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The seven valleys and The four valleys
A mystical account of the odyssey of the human soul.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1860
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December 3, 2023
The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
by Bahá'u'lláh, Marzieh Gail (Translator), Ali Kuli Khan (Translator)
Seven Valleys happened to be on my bookshelf as I passed by and since it was a thin little volume, I thought I’d finally read it. I have had several brushes with Bahai’ism:
I had just read about Bahaiism in my senior world religions course. A month later, in my training to go to Iran I had to learn Farsi, or Persian. My Persian teacher was from a prominent Bahai family. We became good friends, even though she was married, and we kept in touch for a long while.
When I served in Iran in the Peace Corps, I was assigned to remote Salmas, Western Azerbaijan, on the border of Turkey and Iranian Kurdestan. I was on a mission with the Agricultural Bank manager to distribute Royal funds to Kurdish village leaders high in the Zagros Mountains. We were accompanied in our jeep by an armed bodyguard, who was an Iranian Azerbaijani, and an experienced Armenian guide. When we got near the summit of one of the peaks, the bank manager, who was a very good friend of mine and remained so the rest of his life, told me that the Armenian wanted to show me something, knowing that I was interested in the history of Iran and particularly that of Azerbaijan.
He led me up a steep and narrow winding path no wider than the span of both feet together to what looked like an abandoned citadel. He told me that this was where one of the Bahai prophets was kept in prison. Bahá'u'lláh stayed in Iranian Kurdestan for a couple or so years and that may have been where he stayed or was jailed. He may have written “The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys” there. Climbing down from the ruin I looked down into the chasm that I had just climbed up from and saw the white rapids of the river that watered the plains of Salmas several hundreds of feet below me.
So, this book brought back memories, but I wouldn’t say that it was a work that was new to me, because I had read some works of Sufi poets, such as Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, al-Din Al-Attar, Al-Ghazali and others, whom Bahá'u'lláh refers to and quotes. He refers to the Bible and the Quran also—the latter often. I am not an expert in any of these texts but I have read enough to have been influenced by these works somewhat throughout my life. I would say that one would benefit more from reading the above sources before reading Bahá'u'lláh's works.
Shortly after this period, I found myself in Haifa, having landed their illegally, as it were, by ship, but I was allowed into Israel by the Israeli Coast Guard officers. The next day I made my way up to Mount Carmel and discovered to my surprise a Bahai temple and sanctuary. (This was a year before the 1967 Six-Day War between the Israelis and the Arabs.)
Reading Bahá'u'lláh's short work has prompted me to read more thoroughly the works mentioned above, cherishing those sweet instances of adventurous youth.
by Bahá'u'lláh, Marzieh Gail (Translator), Ali Kuli Khan (Translator)
Seven Valleys happened to be on my bookshelf as I passed by and since it was a thin little volume, I thought I’d finally read it. I have had several brushes with Bahai’ism:
I had just read about Bahaiism in my senior world religions course. A month later, in my training to go to Iran I had to learn Farsi, or Persian. My Persian teacher was from a prominent Bahai family. We became good friends, even though she was married, and we kept in touch for a long while.
When I served in Iran in the Peace Corps, I was assigned to remote Salmas, Western Azerbaijan, on the border of Turkey and Iranian Kurdestan. I was on a mission with the Agricultural Bank manager to distribute Royal funds to Kurdish village leaders high in the Zagros Mountains. We were accompanied in our jeep by an armed bodyguard, who was an Iranian Azerbaijani, and an experienced Armenian guide. When we got near the summit of one of the peaks, the bank manager, who was a very good friend of mine and remained so the rest of his life, told me that the Armenian wanted to show me something, knowing that I was interested in the history of Iran and particularly that of Azerbaijan.
He led me up a steep and narrow winding path no wider than the span of both feet together to what looked like an abandoned citadel. He told me that this was where one of the Bahai prophets was kept in prison. Bahá'u'lláh stayed in Iranian Kurdestan for a couple or so years and that may have been where he stayed or was jailed. He may have written “The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys” there. Climbing down from the ruin I looked down into the chasm that I had just climbed up from and saw the white rapids of the river that watered the plains of Salmas several hundreds of feet below me.
So, this book brought back memories, but I wouldn’t say that it was a work that was new to me, because I had read some works of Sufi poets, such as Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, al-Din Al-Attar, Al-Ghazali and others, whom Bahá'u'lláh refers to and quotes. He refers to the Bible and the Quran also—the latter often. I am not an expert in any of these texts but I have read enough to have been influenced by these works somewhat throughout my life. I would say that one would benefit more from reading the above sources before reading Bahá'u'lláh's works.
Shortly after this period, I found myself in Haifa, having landed their illegally, as it were, by ship, but I was allowed into Israel by the Israeli Coast Guard officers. The next day I made my way up to Mount Carmel and discovered to my surprise a Bahai temple and sanctuary. (This was a year before the 1967 Six-Day War between the Israelis and the Arabs.)
Reading Bahá'u'lláh's short work has prompted me to read more thoroughly the works mentioned above, cherishing those sweet instances of adventurous youth.
November 9, 2013
I am reading, and have read this book over and over and over, and constantly find new ways of understanding life. It is definitely my favorite book. It is about "the seven stages the soul must traverse" to reach perfection. To help in understanding the book, I find Towards the Summit of Reality, by Julio Savi, an indispensable guide and introduction.
