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11. Al-Kitab Al-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book)
This book was written by Baha in Acre in about 1873 after he was allowed to move from the army barracks into a private house in Acre hired by him (Shoghi Effendi’s god passes by, P. 213).
“The codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the mother book of the Bahai Revelation, and the systematic promulgation of its laws and ordinances are as yet unbegun”. God passes by, P. 411.
The whole Aqdas may be summed up in the following provision: - "whoever burns a home intentionally, burn him." as opposed thereto, "slaying is prohibited in the Bayan" and if anyone commands it, he is not & has not been of the Bayan" P. B. iv 5.
At Baha’s Behest, the Kitab-i-Aqdas was expurgated by two laymen, see Expurgation of Aqdas.
See Provisions of Bayan.
See 'Aqdas or a subset re-hash of Bayan'.
Origin, Composition And Completion of Aqdas
In so far as the raison d'etre of its composition, its date of completion, and its expurgation one concerned, the Aqdas has been noticed in its historical background on the documentary evidence of none other person than Mirza Hussayn Ali Baha himself.
In the English version of the Aqdas P.30 note I. allusion is made to a Persian book called Question and Answers as the supplement to the Aqdas. It is in manuscript. It embodies the questions part by the Bahais, and answers given by Baha, to clarify certain provisions in the Aqdas.
There is no quotable text in the Aqdas defining persons related within the prohibited degrees of matrimony save only one provision in it (P. 53 English version) which lays down that "the wives of your fathers are unlawful to you".
This lacum in Baha's law that might have given rise to abuses among Baha's followers, compelled Bahai proselytisers to state the case to Baha for clarification.
Baha gave a ruling that vested in the House of Justice the right to decide on marriage between related persons, for which no provision is made in the Aqdas.
It remains to be seen to what extent, if any, members called 'stewards of the merciful' of the house of justice to be set up in every city (Aqdas English version p.31), will be able to enforce this rulings in the exercise of their discretionary powers.
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