Note 108

108. the &Bayan # 77

The &Bayan, the Mother Book of the &Babi Dispensation, is the title given by the &Bab to His Book of Laws, and it is also applied to the entire body of His Writings. The Persian &Bayan is the major doctrinal work and principal repository of the laws ordained by the &Bab. The Arabic &Bayan is parallel in content but smaller and less weighty. When describing the Persian &Bayan in God Passes By Shoghi Effendi indicated that it should be regarded "primarily as a eulogy of the Promised One rather than as a code of laws and ordinances designed to be a permanent guide to future generations". &Abdu'l-Baha has written: "The &Bayan hath been superseded by the &Kitab-i-Aqdas, except in respect of such laws as have been confirmed and mentioned in the &Kitab-i-Aqdas."