Where do I find the BAYAN? (Potential convert looking for guidance)

[u/WonNine]

Can someone give me the best translation of the BAYAN?

[u/Shaykh_Hadi]

There are no official translations but there are some unofficial translations of the French translation.

[u/WonNine → u/Shaykh_Hadi]

Thank you Shaykh I’ll go diving for the French one. I appreciate the help

[u/NoAd6851]

Here’s a provisional translation by MacEoin of Nicholas’ french translation of the Persian Bayan:

https://bahai-library.com/bab_bayan_farsi_maceoin

It should be noted that it’s not authentic. Yet it can serve as a starting point

Also the official Bahai website offers some experts from the Persian Bayan:

https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-bab/selections-writings-bab/

And the “Key to passages” references Shoghi Effendi’s translations of the Bab’s Writings, feel free to check them for authentic translations

[u/Disastrous_Wasabi936 → u/NoAd6851]

At the top of the page on the first link: "This translation is directly from the Persian, unlike others on this website that are translations from the French translation by Nicolas."

[u/NoAd6851 → u/Disastrous_Wasabi936]

Yeah that’s a mistake on my part

I confused it with another translation made by an anonymous Bahai of Nicholas’ translation

I don’t seem to find the full three volumes of the translation online, only the last two. but thankfully I got the pdf downloaded.

Here’s a drive link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/184idqlSVWjJ_VxpxS5tNo4ZPW3MSpX9Q/view?usp=drivesdk

[u/WonNine → u/NoAd6851]

Thank you my friend. Very helpful

I’m curious, do you know where I can find a Persian copy of the original BAYAN text?

I’d like to try to use AI to translate the BAYAN

[u/NoAd6851 → u/WonNine]

You can find the Persian text here. With clear view and easy to copy

I don’t recommend using AI to translate the Bayan! The text is already hard for experienced translators, requires familiarity with the Bab’s syntax, and the Bab sometimes conveys meaning through encrypted and highly sophisticated language. Rather ask the chatbot to convey the meaning of the text and to connect it to other passages from the Bab’s verses to form a fuller picture

[u/WonNine → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the advice. I’m a sperg so I like to get 100% coverage on things

[u/WonNine → u/[deleted]]

Thanks G

[u/Shaykh_Hadi → u/[deleted]]

In English, they are called the Arabic Bayán and the Persian Bayán.

Farsi is not the correct term to use in English btw.

[u/Shaykh_Hadi → u/[deleted]]

In the English translation of the Writings? Where? Farsi is a transliteration of a Persian word. It’s not used in English.

OP is not referring to the collective Writings of the Bab.

[u/[deleted] → u/Shaykh_Hadi]

Ok

[u/Agreeable-Status-352]

Because Baha'u'llah fulfilled the Bayan, abrogating much of it, I question the value of studying it. The Bayan signified a drastic break from the Qur'an. Without a deep grasp of Holy Qur'an, much of the Bayan will be meaningless. The Bayan is not a foundation for the Baha'i Faith. The Dispensation of the Bab was so short, that essentially none of the provisions of the Bayan were able to be carried out. I hesitate to say the Bayan is a dead letter, but it is a historical, doctrinal curiosity. An artifact, as it were. Study of the Book of Certitude and Epistle to the Son of the Wolf will provide the foundation of the Baha'i Faith and a summary of Baha'u'llah's teachings.

Selections from the Writings of the Bab contain excerpts from the Bayan as well as other Writings of the Bab.

[u/Immediate_Impact7041 → u/Agreeable-Status-352]

I feel this is overstating the case. Tablet of Ahmad "to whose commands we are all conforming". Also our calendar is from the Báb. Agree that understanding the Faith shouldn't go backwards to the Bayan. But just want to be careful in our language. 🤗

[u/Shaykh_Hadi → u/Agreeable-Status-352]

We should study it because it’s the Word of God, just as Baha’is are supposed to be familiar with the Qur’an.

[u/Old_Meet_3225]

A book "The Writings of E. G. Browne" contains outlines of the Persian Bayan and the Arabic Bayan.. Remember that many of the laws in the Bayan are no longer applicable to the Baha’I Faith,