Bahai Library Online

>   Published articles
TAGS: * Báb, The; * Bahá'u'lláh; * Manifestations of God; - Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of (before Declaration); - Poetry; Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of Revelation of; Banu Qurayza; Dawn-Breakers (book); Divinity; Divinity and servitude; Lawh-i-Hamd-i-Mushasha (Tablet of the Effulgent Praise); Maid of Heaven; Revelation; Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit, Tehran); Some Answered Questions (book); Ṭáhirih Qurratu'l-'Ayn; Theophany; Twin Manifestations
Abstract:
While the Síyáh-Chál was the birthplace of Bahá’u’lláh's mission, his awakening to his divine station might have gone through multiple stages, with his experience in the prison being the culmination of that process; some recognized his station earlier.
Notes:
Mirrored with permission from abs.bahai.org.uk/bsr-e20250507.

Evidences of Bahá'u'lláh's Theophanic Awakening and Disclosure before His Síyáh-Chál Experience

Bijan Ma'sumian
Adib Masumian

published in Bahá'í Studies Review

Association for Bahá'í Studies UK, 2025-07

Abstract: Baháʼuʼlláh’s epiphanic experience in the Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit) in 1852 is considered the point when He received “the first intimations of [His] dawning Revelation.” This is often understood to mean that Baháʼuʼlláh did not manifest any divine revelation prior to His encounter with the Maid of Heaven in the Síyáh-Chál. The primary purpose of this research is to provide evidence for a claim that, while the Síyáh-Chál was certainly “the birth[place] of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh,” and that the ministry of Baháʼuʼlláh thus did indeed commence with His experience in that prison, the awakening of Baháʼuʼlláh to His divine station might have gone through multiple stages and that His experience in the Síyáh-Chál could be regarded as the culmination of that process. Evidence supporting this thesis comes from significant experiences throughout Baháʼuʼlláh’s life, spanning from childhood episodes in the 1820s–1830s through formative events in the 1840s leading up to 1852. This paper draws on the Writings of Baháʼuʼlláh and ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, as well as hagiographical accounts showing how members of Baháʼuʼlláh’s inner circle recognized His station before the Síyáh-Chál experience. Special attention is given to Ṭáhirih (Qurratu’l-ʻAyn), whose writings suggest she recognized Baháʼuʼlláh, before His encounter with the Maid of Heaven in the Síyáh-Chál, as a Manifestation of God equal to the Báb and previous Manifestations.

METADATA
Views226 views since posted 2025-06-25; last edit 2025-06-25 00:35 UTC;
previous at archive.org.../masumian_bahaullah_theophanic_awakening
Language English
Permission   author
Share Shortlink: bahai-library.com/6921    Citation: ris/6921
Home divider Site Map divider Series divider Chronology
search   Author divider Title divider Date divider Tags
Adv. search divider Languages divider Inventory
Links divider About divider Contact divider RSS divider New
smaller font
larger font