Guide 01 Bahá'í literature independent reference
Bahá'í holy books: one body of writings, not one book
Readers often ask which holy book the Bahá'í Faith uses. The short answer is that it has a body of writings rather than one volume, and this page shows how the main pieces fit together.
No single book, a body of writings
Followers of the Bahá'í Faith do not point to one scripture. They refer to the writings of three central figures: the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The words of the first two are regarded as revealed text, and the explanations of 'Abdu'l-Bahá are treated as authoritative interpretation. Bahá'í institutions describe these as the authoritative texts, and the Bahá'í Reference Library groups its main collection that way.
Around this core sit books by later figures and compilations that gather passages on a theme such as prayer or education. Telling the layers apart is the most useful habit for a new reader, because a commentary or a collection of quotations is not the same thing as a revealed text.
The Báb
The Báb, born in Shiraz in 1819, declared his mission in 1844 and was executed in Tabriz in 1850. His writings include the Persian Bayán, the Arabic Bayán and a commentary on the Qur'anic chapter of Joseph. Only a part of his large output exists in English; the volume most often met by English readers is Selections from the Writings of the Báb.
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh, born in 1817 in Tehran, wrote the largest share of the Bahá'í writings, across four decades of imprisonment and exile that ended in 'Akká, today in Israel. Among the best known are the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, called the Most Holy Book, the Hidden Words, the Kitáb-i-Íqán (the Book of Certitude), the mystical treatises The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, and many letters addressed to rulers and individuals. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh is a selection compiled and translated by Shoghi Effendi.
'Abdu'l-Bahá
'Abdu'l-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, is named in his father's writings as the interpreter of the teachings. His works include Some Answered Questions, a record of his answers to a visitor's questions in the early 1900s, The Secret of Divine Civilization, and transcripts of talks given during travels in Europe and North America between 1911 and 1913, published as Paris Talks and The Promulgation of Universal Peace. His Will and Testament names the next head of the community.
Interpretation and guidance
Shoghi Effendi, who led the community from 1921 to 1957 as Guardian, translated many of these texts into English and wrote works such as God Passes By, a history of the first century of the Faith. Since 1963 the Universal House of Justice, an elected body of nine members based in Haifa, has issued letters of guidance. Bahá'ís treat these as authoritative for applying the teachings, which is a different category from the revealed texts themselves.
Where to start
A common route into the literature is a short text first. The Hidden Words are brief verses and are read in a few minutes. After that, readers often try Gleanings or Some Answered Questions, which are arranged by topic. The guide on reading the writings online lists where the full texts are published and what to check about translations.