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Work #958 · Early (composed before the 1863 proclamation)

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Bahá'u'lláh (Mírzá Ḥusayn-ʻAlí Núrí)
c. 1856 (Seven Valleys) and c. 1858 (Four Valleys), both Baghdad period · Persian with Arabic poetic quotations
Sufi mystical-poetic letters · Bahá'í Faith / Sufi mystical tradition

The mystical seeker passes through seven valleys to attain the presence of the Beloved

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Seven Valleys and Four Valleys (Early (composed before the 1863 proclamation))
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Emergent
Space · Curvature Undefined
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Non-local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Emergent
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Non-local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Partial
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Singular
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Experience
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Emergent
Energy · Conservation Variable
Energy · Dispersibility Reversible
Information · Ontological Status Emergent
Information · Cosmic Conservation Variable
Information · Personal Conservation Non-conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Temporal-developmental sequence of valleys; timeless final state of fana.

Space

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Non-spatial "valleys" as spiritual stages of ascent.

Matter

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Embodied wayfarer passing through valleys.

Observer

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Mystical wayfarer; in seventh valley distinction between observer and observed dissolves.

Energy

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Energies of love, longing, self-annihilation.

Information

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Discrete content of the seven and four valleys as developmental information.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

Relation to Sufi tradition treated by Bahá'í scholars as both continuity and transformation; the work uses Sufi vocabulary while preparing the ground for the 1863 prophetic-revelatory claims.