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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §117

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 117 of 268.

Source (Persian)

يا شيخ مکرّر ذکر شده و ميشود چهل سنه بعنايت الهی و اراده قويّه نافذه ربّانی حضرت سلطان ايّده اللّه را نصرت نموديم نصرتيکه نزد مظاهر عدل و انصاف ثابت و محقّق است و لا ينکرها الّا کلّ معتد اثيم و کلّ مبغض مريب * عجب انکه وزراء دولت و امناء ملّت الی حين باين خدمت ظاهر مبين ملتفت نشده‌اند و يا شده‌اند نظر بحکمت ذکر نفرموده‌اند * قبل از اربعين هر سنه ما بين عباد مجادله و محاربه ظاهر و قائم و بعد بجنود حکمت و بيان و نصيحت و عرفان کلّ بحبل متين صبر و ذيل منير اصطبار تمسّک جستند و تشبّث نمودند بشانيکه انچه بر اين حزب مظلوم وارد شد تحمّل کردند و بحقّ گذاشتند مع انکه در مازندران و رشت جمع کثيری را ببدترين عذاب معذّب نمودند * از جمله حضرت حاجی نصير که فی الحقيقه نوری بود مشرق از افق سماء تسليم * بعد از شهادت چشم او را کندند و دماغش را بريدند و ظلم بمقامی رسيد که اهل ممالک خارجه گريستند و نوحه نمودند و در باطن از برای عيال و صغار بعضی در اطراف ممالک اعانت نمودند *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O Shaykh! Time and again have I declared, and now yet again I affirm, that for two score years We have, through the grace of God and by His irresistible and potent will, extended such aid to His Majesty the Sháh - may God assist him - as the exponents of justice and of equity would regard as incontestable and absolute. None can deny it, unless he be a transgressor and sinner, or one who would hate Us or doubt Our truth. How very strange that until now the Ministers of State and the representatives of the people have alike remained unaware of such conspicuous and undeniable service, and, if apprized of it, have, for reasons of their own, chosen to ignore it! Previous to these forty years controversies and conflicts continually prevailed and agitated the servants of God. But since then, aided by the hosts of wisdom, of utterance, of exhortations and understanding, they have all seized and taken fast hold of the firm cord of patience and of the shining hem of fortitude, in such wise that this wronged people endured steadfastly whatever befell them, and committed everything unto God, and this notwithstanding that in Mázindarán and at Rasht a great many have been most hideously tormented. Among them was his honor, Ḥájí Nasir, who, unquestionably, was a brilliant light that shone forth above the horizon of resignation. After he had suffered martyrdom, they plucked out his eyes and cut off his nose, and inflicted on him such indignities that strangers wept and lamented, and secretly raised funds to support his wife and children.

Translation Notes

ربّانی
rbbání r-b-b

literal: lord; divine; lordship

SE rendered الهی (al-hí), اراده (irádh), قويّه (qúyyh), نافذه (náfdhh), ربّانی (rbbání), حضرت (ḥḍrt), سلطان (slṭán), ايّده (iyydh), اللّه (al-lh) as “of God, will, potent, irresistible, His Majesty, the Sháh, may God assist, God”

نزد
nzd zdn

literal: near; strike; near, with

SE rendered اللّه (al-lh), نصرت (nṣrt), نموديم (nmúdím), نصرتيکه (nṣrtíkh), نزد (nzd), مظاهر (mẓáhr), عدل (ʿdl), انصاف (inṣáf), ثابت (thábt), محقّق (mḥqqq) as “God, extended such aid, exponents, of justice, of equity, incontestable, absolute”

eyes 20% unto 15% estimation 10% visited 10% possession 10% sight 10% when 10% whenever 5% opinion 5% possesses 5%
دولت
dúlt d-w-l

literal: state; government; dominion

SE rendered مبغض (mbghḍ), مريب (mríb), عجب (ʿjb), انکه (inkh), وزراء (wzráʾ), دولت (dúlt), امناء (imnáʾ), ملّت (mllt), حين (ḥín), باين (báyn) as “hate, doubt, How very strange, that, Ministers of State, representatives of the people, now, of such”

