The Kitáb-i-Aqdas

The volume opens with a preface and an introduction by the Universal House of Justice, followed by a description of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Shoghi Effendi. These pages explain that Bahá’u’lláh revealed the book in Arabic around 1873 in ‘Akká, that it was withheld for a time before being sent to Iran, and that its laws are applied progressively. They also explain the translation's style, which follows the English Shoghi Effendi used for the roughly one-third of the text he had already translated.

The main text has no chapters; the authorized edition numbers it in 190 paragraphs. It moves between the laws of obligatory prayer (from ¶ 6) and fasting (¶ 16–17), personal status such as marriage, divorce and inheritance, social ordinances, and addresses to kings, religious leaders and the peoples of the world. It establishes the House of Justice in every city (¶ 30) and directs believers after Bahá’u’lláh's passing to turn to “Him Whom God hath purposed” (¶ 121, ¶ 174), which Bahá’ís understand as the appointment of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the basis of the Covenant.

This section collects passages from Tablets revealed after the Aqdas, such as the Eighth Ishráq of the Tablet of Ishráqát, which Bahá’u’lláh said was to be counted as part of the Most Holy Book. Several concern the House of Justice and its authority to legislate on matters not in the text. They are printed separately so that readers can see which words belong to the main book.

The Questions and Answers were compiled by Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín, a transcriber of Bahá’u’lláh's writings, from answers to questions put by believers. The introduction calls them an invaluable appendix to the Aqdas. They settle details such as festival dates, prayer, fasting, marriage and inheritance shares.

The Synopsis and Codification arranges the laws of the Aqdas and its supplementary texts under headings such as prayer, fasting, personal status and miscellaneous laws. It lets a reader find every ordinance on one subject without searching the whole text. It is an aid to study and does not replace the text itself.

The notes explain terms, historical references and how particular laws are understood or applied, citing ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. Each note links back to its paragraph. A final key lists the passages Shoghi Effendi had already translated and where they first appeared.