God Passes By:
A Study Guide

by Horace Holley

Wilmette, IL: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1970

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
• I THE BAHA'I DISPENSATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
• II TABLETS AND WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAH . . . . . . . . 9
• III EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS . . . 10
• IV THE MINISTRY OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA . . . . . . . . . 13
• V THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER . . . . . . . . . 14
• VI RECAPITULATION AND MEANINGS . . . . . . . . . 17
• SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
• NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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In God Passes By the Guardian has given the Bahá'ís a work which combines and correlates exposition of the Teachings, summary of the historical events, presentation of the Persons of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in their spiritual significance, and statements on their principal Tablets and Works. To grasp so great a range of material, frequent reading and rereading are essential, for the essence of this book lies in its unity of treatment of diverse aspects of all that constituted the origin and development of the Faith in its first century.

There are, however, recurrent themes and subjects which can be brought together for purposes of closer study and fuller understanding - great avenues down which we can proceed in order to concentrate attention upon the organic themes one at a time.

This Study Outline attempts to provide access to six different themes which are dominant in all sections of the book. It is therefore a subjects index which can be used for continuous study and discussion by a group, or occasional reference by the individual student. In addition, the outline supplies a list of supplementary references, as for example those which indicate the successive passages in which the Guardian deals with the enemies who have assailed the Cause from within.

Experience has shown that attempts to conduct study classes on God Passes By find it a formidable undertaking. Some type of outline is needed to facilitate assimilation of this great work by the Bahá'í community, and the present treatment is offered as an assistance.

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I
THE BAHA'I DISPENSATION

• A. The Bab
  • 1. His Revelation and Claim
          pp. 4, 6-7, 10
  • 2. The Greater and Lesser Covenant
          pp. 27-31
  • 3. Significance of the Bab
    • a. His Independent Revelation
    • b. Herald of a New Era
            pp. 54-60
  • 4. Tablets and Works of the Bab
          pp. 22-27
• B. Bahá'u'lláh
  • 1. Birth of the Bahá'í Revelation
          pp. 91-93
  • 2. Nature and Implications of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation
          pp. 93-103
  • 3. Promulgation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas
          pp. 213-216
  • 4. Distinguishing Principles and Precepts
          pp. 216-219
  • 5. The Institution of the Covenant
          pp. 237-240

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II
TABLETS AND WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAH

• 1. First Writings
        pp. 120-121
• 2. Writings in 'Iraq
        pp. 137-138
• 3. Kitab-i-Iqan
        pp. 138-193
• 4. Hidden Words
        pp. 138-139
• 5. Seven Valleys and Four Valleys
        pp. 140-141
• 6. Tablet of the Holy Mariner
        p. 147
• 7. Tablet of the Howdah
        p. 157
• 8. Writings in Adrianople
        pp. 171-172, 177
• 9. Writings in 'Akka
        pp. 205-206, 216, 219-220

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS

A. The Bab
• 1. The Bab's Declaration to Mulla Husayn
        pp. 5-6
• 2. Enrollment of the Letters of the Living
        pp. 7-8
• 3. Pilgrimage to Mecca
        pp. 8-9
• 4. Examined by Representatives of the Shah
        pp. 11-12
• 5. Arrest in Shiraz
        p. 13
• 6. Sojourn in Isfahan
        p. 13-16
• 7. Confinement in Mah-Ku
        pp. 16-19
• 8. Confinement in Chihriq
        pp. 19-21
• 9. Second Examination of the Bab; Public Assertion of His Claims
        pp. 21-22
• 10. Correspondence with Bahá'u'lláh
        p. 31

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATION
(Cont.)

• • 11. Inauguration of the Babi Dispensation;
          Conference of Badasht
          pp. 31-34
  • 12. Documents, Seals and Rings sent to Bahá'u'lláh
          p. 51
  • 13. Martyrdom of the Bab
          pp. 50-54
• B. Bahá'u'lláh
  • 1. Leadership after the Death of the Bab
          pp. 67-70
  • 2. Imprisonment in Siyah-Chal
          pp. 71-72
  • 3. Exile to Baghdad
          pp. 104-106, 108-109
  • 4. Retirement to Kurdistan
          pp. 114-120, 122-124
  • 5. Return to Baghdad
          p. 126
  • 6. Challenge to the Clergy
          pp. 143-144
  • 7. Exile to Constantinople
          pp. 148-149, 157

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATION
(Cont.)

• B. Bahá'u'lláh (Cont.)
  • 8. Declaration to His Followers
          pp. 151-155
  • 9. Exile to Adrianople
          pp. 159-162
  • 10. Proclamation to the Kings and Religious Leaders from Adrianople
          pp. 158-159, 170, 172-176
  • 11. Imprisonment in 'Akka
          pp. 179-182
  • 12. Interrogation by Governor of 'Akka
          pp. 190-191
  • 13. Release from Confinement
          pp. 192-193
  • 14. On Mount Carmel
          p. 194
  • 15. Leadership
          pp. 194-195
  • 16. Proclamation to the Kings and Religious Leaders from 'Akka
          pp. 206-213
  • 17. Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
          pp. 221-223

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IV
THE MINISTRY OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA

