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13. The Hidden Book
Mystery surrounds Baha's Hidden Book. According to the Catalogue of Literature issued by Bahai Publishing Trust, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of the British Isles, P.3, B2, "the Hidden Words", Shoghi Effendi's translation, composed by Baha during the Baghdad period of the BÁBi exiles is stated to have been "originally designated the "Hidden Book of Fatima", "fulfilling Islamic prophecy."
Shoghi Effendi's authoritative interpretation, that the BÁB and Baha were Co-Founders of Bahaism rests on Baha's Hidden Book.
According to Baha in his Epistle to the Son of Wolf of 1890, P.12, Juli Chamler's translation, "the Hidden Words 'were revealed by the Pen of Abha under the name of the 'Book of Fatima'." Neither Baha nor Shoghi Effendi tells us why Baha's Hidden Words should have been originally designated "the 'Book of Fatima' or the 'Hidden Book of Fatima' ".
The answer is simple: Sir Abbas Effendi's deliberate misrepresentation which did not escape Prof. Browne's attention.
In the Traveller's Narrative by him anonymously at Acre in 1303 A.H (1885), PP. 122-126, Vol. II., English Translation by Prof. Browne, Sir Abbas Effendi quotes "passage from the contents of the Hidden Book of Fatima."
In his footnote 1, PP. 123-4, ibid, Prof. Browne says: "I examined a work entitled Kalimat-i-Maknuna-i-Fatimiyya (The Hidden Words of Fatima), but a search of about two hours through its pages revealed nothing resembling the passages in the text before us.
Finally I wrote to Acre, asking amongst other questions, what might be the true nature of the work, here allude to. The following answer (which is authoritative) was returned: [Translation] First Question. Concerning of the mention the Book of the matters in the Hidden Book of Fatima. The answer is this, that the sect of Persia, that is the Shias, believe that after the prophet Muhammad, Fatima was occupied night and day in weeping, wailing and lamenting over the fate of her illustrious father.
Thereafter was Jabrail commanded by the Lord Most glorious to commune, and associate with Fatima; and he used to speak words causing consolation and quietude heart. These words were collected and named 'The Book of Fatima' and they [i.e. the Shias] believe that the Book is with the Qaim [i.e. the Imam Mahdi] and shall appear in the days of his appearance. But of this Book naught is known save the name, and indeed it is a name without form and a title without reality. And His Highness the Existent [i.e. Baha] willed to make known the appearance of the Qaim by intimation, therefore was it mentioned in this manner for a wise reason which he had.'"
'and that which is mentioned under the name of the Book in the Epistle to His Majesty the King of Persia is from the 'Hidden Words' [Kalimat-i-Maknuna] which was revealed before the Epistle to His Majesty the King. The 'Hidden Words' was revealed in the language of eloquence (Arabic) and of light (Persian). It has been commanded that some portion of it shall be written and sent especially for you, that you may become cognisant of the truth of the matter. At all events both the Persian and the Arabic thereof were revealed in this manifestation.'"
The Persian text of this reply which was written by Baha's youngest son Mirza Badiullah appears in J.R.A.S, October 1892, PP. 671-673.
As the 'authoritative answer' proves the 'Hidden Book of Fatima' is known by name but non-existent in substance. Prof. Browne's discovery of Sir Abbas Effendi's gross misrepresentation to foist Baha's 'Hidden Words' as the 'Hidden Book of Fatima' accounts for Baha's and Shoghi Effendi's tardy apology that "The Hidden Words were revealed by the pen of Abha [i.e. Baha] under the name of the 'Book of Fatima'" and that "The Hidden Words was originally designated the 'Hidden Book of Fatima', fulfilling Islamic Prophecy" respectively.
Assuming that Shoghi Effendi's authoritative interpretation that the Primal Point and Baha were Co-Founders of Bahaism rests, not on the 'Hidden Book of Fatima', which is indeed a name without form and a title without reality, but on the 'Hidden Book' by Baha, such assumption is untenable on the documentary evidence of none other person than Baha himself.
In his Risala (Tract) of 1286 A.H. (1869), ostensibly written for one Ali and actually intended for the Bayanis who rejected his pretensions, Baha, in support of his pretensions, P.110, refers his deniers not to his own 'Hidden Book', or which Shoghi Effendi grounded his authoritative interpretation, but to "the Hidden Book by the Primal Point which was revealed touching this [i.e. Baha's] new Cause in its entirety, and which was hidden from sight, to have access to which "Baha's deniers are exhorted "to pray God.", Text:
« و فوق جمیع این بیانات کتاب مکنون نقطة اولی روحی ماسواه فداه که کل در این امر
بدیع نازل شده و از انظار مستور گشته از خدا بخواهید تا بآن فائز شوید »
Extracted from Baha's Risala of 1286 A.H. (1869), Manuscript, P. 110
Why did Baha hide or cover from sight or observation or keep back from publicity the Point's 'Hidden Book' which he alleges to have been written in support of Baha's pretensions?
The answer is simple: There is no Hidden Book composed by the BÁB.
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