And again, after finishing it this time, still find it excellent reading.
Always on my list to read again.
And again, after finishing it this time, still find it excellent reading.
Always on my list to read again.
February 11, 2010
This is my favorite of all of Baha'u'llah's writings. I've worn out several copies and given away several more. Finally gotten smart and have a hardbound copy for devotions and a paperback that goes everywhere with me.
Every time I read the Seven Valleys I get so much more out of it—insights and epiphanies as well as songs. The language is the language of the Poet, the result is absolute clarity.
Every time I read the Seven Valleys I get so much more out of it—insights and epiphanies as well as songs. The language is the language of the Poet, the result is absolute clarity.
August 13, 2016
“One must judge of search by the standard of the Majnun of Love. It is related that one day they came upon Majnun sifting the dust, and his tears flowing down. They said, "What doest thou?" He said, "I seek for Layli." They cried, "Alas for thee! Layli is of pure spirit, and thou seekest her in the dust!" He said, "I seek her everywhere; haply somewhere I shall find her."
Yea, although to the wise it be shameful to seek the Lord of Lords in the dust, yet this betokeneth intense ardor in searching. "Whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it.”
The true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest, and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved. Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God. Labor is needed, if we are to seek Him; ardor is needed, if we are to drink of the honey of reunion with Him; and if we taste of this cup, we shall cast away the world.
On this journey the traveler abideth in every land and dwelleth in every region. In every face, he seeketh the beauty of the Friend; in every country he looketh for the Beloved. He joineth every company, and seeketh fellowship with every soul, that haply in some mind he may uncover the secret of the Friend, or in some face he may behold the beauty of the Loved One.”
(Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 6)
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September 7, 2007A fantastic look into the 7 different levels of spiritual development. (Search, Love, Knowledge, Unity, Contentment, Wonderment, True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness). A fantastic read. Interesting to find out just what valley I was in, and how far i have to go to get to the 7th. I learned that I may not make it to the 7th valley in this world.
July 24, 2016
One of the greatest and most wonderful books I've ever read, so much of wisdom, many meanings and layers here. I definitely will reread it again and again. I still remember the first day I began to read this book, my perturbed heart became peaceful and serene instantly after reading the first three Valleys of Search, love and knowledge.
November 30, 2013
Written by Bahá'u'lláh during his two-year stay in the mountains of Kurdistan. During that time, he was in contact with the Naqshbandi and other Sufi orders. Rumi, the greatest Sufi poet, is quoted profusely.
February 7, 2019
“Whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it.”
May 27, 2025
This is a small box that has a lot to say. I've read many times over the years. It's a nice reminder and compass for life.
February 1, 2013
This is an excellent book, although I assume most people would declare it strange. When our planet is cruising on its orbit in space, and the sun is on the other side of our planet, I try to read one chapter of this book at that time. I believe it serves its purpose.
February 12, 2013
A mystical adventure. This book is different than other Bahá'í books that I've read over the decades. I find it easier to understand at my age now, than when I first read it as a youth.
April 2, 2011
"kitab suci"...
gak tau harus ngasih bintang berapa :P
gak tau harus ngasih bintang berapa :P
August 12, 2014
Beautiful. Everything that comes from the pen of Baha'u'llah is beautiful.
March 30, 2015
Beautiful in many ways. I had forgotten how deeply influenced Baha'i faith was in its beginning by Persian Sufism.
May 4, 2016
only got 4 stars because I felt there was a lot I didn't understand the first time around. Need to go back for a reread.
April 28, 2019
The Seven (and Four) Valleys was a great read about the stages of the spiritual journey and becoming united with the Divine. It's a Baha'i text (look it up if you don't know Baha'i religion) written to Sufis, and therefore takes on a beautiful poetic form à la Rumi.
I really enjoyed reading it, and my favorite part about it was how poetry and spiritual perspectives intertwine to make me see the Divine differently, and in a more beauty-centric, romantic way.
I really enjoyed reading it, and my favorite part about it was how poetry and spiritual perspectives intertwine to make me see the Divine differently, and in a more beauty-centric, romantic way.
March 24, 2021
"One must, then, read the book of his own self, rather than some treatise on rhetoric."
April 13, 2019
words cant say how great this book.
May 4, 2014
I just reread this after reading a collection of Rumi poems for the first time. While reading Rumi, I was reminded of these tablets over and over, and then had to go back to read them again. The symbols and iconic Persian stories that this book has in common with Rumi had a new dimension to them this time around. I feel like I got more out of it than I have before.
Anyway, it's a wonderful little book, very much in the tradition of Sufi mystics, pulling on that tradition. But of course there's a lot to learn here.
Anyway, it's a wonderful little book, very much in the tradition of Sufi mystics, pulling on that tradition. But of course there's a lot to learn here.
April 17, 2023
The third reading of this treatise of love and as always found new meaning and understanding. And a new quote: "...when the fire of love is ablaze, it burneth to ashes the harvest of reason." On our wedding invitation we put another quotation from the Seven Valleys: "To merit the madness of love, man must abound in sanity..." This reading I also compared the new translation found in "The Call of the Divine Beloved" with this first translation.
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November 21, 2025"The Seven Valleys" was part of the assigned reading for Week 3 of Wilmete Institute course, "The Writings of Baha'u'llah". Completed "The Four Valleys" today. Not rated as rating scripture seems inappropriate.
July 10, 2024
Wonderful book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews