Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §112

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 112 of 268.

Source (Persian)

اين مظلوم را مرحوم مغفور حضرت مشير الدّوله ميرزا حسين خان غفر اللّه له شناخته بود و البتّه نزد اوليای دولت تفصيل ورود اين مظلوم را در استانه و اقوال و اعمالش را ذکر فرموده * يوم ورود ميهماندار دولت حاضر و ما را به محلّی که مامور بود برده فی الحقيقه کمال محبّت و عنايت از جانب دولت نسبت باين مظلومان ظاهر و مشهود * يوم ديگر شاهزاده شجاع الدّوله و ميرزا صفا بنيابت مرحوم مغفور مشير الدّوله وزير مختار تشريف اوردند و همچنين بعضی از وزرای دولت عليّه از جمله مرحوم کمال پاشا و بعضی ديگر * و اين مظلوم متوکّلا علی اللّه من غير ذکر حاجت و مطلبی چهار شهر در ان ارض بوده و اعمالش نزد کلّ معلوم و مشهود * لا ينکرها الّا کلّ مبغض کذّاب * من عرف اللّه لم يعرف دونه * دوست نداشته و نداريم امثال اين امور را ذکر نمائيم *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

His Excellency, the late Mírzá Ḥusayn Khán, Mushiru'd-Dawlih, - may God forgive him - hath known this Wronged One, and he, no doubt, must have given to the Authorities a circumstantial account of the arrival of this Wronged One at the Sublime Porte, and of the things which He said and did. On the day of Our arrival the Government Official, whose duty it was to receive and entertain official visitors, met Us and escorted Us to the place he had been bidden to take Us. In truth, the Government showed these wronged ones the utmost kindness and consideration. The following day Prince Shuja'u'd-Dawlih, accompanied by Mírzá Safa, acting as the representatives of the late Mushiru'd-Dawlih, the Minister (accredited to the Imperial Court) came to visit Us. Others, among whom were several Ministers of the Imperial Government, and including the late Kamál Páshá, likewise called on Us. Wholly reliant on God, and without any reference to any need He might have had, or to any other matter, this Wronged One sojourned for a period of four months in that city. His actions were known and evident unto all, and none can deny them except such as hate Him, and speak not the truth. He that hath recognized God, recognizeth none other but Him. We have never liked, nor like We, to make mention of such things.

Translation Notes

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this”

literal: this; these

مظلوم

ẓ-l-m → “Wronged One”

literal: wrongedness, oppression, meekness; state of being wronged or oppressed

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

مرحوم

r-ḥ-m → “late”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

مغفور

gh-f-r → “, the” Distinctive

literal: to forgive; forgiveness

حضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “His Excellency” Distinctive

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

مشير

sh-w-r → “counsel”

literal: indication; consultation; consult

الدّوله

d-w-l → “government”

literal: state; government; dynasty; period of rule; dominion

حسين

ḥ-s-n → “most excellent”

literal: best; Husayn; beautiful

خان

kh-w-n → “disloyalty” Distinctive

literal: blood; betray; betrayal, disloyalty

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

له

h-w → “is”

literal: for them both; to both of them (dual pronoun)

شناخته

sh-n-kh → “recognized” Distinctive

literal: to know, recognize, acquaint oneself with

البتّه

b-t-t → “no doubt”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

نزد

n-z-d → “unto”

literal: near; beside; with; in the presence of

اوليای

w-l-y → “Lord” Distinctive

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

تفصيل

f-ṣ-l → “separated” Distinctive

literal: detail; distinction; differentiation; to detail; to separate

ورود

w-r-d → “arrival”

literal: to enter, to come, to befall, to arrive

در

d-r-r → “at” Distinctive

literal: in; in, at; radiant

استانه

s-t-n → “Sublime Porte”

literal: threshold; capital city; province

اقوال

q-w-l → “Say”

literal: speech; utterance; saying; word

اعمالش

ʿ-m-l → “His actions”

literal: to work; to act; to do; to perform

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

literal: remembrance; mention; memory; invocation; reminders; commemorations

فرموده

f-r-m → “said”

