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TAGS: Attar; Conference of the Birds (book); Haft Vadi (Seven Valleys); Interfaith dialogue; Mysticism; Sheila Banani; Sufism
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Abstract:
An overview of the similarities between the Seven Valleys by Bahá'u'lláh and the Conference of the Birds by the Persian Sufi Farid ud-din Attar.
Notes:
Presented at the Irfan Colloquia Session #26, Bosch Bahá'í School, California (November 26-28, 1999).

Mirrored with permission from irfancolloquia.org/26/banani_valleys.


Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh and Farid ud-Din Attar

by Sheila Banani

published in Lights of Irfan, Book 1, pages 31-36
Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia, 2000
Abstract:

This mystical work, written by Bahá’u’lláh in the late 1850's before his proclamation, follows his period of withdrawal and seclusion in the mountains of Kurdistan. The seven stages (valleys) is a traditional Eastern mystical concept used to delineate aspects of the spiritual path to God. Bahá’u’lláh's The Seven Valleys is an original work conveyed in the form of a commentary on existing mystical poetry. The metaphor of seven valleys is found in the famous late twelfth-century work of Farídu'd-Dín-i-'Attár called The Conference of the Birds. Comparisons will be made between the two works.
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