Introduction to a Study of the Qur'án:
With Additional References from Several Bahá'í Texts

by National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States

Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1941
Tablet of study Qur'an".

Click on any of the numbers below to go directly to a specific page below: 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

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Prepared by Study Outline Committee
1941-1942

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Approved by the Bahá'í Reviewing Committee
1941


Fourth Printing
1964



Bahá'í Publishing Trust
110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

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Table of Contents

The Guardian's Comments
(Plan of Study)
Lesson 1. The Qur'án; What it Claims to be
Lesson 2. The Nature of God
Lesson 3. Divine Unity
Lesson 4. The Prophets of God
Lesson 5. The Life of the Spirit
Lesson 6. Spiritual Laws
Lesson 7. Temporal Laws
Lesson 8. The Next Life
Lesson 9. The Latter Day
Lesson 10. The Judgments of God
Explanation of Qur'ánic SYMBOLS
(Correlated Study materials for Students of the Qur'án (Koran))

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The Guardian's Comments on How to Study the Qur'án

"It is certainly most difficult to thoroughly grasp all the surihs of the Qur'án, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the social, religious and historical background of Arabia at the time of the appearance of the Prophet. The believers can not possibly hope, therefore, to understand the Surihs after the first or even second or third reading.
"They have to study them again and again, ponder over their meaning, with the help of certain commentaries and explanatory notes as found, for instance in the admirable translation* made by Sale, endeavor to acquire as clear and correct understanding of their meaning and import as possible. This is naturally a slow process, but future generations of believers will certainly come to grasp it.
"For the present, the Guardian agrees, that it would be easier and more helpful to study the book according to subjects, and not verse by verse and also in the light of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá's interpretation which throw such floods of light on the whole of the Qur'án." (August 22, 1939, to Gertrude Struven.)


* Shoghi Effendi recommends Rodwell's translation of Qur'án (Koran) for use by Bahá'í students of Islám.

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Plan of Study:

Topical Method -- Certain general and important topics of the Qur'án have been selected to make the subjects for ten consecutive lessons. Each lesson may be studied by individuals or used as the basis of class work.

Each lesson topichas been subdivided to clarify the main topic by concentration on a few of the most important aspects of it. For example: Lesson 1. The Qur'án: What it Claims to Be -- (a) A revelation from God. (b) A guidance to all mankind. (c). . . (d) . . . (e) . . .

References -- The figures which appear listed uner each sub-topic in the lessons are references to Rodwell's translation of the Qur'án (Koran) as it is published in Everyman's library Edition. The first figure refers to chapter, or surih, of the Qur'án and is not necessary for the locating of the desired verse, because the figures following the colon (:) give both verse and page. The student may first find the page, then the verse, and then slowly learn to associate the surih number with these, and in time the name of the surih itself. For example: 4:10 p. 411 is page 411, verse 10 of Surih 4. - Women.

Bahá'í Readings -- With each lesson Bahá'í references have been provided which the student will find give illumination to the topics of that lesson. In many cases the interpretations of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá are essential to understanding the Qur'án.

Lesson 1

THE QUR'ÁN: What it Claims to Be.

General Reading: Íqán pp. 198-204.

(a) A revelation from God.

32:1-3 p. 190
16:104-105 p. 207
4:85 p. 420
53:1-12 p. 69
25:1-7, 32-35 pp. 159, 161

(b) A guidance to all mankind.

2:1 p. 338
21:106-107 p. 158
12:104 p. 239
39:1-5 p. 255
14:1-4 pp. 225-226

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(c) A transcript of the Archetypal Book*.

43:1-7 p. 135
56:74-80 p. 68
20:54 p. 96
57:22-29 p. 409

*Prayers and Meditations 286.

(d) A confirmation and illumination of previous Scriptures.

5:18, 50-52 pp. 487, 491
3:1-5 p. 385; 3:75-80 p. 394
35:28-29 p. 292
46:8-11 p. 314

(e) A glad tidings and a warning.

19:97 p. 124
41:1-7 pp. 192-193
2:209 p. 360
36:69-70 p. 134

Lesson 2

THE NATURE OF GOD.

General Reading: Gleanings pp. 302, 60-61

(a) Proofs of God's Existence.

10:5-6 p. 275
30:16-60 pp. 211-212
2:158-160 pp. 355
13:1-4 pp. 333-334
16:1-18 pp. 200-201

(b) Unity of God.

