# Tablet of Splendors: Tablet study outline

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> Name of Tablet in Arabic or Persian: 
> Lawh-i-Ishráqát
> 
> 
> Translation into English: 
> Tablet of Splendors
> 
> 
> Significance of Name: 
> Ishráqát (sing. ishraq) in English translates to "effulgences," "radiant 
> lights," or "splendors," so presumably the title refers to the splendors of 
> Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation.
> 
> 
> Tablet was revealed in: 
> The tablet begins in Arabic and then reverts to Persian
> 
> 
> Name of Recipient:
> Jalil-i-Khu'i, a coppersmith and a well-known believer from Adhirbayjan 
> who broke the covenant after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> 
> Reason for Revelation of the Tablet:
> Bahá'u'lláh answers a number of questions Jalil-i-Khu'i asked of Him. As 
> well, if Bahá'u'lláh foresaw Khu'i's defection, then perhaps He was 
> attempting to bolster his commitment to the Covenant.
> 
> 
> Questions asked that are answered in Tablet:
> Other than the subject of infallibility, Taherzadeh doesn't list the exact 
> questions asked. However, based on the content of the Tablet, one can 
> compile a list of possible questions and/or issues on which Khu'i might 
> have asked for clarification. These could include:
> 
>   Does God have a peer? Can He be comprehended?
>   What is the significance and the role of the Báb, and what 
>   is His Most Great Announcement?
>   What is the choice given the people of the world?
>   What is the Most Great Infallibility?
>   What prayer is revealed for when one feels enraptured by the 
>   verses and bounty of God?
>   Has the day of judgment come?
>   What are heaven and hell?
>   What is revealed about the fear of God?
>   About dissension and conflict?
>   About trustworthiness?
>   How should we regard the people of the world?
>   What is the importance of religion? What is meant by the 
>   phrase "light of religion"?
>   Whose responsibility is the establishment of the Lesser Peace?
>   What is the importance of obedience? Consultation and 
>   compassion? Reward and punishment?
>   Of praiseworthy deeds; upright character? What is their 
>   relationship to fear of God?
>   What guidance is provided to governments?
>   Who chooses the world language? What is its purpose?
>   Who is responsible for the education of children?
>   What is the role of the House of Justice?
>   Regarding interest on loans?
>   What are some barriers to recognizing the Manifestation of God?
>   What signs and prophecies given in previous Dispensations have 
>   been fulfilled by the coming of Bahá'u'lláh?
>   How should positions be filled in government and situations of 
>   trust?
>      (compiled from student outlines)
> 
> Date of Revelation:
> The exact date of this Tablet is not known. However, independent 
> researchers and the House of Justice have concluded that it was likely 
> revealed around 1885. Further notes and calculations on this can be 
> found at http://bahai-library.com/uhj/Ishráqát.html
> 
> 
> Place of Revelation:
> This Tablet was revealed while at Bahji, outside of Akká
> 
> 
> Role of Amanuensis or Secretary:
> not stated
> 
> 
> Other Tablets revealed at about the same time:
> 
> Some Tablets revealed around this time include: Bishárát (Glad-Tidings); 
> Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (1891); Ishráqát (Splendors); Kalimát-i-
> Firdawsiyyih (Words of Paradise); Kitáb'i'Ahd (the Book of the Covenant) 
> (1892); Lawh-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Tablet); Lawh-i-Ard-i-Ba (Tablet of 
> the Land of Ba) (1879); Lawh-i-Burhán (Tablet of the Proof); Lawh-i-
> Dunyá (Tablet of the World); Lawh-i-Karmel (Tablet of Carmel) (1891); 
> Lawh-i-Maqsúd (Tablet of Maqsúd); Lawh-i-Siyyid Mihdíy-i-DaHájí; Súriy-i-
> Vafa (Tablet to Vafa); Tablet of Trustworthiness (circa 1879); Tablet 
> revealed in the house in the Garden of Ridván; Tablet to The Times of 
> London (1891); Tajallíyát (Effulgences) (1885-86); Tarazat (Ornaments)
> 
> 
> Style, subject, and genre of the Tablet: [?]
