Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi

Studies in the Bábí and Bahá’í Religions, Volume 5

Dedicated to the late Hand of the Cause Hasan M. Balyuzi, who inspired a generation of Bahá’í scholars to rigorous and systematic research in Bahá’í Studies, Mr Momen provides a bibliographic sketch of his impressive career, and then scholars, including himself contributed essays in his honor of the subjects of history, theology, and scriptural analysis.

The first two essays explore Bábí and Bahá’í scripture. Todd Lawson focuses on the terms dhikr (Remembrance) and báb (Gate) as they are used by the Báb, in reference to himself, in his famous Commentary on the Sura of Joseph. Stephen N. Lambden analyzes the images of Moses’s encounter with God on Mt. Sinai found in both the Bábí and Bahá’í sacred writings. His essay includes dozens of passages from the writings newly translated and approved by the Bahá’í World Centre, first available in this volume. In the third essay, Moojan Momen discusses the unique Bahá’í perspective that insists that religious truth is relative, not absolute, and its theological implications.

The last two essays turn to Bahá’í history. Phillip R. Smith uncovers the major beliefs and concerns of British Bahá’ís as found in their published literature between 1900 and 1920. Loni Bramson-Lerche writes on developments in the Bahá’í community in the early years of the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.

An indispensable addition to the library of anyone interested in the scholarly study of Bahá’í history or Bahá’í scripture.