Surih 112 p. 29 (see also next Lesson)

(c) Sovereignty of God. *

57:1-7 p. 407
2:256 p. 366
5:120 p. 500
19:65-66 p. 122
4:20 p. 488
* Íqán 102, 139-140; Gleanings 70-73

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"He doeth whatsoever He willeth": *

76:29-31 p. 88
30:36 p. 213
22:14-19 p. 454
21:23 p. 152

* Íqán 170-171; Gleanings 209

"Be" and "It is" (Creator, 16:3-21 pp. 200-201):

36:82 p. 134
40:70 p. 245
2:111 p. 350
3:42, 52 pp. 390, 391

Command and decree:

65:12 p. 431
17:87 p. 171
54:49-50 p. 78
42:11 p. 271
11:45 p. 219
6:2 p. 317
33:36 p. 438
25:2 p. 159

(d) Other attributes.

6:102-104 pp. 326-327
42:50-53 pp. 274-275
6:13, 59-60 pp. 318, 322
31:20-34 pp. 269
3:25-29 p. 388
55:1-28 pp. 74-75
35:16 p. 291 (Íqán 132)
27:60-65, 75 pp. 178, 179

Lesson 3

DIVINE UNITY.

General Reading: Gleanings pp. 166-167, 189, 193

(a) Oneness of God.

20:98 p. 100
21:19-34 p. 152
37:1-5 p. 79

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13:16-18 p. 355
27:60-69 p. 178
19:36, 91-94 pp. 120, 123-124
1:1-7 p. 28
4:169-170 p. 428
112:1-4 p. 29

(b) Oneness of the Prophets with God.

4:82, 149-151 pp. 419, 426
54:50 p. 78 (Íqán 153)
40:15 p. 241
5:109-110 p. 498

(c) Oneness of the Prophets. *

2:130, 285 pp. 352, 370-371
3:75-78 p. 394
4:161-165 p. 428
42:11-12 p. 271
22:51-52 p. 458
33:7 p. 435
40:15 p. 241

* Gleanings 78

(d) Oneness of the revealed Word (the Book).

57:25-29 p. 409
5:50-53 p. 491
43:1-3 p. 135
42:11-14 p. 271
6:83-93 pp. 324-325

Lesson 4

THE PROPHETS OF GOD.

General Reading: Íqán pp. 13-14, 167; Gleanings pp. 74-75, 80.

(a) Succession of the Prophets. *

2:29-50, 81-83 pp. 341-343, 346
61:5-14 pp. 405-406
10:48 p. 279
21:49-92 pp. 154-157
11:27-100 pp. 217-223

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* Some Answered Questions 188
World Order of Bahá'u'lláh 111, 124-125 (with a Book)

(b) Divine appointment.

19:30-35, 50-59 pp. 119-120, 121
21:49, 52, 72-73 pp. 154, 155
12:100-103 pp. 238-239
6:83-92 p. 324-325

(c) Two-fold station. * (Oneness; Distinction.)

40:15 p. 241
14:10-14 pp. 226-227
4:82, 149-151 pp. 419, 426-427
2:130, 285 pp. 352, 370-371
2:254 p. 366
3:73-78, 138-139 pp. 393-394, 399
43:57-64 p. 138
5:76-80 pp. 494-495
22:51-52 p. 458 (see Some Answered Questions 192)

*Íqán 152-154, 99-100, 103-104, 176-181; Gleanings 50-56, 66-67

Some Answered Questions 177-179

World Order of Bahá'u'lláh 113-115

(d) Proofs of mission.

40:23-24 p. 241-242
3:43-44 p. 390
10:75-76 p. 281

(e) Muhammad, Apostle of God. *

His Divine Book, 11:20 p. 217; 10:8-9 pp. 278-279
Charged as Messenger, 11:1-3 p. 215
Apostle, 33:40 p. 438 48:9-10 p. 461
Seal 33:40 p. 438 (see Íqán 40, 166-170)
Witness, hearld, warner, 33:44 p. 439
Guide to God, 33:45 p. 439
Guide to life, 8:24 p. 377
Subservient to God, 6:50 p. 321; 10:16-17 p. 276; 42:50-52 p. 274; 3:138-139 p. 399; 35:21-22 p. 291

* Gleanings 77

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Note: Bahá'u'lláh writes of Muhammad's Call to Apostleship in the following words: "'Arise, O Muhammad, for lo, the Lover and the Beloved are joined together and made one in Thee.'" (Gleanings 67).