> 
>         I. Tone of Tablet
>                 1. Tablets with the tone of command and authority.
>         II. Subject Covered by Tablet
>                 2. Writings in which laws and ordinances have been enjoined 
>                         for this age and laws of the past abrogated.
>                 4. Tablets concerning matters of government and world 
>                         order, and those addressed to the kings.
>                 6. Tablets exhorting men to education, goodly character 
>                         and divine virtues.
>                 7. Tablets dealing with social teachings.
>         III. Literary Genre of Tablet:
>                 1. Letter to an individual. 
> 
> 
> Voice of Tablet: [?]
> Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> 
> Outline Contents of Tablet:
> 
>         1. Call to the people of the Bayán to accept the new Manifestation 
>                 foretold by the Báb.
>         2. An elucidation of the principle of infallibility.
>         3. A presentation of a theme of the Kitáb-i-Íqán  —  the response of 
>                 the majority of humankind to the Manifestation and His Revelation. 
>                 Throughout the tablet the blessings of recognition of the Manifestation 
>                 as juxtaposed with the barriers that prevent humankind from attaining 
>                 those blessings.
>         4. A discussion of various prophecies of previous Dispensations 
>                 that are fulfilled by the coming of Bahá'u'lláh.
>         5. A discussion of personal virtues and behaviors enjoined on 
>                 humankind by the Manifestation  —  chiefly justice and trustworthiness. A 
>                 prayer for increased strength, detachment, and steadfastness.
>         6. A listing of the nine Ishraqs (splendors): 
>                 a) Those in power must have a profound regard for religion, 
>                         for it is the means of all human prosperity and progress.
>                 b) The Lesser Peace is necessary to humankind's tranquillity 
>                         and advancement.
>                 c) Everyone must obey God's commandments.
>                 d) For fear of God, humankind must exhibit upright 
>                         character and perform deeds of service.
>                 e) Governments must rule with justice and equity.
>                 f) There must be a universal language that will bind all 
>                         mankind together.
>                 g) Education is of paramount importance.
>                 h) The House of Justice is given grave responsibilities for the 
>                         well-being of humankind and is to be obeyed.
>                 i) The purpose of religion is to establish unity and concord 
>                         among humankind.
>         7. Humankind must judge with fairness and equity what has been 
>                 revealed and follow the teachings God has sent.        
> 
> 
> Principal themes of the Tablet:
> See above, "questions answered" and "outline of contents"
> 
> 
> Tablet's relationship to any other tablets:
> 
> 1) The Tablet of Ishráqát enhances and explains in greater detail many 
> of the teachings of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, such as the themes of The Most 
> Great Infallibility, the observance of God's holy commandments, and the 
> importance of praiseworthy deeds. 
> 
> 2) Bahá'u'lláh explicitly makes the eighth Ishraq an addendum to the 
> Aqdas:
>   "This passage, now written by the Pen of Glory, is 
>  accounted as part of the Most Holy Book:  The men of 
>  God's House of Justice have been charged with the affairs 
>  of the people...."  
