Selections from the Writings of the Báb is an anthology in English that features translated works of the Báb, the founder of Bábism and the forerunner-Prophet of the Baháʼí Faith. It was compiled and published in 1976 by the Universal House of Justice.
 | |
| Author | Research Department of the Universal House of Justice |
|---|---|
| Translator | Habib Taherzadeh |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Anthology |
| Publisher | Baháʼí Publishing Trust |
Publication date | 1976 |
| Pages | 223 |
| ISBN | 978-0853980667 |
Composition
editThis book is primarily based on a similar Persian book published in Tehran with the title Montaḵabāt-e āyāt az āṯār-e Hażrat-e Noqṭa-ye Ūlā, although the English translation was published a year earlier than the Persian version.[1][2] The Báb's writings were reviewed by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, and the selected passages were translated by Habib Taherzadeh, with the assistance of a translating committee.[3]
Denis MacEoin describes the book as a "heavily edited selection of passages".[1] According to the scholar, the editorial stance of the Baháʼí administration in selecting the content of the book was intended to present a "tendentious" and "partisan viewpoint" regarding the Báb, specifically his precursor role in relation to Baháʼu'lláh, rather than accurately representing his teachings and wider thought.[4]
Content
editThe book contains excerpts from four of Báb's works, including Qayyūm al-asmā, Persian Bayán, Dalá'il-i-Sab'ih and Kitabu'l-Asmáʼ.[5] Not any of the sections deal with legal prescriptions.[6] MacEoin argues that this can be explained by the evident reluctance of the Baháʼís to publish the complete texts of the Báb's works, as instructed by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.[7] The Baháʼí perspective is that the laws of Bábism have been abrogated, superseded, and canceled in favor of their own. As a result, they refrain from preaching Bayán.[7]
Reception
editDenis MacEoin, in his book The Sources for Early Bābī Doctrine and History, mentions several points that he deems as flaws in the book, writing "lack of an introduction, the virtual absence of notes, and the failure to indicate identity, provenance, condition, and location of manuscripts used or the reasons for their choice... no indication as to whether a given passage was translated on the basis of one or more manuscripts; and, in several cases, the original is only vaguely identified as a prayer or tablet".[8]
Citations
edit- ^ a b MacEoin 1988.
- ^ MacEoin 1992, pp. 2–3.
- ^ MacEoin 1992, p. 4.
- ^ MacEoin 1992, pp. 3, 5.
- ^ MacEoin 1992, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Momen 1987, p. 318.
- ^ a b MacEoin 1992, p. 3.
- ^ MacEoin 1992, p. 5.
References
edit- MacEoin, D. M. (December 15, 1988). "BAYĀN". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica (Online ed.).
- MacEoin, Denis (1992). The Sources for Early Bābī Doctrine and History: A Survey. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-09462-8.
- Browne, Edward Granville (1987). "A Summary of the Persian Bayan". In Momen, Moojan (ed.). Selections from the Writings of E.G. Browne on the Bábí and Baháʼí Religions. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 318. ISBN 0-85398-247-3. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14.
Further reading
edit- Saiedi, Nader (2008). Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb. Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. ISBN 978-1-55458-056-9.