The Khuṭbas or Sermons of the Bāb

IN PROGRESS 2006-7

The Islamic background of the Khuṭba

The   خطبةliterary form is important in both Shi`ism and the Bābī religion often indicating an Arabic `oration' which is more than just a sermonic, homiletic  type discourse,  in being a weighty composition of theological magnitude.

        Among the important Shi`i Khuṭbas  known to the Bab  and influential upon his early claims is the doctrinally weighty Khuṭbat al-ṭutunjiyya (Sermon of  the Gulf). This quasi-ghuluww ("extremist") sermon is believed to have been delivered between  Kufa and Medina by the first Imam `Alī b. Abi Ṭālib (d. 40/66)(Rajab al-Bursī, Mashāriq , 166). It commences  as follows:

  الحمد لله الذى فتق الاجواء  وخرق الهواء وعلق الارجاء

واضاء الضياء واحيى الموتى وامات الاحياء    

Praise be to God!

Who hath cleft the firmaments asunder (cf. Q 21:30),  split up the atmosphere, suspended the margins of the heavens (Q. 69:17),

caused the solar luminary [sun] (ḍiyā')  to shine forth, quickened the dead and made the living to die....

 

These opening lines of the Khuṭbat al-ṭutunjiyya (Sermon of  the Gulf) echo portions of the first khuṭbah of `Ali in the Nahj al-Balagha (Path of Eloquence) compiled in about 400/1009-10  by Sharīf al-Radī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Mūsawī (d.406/1015) and are  similar to those of the خطبة الجدة    Khuṭba jiddah  of the Bāb where we read:  

 

 

 Early Khuṭbas or Sermons of the Bab as listed in his Kitab al-fihrist ("Book of the Index", 1845)

Khuṭbas or sermons formed an important vehicle for the revelations of the Bab from the earleist period. From late 1844  XX khutbas were written or delivered throughout the period surrounding the Bab's pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina and his return to Persia in 1845. This is clear from the Kitab al-fihrist (Book of the Index) of the Bab which was written on  15th Jumada II 1261 AH or  June 21st 1845 CE and his  ADD  . Therein we find reference to the following sermons:

    UNDER REVISION

  • Two khuṭbas revealed in Bushire՝ : Mss. = (1) Tehran, INBA 4011C, pp. 341-48 (2) Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 359-63

  • Khuṭba revealed in Banakān' No surviving mš. known.

  • 'Khuṭba revealed in Kanakān' : Mss. = (1.) Tehran, ΓΝΒΑ 4011C, pp. 351-58 (2). Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 355-59.

  • Khuṭba on the `Īd al-Fiṭr (= 1st Shawwal 1260 at end of Ramadan = 1st October 1844?), a Khuṭba wrilten in Masqat) 1. Tehran, INHA 4011C, pp. 359-96 2. Tehran, INBA 5(X)6C, pp. 326-30

  • Khutba Jidda (The Sermon at Jeddah), Text and Translation: INBMC 91:60-74.

  • Kh-Jidda = Khuṭba at Jeddah.  Mss. = (1) Tehran, INBA 5006C, 330-35 (2) Tehran, INBA 3036C, 404ff (3) INBMC 91:60-74.

  • Khuṭba on the sufferings of the Imam Husayn' (= Khuṭba fi'I safına) (1). Tehran, IΝΒΑ  5006C, pp. 317-20  (2) INBMC 91:

  • Three  khuṭbas revealed on the way to Mecca' .Not extant?

  • Khuṭba for Mullā Ḥusayn revealed on board ship' (?= 'a khuṭba revealed in Jidda at the time of his embarkation on the ship') 1. Tehran, IΝΒΑ 4011C, pp. 348-51 2. Tehran, IΝΒΑ 5006C, pp. 339-40

  • Kh- Huruf = Khuṭba on `ilm al-ḥurūf : Mss. = (1) Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 315-17 (2) Tehran, INBA 6004C, pp. 209-213 (3) Tehran, INBMC 67, pp. 228-33

  • Khuṭba on  the `ilm al-ḥuruf ("The gnosis of the Letters").  [1]. Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 315-17 [2.] Tehran, INBA 6004C, pp. 209-213 [3.] Tehran, INBMC 67, pp. 228-33 [4] INBMC 91:30-36.

  • Khuṭba revealed one stage from Medina' 1. Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 322-24

  • (xi) Two  khuṭbas revealed near the staging-post of al-Safra' 1. Tehran, ΓΝΒΑ 5006C, pp. 320-22 and 324-26.

see Kitab al-Fihrist + Sources,

    Khutbas associated with Tafsir  and other works of the Bab

  • Khutba associated with the Tafsir Surat al-Baqara  of the Bab (late 1843)

  • Khuṭba  prefaced to the Tafsĩr Sürat al-kawthar  (Q.  ) of the Bab (1845) See ADD

Other Khutbas of the Bab

  • Kh-Qahriyya. = Khuṭba-yi qahriyya (The Sermon of Wrath). Tehran, INBA 4012C, pp. 1-13 +  INBMC 64:127-150.(2)  2. Iran, INBMC 64, pp. 127-50 + Princeton Ms.

 

 

(x) 'A khufba [written] one stage from Medina' 1. Tehran, INBA 5006C, pp. 322-24

(xi) Two khufbas [written] near the staging-post of al-Safra' 1. Tehran, ΓΝΒΑ 5006C, pp. 320-22 and 324-26

(xii) A khufba written as a preface to the Tafsĩr Sürat al-kawthar (see under that title)