Lesson 5

THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (FAITH)

Reading:

Gleanings pp. 166-167; Íqán 113-122

Hidden Words (A) 6, 9; (P) 12-14; Surih 50 (Kaf) 91-94.

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"The fourth degree of spirit is the heavenly spirit; it is the spirit of faith and the bounty of God." --Some Answered Questions p. 165

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"He who is a true believer liveth both in this world and in the world to come." --Íqán p. 120

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(a) The Quickening.

7:55 p. 299
30:47-52 p. 214
6:122 p. 328
35:20-22 p. 291
75:34-40 pp. 56-57
8:24 p. 377

(b) The Resurrection. *

22:5-7 pp. 453-454
17:52-53 p. 168
36:49-51 p. 133
50:11-20 p. 92

*Íqán 114-117, 119-120, 142-143

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(c) The new Creation. *

29:19 p. 263
53:43-49 p. 71
13:5 p. 334
50:14 p. 92
28:4 p. 247 (See Dawn-Breakers 93; Advent 14-15)
48:26 p. 463

*Íqán 114-115, 146

Prayers...171, 295

(d) Meeting with God * (Attainment unto the Presence; Return)

13:1-2, 19-28 pp. 333, 335-336
2:43, 246 pp. 342, 365
18:1-5-110, 189
56:87-96 p. 68-69
33:45 p. 439
84:27-30 p. 55
33:41-43 p. 438

* Íqán 142, 200-201

(e) Paradise of belief (gardens, bliss...)

2:257-259 p. 367
10:63-65 p. 280
48:1-14 pp. 460-461
7:30 p. 296 (Cf. 9:72-73 p. 478)
50:19-34 pp. 92-93 (Íqán 116-117)
19:60-64 pp. 121-122 (see Dawn-Breakers 62)
47:1-2 pp. 382-383

(f) Eternity

25:16, 17, 75-76 pp. 160, 164
15:45-48 p. 114 (Dawn-Breakers 62)
18:103-108 p. 189

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Lesson 6

SPIRITUAL LAWS

General Reading:

"The faith of no man can be conditioned by any one except himself." --Gleanings p. 143

(a) Individual effort (search) for God.

53:40-42 p. 71
29:5 p. 261; 29:69 p. 267
17:19-21 p. 166

(b) Belief in Divine Unity (recognition, faith).

48:1-14 pp. 460-461
6:48 p. 321
4:135 p. 425
16:99-103 p. 207
64:8, 11-12 pp. 372-373

(c) Steadfastness and obedience.

49:14-15 p. 470
11:114 p. 224
48:10, 13 p. 461
4:135-151 p. 425-426
2:7-25 pp. 338-340
3:75:85 p. 394
24:50-54 p. 448

(d) Fear of God.

2:1, 185 pp. 338, 358
5:3, 10, 70 pp. 485, 486, 493
49:13 pp. 469-470

(e) Love of God.

2:160 p. 355

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(f) Worship, Prayer, Fasting.

13:36 p. 337
29:44 p. 265
13:15 p. 335
2:179 p. 357 (These are fundamental spiritual laws of every Dispensation. The form revealed by the Prophet varies from age to age. See Íqán p. 39.)

(g) Righteousness (in attitude and deed).

2:172 p. 356
25:65-77 pp. 163-164
35:8 p. 290
67:1-2 p. 142
29:58 p. 266

(h) Other virtues of the spirit

7:203-204 pp. 312-313
31:21 p. 269; 57:15 p. 408
29:59 p. 266
4:134 p. 425; 4:40-41 p. 415
5:1, 3 p. 485
3:68-71 p. 393
42:35-38 p. 273-274
2:265 p. 368
42:24 p. 273
49:11-12 p. 469

(i) Tests.

29:1-3 p. 261 (Íqán 8-9)

(j) Reward and retribution.

35:6-9 p. 290

(k) Guidance.

6:70, 88-93 pp. 323, 325
10:9 p. 276
29:69 p. 267

(l) Association.

60:1-9 pp. 465-467

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Lesson 7

TEMPORAL LAWS

General Reading:

Some Answered Questions p. 10;
Promulgation of Universal Peace II p. 387;
World Order of Bahá'u'lláh pp. 21, 145;
Qur'án 22:33-38, 66-67 pp. 456-457, 459.

(a) Alms.

