Gleanings from the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh

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Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh is a short book that gathers selected tablets and extracts from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Shoghi Effendi, who was the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 to 1957, chose the selections and translated them. It was first published in 1935.

The book presents the most characteristic and previously unpublished passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings, dating from about 1853 to 1892. It is divided into five parts and includes material from many of Bahá’u’lláh’s works. Some passages featured in Gleanings were later published more fully in other collections.

The original edition did not include a list showing which passages came from which works, but such a list has since been put together by scholars. Because of its broad range, Gleanings is often one of the first Bahá’í texts that readers encounter.

Rúhíyyih Rabbání, Shoghi Effendi’s widow, called it a magnificent gift to Western Bahá’ís. Queen Marie of Romania wrote that even doubters could find strength in it if they read it with an willing heart. The work has been translated into many languages, helping people around the world understand Bahá’u’lláh’s message.