Exploring the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Omid Ghaemmaghami is Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, USA. He is the author of works in Islamic, Bábí, and Bahá’í studies.Shahin Vafai is an attorney with nearly three decades of experience in law. He is the co-author of a legal treatise on appellate practice and of works in Bahá’í studies.

• List of ImagesPrefaceThe Bahá’í Faith: An IntroductionIntroduction1: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: History2: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Language, Style, and Translation3. Theological Foundations: God and the Manifestation of God4. Human Beings: Identity, Nature, Purpose, and Journey5. The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh: Succession, Interpretation, and the Bahá’í Administrative Order6. Personal Devotional Laws: Prayer, Fasting, and Other Practices7. A Holy and Pure Life: Virtues and Laws8. Laws Related to Personal Status and Death: Marriage, Divorce, Burial, and Inheritance9. Community Laws: Education, Consultation, the Calendar, the Feast, and the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár 10. Unity: Vision and Provisions11. Justice and Law: Principles and Administration12. Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation: Addresses to Kings, Rulers, and Religious LeadersConclusionBibliographyIndex to Paragraph Numbers of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and “Questions and Answers”Index

A landmark, scholarly introduction and guide to the Baha’i faith’s holy book, Ghaemmaghami and Vafai’s impressively researched work contextualizes the sacred text within the corpus of its founder’s writings and those of his successors, explains and clarifies its language, elucidates and expands on each of its topics, and provides an overarching view of its contents. An indispensable resource for a deeper understanding of the Kitab-i-Aqdas and its place in the Baha’i religion.