35:26-27 p. 291
107:1-7 p. 31
2:172, 274-275, 263-265 pp. 356, 368, 369
3: p. 395
30:37-38 p. 213

(b) Fasting.

2:179-183 p. 357
2:192 pp. 358-359

(c) Prayer. *

20:130-132 p. 102
98:4 p. 371
17:80, 110-111 pp. 171, 173
2:239-240, 138-154 pp. 364, 353
5:8-9 p. 486

* Íqán 51-52

(d) Pilgrimage.

3:90-92 p. 395
2:119, 121 p. 351
2:192-199 pp. 358-359

(e) War. *

2:257 p. 367 (Cf. 22:40-42 p. 457)
5:69 p. 493
4:85-88 p. 420
22:40-42 p. 457
2:186-190, 212-215, 244-246 pp. 358, 361, 365
4:76-82, 101-105 pp. 419, 422-423

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9:5-6 (or 1-6), 10-15, pp. 471-472
47:4-7 p. 382
33:47 p. 439
17:35 p. 167
60:1-9 pp. 465-467
49:9-10 p. 469

* Gleanings 303

Some Answered Questions 22, 24-25

(f) Women * (Marriage, divorce, inheritance...).

4:1, 3, 8, 12-15, 26-29, 39 pp. 410, 411, 412, 413, 414
4:123, 126-128 pp. 424, 425
24:30-33 p. 446
60:10-13 p. 467
2:229-239 pp. 363-364
33:4, 6, 28-36, 37-40, 49-52, 55-59 pp. 434 ff.

Some Answered Questions 23-24

Note: "The reforms instituted by Muhammed effected a vast and marked improvement in the position of women." --Spirit of Islam 227.

(g) Wine and games of chance.

2:216 p. 361
5:91-92

(h) Usury.

2:7-9 pp. 369-370
3:125 p. 398
4:158-159 p. 427

Lesson 8

THE NEXT LIFE

General Reading:

Gleanings pp. 345-346, 155-156, 170-171;
Hidden Words (A) 31, 32, (P) 70, 41, 44.

(a) World's life unfulfilled.

57:19-22 p. 409
29:63-64 p. 266
3:12-16 pp. 386-387

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(b) Death.

3:182 p. 403
29:57 p. 266
21:35-36 p. 153

(c) Restoration after death. (Resurrection and New Creation.)

80:17-22 p. 39
32:6-12 p. 190
2:244 p. 364-365
23:12-16 p. 145
6:60-63 p. 322

(d) Return to God (for accounting).

6:60-62 p. 322
10:57, 71 pp. 280, 281
29:57-59 p. 266

(e) Hell (fire, wrath, oil...).

16:106-112 p. 208
13:31-35 pp. 336-337
18:99-106 p. 189
11:18-24 p. 217

(f) Paradise (gardens, bliss, houris...).

11:25-26 p. 217
16:32-34 p. 202
5:119-120 p. 500
29:58 p. 266
13:18-28 pp. 335-336
17:20-23 p. 166
87:16-17 p. 41
7:25-51 pp. 295-298 (tells of Paradise of belief, of next life, and of final Day of Resurrection on earth).

Lesson 9

THE LATTER DAY

General Reading:

Gleanings pp. 43-45;
Prayers and Meditations pp. 292-295

(a) A specific future time.

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The Day.

11:105 p. 224
10:46-52 p. 279-280
77:1-50 p. 50-51
52:1-14 p. 63

Fixed time.

53:57-58 p. 72
16:63 p. 204
29:41 p. 261
7:32 p. 296
32:4 p. 190 (22:46 p. 457) (1844. See French Footnotes p. 33)

The Hour.

54:1-3, 43-55 p. 78
42:16-17 p. 272
7:186-188 p. 311
22:1-2 p. 453
19:75-76 p. 123

The Respite. *

42:13-23 pp. 272-272
11:112 p. 224
52:42-49 p. 65
32:28-30 p. 192
6:1-12 pp. 317-318

* Íqán 170-172

(b) The Great Resurrection Day. *

50:40-43 p. 93
53:16-20 p. 452
79:1-46 pp. 48-49
21:104 p. 158
28:5-10 pp. 37-38

* Íqán 143-145

(c) The Reckoning.

54:6-8 p. 77
37:16-70 pp. 80-81
40:15-21 p. 241
84:7-14 p. 47
18:99-106 p. 189 (See "e" of Next Life)
78:1-42 pp. 51-53

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(d) The Coming of the Lord.

