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Welcome to The Dawning Light: The Rise of the Baháʼí Faith in the Shadows of the Persian Empire, a pilgrimage into the past, an exploration of a spiritual revolution that forever altered the course of history.

In each episode, we dive into a rich tapestry of firsthand accounts ranging from awe-inspiring miracles to profound suffering, from valorous battles to the transformative spiritual power of those who fought and died to spread a message of love and unity across the entire world. The Dawning Light doesn’t just recount history — it lets you experience it. We don’t just learn about these heroic figures of the past, but we share their journeys, their struggles, their victories, and their trials.

Now, just from the title of our source material, you get a sense that we’re in for a really inspiring adventure. The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Baháʼí Revelation was originally penned in Persian by Nabíl-i-Aʻzam in the late 19th century. This phenomenal account brings to life the vibrant beginnings of the Baháʼí Faith. This isn’t just an impartial historical recounting — it’s an eyewitness account, a living, breathing chronicle, recorded by someone who was an active participant in many of the scenes he depicts.

Our journey takes us back to Iran in the 19th century, where we witness the life and mission of the Báb, the prophetic forerunner of Baháʼu’lláh. It’s a narrative of spiritual awakening, of illumination. It’s about the birth of a new religious era, one that would change the world forever. It’s a tale filled with unyielding faith, fierce persecution, and the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom.

The English translation by Shoghi Effendi, published in 1932, was titled The Dawn-Breakers, a fitting portrayal of the new spiritual enlightenment that was beginning to break through the horizon. The original Persian title, Maṭāleʻ al-anwār, translates to The Rising of the Lights, further reinforcing the theme of dawn, of light piercing through the darkness of a new day.

Shoghi Effendi spoke of the transformative power of these narratives. He believed they could inspire us in our personal lives, spark creativity in our arts and literature, and, above all, infuse a sense of hope and encouragement in a disillusioned world. These stories are not just about understanding the past; they’re about shaping our future.

Nabíl was an early believer in the Baháʼí Faith, who, using his pen as both a sword and a shield, chronicled the beginnings of a faith that now has followers all across the globe. The narrative he gives us, with such dedicated attention to detail, is extraordinary in many ways. It’s a tale of high emotion, dramatic struggle, and profound faith, illuminated brightly against the backdrop of the darkest times.

Nabíl saw himself not merely as a passive recorder, but as an active storyteller, painstakingly documenting the finer details and identities so that we, the future generations, could fully appreciate the genuine history of the Faith. His words act as a time machine, pulling us into the past, letting us bear witness to a pivotal moment in history that was too important to be lost to time.

But be warned, for the narrative Nabíl tells is not for the feint of heart. It’s steeped in the harsh reality of persecution and torment. At a time when religious reformation was seen as a threat to those in power, the followers of the Báb faced relentless cruelty and oppression. And yet, even in the face of such adversity, their resolve remained unbroken, often finding ecstasy in the depths of their suffering.

Nabíl, himself a participant in this remarkable story, wrote with a purpose. His intention was not to systematically present the teachings and claims of the Báb and Baháʼu’lláh. Rather, he sought to document the birth and early days of the Bahá’í Revelation and immortalize the early champions of the faith. It’s a raw, literal account, meticulously sourced, making it all the more valuable as a historical document.

Yet, to fully grasp the magnitude of the narrative, one needs to understand the socio-political climate of 19th-century Persia, the mindset of the people, the sway of the clergy, and the iron rule of the monarchy. Nabíl assumed his readers knew these details, but for those of us not familiar with Persian history, the picture might be a bit hard to paint.

To paint that picture The Dawning Light is a modern retelling of The Dawn-Breakers written by Danilo Stern-Sapad that aims to present Nabil’s Narrative in a captivating and engaging way for a general audience.

Join us as we navigate through the turbulent waters of a society in flux, where a new Faith was born and struggled to survive. A journey that is as much about understanding the conditions that gave rise to the Baháʼí Faith as it is about the Movement itself.

If you have any corrections, suggestions, questions, or other constructive feedback, please contact our editor, Danilo Stern-Sapad.

We value your input and are committed to ensuring both the accuracy and reverence of our content.