| Texts and scriptures of the Baháʼí Faith |
|---|
 |
| From Baháʼu'lláh |
| From the Báb |
| From ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |
| From Shoghi Effendi |
The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl's Narrative of the Early Days of the Baháʼí Revelation (Maṭāleʿ al-anwār)[1] or Nabíl's Narrative (Táríkh-i-Nabíl) is an account of the early Bábí and Baháʼí Faiths written in Persian by Nabíl-i-Aʻzam in 1887–1888. The English translation by Shoghi Effendi was published in 1932.[2]
The book relies mainly on the memoirs of surviving early Bábís, and Nabíl himself was a participant in many of the scenes which he recounts.
Many of the photographs of the Baháʼí historical sites in Iran that illustrate the book were made by Effie Baker. She was requested to do so by Shoghi Effendi in the early 1930s, and travelled to Iran alone by car from Haifa, Mandate Palestine, wearing a chador for safety purposes.[3][4]
Shoghi Effendi's intention for publishing the English translation was to inspire greater dedication and self-sacrifice in its readers. He gave importance to the study of The Dawn-Breakers and describes the Baháʼís as "spiritual descendants of the dawn-breakers".[2]
William P. Collins states that the narrative reflects, in addition to history, a universal sacred story or monomyth as described by Joseph Campbell (e.g. the story of Mullá Husayn).[5]
- ^ Rafati, Vahid (2016). Nabil-e Aʿẓam Zarandi, Mollā Moḥammad. Encyclopædia Iranica.
- ^ a b Smith, Peter (2000). "Dawn-breakers". A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 118. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- ^ Hassall, Graham (1999). "Ambassador at the Court:The Life and Photography of Effie Baker". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Khan, J.A.; Khan, P. (2003). Advancement of Women: A Baháʼí Perspective. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. pp. 216–7. ISBN 1-931847-03-7.
- ^ Collins, William (1990). "Sacred Mythology and the Baháʼí Faith" (PDF). Journal of Baháʼí Studies. 2 (4): 1–15. doi:10.31581/JBS-2.4.1(1990). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18.