God Passes By

In God Passes By the Guardian has given the Bahá'ís a work which combines and correlates exposition of the Teachings, summary of the historical events, presentation of the Persons of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in their spiritual significance, and statements on their principal Tablets and Works. To grasp so great a range of material, frequent reading and rereading are essential, for the essence of this book lies in its unity of treatment of diverse aspects of all that constituted the origin and development of the Faith in its first century.

There are, however, recurrent themes and subjects which can be brought together for purposes of closer study and fuller understanding - great avenues down which we can proceed in order to concentrate attention upon the organic themes one at a time.

This Study Outline attempts to provide access to six different themes which are dominant in all sections of the book. It is therefore a subjects index which can be used for continuous study and discussion by a group, or occasional reference by the individual student. In addition, the outline supplies a list of supplementary references, as for example those which indicate the successive passages in which the Guardian deals with the enemies who have assailed the Cause from within.

Experience has shown that attempts to conduct study classes on God Passes By find it a formidable undertaking. Some type of outline is needed to facilitate assimilation of this great work by the Bahá'í community, and the present treatment is offered as an assistance.

I
THE BAHA'I DISPENSATION

A. The Bab
- 1. His Revelation and Claim
  pp. 4, 6-7, 10
- 2. The Greater and Lesser Covenant
  pp. 27-31
- 3. Significance of the Bab
  - a. His Independent Revelation
  - b. Herald of a New Era
    pp. 54-60
- 4. Tablets and Works of the Bab
  pp. 22-27
B. Bahá'u'lláh
- 1. Birth of the Bahá'í Revelation
  pp. 91-93
- 2. Nature and Implications of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation
  pp. 93-103
- 3. Promulgation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas
  pp. 213-216
- 4. Distinguishing Principles and Precepts
  pp. 216-219
- 5. The Institution of the Covenant
  pp. 237-240

II
TABLETS AND WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAH

1. First Writings
pp. 120-121
2. Writings in 'Iraq
pp. 137-138
3. Kitab-i-Iqan
pp. 138-193
4. Hidden Words
pp. 138-139
5. Seven Valleys and Four Valleys
pp. 140-141
6. Tablet of the Holy Mariner
p. 147
7. Tablet of the Howdah
p. 157
8. Writings in Adrianople
pp. 171-172, 177
9. Writings in 'Akka
pp. 205-206, 216, 219-220

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS

1. The Bab's Declaration to Mulla Husayn
pp. 5-6
2. Enrollment of the Letters of the Living
pp. 7-8
3. Pilgrimage to Mecca
pp. 8-9
4. Examined by Representatives of the Shah
pp. 11-12
5. Arrest in Shiraz
p. 13
6. Sojourn in Isfahan
p. 13-16
7. Confinement in Mah-Ku
pp. 16-19
8. Confinement in Chihriq
pp. 19-21
9. Second Examination of the Bab; Public Assertion of His Claims
pp. 21-22
10. Correspondence with Bahá'u'lláh
p. 31

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATION
(Cont.)

- 11. Inauguration of the Babi Dispensation;
  Conference of Badasht
  pp. 31-34
- 12. Documents, Seals and Rings sent to Bahá'u'lláh
  p. 51
- 13. Martyrdom of the Bab
  pp. 50-54
B. Bahá'u'lláh
- 1. Leadership after the Death of the Bab
  pp. 67-70
- 2. Imprisonment in Siyah-Chal
  pp. 71-72
- 3. Exile to Baghdad
  pp. 104-106, 108-109
- 4. Retirement to Kurdistan
  pp. 114-120, 122-124
- 5. Return to Baghdad
  p. 126
- 6. Challenge to the Clergy
  pp. 143-144
- 7. Exile to Constantinople
  pp. 148-149, 157

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III
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE MANIFESTATION
(Cont.)

