Kitab-i-Aqdas means "Most Holy Book" in Persianized Arabic (standard Arabic would be Kitab al-Aqdas). This is one of the most important writings of Bahaullah, Prophet-Founder of the Bahai faith.

The Kitab-i-Aqdas, or Aqdas for short, is a central repository of the laws and teachings of Bahaism – particularly those concerning personal conduct, religious practices, and Bahai community life. It also contains advice and admonitions to government and religious leaders and lays the foundation for Bahaullah's teachings on global spiritual civilization, which are developed further in other letters and essays he wrote.

The following is a topical outline of the Aqdas, showing which paragraphs in the main text (K), the question-and-answer section (Q), and the Tablet of Ishraqat (I) correspond to which topic.

The Unitarian Bahai Association is in the process of producing a complete original translation of the Aqdas – to be available by the end of 2010 at the website kitabiaqdas.com – which will be organized by the topics below.

• Introductory Statements
• Nature and Purpose of The Most Holy Book: K98
• Invocation: K0
• Knowing God and the Divine Command: K1, K2-5, K7, K17a, K29b, K36a, K55, K59, K96, K98, K134, K161-163, K181, K183, K186


• Overall View of Religion
• No Human Being Is Infallible, Only God: K47
• All Divine Inspiration Comes from the Same Source: K143, K182b
• Interfaith Fellowship and Worship: K31, K75b, K115b, K144
• Concepts of Religious Uncleanness Abolished: K9, K10b, K46a, K60a, K74a, K75


• The Bahai Community
• Holding to the Clear Meaning of Sacred Texts: K53a, K105, K117b
• Role of Learned Bahais: K173
• No Special Rights for Bahaullah's Family: K61
• Prohibition of Claims of Divine Command: K37
• The House of Justice: K21, K30, K42, K48, K52, K147b, I1-2
• Composition and Description
• Decisions Reflect the Will of God
• Authority to Innovate
• Financial Aid to Widows and Orphans
• Education of Impoverished Children
• Funding Improvements to Bahai Sacred Places
• Advises Political Leaders
• etc.
• Bahai Calendar and Holy Days Observed: K16a, K16b, K110-112, K127
• Sacred Places: K133
• Witnesses for Divorce: Q98
• Rituals for the Deceased: K8b, K128-130


• Personal Religious Obligations
• Promoting God's Cause: K35, K38, K53b, K74b, K117a, K118, K160b
• Working in a Trade or Profession: K33a, K33c, K33d-e
• Huququllah (Tithing): K97
• Zakat (Almsgiving): K146
• Daily Salat (Formal Prayer): K6, K8a, K10, K12a, K13, K14, K18b, K137
• Daily Dhikr (Meditative Mantra): K18a
• Daily Thanksgiving to God: K33b
• Daily Recitation of Scripture: K116, K149
• Annual Fast: K10a, K13, K16a, K16c, K17b
• Pilgrimage: K32
• Writing a Will and Testament: K27, K28, K109


• Living a Wholesome Life
• True Liberty in Servitude to God: K120b, K122-125
• Self-Control: K2, K64a, K71
• Detachment from Material Possessions: K39, K40, K54
• A Moderate Attitude Toward Suffering: K43
• Personal Attitudes, Habits, and Demeanor: K46b, K120a, K148b, K148c,d, K159c,d
• Personal Hygiene: K74c,d,e, K76, K106, K152
• Seeking Medical Treatment When Ill: K113
• Dress, Hairstyle, and Appearance: K44, K159b
• Prohibition of Gambling: K155
• Prohibition of Consuming Intoxicants: K119, K155, K190
• Prohibition of Sexual Licentiousness: K49a
• Music: K51


• Marriage and Family
• Encouragement to Marry: K63a
• Consent of Couple and Parents Required: K65
• Dowry: K66
• Verses for Marriage Ceremony
• Journeys With or Away from Spouse: K67, K69
• Living in Harmony: K67c, K70b
• Encouragement to Have Children: K63d
• Teaching One's Children: K48, K150
• Year of Waiting Before Divorce: K68a
• Infidelity and Forfeiture of Financial Support: K70a
• Conditions for Remarriage: K68b


• Other Actions Encouraged
• Monogamy: K63b
• Kindness and Service to One's Parents
• Hosting Fellowship Meals in One's Home: K57
• Responding to Invitations: K156
• Studying Scriptures and Finding Deeper Meanings: K158
• Saying One's Prayers Privately: K12b
• Visiting Houses of Worship at Dawn: K115a
• Giving Endowments to the House of Justice: K42
• Good Deeds, Wisdom, and Speech: K73a
• Promoting Development of Cities and Countries: K160a
• Renewing the Furnishings of One's Home: K151
• Reflecting on Fearful Natural Events: K11


• Other Actions Discouraged
• Divisiveness: K58, I3
• Studying Subjects that End in Idle Disputation: K77
• Holding to Doctrines from Earlier Religions: K138
• Pride and False Humility: K36, K41a, K50
• Claiming Esoteric Knowledge: K36
• Monasticism and Asceticism: K36a


• Other Actions Prohibited
• Murder: K19, K62, K73b
• Arson: K62
• Theft: K45
• Entering a House Without Permission: K145
• Striking, Wounding, or Raping a Person: K56, K148a
• Pedophilia and Pederasty: K107b
• Betrothal of a Child Before Maturity
• Marrying One's Stepparents: K107a
• Adultery: K19
• Polygamy: K63b
• Concubinage or Prostitution: K63c
• Slave Trading or Slavery: K72a
• Exalting One Person Over Another (including No Kissing of Hands, No Seeking Absolution from Another Soul, No Pulpits): K34a, K34b, K49c, K72b, K154
• Rebellion Against Orderly Government: K64b, K95
• Carrying Arms Unless Essential: K159a
• Contention, Conflict, and Fighting: K73b, K148a, K153
• Backbiting and Calumny/Slander: K19
• Cursing and Reviling People
• Cruelty to Animals: K187
• Excessive Hunting: K60b
• Eating Dead Animals Found in a Trap/Snare: Q24
• Begging and Giving to Beggars: K147a
• Muttering Sacred Verses for Public Show: K108


• Exhortations to Government Leaders
• Recommended Criminal Penalties for Murder: K62
• Recommended Criminal Penalties for Arson: K62
• Recommended Criminal Penalties for Theft: K45
• various other things (will be broken into categories): K78-88, K189


• Exhortations to Religious Leaders
• will be broken into categories: K41b, K99-104, K165-172


• Expired or Moot Statements and Teachings
• Abrogation of Laws of Babism: K114, K126, K131, K148b
• Messages to People of Bahaullah's Time: K89-94, K164, K175-185
• Turning to His Son After Bahaullah's Passing (Abdul-Baha is now also deceased): K121, K174
• One-Third of Fines Go to the House of Justice (only possible in a Bahai state): K52a
• Fines for Adultery (only possible in a Bahai state, and virtually impossible to enforce): K49b
• Compensation to Manslaughter Victim's Family (handled in civil court now): K188
• Division of Estate of Intestate Persons (handled in civil court now): K20-28

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