A Study of Baha’u’llah’s Kitab-i-Iqan, The Book of Certitude

Some Suggested Study Questions from A Companion to the Study of the Kitab-i-Iqan by Hooper Dunbar

Paras. 1-53

1. What initial prerequisites are given for the attainment of faith and certitude? (2)

2. What is Baha’u’llah’s purpose in recounting the sufferings and indignities of the Prophets of old? (4-18)

3. Why does the Almighty continually try and test His servants? (9)

4. What are the causes of the people’s denial and persecution of the Manifestations of God? (13-15)

5. What is the explanation of the Muhammad’s declaration: “I am Jesus”? (20)

6. What does Baha’u’llah refer to as the “essential feature of every Revelation”? Explain its meaning. (31)

7. In what sense does the symbolic term “sun” apply to the Manifestations of God? (31-3)

8. How do the terms “sun” and “moon” relate to the laws of prayer and fasting? (38-42)

9. Identify some of the qualities demonstrated by Baha’u’llah in the example of teaching given in paragraph 40?

10. Explain the meaning of the “cleaving of the heaven”? (46)

11. What is the purpose of the Prophets’ use of symbolic terms and abstruse allusions? (53)

12. List the symbolic terms explained in the Iqan and give their several meanings, with paragraph references.

Paras. 54-101

1. Describe the intimation Moses received of His divine mission (57)

2. What “twofold signs” have announced the Revelation of each of the Prophets of God? (66,73)

3. What is Baha’u’llah’s purpose in citing the records of past sacred books? (68)

4. What description does Baha’u’llah give of the inner state of the Manifestation of God? (74)

5. Describe the “two kinds” of Knowledge mentioned by Baha’u’llah. (76)

6. Give four of the symbolic meanings of the term “clouds”. (79-83)

7. What does Baha’u’llah fortell with regard to the future of the Cause of God? (85)

8. What is meant by “angels”? (86-7)

9. Why have religious leaders denied the subsequent Manifestations of God? (88)

10. What does “perverting the text” refer to? (93-6)

11. What warning does Baha’u’llah give to the people of Bayan? (101)

Paras. 102-55

1. How much of the Divine Essence do the manifestations of God comprehend? (105)

2. Find two ways in which Baha’u’llah characterizes the Imams of Shi’i Islam. (113, 139, 152)

3. How do the Manifestations differ from each other in revealing the divine names and attributes? (111)

4. What is meant by the undisputed sovereignty exercised by the Prophets of God during their time on earth? (114)

5. From what “heaven” do the divine verses descend? (120, 129)

6. What does it mean to be “born again”? (125)

7. Give a symbolic meaning of the term “tomb”. (128)

8. What are the spiritual meanings of “riches” and “poverty”? (143)

9. What is the “highest and most excelling grace” bestowed upon men? (139)

10. What are the three stages of divine revelation? (149-151)

11. What is the sole and fundamental purpose of all learning? (153)

Paras. 156-212

1. Give one of the reasons why the wayward of every age have attributed ignorance and folly to the Manifestations of God. (158)

2. In what sense do the scriptural references to the “return” of the Prophets of old relate to the companions? (160, 170)

3. Describe the twofold station of the manifestations of God (161-2, 191-5)

4. What is the “Divine Elixir” and how does Baha’u’llah describe its potency and effects? (164-7)

5. Give two meanings for the term “veils of glory”. (174-8)

6. What is the meaning of the “Day of Resurrection”? (182)

7. What does Baha’u’llah state to be the purpose for the reading of scriptures and holy books? (185)

8. Why do the utterances of the various Manifestations of God appear at times to diverge and differ? (192)

9. How are the statements of the Prophets of God such as “I am God” to be understood and explained? (196)

10. What does Baha’u’llah state with regard to metaphysical abstractions, to alchemy and to natural magic? (203-8)

Paras. 213-90

1. What is Baha’u’llah’s counsel with regard to backbiting? (214)

2. Name three categories of the signs of God. (217)

3. Explain the symbolic meaning of the term “City”. (219)

4. What produces the “chill of heedlessness” in the hearts of some people? (226)

5. Describe the “spiritual disease” mentioned by Baha’u’llah. (236)

6. What does it mean to “err through a knowledge”? (238)

7. What has been established in the Qur’an as a “standard” for recognition of the Manifestation? (244)

8. Give three proofs demonstrating the truth of the mission of the Bab. (246-65)

9. Describe the character of the transformation which is the object of every Revelation. (270)

10. To what does the term “Bani Hashim” refer? (270-1)

11. What is the purpose of each aspect of the “twofold language” of the utterances of the Prophets of God? (283)