• 1. His station
        pp. 240-243
• 2. His Mission
        pp. 252
• 3. Shrine of the Bab
        pp. 273, 276-277
• 4. Investigation by Plenary Commission of the Sultan
        pp. 269-272
• 5. Two Journeys to the West
        pp. 280-281
• 6. Exposition of Bahá'í Principles
        pp. 281-282
• 7. In America
        pp. 287-290
• 8. Source of the Administrative Order
        pp. 324-326
• 9. Will and Testament
        p. 328
• 10. Nature of the Administrative Order
        pp. 326-327
• 11. Prophecies
        pp. 315-316

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V
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER

• 1. Inauguration of Formative Period
        p. 329
• 2. Establishment of Administrative Order
  • a. Preliminary Steps
          pp. 329-330
  • b. Local Spiritual Assemblies; Ordination of
          pp. 331-332
  • c. Local Spiritual Assemblies; Functions of
          p. 331
  • d. National Spiritual Assemblies; Institution of
          pp. 332-333
  • e. National Committees
          p. 333
  • f. Bahá'í National Constitutions
          pp. 334-336
  • g. Incorporation of Local Assemblies
          p. 336
  • h. National and Local Endowments
          pp. 337-339
• 3. Collective Bahá'í Undertakings
  • a. Haziratu'l-Quds
          pp. 339-340
  • b. Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
          p. 340
  • c. Summer Schools
          p. 340-341
  • d. Youth Activity
          pp. 341-342
  • e. Nineteen Day Feast and Other Factors
          p. 342

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V.
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER
(Cont.)

• • f. Public Conferences
          pp. 342-343
  • g. Contacts with Civil Authority
          pp. 343-345
  • h. World Administrative Center
          pp. 345-348
  • i. First Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the West
          pp. 348-351
  • j. Teaching the Cause
          pp. 376-377, 379, 386-387
  • k. Martyrs and Heroes of the West
          p. 400
  • l. Development of Publications
          pp. 380-383
• 4. Unfoldment of Administrative Order Under Impact of Hostile Forces
  • a. Emergence of World Community
          p. 354
  • b. Seizure of Keys of Holy Tomb
          p. 355
  • c. Developments in 'Akka and Haifa
          p. 356
  • d. Seizure of House in Baghdad
          pp. 356-360
  • e. Disruption of Communities in Turkistan and Caucasus
          pp. 360-361
  • f. Repression of Community in Germany
          pp. 361-362
  • g. Restrictions imposed in Persia
          pp. 362-363

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V
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER
(Cont.)

• 4. (Cont.)
  • h. Pronouncement of Islamic Court in Egypt
          pp. 364-366, 368
  • i. Civil recognition in Palestine
          p. 369
  • j. Bahá'í Status Maintained in Persia
          pp. 369-372
  • k. Civil recognition in the United States
          pp. 372-374
  • l. Independence of Faith Proclaimed in India, Iraq, Great Britain and Australia
          p. 374

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VI
RECAPITULATION AND MEANINGS

• 1. The Four Periods of First Bahá'í Century
        pp. xiii - x
• 2. Opening of Bahá'í Era
        p. 3
• 3. Last Three Years of Ministry of the Bab
        pp. 17-18, 34.
• 4. The Bab's Cup of Bitter Woes
        pp. 49-55.
• 5. The Fertile Seeds of World Order
        pp. 79-86.
• 6. Oppressions of the Babi Era
        pp. 89-97.
• 7. Inauguration of Bahá'u'lláh's Ministry
        pp. 106-108.
• 8. Turning Point in Bahá'í History
        pp. 127-128
• 9. The Steed of Victory
        pp. 144-145
• 10. The End of the Second Decade
        pp. 157-158
• 11. Opening of Last Phase of Bahá'u'lláh's Ministry
        pp. 183-185

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VI
RECAPITULATION AND MEANINGS
(Cont.)

• 12. The Bahá'í Era to the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
        pp. 223-224
• 13. From the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh to the Proclamation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
        pp. 244-245
• 14. Effects of the Master's Journeys to the West
        p. 294
• 15. The Ministry of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
        pp. 295-296, 307-308, 314-315
• 16. The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
        pp. 323-324
• 17. Spread of the Cause in First Century
        pp. 378-379
• 18. Recapitulation of Bahá'í History
        pp. 402-410
• 19. Future Tasks and Victories
        pp. 410-412

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SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCE

• 1. God-Sent Upheavals
        pp. 61-62.
• 2. Fate of Enemies of the Bab
        pp. 81-85
• 3. First Phase in Unfoldment of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation
        pp. 109-111
• 4. The Center of Sedition; Disintegration of the Babi Community
        pp. 112-115
• 5. Ascendancy of Bahá'u'lláh; Regeneration of Community
        pp. 132-134
• 6. Beginnings of Bahá'í Community in Adrianople
        pp. 176-177
• 7. Mirza Yahya Cast Out
        pp. 163-164
        165-167
        169-170
• 8. Death of the Purest Branch
        pp. 188-189
• 9. Fate of the Enemies of Bahá'u'lláh
        pp. 224-233

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SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCES
(Cont.)

• 10. Fate of Mirza Yahya
        p. 233
• 11. Rebellion of Muhammad-'Ali; Crisis Not Schism
        pp. 245-251
• 12. Covenant-Breakers Denounce 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the Government
        pp. 263-265
• 13. Fate of the Covenant-Breakers
        pp. 317-320
• 14. Violation of the Will and Testament
        pp. 327-328
• 15. Achievements of American Bahá'í Community
        pp. 396-400

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NOTES

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