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TAGS: Criticism and apologetics; Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom); Philosophers; Philosophers; Philosophy; Tablets of Bahaullah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas
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Abstract:
An attempt to discover the antecedents of Bahá’u’lláh's distinctive chronology of ancient associations between Greek philosophers and Judean kings. Do Bahá’í historians have to critically re-examine the accepted Western accounts?
Notes:
Presented at the Irfan Colloquia Session #24, Louhelen Bahá'í School (October 8-12, 1999). Mirrored with permission from irfancolloquia.org/24/terry_hikmat.

See also Problems of Chronology in Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet of Wisdom (J. Cole 1979), Tablet of Wisdom Questions and Answers ('Abdu'l-Bahá 1906), Miscellaneous philosophy topics (J. Walbridge 2002), Letters Written on Behalf of the Guardian (Universal House of Justice 2007), and Further Comments on a Passage of the Lawh-i-Hikmat (A. Egea 2009).


Some Chronological Issues in the Lawh-i-Hikmat of Bahá'u'lláh

by Peter Terry

published in Lights of Irfan, Book 1, pages 121-142
Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia, 2000
Abstract:

Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom) was written by Bahá’u’lláh in 'Akká and addressed to Mulla Muhammad-'Alí (Nabíl-i-Qa'iní), a former mujtahid in the Ithna 'Ashari sect of Shi'i Islam and a distinguished Bahá’í scholar and teacher. In this Tablet, Bahá’u’lláh elaborates His teachings on many themes, including the origins and development of "hikmat-i-iláhí” (divine philosophy), discussing a number of philosophers, including the Father of Philosophy (Idris/Hermes), Balinus (Apollonius of Tyana), Empedocles, Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Pliny. This paper will seek to discover some of the antecedents to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh regarding the association of Empedocles with King David and Pythagoras with King Solomon, as well as to discuss the interpretation that 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave to this distinctive chronology. In doing so, mention will be made of some of the historical accounts that parallel Bahá’u’lláh's identification of Hebrew prophets with Greek philosophers, including those written by various Jewish, Christian and Muslim authors. Aspects of the prophetic chronology advanced by the Báb in "Dalá'il-i-Sab'ih" (Seven Proofs) and "Bayán-i-farsi" (Persian Bayan) will be introduced and a comparison will be made of Bahá’u’lláh's distinctive chronology with the reasoned judgements of various Western historians. In conclusion, it will be suggested that Bahá’í historians critically re-examine the conclusions that most Western historians have reached with regard to the dating of events and persons in the entirety of pre-Alexandrian history.
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