ملّت
mllt m-l-l

literal: nation; nations

SE rendered عجب (ʿjb), انکه (inkh), وزراء (wzráʾ), دولت (dúlt), امناء (imnáʾ), ملّت (mllt), حين (ḥín), باين (báyn), خدمت (khdmt), ظاهر (ẓáhr), مبين (mbín) as “How very strange, that, Ministers of State, representatives of the people, now, of such, service, conspicuous, undeniable”

people 75% nations 13% faith 13%
نظر
nẓr n-ẓ-r

literal: look; looking; view

SE rendered ملتفت (mltft), نشده‌اند (nshdh‌ánd), شده‌اند (shdh‌ánd), نظر (nẓr), بحکمت (bḥkmt), ذکر (dhkr), نفرموده‌اند (nfrmúdh‌ánd) as “unaware, been, was, chosen to ignore”

observe 13% eye 13% because 13% beholding 13% sight 10% behold 10% owing 10% consider 6% ponder 6% considering 6%
اربعين
irbʿín ʾ-r-b-ʿ → “forty”

literal: forty

1 occurrence in corpus

هر
hr h-r

literal: every; each; every/each

SE rendered نفرموده‌اند (nfrmúdh‌ánd), از (iz), اربعين (irbʿín), هر (hr), سنه (snh), عباد (ʿbád), مجادله (mjádlh), محاربه (mḥárbh) as “chosen to ignore, these forty, years, servants of God, controversies, conflicts”

متين
mtín m-t-n

literal: firm; strong; strong, mighty

SE rendered بيان (bíán), نصيحت (nṣíḥt), عرفان (ʿrfán), بحبل (bḥbl), متين (mtín), صبر (ṣbr), ذيل (dhíl), منير (mnír), اصطبار (iṣṭbár), تمسّک (tmssk) as “utterance, exhortations, understanding, the firm cord, of patience, the shining hem, fortitude, seized”

firm 20% mighty 20% immovable 13% safe 7% afflictive 7% cord 7% grievous 7% which 7% inviolable 7% none 7%
جستند
jstnd jstn

literal: seek; sought; to seek

SE rendered صبر (ṣbr), ذيل (dhíl), منير (mnír), اصطبار (iṣṭbár), تمسّک (tmssk), جستند (jstnd), تشبّث (tshbbth), نمودند (nmúdnd), بشانيکه (bsháníkh), انچه (inchh) as “of patience, the shining hem, fortitude, seized, taken fast hold, they, he”

have 33% fill 33% turned 33%
کردند
krdnd krdn

literal: do; to do; do/make

SE rendered حزب (ḥzb), مظلوم (mẓlúm), وارد (wárd), تحمّل (tḥmml), کردند (krdnd), بحقّ (bḥqq), گذاشتند (gdháshtnd), انکه (inkh) as “wronged people, befell, endured steadfastly, committed everything unto, he”

asked 13% acted 13% made 13% proved 13% offered 13% wrought 13% launched 13% proceeded 13%
گذاشتند
gdháshtnd gdháshtnd

literal: place; placed/stepped

SE rendered وارد (wárd), تحمّل (tḥmml), کردند (krdnd), بحقّ (bḥqq), گذاشتند (gdháshtnd), انکه (inkh), مازندران (mázndrán), رشت (rsht), جمع (jmʿ) as “befell, endured steadfastly, committed everything unto, he, Mázindarán, at Rasht, a great many”

committed 50% have 50%
کثيری
kthírí k-th-r

literal: most; abundance; many

SE rendered انکه (inkh), مازندران (mázndrán), رشت (rsht), جمع (jmʿ), کثيری (kthírí), ببدترين (bbdtrín), عذاب (ʿdháb), معذّب (mʿdhdhb), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “he, Mázindarán, at Rasht, a great many, most hideously, tormented, they”

