this page but if there is, which I have never noticed or heard of it, then, just inform me.

Nevertheless, I just try to put myself steer clear, with the end-in-view, of digging out priceless treasures found in the The Kitab-i-Iqan book and, so, I have invited friends to join me in this quest to make it enjoyable with the friends around from other places in the world giving insights from the diverse perspectives. Moreover, we have a famous tool in our Faith in polishing and modifying to the best refinement different tasks through the cycle of action and learning and this is what we called the cycle of CARS- Consultation-Action-Reflection-Study. By this tool, we may be able bring to the best refinement, if not perfection, the process or methods of facilitating the discussion on a Baha’i Facebook On-line Study which may serve as a model for gaining insights in organizing other Baha’i Facebook On-line Studies but on different Baha’i Books or Holy Writings with friends, as participants, from all around the world.

To provide an instant framework and workable processes of facilitating the discussion, we will adopt and follow insights from Ruhi Institute whichever is applicable in this Facebook On-line Study. In a week, there will be a Discussion Facilitator to facilitate on his/her assigned paragraph/s, which could be composed of one or more paragraphs depending on how clear or depth the paragraph/s is/are and how indispensably connected the paragraphs to one another, to exhaust its discussion while the remaining two facilitators are preparing for their own assigned paragraph/s for the succeeding weeks. After a week, the first assigned paragraph/s is/are considered as “closed”. Then, the second facilitator will become a Discussion Facilitator who will post his/her own assigned paragraphs, together with researched elaborations and cross-references from other Writings, while the third facilitator is preparing for her/his turn. This rotational pattern goes on and on until the last paragraph of the book.

This rotational arrangement will free the facilitator from exhausting task of single handedly acting as facilitator for the entire book and may provide rest period or it will give him/her time to do research for his/her next assigned paragraph/s. But, if someone wish to be a sole facilitator for the entire book, then, he may clearly state his/her intention” or to send me private message because in response I will just simply say “So, be it”

The assignment of paragraph/s will be decided by the facilitators themselves. Or if they so wish, they may assign to me the task of assigning the paragraph/s which I will act as an over-all coordinator of the page.

The assigned paragraph which is being discussed in the thread is entirely left at the complete discretion of the Discussion Facilitator. He/she may employs techniques, methods, approaches, questions etc. suited to his/her style of facilitating the discussion with the end-in-view that the greater participants will be encouraged to participate in the discussion. Likewise, the Discussion Facilitator has full discretion to decide question or issue being raised on his/her thread. In the event, it is a difficult question or issue which is being raised again for reconsideration, Discussion Facilitator will ask for consultation with other facilitators, in private or through private messaging, then, convey its decision, which is already final.

The tentative date for the start of the study will be on the first day of Ayyam-i-Ha-Feb. 25 or March 1, 2015.

Friends, I wish to hear your valuable inputs on the above suggested plans and methods for the study.

HAVE A GOOD AND BLISSFUL DAY!

Thanks

Rudy D. Gumban
Temporary Facilitator/Coordinator

Dear folks,

Let us welcome one of our valuable scholar friends Sen McGlinn to this group to help us dig out the treasures found in The Kitab-i-Iqan. I have seen valuable inputs and insight offered by this friend of ours in various Baha'i discussions and discussions groups on diverse topics and I have really sought his presence to join us in our quest of treasure hunting of the priceless book revealed by his Beloved Beauty Hazrat Baha'u'llah.

Sen McGlinn welcome to the group.

Rudy D. Gumban
Temporary Facilitator/Coordinator

This post is from our dear friend Christopher Buck (2/7/2015):

"Friends: I posted the following new evidence on June, 1998 at http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol2/iqan&sn.htm * * * Fresh evidence for the dating of the Iqan has been brought to light by Dr. Ahang Rabbani, in a draft manuscript, "Conversion of the Great Uncle of the Bab," submitted for publication in World Order Magazine. Dr. Rabbani has translated a letter published in Khandan-i Afnan, pp. 42-3, written by Haji Mirza Sayyid Muhammad to his eldest son, Haji Mirza Muhammad-Taqi, known as the Vakil-Dawla, recounting the former's visit to the Shrines of the Twin Imams at Kazimayn. This letter was written from the `Atabat by the Bab's "Great Uncle" (Khal-i Akbar) after he had visited Baha'u'llah and had received the Kitab-i Iqan. The letter is dated 5 Rajab 1277 A.H. (17 January 1861). The letter, in part, reads: "Praise be God, for what I have to write you is that we attained the presence of His Holiness Baha, upon Him be God's peace. Your place was indeed empty. He showered us with utmost affection and kindness and asked that we stay for the night and we remained in His presence. The evident truth is that to be deprived of the blessing of His presence is a mighty and evident loss. May God bestow His grace upon us so that we would everlastingly attain unto the blessing of His presence" (translated by Ahang Rabbani). The date of this letter provides a terminus ad quem, which enables us to bracket the time of the revelation of the Kitab-i Iqan, placing the date of the Iqan squarely in 1277 A.H. rather than 1278, and probably just a few days prior to 17 January 1861. This new finding may be decisive in arriving at a nearly precise date for the revelation of the Iqan. Dr. Rabbani is to be credited with unearthing this new (and possibly conclusive) evidence, even though I may have been the first to realize its implications for dating the Iqan. The discovery requires further investigation, as it would appear to overrule the internal evidence of 1278 A.H. given in the Iqan itself, upon which evidence Shoghi Effendi based his own dating of 1861-62 (see discussion in Symbol and Secret). Dr. Rabbani has written to the Universal House of Justice to locate the original of this important letter, in order to verify its date. * * * I only post on Facebook rarely, but received an email message today, notifying me of this new page, which is welcome indeed!"

Baha'u'llah's Book of Certitude and the Sun of Iqan (Certainty) The Book of Certitude (Kitab-i Iqan) is the preeminent doctrinal work of the Baha'i Faith. Mirza Husayn `Ali Nuri, Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the author, later designated the Iqan as the "Lord of all books" ("sayyid-i kutub": idem, "Lawh-i Mubarak dar javab-i `Aridih-'i Jinab-i Abu'l-Fada'il-i Gulpayg…

Dear follks,

Please let us welcome one of our dear and beloved precious friends Christopher Buck to this group. We would like to hear a word from him, if he would accept the opportunity to be one of our facilitators in this Baha’i Facebook Online-Study (BFOS) on the book The Kitab-i-Iqan/Book of Certitude which is one of the lofty avenues for serving the Cause of Hazrat Baha’u’llah -the Cause that has strongly and cohesively bonded the friends from different places, into one loving community, of this tiny planet we will someday and someway called OUR HOME. Any word from our dear friend, Christopher Buck?

Rudy D. Gumban
Facilitator
acting on temporary capacity