Reading:

Prayers and Meditations pp. 128-129, 295-297
Gleanings pp. 27-35

2:206 p. 360
89:20-30 p. 55
50:40 p. 93
54:54-55 p. 79 (see Dawn-Breakers 295)
76:21 p. 88 (see Dawn-Breakers 27)
39:66-75 pp. 260-261 *
79:6-8 p. 48
36:48-65 pp. 132-133
32:4 p. 190
55:26-30 pp. 74-75

* Prayers and Meditations 128
Cf. Íqán 24-26, 114-115

(e) The Kingdom (Paradise, Gardens) on Earth *

Reading: Hidden Words (P) 17, 18; Íqán 90

67:1 p. 142
48:14 p. 461
22:54-55 p. 458
76:1-30 pp. 87-88
61:1-56 pp. 65-67
10:26 p. 277
6:127-128 p. 329
15:45-48 p. 114
19:60-64 p. 122

* Dawn-Breakers 53, 62, 295 and
Íqán 174-175

Note: In his book called Bahá'í Proofs Abu'l-Fadl makes the statement: "One-third of the Qur'án consists of prophecies concerning the approach of the Day of God's coming, and signs foreshadowing the near arrival of the Cause of God." (pp. 134-135)

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Lesson 10

THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD

General Reading: Gleanings pp. 217-220

"Thus hath God laid hold on them for their sins, hath extinguished in them the spirit of faith, and tormented them with the flames of the nethermost fire." --Íqán p. 18.

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(a) Judgment of the individual.

36:69-70 p. 134
25:20-21, 28-29 pp. 160, 161.
2:5-6 p. 338
47:19, 20-21 pp. 383-384
42:19, 22, 23 p. 272
10:27-28 p. 277
25:68-70 pp. 163-164

(b) Judgment of cities.

26:208-209 p. 110
15:4-5 p. 112
21:6-7, 95-97 pp. 151, 157
11:83-84, 119 pp. 222, 225
28:58-59 p. 252
7:73-76, 78-82, 83-90, 91-100 pp. 301-303
16:113-114 p. 208
17:60 p. 169 (Cf. Gleanings 29; Bahá'í Prayers 29)

(c) Judgment of peoples and nations.

43:5-7 p. 135
23:43-56 pp. 146-147
25:38-41 pp. 161-162
6:40-49 pp. 320-321
45:27 p. 199
7:32 p. 296

(d) Final Judgment: of the world (see Latter Day Lesson).

11:102-107 p. 224
101:1-8 p. 43
99:1-8 p. 44
82:1-19 pp. 44-45
81:1-19 p. 45
30:40-60 pp. 213-215

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Explanation of SYMBOLS in the Qur'án

(Page references in the Íqán are to Bahá'u'lláh's explanation of the meanings of these symbols.)

"Angels"	78-79
"Clouds" ("coming in the clouds")	66, 67, 71, 72, 73
"Earth"
("powers of creation")	47
("changing of")	12, 13, 14
"Heaven"
("cleaving of")	44, 45
("folded together")	47, 48
("of Divine Revelation")	48, 49
"Huris"	70, 71
"Judgment (Day)"	114, 173
"Last Day"	114
"Moon (shall not give her light)"	41, 42
"Oppression (of those days)"	29, 31, 32
"Return"	150-151
"Resurrection"	116, 143-144
"Son of Man" ("sign of")	61
"Smoke"	76
"Sun" ("darkened")	33, 35, 37, 38, 41, 42

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CORRELATED STUDY MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS OF THE QUR'ÁN (KORAN)

The Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude)

Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Sets forth the grand redemptive scheme of God, revealing the oneness of religion, its continuity and evolution through the successive Prophets of God, and elucidates some of the allegorical and abstruse passages of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures. Introduction by Helen Bishop. 257 pp., glossary and index.
Bound in cloth .....$3.00

The Kitáb-i-Íqán Study Guide

By Horace Holley. An indication of dominant themes in this book which gives the key to the study of comparative religion, arranged for individual or group study. (Mimeographed). 7 pp. .... $.20

Six Lessons on Islám

By Marzieh Gail. Six lessons on Muhammad and the religion based upon Rodwell's translation of The Koran, several Bahá'í texts, and many other authoritative works .... $.75

Available from
THE BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST
110 Linden Avenue
WILMETTE, ILLINOIS