The Bahā'ī Faith: Doctrinal and Historical Explorations

Although the Baha’i Faith has escaped the gravitational pull of Islam, establishing itself as an independent religious tradition and now being one of the most widely distributed religions in the world, it has received disproportionately little attention in the academic world. This Special Issue of Religions is a small step in redressing this imbalance. The papers in this volume reflect the broad range of subjects and approaches that can be considered to fall under the purview of “Baha’i Studies”. These papers vary from history and sociology to doctrinal analyses and textual studies, and range from the earliest Babi phase to recent times. They include such topics as the claims of the Bab; the Bab’s writings on the rights of women; the poetry of Tahirih (Qurrat al-`Ayn); the treatment of mi`raj (ascent of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven) in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i texts; the role of wonder in the creation of a Babi and Baha’i identity; the resonances of a Shi`i prayer in Babi and Baha’i scripture; Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i exegesis of the “Seal of the Prophets” (Qur’an 33:40); the presence of Baha’is among the upper echelons of society in Qajar Iran; the critique of Orientalism in the writings of Abu’l-Fada’il-i-Gulpayigani; the equality, rights, and advancement of women in Baha’i scripture and praxis; the conversion narratives of first-generation Baha’is; and the impact of the World Order magazine.