The Epic of Gilgamesh is the first "book" that I know. There could be older.
James Clerk Maxwell
wrote the equations that changed the world. I didn't read the book, but back in uni a professor of mine convinced that it's the best thing in the world. It's time consuming to understand, like all really good ideas. If I'm ever retired, one day I'll start reading about Maxwell and anything he wrote...
With less time all we can do with is a biography:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Changed-Everything-Maxwell/dp/0470861711
That's probably the greatest yet.
What is mightiest? Well you have to specify what might is, is it something for individual, society or conquest?
I quoted "the-first-the-greatest-and-mightiest-of-all-books" from Bahaullah. I give an extended quote from him:
"The Báb, the Lord, the most exalted—may the life of all be a sacrifice unto Him,—hath specifically revealed an Epistle unto the divines of every city, wherein He hath fully set forth the character of the denial and repudiation of each of them. “Wherefore, take ye good heed ye who are men of insight!”
7 By His references to their opposition He intended to invalidate the objections which the people of the Bayán might raise in the day of the manifestation of “Musta
ghá
th,”
8 the day of the Latter Resurrection, claiming that, whereas in the Dispensation of the Bayán a number of divines 230 have embraced the Faith, in this latter Revelation none of these hath recognized His claim. His purpose was to warn the people lest, God forbid, they cling to such foolish thoughts and deprive themselves of the divine Beauty. Yea, these divines to whom We have referred, were mostly unrenowned, and, by the grace of God they were all purged of earthly vanities and free from the trappings of leadership. “Such is the bounty of God; to whom He will He giveth it.”
259
Another proof and evidence of the truth of this Revelation, which amongst all other proofs shineth as the sun, is the constancy of the eternal Beauty in proclaiming the Faith of God. Though young and tender of age, and though the Cause He revealed was contrary to the desire of all the peoples of earth, both high and low, rich and poor, exalted and abased, king and subject, yet He arose and steadfastly proclaimed it. All have known and heard this. He was afraid of no one; He was regardless of consequences. Could such a thing be made manifest except through the power of a divine Revelation, and the potency of God’s invincible Will? By the righteousness of God! Were any one to entertain so great a Revelation in his 231 heart, the thought of such a declaration would alone confound him! Were the hearts of all men to be crowded into his heart, he would still hesitate to venture upon so awful an enterprise. He could achieve it only by the permission of God, only if the channel of his heart were to be linked with the Source of divine grace, and his soul be assured of the unfailing sustenance of the Almighty. To what, We wonder, do they ascribe so great a daring? Do they accuse Him of folly as they accused the Prophets of old? Or do they maintain that His motive was none other than leadership and the acquisition of earthly riches?
260
Gracious God! In His Book, which He hath entitled
“Qayyúmu’l-Asmá,”—the first, the greatest and mightiest of all books—He prophesied His own martyrdom. In it is this passage: “O thou Remnant of God! I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee; I have accepted curses for Thy sake; and have yearned for naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy love. Sufficient Witness unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the Ancient of Days!”
261
Likewise, in His interpretation of the letter “Há,” He craved martyrdom, saying: “Methinks 232 I heard a Voice calling in my inmost being: ‘Do thou sacrifice the thing which Thou lovest most in the path of God, even as Ḥusayn, peace be upon him, hath offered up his life for My sake.’ And were I not regardful of this inevitable mystery, by Him, Who hath my being between His hands even if all the kings of the earth were to be leagued together they would be powerless to take from me a single letter, how much less can these servants who are worthy of no attention, and who verily are of the outcast… That all may know the degree of My patience, My resignation, and self-sacrifice in the path of God.”
Bahá'í Reference Library - The Kitáb-i-Íqán, Pages 221-257
My humble question is, is the book
Qayyúmu’l-Asmá “the-first-the-greatest-and-mightiest-of-all-books”? Right,please?
Regards
