Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

by Bahá'u'lláh

Book by Baha Allah, Baha'u'llah, Taherzadeh, Habib

Genres: Baha I, Religion, Nonfiction, Scripture

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Persian religious leader Bahaullah, originally Mirza Huseyn Ali, a follower of the Bab, founded the Baha'i in 1863.

Baha'i, the word, signifies a follower of Bahaullah, which means the "splendor of God" in Persian.

Bahá'u'lláh, a member of the great patrician family, endowed with wealth and vast estates, ably traced lineage to the ruling dynasties of imperial past. Bahá'u'lláh turned his back on the position at court, which these advantages offered; people knew his generosity and kindliness, which made him deeply loved among his countrymen.

The religious revolution caused much social upheaval, and Bahá'u'lláh announced support for the message, so his privileged position survived not long. After the execution, authorities unleashed the the waves of violence unleashed upon the Bábis; Bahá'u'lláh, engulfed, suffered the loss of all his worldly endowments, and imprisonment, torture, and a series of banishment subjected him. In the first banishment to Baghdad, he in 1863 announced that God promised his coming as the one divine messenger.

From Baghdad, people sent Bahá'u'lláh to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to Acre in the Holy Land, where he arrived as a prisoner in 1868. From Adrianople and later from Acre, Bahá'u'lláh addressed a series of letters among the most remarkable documents in religious history to the rulers of his day. They proclaimed the coming unification of humanity and the emergence of a world civilization. They called upon the monarchs, emperors, and presidents of the 19th century to reconcile their differences, to curtail their armaments, and to devote their energies to the establishment of universal peace.

Bahá'u'lláh passed away at Bahji, just north of Acre, and people buried his body. His teachings already began to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East and brought the world community, focused on the point of his shrine today.

Reviews

[Matthew LaFave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually have been reading a book titled Writings of Baha’u’llah, a compilation of the main books, including: Tablets Revealed, Gleanings from the Writings, and The Book of Certitude. It is hands down better than having to read with an electronic tablet; the book format is more fulfilling than the Kindle translations, and in truth it is powerful stuff that serves a great purpose on many levels. I can't say whether the average person would even consider reading a book like this, but I do appreciate the author's call to action to be very patient, understanding, and compassionate with all of our fellow people under all conditions.

For a religious book, it is written in a way that you can pick it up and read almost any section of it at any time, and eventually a message will become clear. At first glance a couple years ago, I thought the book was a bit ridiculous, but over time it has become really refreshing. A person has to look past the strange wording that takes a while to get used to, and the certain sections where the message is difficult to pinpoint, and just continue on. Overall when I pick up one of the books and start reading it, it is a breath of fresh air spiritually, and an awesome guide to the observance of Scripture. The author quotes the Bible on many occasions and repeatedly quotes the Qur'an. It is also practical, especially knowing that the author has proclaimed the use of opium being strictly forbidden, along with plurality of wives. Anyway, if you get a chance, I'd advise anyone (non-verbally) to pick up one of the actual books and take a look. I can say that reading this book is better for you than watching the television....

I do like how it is repeatedly stated that the "divines" of the church have so often clung to the word for word meaning of Scripture that they have shut themselves out from the many meanings that were intended, and to some of them, the concept of God has become an empty word. Then to see that the church relies on the money they make from the convictions they preach, can surely make a person question the entire institution. The fact that the Writings of Baha'u'llah are repeatedly adjuring people to 'renounce the world and all that is therein' basically reinforces how I have always felt.

Apparently the author lived, and was persecuted, in Persia during the 1800's. Over my recent years of being exposed to popular culture and the values of people, I cannot rationally think of a greater ideal than renouncing the world and being patient with people, especially in this day. The endless and very much pointless entertainment that is sent through the television, along with the prevalence of corruption on so many levels, has caused skepticism and faithlessness to take hold of many of our actions. One thing that should be discussed is the fact that if you took every single person with fame or celebrity and clumped them all together, you would, of a certainty, behold a heap of corruption.

Like anyone else, I do have ups and downs daily in life, and I generally attempt to find something enriching to give me a sense of tranquillity before I go to sleep. It does really feel healthy to read the books by Baha'u'llah, generally just a bit at a time, when I am looking for something to divert my attention. It would be nice to see the mentality of the people move toward being a bit more subtle and faith based, but in a realistic sense. Daily I encounter people who seem to be lost in the transitory depth of technology, and I do wish that somehow people could wake up, and realize that over time, everything does have a purpose. I do believe that a person can and should come to some logical, powerful conclusions about life.

Regardless of how hopeless society may seem, I still do have my own, very much steadfast, peace of mind. I can only deduce the necessity of an axiomatic proof. A subduing, attainable achievement being the only remedy to all of mankind: Enlightenment.

To anyone who respects the major religions or anyone looking for enlightenment, I have to say the cornerstone books of Baha'u'llah are wonderful.

[Esther Bradley-detally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten stars. I have been a Baha'i for 54 years; and the Baha'i Writings reflect and ocean to dip into, to spend, seconds, moments, hours, and years upon Baha'u'llah's verses. These Writings are Revelations. No mere human tongue can render enough gratitude.

[Kobina Amissah-Fynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baha'i Scripture. One of 100 volumes of Revelation.

[Chloë]

Who am I to rate the Word of God.

[Ajay Mallya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Baha'i work has a nice balance of advice regarding personal values and development; it also has a decent quantity of interesting historical material. I personally enjoyed the Tablet of Wisdom the most. One can read the tablets in any order; however, in "Selections from the writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá," ʻAbduʼl-Bahá suggests that we read six or so particular tablets first. I suggest reading those first.

[Jim Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far be it from me to even imagine "reviewing" the revealed Word of the Creator. This is knowledge infinitely beyond any of us. It is perfection itself, and it will transform the world.

[William Saeednia-Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

To have journeyed through the pages of this book is a bit like embarking on a sacred pilgrimage. Each paragraph, each sentence, is deeply worth reflecting on.

The Tablets contained within this sacred text are a testament to Bahá’u’lláh's boundless compassion and wisdom, each writing offers invaluable insights to how we should relate to the spiritual world, the material world, and to each other. The Tablet of Wisdom, in particular, is a masterpiece of spiritual contemplation. Its poetic language and profound truths have the power to ignite the soul and inspire us to strive to better ourselves, understand ourselves and live more compassionate lives.

As I reflected each evening on a single paragraph, I was struck by the timeless nature of these revelations. The challenges and opportunities faced by Bahá'u'lláh's time are mirrored in the world today, and His teachings offer a path forward, a beacon of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness.

In conclusion, this book is a sacred text that deserves to be cherished and studied by all who seek a deeper connection to the divine. It is a source of inspiration, guidance, and solace, a testament to the enduring power of Bahá'u'lláh's message.

[George McNeish · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Read. Many insights to modern day Spirituality.