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

يوم

y-w-m → “day”

literal: day; age; period; era; a day

ميهماندار

m-y-h → “Government Official”

literal: host; foundation; cause, means

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

literal: what; which; that which; relative pronoun; interrogative

به

b-h → “to”

literal: by it; by him; with it

محلّی

ḥ-l-l → “place”

literal: place; location; spot

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

مامور

ʾ-m-r → “bidden”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

برده

b-r-d → “brother” Distinctive

literal: brother

فی

f-y → “In”

literal: in; in-it; in it

الحقيقه

ḥ-q-q → “truth”

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

کمال

k-m-l → “utmost kindness” Distinctive

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

محبّت

ḥ-b-b

literal: love; affection

عنايت

ʿ-n-y → “loving-kindness”

literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense

از

ʾ-z → “by” Distinctive

literal: from

جانب

j-n-b

literal: to avoid; to shun; to keep away from

نسبت

n-s-b

literal: relation; relationship; connection; attribution; proportion

باين

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

مشهود

sh-h-d → “evident”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

ديگر

d-g-r → “Others”

literal: home; place; land; abode

شاهزاده

sh-h-z → “Prince”

literal: prince

شجاع

sh-j-ʿ → “hath emboldened me”

literal: embolden; brave; encourage

صفا

ṣ-f-w → “Thy chosen ones” Distinctive

literal: pure one; chosen one; selected one; elite; purity; clarity; sincerity; pure; sincere

بنيابت

n-w-b → “repent” Distinctive

literal: repentance; turn; deputy

وزير

w-z-r → “Minister”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

مختار

kh-y-r → “good” Distinctive

literal: goodwill; benevolence; kindness; good; goodness; benefit; better; best

تشريف

sh-r-f → “honored” Distinctive

literal: honor; honored; noble

اوردند

ʾ-w-r

literal: to bring; bring; brought

همچنين

ch-n-n → “likewise”

literal: always; ever; forever; at all times; constantly

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “some”

literal: part; some; portion

عليّه

ʿ-l-y → “Imperial Government” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

جمله

j-m-l → “among whom”

literal: beauty; totality; beautiful

متوکّلا

w-k-l → “trust” Distinctive

literal: trust; representative; reliance

علی

ʿ-l-w → “on” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

من

m-n → “from”

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

غير

gh-y-r → “without”

literal: without; besides; other than; except; other; different

حاجت

ḥ-w-j → “any need”

literal: need; necessity; want

مطلبی

ṭ-l-b → “theme” Distinctive

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

چهار

ch-h-r → “noon-tide” Distinctive

literal: four; fourth

شهر

sh-h-r → “months”

literal: city; month; fame, renown

ان

ʾ-n → “that”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “city” Distinctive

literal: earth; land; ground; country

بوده

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

کلّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

معلوم

ʿ-l-m → “known”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

ينکرها

n-k-r → “deny”

literal: denial; rejection; repudiation; wrong; evil; to deny; to reject

الّا

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

مبغض

b-gh-ḍ → “hate”

literal: hatred; enmity; animosity

کذّاب

k-dh-b → “falsehood” Distinctive

literal: denial; belying; falsification; rejection; liar; lying; false

عرف

ʿ-r-f → “recognized”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

لم

l-y-s → “not”

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

دونه

d-w-n → “except Thee” Distinctive

literal: below; lower than; beneath

دوست

d-w-s-t → “friends”

literal: friend; beloved; to befriend

نداشته

d-ʾ-sh-t → “have”

literal: to have; to possess; to hold

امثال

m-th-l → “such things”

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

نمائيم

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to grow, develop

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Gleanings

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A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

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Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

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Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

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Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

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Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

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Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