Notes to Aqdas, Sentence #251
Notes from the Authorized Translation
129. the Mother Book # 103
The term "Mother Book" is generally used to designate the
central Book of a religious Dispensation. In the Qur'an and
Islamic Hadith, the term is used to describe the Qur'an
itself. In the Babi Dispensation, the Bayan is the Mother
Book, and the Kitab-i-Aqdas is the Mother Book of the
Dispensation of Baha'u'llah. Further, the Guardian in a
letter written on his behalf has stated that this concept can
also be used as a "collective term indicating the body of the
Teachings revealed by Baha'u'llah". This term is also used
in a broader sense to signify the Divine Repository of
Revelation.
Earl Elder's Notes
1. The original of the books "sent down" by God is kept in heaven. It is sometimes called "the Preserved Tablet". It seems that Baha'u'llah claims to be himself that heaven from which the
books emanate. For a discussion of ummu l-kitab, see Commentaries on Qur'an, 13:39, and Enc. of Islam, iv, 1012.
Kitab-i-Aqdas Multilinear Translation table of contents
Front page of translation | Glossary of select Arabic terms