In this tablet, Bahá'u'lláh declares that "whoso clingeth to the outward sense of these words, leaving aside the esoteric significance, is simply ignorant." Yet, at the same time, Bahá'u'lláh does not wish readers to lose the literal meaning entirely. He concludes that, "Only the one who interpreteth the verses esoterically while harmonizing this reading with their literal meaning can be said to be a complete scholar."

Translated by Juan Cole, this tablet requires Bahais to evaluate their understanding of the question of scriptural interpretation as addressed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: "Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation, and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book." The Commentary on the Surah of the Sun, however, only apparently contradicts that statement. Exegesis in the Bahai faith is not forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh, but Bahá'u'lláh cautions that such interpretations must never contradict the evident outward meaning of scripture.

For appropriate software in which to view the book, visit the Adobe website at www.adobe.com and download their free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software.

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