great 33% vast 33% multitude 33%
جمله
jmlh j-m-l

literal: beauty; totality; beautiful

SE rendered ببدترين (bbdtrín), عذاب (ʿdháb), معذّب (mʿdhdhb), نمودند (nmúdnd), از (iz), جمله (jmlh), حضرت (ḥḍrt), حاجی (ḥájí), نصير (nṣír), الحقيقه (al-ḥqíqh) as “most hideously, tormented, they, his honor, Ḥájí, Nasir, unquestionably”

among 57% while 7% one 7% partially 7% amongst 4% briefly 4% glimmer 4% came 4% all 4% none 4%
سماء
smáʾ s-m-w

literal: heaven

SE rendered الحقيقه (al-ḥqíqh), نوری (núrí), مشرق (mshrq), از (iz), افق (ifq), سماء (smáʾ), تسليم (tslím), از (iz), شهادت (shhádt), چشم (chshm) as “unquestionably, a brilliant light, shone forth, above, the horizon, resignation, suffered martyrdom, eyes”

heaven 74% heavens 16% “heaven 3% “heaven” 2% all 2% heavenly 1% into 1% out 1% towards 0% who 0%
دماغش
dmághsh d-m-gh → “channel” Distinctive

literal: nose; nose/channel

This form usually rendered as “nose” (1 occurrences)

channel 67% nose 33%
بريدند
brídnd b-r-y-d → “cut”

literal: cut

1 occurrence in corpus

رسيد
rsíd rsídn

literal: reach; to reach

SE rendered دماغش (dmághsh), بريدند (brídnd), ظلم (ẓlm), بمقامی (bmqámí), رسيد (rsíd), اهل (ihl), ممالک (mmálk), خارجه (khárjh), گريستند (grístnd) as “nose, cut off, indignities, strangers, wept”

reached 19% come 13% hath 13% there 13% now 13% inflicted 6% waxed 6% have 6% attained 6% armed 6%
ممالک
mmálk m-l-k

literal: kingdom; king

SE rendered ظلم (ẓlm), بمقامی (bmqámí), رسيد (rsíd), اهل (ihl), ممالک (mmálk), خارجه (khárjh), گريستند (grístnd), نوحه (núḥh), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “indignities, strangers, wept, lamented, had”

خارجه
khárjh kh-r-j

literal: go out; outside

SE rendered ظلم (ẓlm), بمقامی (bmqámí), رسيد (rsíd), اهل (ihl), ممالک (mmálk), خارجه (khárjh), گريستند (grístnd), نوحه (núḥh), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “indignities, strangers, wept, lamented, had”

foreigners 10% foreign 10% describe 10% went 10% far 10% concealed 10% external 10% have 10% departed 10% come 10%
باطن
báṭn b-ṭ-n

literal: inward; inner; hidden

SE rendered گريستند (grístnd), نوحه (núḥh), نمودند (nmúdnd), باطن (báṭn), از (iz), برای (bráy), عيال (ʿíál), صغار (ṣghár), بعضی (bʿḍí) as “wept, lamented, had, wife and children”

صغار
ṣghár ṣ-gh-r

literal: children

SE rendered نمودند (nmúdnd), باطن (báṭn), از (iz), برای (bráy), عيال (ʿíál), صغار (ṣghár), بعضی (bʿḍí), اطراف (iṭráf), ممالک (mmálk), اعانت (iʿánt) as “had, wife and children, raised funds to support”

بعضی
bʿḍí b-ʿ-ḍ

literal: some; part; some, part

SE rendered باطن (báṭn), از (iz), برای (bráy), عيال (ʿíál), صغار (ṣghár), بعضی (bʿḍí), اطراف (iṭráf), ممالک (mmálk), اعانت (iʿánt) as “wife and children, raised funds to support”

some 41% certain 24% few 12% others 11% many 3% who 3% number 3% several 1% whenever 1% other 1%
اطراف
iṭráf ṭ-r-f

literal: side; regions

SE rendered عيال (ʿíál), صغار (ṣghár), بعضی (bʿḍí), اطراف (iṭráf), ممالک (mmálk), اعانت (iʿánt) as “wife and children, raised funds to support”

various 22% every 22% direction 11% regions 11% daytime 11% uttermost 11% sides 11%

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Fire Tablet

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Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings cover

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

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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 ¶