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Introduction and Chapter 1 (Individual Chapter Outline Views)

(For two other (useful) Dawn-Breakers references, see The Dawn-Breakers: A Summary and Little Badasht; there is also an online mp3 recording of Bill Sear's Stories from the Dawn-Breakers.)

(See also an outline of A Traveler's Narrative and an outline of God Passes By)

Click here to jump directly to the condensed or expanded contents for a specific chapter (potentially better as a base page than this one when exploring various chapters at once).

1) Read the introductory statement which describes the basic purposes of this outline.

2) Read the introductory notes below explaining how to use this on-line outline.

3) Jump to the Chapter 1 Condensed Contents View.

4) Jump to the Chapter 1 Extended Contents View with Summaries.

5) Jump to the Chapter 1 Cross-References to The Dawn-Breakers and A Traveler's Narrative

6) Jump to the summary of Shaykh Ahmad's career (the main figure introduced in Chapter 1)

7) Jump to the Condensed and Extended Contents for the following chapters:

Intro.1 Intro.2 Preface 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Epilogue Other Sections

8) Jump to the actual Chapters of The Dawn-Breakers:

Introduction Preface 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Epilogue
For other sections, see the Contents page.

9) (Click here to view the study outline chapters in one document (intended primarily for printing given its larger size--needs to be first downloaded to disk, though even this may lock your browser or viewing program).)

Introductory Notes:

The first set of links (those of chapter 1 are immediately below) will bring you to a brief summary of that section. These links are useful for testing your memory of each section (just hit the 'back' button on your web browser to come back to this study outline Table of Contents (which also happens to be the Table of Contents for the Dawn-Breakers text itself) and you will be able to get the bird's eye view of the chapter outline/chapter contents again. It can be useful to view this condensed view to help you memorize the sequence of events in the chapter (although it might not clarify clearly enough exactly what happened in the section it summarizes if you are not already familiar with the text (or at least the outline summary) it refers to) (Note: while the text links to the study outline, the page numbers link to the actual text).

The second set of links (which the links immediately below will bring you to (or you can just scroll down the document further to see them) are interspersed with summaries of the section. The links themselves will lead you to the actual text of The Dawn-Breakers. This is useful for gaining a fuller and more accurate picture of actually what was covered in that part of the chapter (though it will be longer and not as convenient for getting a quick summary). It should also more readily uplift you with its inspiring eloquence than just relying on the summaries (even if you could trust them to be wholly accurate in conveying the section's contents).

It is hoped that the quick summaries interspersed between the second set of links will allow you to memorize the contents of that section more readily or put the actions into a dramatic script).

Condensed Contents View

Note: the text below links to the study outline. The page number, however, links to the actual text.

PART ONE: PRE-REVELATION DAYS

CHAPTER I: THE MISSION OF SHAYKH AHMAD-I-AHSÁ'Í

Extended Contents View with Summaries

PART ONE: PRE-REVELATION DAYS

CHAPTER I: THE MISSION OF SHAYKH AHMAD-I-AHSÁ'Í
1. His departure from Bahrayn to Najaf and Karbilá (on banks of Euphrates) 1
  
  At age 40, Shaykh Ahmad left to oppose the corruption in Shí'ah Islám at the time, and prepare the people for the immanent Promised Day.
2. His visit to Najaf and Karbilá 2
  Here, he was declared a mujtahid, and gained authority and followers.
  
  Taught that the Qur'án contained sciences, he taught figurative interpretation, and praised the Imáms.
3. His journey to Shíráz 4
  Praised the mosque in and city of Shíráz which bewildered his followers.
  
  He knew that the Promised One, the Báb, would come from this city.
4. His stay in Yazd 5
  - a. His correspondence with Fath-'Alí Sháh 5
    His fame reached the Sháh who wrote him some difficult religious questions.
    
    He was so pleased, he invited Shaykh Ahmad to Tihrán.
  - b. His relations with Hájí 'Abdu'l-Vahháb 6
    Shaykh Ahmad favored `Abdu'l-Vahháb over (1 below) and praised him
    1. Mulla 'Abdu'l Kháliq-i-Yazdí
      A learned follower a little too proud of his achievements.
    2. Hájí Hasan-i-Náyiní
      Gained the confidence of 'Abdu'l-Vahháb.
  - c. The anecdote of Mirza Mahmúd-i-Qamsarí 8
    (2) told him the light of the Promised One had come in 1817--he was thus puzzled that Báb was born in 1819, but later found that Bahá'u'lláh was born then.
  - d. The arrival of Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashti 10
  Memorized the Qur'án at 11, prayers & traditions at 14, and wrote a commentary at 18.
  
  He was a very gentle and humble person. Was appointed by Shaykh Ahmad as his successor.
5. His pilgrimage to Mashhad 12
  Continued to prepare the people for the Promised Day.
  
  He felt it was near.
6. His triumphal entry into Tihrán 13
  Went with disciples to Tihrán.
  
  Was praised by the king as a "glory to his nation and people".
  
  Knew the importance of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh there; he wanted to stay.
7. His departure for Kirmánsháh 13
  Eldest son of the Sháh begged Shaykh Ahmad to visit.
  
  Shaykh Ahmad's son Shaykh 'Alí died--called him a sacrifice to the true 'Alí: the Báb.
  
  A disciple insistently asked about the Word that would cause 313 chiefs of world to flee though Shaykh Ahmad said it would be too much for him--finally Shaykh Ahmad questioned him whether he would deny the guardianship of 'Alí on the Promised Day (if called for) and the disciple's faith was lacking as he said it couldn't happen.
8. His return to Karbilá 17
  Prepared Siyyid Kázim for his task--Siyyid Kázim only had to wait until '68 (Bahá'u'lláh's declaration).
  
  Told Siyyid Kázim to pray to be spared from the trials to come-other sanctified souls to come after them
9. His journey to Mecca and Medina, and his death 18
  Buried near the mausoleum of Muhammad--for Whose Cause he spent his life.

Note: To learn the names in the Dawn-Breakers, it is helpful to break them into parts. For example, Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá'í means a Shaykh (title) named Ahmad from the town of Ahsá. Also, Siyyid Kázim-i-Rashtí is a siyyid named Kázim from the town of Rasht (see the glossary for the meaning of siyyid and other titles).

Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá'í

Purpose:

Oppose corruption that had crept into the followers of Islám
Prepare the people for the coming of the Promised One

Teachings:

Qur'án contained all knowledge and sciences
Figurative interpretation of prophecy
Praised the Imáms, especially 'Alí and Husayn (The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, respectively)

Respectability:

Was declared a mujtahid in Karbilá
Gained disciples and a wide following
Was praised by and was a guest of the Sháh

Successor:

Appointed and encouraged Siyyid Kázim

Cross-References for Chapter 1

Regarding the date of the Birth of the Báb (DB 8, 14, and also 70), see TN 4.