B. Bahá'u'lláh (Cont.)
- 8. Declaration to His Followers
  pp. 151-155
- 9. Exile to Adrianople
  pp. 159-162
- 10. Proclamation to the Kings and Religious Leaders from Adrianople
  pp. 158-159, 170, 172-176
- 11. Imprisonment in 'Akka
  pp. 179-182
- 12. Interrogation by Governor of 'Akka
  pp. 190-191
- 13. Release from Confinement
  pp. 192-193
- 14. On Mount Carmel
  p. 194
- 15. Leadership
  pp. 194-195
- 16. Proclamation to the Kings and Religious Leaders from 'Akka
  pp. 206-213
- 17. Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
  pp. 221-223

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IV
THE MINISTRY OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA

1. His station
pp. 240-243
2. His Mission
pp. 252
3. Shrine of the Bab
pp. 273, 276-277
4. Investigation by Plenary Commission of the Sultan
pp. 269-272
5. Two Journeys to the West
pp. 280-281
6. Exposition of Bahá'í Principles
pp. 281-282
7. In America
pp. 287-290
8. Source of the Administrative Order
pp. 324-326
9. Will and Testament
p. 328
10. Nature of the Administrative Order
pp. 326-327
11. Prophecies
pp. 315-316

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V
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER

1. Inauguration of Formative Period
p. 329
2. Establishment of Administrative Order
- a. Preliminary Steps
  pp. 329-330
- b. Local Spiritual Assemblies; Ordination of
  pp. 331-332
- c. Local Spiritual Assemblies; Functions of
  p. 331
- d. National Spiritual Assemblies; Institution of
  pp. 332-333
- e. National Committees
  p. 333
- f. Bahá'í National Constitutions
  pp. 334-336
- g. Incorporation of Local Assemblies
  p. 336
- h. National and Local Endowments
  pp. 337-339
3. Collective Bahá'í Undertakings
- a. Haziratu'l-Quds
  pp. 339-340
- b. Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
  p. 340
- c. Summer Schools
  p. 340-341
- d. Youth Activity
  pp. 341-342
- e. Nineteen Day Feast and Other Factors
  p. 342

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V.
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER
(Cont.)

- f. Public Conferences
  pp. 342-343
- g. Contacts with Civil Authority
  pp. 343-345
- h. World Administrative Center
  pp. 345-348
- i. First Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the West
  pp. 348-351
- j. Teaching the Cause
  pp. 376-377, 379, 386-387
- k. Martyrs and Heroes of the West
  p. 400
- l. Development of Publications
  pp. 380-383
4. Unfoldment of Administrative Order Under Impact of Hostile Forces
- a. Emergence of World Community
  p. 354
- b. Seizure of Keys of Holy Tomb
  p. 355
- c. Developments in 'Akka and Haifa
  p. 356
- d. Seizure of House in Baghdad
  pp. 356-360
- e. Disruption of Communities in Turkistan and Caucasus
  pp. 360-361
- f. Repression of Community in Germany
  pp. 361-362
- g. Restrictions imposed in Persia
  pp. 362-363

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V
THE UNFOLDMENT OF WORLD ORDER
(Cont.)

4. (Cont.)
- h. Pronouncement of Islamic Court in Egypt
  pp. 364-366, 368
- i. Civil recognition in Palestine
  p. 369
- j. Bahá'í Status Maintained in Persia
  pp. 369-372
- k. Civil recognition in the United States
  pp. 372-374
- l. Independence of Faith Proclaimed in India, Iraq, Great Britain and Australia
  p. 374

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VI
RECAPITULATION AND MEANINGS

1. The Four Periods of First Bahá'í Century
pp. xiii - x
2. Opening of Bahá'í Era
p. 3
3. Last Three Years of Ministry of the Bab
pp. 17-18, 34.
4. The Bab's Cup of Bitter Woes
pp. 49-55.
5. The Fertile Seeds of World Order
pp. 79-86.
6. Oppressions of the Babi Era
pp. 89-97.
7. Inauguration of Bahá'u'lláh's Ministry
pp. 106-108.
8. Turning Point in Bahá'í History
pp. 127-128
9. The Steed of Victory
pp. 144-145
10. The End of the Second Decade
pp. 157-158
11. Opening of Last Phase of Bahá'u'lláh's Ministry
pp. 183-185

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VI
RECAPITULATION AND MEANINGS
(Cont.)

12. The Bahá'í Era to the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
pp. 223-224
13. From the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh to the Proclamation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
pp. 244-245
14. Effects of the Master's Journeys to the West
p. 294
15. The Ministry of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
pp. 295-296, 307-308, 314-315
16. The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
pp. 323-324
17. Spread of the Cause in First Century
pp. 378-379
18. Recapitulation of Bahá'í History
pp. 402-410
19. Future Tasks and Victories
pp. 410-412