The Four Valleys (Persian: چهار وادیChahár Vádí) is a book written in Persian by Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. The Seven Valleys (Persian: هفت وادیHaft-Vádí) was also written by Baháʼu'lláh, and the two books are usually published together under the title The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys. The two books are distinctly different and have no direct relation.
In February 2019 an authorized translation of both titles was published by the Baháʼí World Centre in the collection The Call of the Divine Beloved.[1]
The Four Valleys was written after March 1856[2] in Baghdad. Baháʼu'lláh had recently returned from the mountains of Kurdistan where he had spent two years studying with various Sufi sheikhs using the pseudonym Darvish Muhammad-i-Irani.[3][4] The Four Valleys was written in response to questions of S͟hayk͟h ʻAbdu'r-Rahman-i-Talabani, the "honored and indisputable leader" of the Qádiríyyih Order of Sufism.[5] He never identified as a Baháʼí, but was known to his followers as having high respect and admiration for Baháʼu'lláh.[6]
Vocabularyedit
There is some difficulty in translating a text written in a poetic style, with references to concepts of Sufism that may be foreign in the West. Some names are left in their original Arabic form. For example, Maqsúd ("the Intended One") in this book is used in connection with the Kaaba in Mecca and serves as an adjective for it, i.e., it means "the intended Kaba", however, from the context it is clear that this is not a physical place but rather one of the stations on the path toward God.[6]
Throughout the book Baháʼu'lláh exhorts men to education, goodly character and divine virtues.
In the book, Baháʼu'lláh describes the qualities and grades of four types of mystical wayfarers: "Those who progress in mystic wayfaring are of four kinds."
^BWNS. A collection of Bahaʼu'lláh's mystical writings published. 6 February 2019.
^Lambden, Stephen (Feb 1992). "The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh: A Provisional Translation with Occasional Notes, pt. 1". Bahá'í Studies Bulletin. 6 (2–3): 29.
Baháʼu'lláh (1991) [1856-63]. The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN0-87743-227-9. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
Hatcher, J.S. (1997). The Ocean of His Words: A Reader's Guide to the Art of Baháʼu'lláh. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN0-87743-259-7.
Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-86251-6.
Taherzadeh, A. (1976), The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 1: Baghdad 1853-63, Oxford, UK: George Ronald, ISBN0-85398-270-8
Further readingedit
Hemmat, Amrollah. Reflections on The Four Valleys of Bahá’u’lláh. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, Vol. 30 No. 4 (2020).
Saiedi, Nader (2000). "Chapter 3: Spiritual Journey in the Four Valleys and the Seven Valleys". Logos and Civilization - Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh. USA: University Press of Maryland and Association for Baha'i Studies. pp. 79–110. ISBN1883053609. OL 8685020M.
Savi, Julio (1994). Will, Knowledge, and Love as Explained in Baha'u'llah's Four Valleys.
Savi, Julio (2008). Towards the Summit of Reality: An introduction to Baháʼu'lláh's Seven Valleys and Four Valleys. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN978-0-85398-522-8.
External linksedit
Compendium on the Four Valleys
January 01, 1970
four, valleys, persian, چهار, وادی, chahár, vádí, book, written, persian, baháʼu, lláh, founder, baháʼí, faith, seven, valleys, persian, هفت, وادی, haft, vádí, also, written, baháʼu, lláh, books, usually, published, together, under, title, seven, valleys, four. The Four Valleys Persian چهار وادی Chahar Vadi is a book written in Persian by Bahaʼu llah the founder of the Bahaʼi Faith The Seven Valleys Persian هفت وادی Haft Vadi was also written by Bahaʼu llah and the two books are usually published together under the title The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys The two books are distinctly different and have no direct relation In February 2019 an authorized translation of both titles was published by the Bahaʼi World Centre in the collection The Call of the Divine Beloved 1 Contents 1 Background 1 1 Vocabulary 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground editThe Four Valleys was written after March 1856 2 in Baghdad Bahaʼu llah had recently returned from the mountains of Kurdistan where he had spent two years studying with various Sufi sheikhs using the pseudonym Darvish Muhammad i Irani 3 4 The Four Valleys was written in response to questions of S hayk h ʻAbdu r Rahman i Talabani the honored and indisputable leader of the Qadiriyyih Order of Sufism 5 He never identified as a Bahaʼi but was known to his followers as having high respect and admiration for Bahaʼu llah 6 Vocabulary edit There is some difficulty in translating a text written in a poetic style with references to concepts of Sufism that may be foreign in the West Some names are left in their original Arabic form For example Maqsud the Intended One in this book is used in connection with the Kaaba in Mecca and serves as an adjective for it i e it means the intended Kaba however from the context it is clear that this is not a physical place but rather one of the stations on the path toward God 6 Throughout the book Bahaʼu llah exhorts men to education goodly character and divine virtues In the book Bahaʼu llah describes the qualities and grades of four types of mystical wayfarers Those who progress in mystic wayfaring are of four kinds The four are roughly 6 Those who journey through strict observance of religious laws Those who journey to God through the use of logic and reason Those who journey purely by the love of God Those who journey by combination of the three approaches of obedience reason and inspiration This last is considered the highest or truest form of mystic union 6 7 See also editThe Seven ValleysNotes edit BWNS A collection of Bahaʼu llah s mystical writings published 6 February 2019 Lambden Stephen Feb 1992 The Seven Valleys of Baha u llah A Provisional Translation with Occasional Notes pt 1 Baha i Studies Bulletin 6 2 3 29 Smith 2008 p 17 Balyuzi 2000 p 116 Effendi 1944 p 122 a b c d Ayman amp Afnani Taherzadeh 1976 p 104References editAyman Iraj Afnani Muin Four Valleys Wilmette Institute faculty notes Retrieved 2009 03 28 Bahaʼu llah 1991 1856 63 The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 87743 227 9 Retrieved 2009 03 28 Balyuzi Hasan 2000 Bahaʼu llah King of Glory Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 328 3 Effendi Shoghi 1944 God Passes By Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 87743 020 9 Retrieved 2009 03 28 Hatcher J S 1997 The Ocean of His Words A Reader s Guide to the Art of Bahaʼu llah Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 87743 259 7 Smith Peter 2008 An Introduction to the Baha i Faith Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 86251 6 Taherzadeh A 1976 The Revelation of Bahaʼu llah Volume 1 Baghdad 1853 63 Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 270 8Further reading editHemmat Amrollah Reflections on The Four Valleys of Baha u llah Journal of Baha i Studies Vol 30 No 4 2020 Saiedi Nader 2000 Chapter 3 Spiritual Journey in the Four Valleys and the Seven Valleys Logos and Civilization Spirit History and Order in the Writings of Bahaʼu llah USA University Press of Maryland and Association for Baha i Studies pp 79 110 ISBN 1883053609 OL 8685020M Savi Julio 1994 Will Knowledge and Love as Explained in Baha u llah s Four Valleys Savi Julio 2008 Towards the Summit of Reality An introduction to Bahaʼu llah s Seven Valleys and Four Valleys Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 978 0 85398 522 8 External links editCompendium on the Four Valleys Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Four Valleys amp oldid 1174302907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