> 
> 3) Sen McGlinn, in the letter posted at Bahái-
> library.org/uhj/Ishráqát.html, notes that "the passage regarding interest 
> on p. 133 [of _Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh_] is apparently "copied over from 
> the earlier tablet to Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin, leaving his name in place in the 
> final blessing." [see item #7, below]
> 
> 4) One could also note that, while the themes of the Ishráqát are 
> touched upon in many other Tablets, this Tablet expresses them in some 
> of the "choicest" quotations (Taherzadeh vol. 4, p. 146)
> 
> The Research Dept. of the Bahá'í World Centre, in the letter cited above, 
> adds a few items (numbering and editing mine): "In the course of trying 
> to determine the date of the revelation of the Tablet of Ishráqát, we 
> gleaned the following information which may be of interest to Mr. McGlinn 
> concerning the structure of this Tablet":
> 
> 5) Included in the Tablet of Ishráqát is a quotation from a Tablet 
> Bahá'u'lláh had earlier revealed in honour of Hájí Muhammad-Ibráhím 
> concerning some of the Islamic prophecies about the Day of God. He 
> explains to Jalil-i-Khu'i that   These are verses We sent down previously, and We have sent them 
> unto thee, that thou   mayest be acquainted with what their lying 
> tongues have spoken, when God came unto them    with might and 
> sovereignty. (_Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh..._, 117-9) 
> 
> 6) The passage on Trustworthiness is also found in the Tablet of Tarazat 
> and in a Tablet addressed to Hájí Mírzá Buzurg-i-Afnán (and perhaps in 
> other Tablets as well). This is the passage in which Bahá'u'lláh states: 
> "One day of days We repaired unto Our Green Island". (ibid. 121-2)
> 
> 7) Bahá'u'lláh responds to Jalil-i-Khu'i's question concerning "interest and 
> profit on gold and silver" by quoting from a Tablet that had been 
> previously revealed in honour of Zaynu'l-Muqarrabin. (ibid. 132-3)"
> 
> 
> Biography or bio note of the recipient of the Tablet:
> 
> Taherzadeh gives a brief biography of Jalil-i-Khu'i in _Revelation of 
> Bahá'u'lláh_ vol. 4, pp. 145-6:  
> 
>         The Tablet of Ishráqát was addressed to Jalil-i-Khu'i, a 
> coppersmith who lived in the province of Adhirbayjan and was a well-
> known believer. It was revealed in answer to his questions, particularly 
> those on the subject of supreme infallibility. He had the inestimable 
> privilege of attaining the presence of Bahá'u'lláh, and became the 
> recipient of many bounties from Him. 
> 
>         But Jalil deprived himself of all the blessings which were showered 
> on him, and perished spiritually. After the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, he 
> violated the Covenant and joined hands with Muhammad-'Ali, the Arch- 
> breaker of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh. He was influenced by Jamál-i- 
> Burújirdí, who was foremost among the Covenant-breakers in Persia and 
> had the ambition of becoming the undisputed leader of the community in 
> that country. ... About four years after the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, 
> Jamál went to Adhirbayjan, appointed Jalil as his agent in the area and 
> urged him to meet the believers secretly and sow the seeds of Covenant-
> breaking among them. Jalil was further encouraged when Muhammad-'Alí 
> despatched to Adhirbayjan a series of letters against the Centre of the 
> Covenant. 
> 
>         In the meantime the Matter sent Ibn-i-Abhar, one of the Hands of 
> the Cause, to the area to assist the believers to remain steadfast in the 
> Covenant. Jalil failed to make appreciable headway in his subversive 
> activities; the believers in Adhirbayjan stood firm, rallied around 'Abdu'l-
> Bahá and defended the Cause of God heroically from the onslaught of 
> the unfaithful.
> 
>         In AH 1315 (AD 1897-8) 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed a lengthy Tablet 
> known as the Lawh-i-Hizar Bayti (Tablet of One Thousand Verses) to Jalil. 
> In this celebrated Tablet He showers upon him much loving-kindness, 
> exhorts him to faithfulness in the Cause, explains in detail he authenticity 
> of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, sets forth convincing proofs in support of 
> His argument and provides one of the most illuminating insights into the 
> subject of the Covenant as a whole. ... Writing at a time of great 
> agitation and danger in the Holy Land and wishing not to add fuel to the 
> fire already lit by the Covenant-breakers, which threatened to engulf the 
> community of the believers, the Master sent a trusted servant of the 
> Cause, Mírzá Mahmud i-Zarghani, to Tabriz, the capital of Adhirbayjan, 
> with instructions to read aloud the full contents of the Tablet to Jalil, 
> but not to hand him a copy. Jalil heard this highly enlightening Tablet in 
> full but, alas, the lust of leadership had blinded his eyes and stopped his 
> ears. He later witnessed the futility of his efforts and died in ignominy.
>
> — *Tablet of Splendors: Tablet study outline (Used by permission of the curator)*