THE BOOK OF CERTITUDE

The Bahá'í Faith was founded by Bahá'u'lláh ("glory of God"), a 19th-century Iranian spiritual leader whom Bahá'ís regard as the most recent in a line of great prophets stretching back to Abraham. Bahá'ís celebrate nine annual festivals, including the 12-day spring observance of Ridvan (April 21-May 2), commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's mission on earth, and the Day of Ascension (May 29), marking the anniversary of his passing into immortality. This first-ever trade edition of Bahá'u'lláh's "Book of Certitude" offers the prolific author's account of the tenets of the faith and the universal mission of all religions. Bahá'u'lláh describes the role of prophets throughout history and calls some of his contemporaries to task for promulgating false or self-serving views about religion. The closing pages discuss prophecies of a new age, drawing upon both Christian and Muslim hopes for revelation. (June)