The Dawn-breakers (book)
Encyclopedia
The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation or Nabíl's Narrative (Táríkh-i-Nabíl) is a historical account of the early Bábí
and Bahá'í Faith
s penned by Nabíl-i-A`zam
in 1887-8. The English translation by Shoghi Effendi
was published in 1932.
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. In 1887 Nabíl began writing The Dawn-Breakers with the personal assistance of Mírzá Músá
, the brother of Bahá'u'lláh
. It was finished in about a year and a half, and parts of the manuscript were reviewed and approved, some by Bahá'u'lláh, and others by `Abdu'l-Bahá
.
Many of the photographs of the Bahá'í 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.
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 Bahá'ís as "spiritual descendants of the dawn-breakers". 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
).
and is set in 19th century Iran
until around 1853. The narrative focuses on Shaykh Ahmad
and Sayyid Kazim Rashti, the life of the Báb
, the Letters of the Living
, among which are Mullá Husayn
, Quddús
, Táhirih
, and further Dayyán
, Hujjat
and Bahá'u'lláh
.
H.M. Balyuzi, who used the second part of the manuscript as one of his sources for Bahá'u'lláh, King of Glory, states that it mostly concerns events which Nabíl witnessed with his own eyes. Significant portions of the original text were included in the eight volumes of the Tarikh Zuhur al-Haqq, a history of the Bábí and Bahá'í religions which includes copious documentary material, written and compiled by the Iranian Bahá'í scholar Mírzá Asadu’llah Fádil Mázandarání
in the late 1930s and early 1940s and has been published in Persian online.
Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
uses the story of the theft of the Báb's saddlebag during his pilgrimage to Mecca, in chapter VII of the Dawn-Breakers, as the focal point for her novel The Saddlebag - A Fable for Doubters and Seekers.
Many groups and organizations have been named after it. Most notebly the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival
, Dawn Breakers High School in India and the LA-based music group Dawnbreaker Collective, 1966 music group by Seals and Croft called Dawnbreakers and the German-based publishing company, "DawnBreakers Publisher."
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
and Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
s penned by Nabíl-i-A`zam
Nabíl-i-A`zam
Mullá Muḥammad-i-Zarandí , more commonly known as Nabíl-i-A`ẓam or Nabíl-i-Zarandí , was an eminent Bahá'í historian during the time of Bahá'u'lláh, and one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh...
in 1887-8. The English translation by Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
was published in 1932.
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. In 1887 Nabíl began writing The Dawn-Breakers with the personal assistance of Mírzá Músá
Mírzá Músá
Mírzá Músá , surnamed Áqáy-i-Kalím was the only true brother of Bahá'u'lláh, meaning that they shared the same mother. He was later named by Shoghi Effendi as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh....
, the brother of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
. It was finished in about a year and a half, and parts of the manuscript were reviewed and approved, some by Bahá'u'lláh, and others by `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
.
Many of the photographs of the Bahá'í 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
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
, wearing a chador
Chador
A chādor or chādar is an outer garment or open cloak worn by many Iranian women and female teenagers in public spaces. Wearing this garment is one possible way in which a Muslim woman can follow the Islamic dress code known as ḥijāb. A chador is a full-body-length semicircle of fabric that is...
for safety purposes.
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 Bahá'ís as "spiritual descendants of the dawn-breakers". William P. Collins states that the narrative reflects, in addition to history, a universal sacred story or monomyth
Monomyth
Joseph Campbell's term monomyth, also referred to as the hero's journey, is a basic pattern that its proponents argue is found in many narratives from around the world. This widely distributed pattern was described by Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces...
as described by Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
(e.g. the story of Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn-i Bushru'i , titled Jináb-i-Bábu'l-Báb , was a Persian religious figure, and the first Letter of the Living of the Bábí movement. He died at the Battle of Fort Shaykh Tabarsi, on February 2, 1849...
).
The narrative
The part of the book that has been published in English tells the story of the early Bahá'í historyBahá'í history
Bahá'í history is often traced through a sequence of leaders, beginning with the Báb's May 23, 1844 declaration in Shiraz, and ultimately resting on an administrative order established by the central figures of the religion. The religion had its background in two earlier movements in the...
and is set in 19th century Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
until around 1853. The narrative focuses on Shaykh Ahmad
Shaykh Ahmad
Shaykh Ahmad ibn Zayn al-Dín ibn Ibráhím al-Ahsá'í was was the founder of a 19th century Shi`i school in the Persian and Ottoman empires, whose followers are known as Shaykhís....
and Sayyid Kazim Rashti, the life of the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
, the Letters of the Living
Letters of the Living
The Letters of the Living was a title provided by the Báb to the first eighteen disciples of the Bábí Religion. In some understandings the Báb places himself at the head of this list...
, among which are Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn
Mullá Husayn-i Bushru'i , titled Jináb-i-Bábu'l-Báb , was a Persian religious figure, and the first Letter of the Living of the Bábí movement. He died at the Battle of Fort Shaykh Tabarsi, on February 2, 1849...
, Quddús
Quddús
Jináb-i-Quddús , is the title of Mullá Muḥammad ‘Alí-i-Bárfurúshi, who was the most prominent disciple of the Báb, a nineteenth century Prophet of the Bahá'í Faith. He was the eighteenth and final Letter of the Living....
, Táhirih
Táhirih
Táhirih or Qurratu'l-`Ayn are both titles of Fátimih Baraghání , an influential poet and theologian of the Bábí Faith in Iran. Her life, influence and execution made her a key figure of the religion...
, and further Dayyán
Dayyán
Mirza Asadullah-i-Khuy , often referred to as Dayyán, was a Babi follower, a religion founded by the Báb in Persia in the mid 1850s. The Báb wrote numerous tablets of praise to Dayyán recognising his devotion to the new religion...
, Hujjat
Hujjat
Mulla Muhammad-‘Aliy-i-Zanjani , surnamed Hujjat , was an early leader of the Bábí movement of 19th century Persia.He is regarded by Bahá'ís as part of their own religious history, and is highly featured in the two primary Bahá'í historical books of God Passes By and The Dawn-breakers....
and Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
.
Translations
The work was first edited, partially translated into English and printed in 1932 by Shoghi Effendi, great grandson of Bahá'u'lláh and Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. This translation covers roughly the first half of the original narrative. The original text has never been published in full, though there are Persian and Arabic translations of Shoghi Effendi's English version. The book, either the complete edition or the abridged one, has been translated in several other languages as well. The original manuscript, is held in the International Bahá'í Archives in Haifa, Israel.H.M. Balyuzi, who used the second part of the manuscript as one of his sources for Bahá'u'lláh, King of Glory, states that it mostly concerns events which Nabíl witnessed with his own eyes. Significant portions of the original text were included in the eight volumes of the Tarikh Zuhur al-Haqq, a history of the Bábí and Bahá'í religions which includes copious documentary material, written and compiled by the Iranian Bahá'í scholar Mírzá Asadu’llah Fádil Mázandarání
Mírzá Asadu’llah Fádil Mázandarání
Mírzá Asadu’llah Fádil Mázandarání was a prominent Iranian Bahá'í scholar in Iran. He travelled Iraq, India and North America at the request of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, to spread the Bahá'í teachings...
in the late 1930s and early 1940s and has been published in Persian online.
Influence
The book had a great impact on the Western Bahá'ís' understanding of their religion and its links to Bábism.Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
Bahiyyih Nakhjavani is a Persian writer who grew up in Uganda and was educated in the United Kingdom and the United States. She now lives in France where she teaches. She taught European and American literature in Belgium....
uses the story of the theft of the Báb's saddlebag during his pilgrimage to Mecca, in chapter VII of the Dawn-Breakers, as the focal point for her novel The Saddlebag - A Fable for Doubters and Seekers.
Many groups and organizations have been named after it. Most notebly the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival
Dawn Breakers International Film Festival
Dawn Breakers International Film Festival is an international film festival that is held in various cities throughout the world. The festival originated in 2007 and debuted in Phoenix, Arizona on December 2008. It was held in Zurich, Switzerland in 2009, San Diego in 2010 and Houston in 2011...
, Dawn Breakers High School in India and the LA-based music group Dawnbreaker Collective, 1966 music group by Seals and Croft called Dawnbreakers and the German-based publishing company, "DawnBreakers Publisher."
Editions
- complete edition, with illustrutions, footnotes in English and French, complete introduction and appendices. - abridged, without illustrations. - abridged, with illustrations.External links
- Compendium of the Dawn-Breakers
- The Dawn-Breakers, including the illustrations
- Links to the illustrations
- Translation of French Foot-Notes of the Dawn-Breakers
- Study Outline
- Summary
- Little Badasht Materials, aids for the study of Nabíl's Narrative