Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §120

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 120 of 268.

Source (Persian)

يا شيخ اگر اين امور انکار شود کدام امر لائق اقرار است بيّن لوجه اللّه و لا تکن من الصّامتين * حضرت نجفعلی را اخذ نمودند و با کمال جذب و شوق قصد مقام شهادت نمود و باين کلمه ناطق [ ما بها و خون بها را يافتيم ] اين بگفت و جان داد * در اشراق و تجلّی نيّر انقطاع که از شطر اعلای قلب ملّا عليجان اشراق نمود نظر نمائيد نفحات کلمه عليا و اقتدار قلم اعلی بشانی جذبش کرد که ميدان شهادت و ايوان عشرت نزدش يکسان بل الاولی اولی * در جناب ابا بصير و سيّد اشرف زنجانی تفکّر نمائيد * امّ اشرفرا حاضر نمودند که ابنش را نصيحت نمايد ترغيب نمود الی ان فاز بالشّهادة الکبری *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O Shaykh! If things such as these are to be denied, what shall, then, be deemed worthy of credence? Set forth the truth, for the sake of God, and be not of them that hold their peace. They arrested his honor Najaf-‘Alí, who hastened, with rapture and great longing, unto the field of martyrdom, uttering these words: "We have kept both Bahá and the khun-baha (bloodmoney)!" With these words he yielded up his spirit. Meditate on the splendor and glory which the light of renunciation, shining from the upper chamber of the heart of Mullá ‘Alí-Jan, hath shed. He was so carried away by the breezes of the Most Sublime Word and by the power of the Pen of Glory that to him the field of martyrdom equalled, nay outrivalled, the haunts of earthly delights. Ponder upon the conduct of Aba-Basir and Siyyid Ashraf-i-Zanjani. They sent for the mother of Ashraf to dissuade her son from his purpose. But she spurred him on until he suffered a most glorious martyrdom.

Translation Notes

يا

y-ʾ → “O”

literal: O; or

شيخ

sh-y-kh → “Shaykh”

literal: elder; elder/shaykh; sheikh

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

امور

ʾ-m-r → “things such as”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

انکار

n-k-r → “denied”

literal: denial; rejection; repudiation

شود

sh-w-d → “are to be”

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

کدام

k-d-m → “what”

literal: which; what; whoever; any

لائق

l-y-q → “worthy”

literal: worthy, befitting, appropriate, suitable

اقرار

q-r-r → “acknowledged”

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

است

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

بيّن

b-y-n → “utterance” Distinctive

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

لوجه

w-j-h → “sake”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

لا

l-ʾ → “not”

literal: no; not; negation particle

تکن

k-w-n → “be”

literal: to be; existence

من

m-n → “of them”

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

الصّامتين

ṣ-m-t → “silent” Distinctive

literal: silence; to be silent

حضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “his honor” Distinctive

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

اخذ

ʾ-kh-dh → “arrested”

literal: to take; to seize; to affect

نمودند

n-m-ود → “They”

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

با

b-ʾ-ʾ → “with”

literal: to; with; by

کمال

k-m-l → “utmost”

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

جذب

j-dh-b → “rapture”

literal: to draw, attract, pull; to be enraptured

شوق

sh-w-q → “longing”

literal: to encourage; to incite; yearning; enthusiasm

قصد

q-ṣ-d → “purpose” Distinctive

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

مقام

q-w-m → “people” Distinctive

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

شهادت

sh-h-d → “martyrdom”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

نمود

n-m-ʾ → “hath”

literal: to become; to be

باين

b-y-n → “With these words” Distinctive

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

کلمه

k-l-m → “words”

literal: words; utterances; locutions; word; utterance; speech; sayings; verses

ناطق

n-ṭ-q → “uttering”

literal: to speak; to utter; to pronounce; to articulate

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

بها

b-h-w → “All-Glorious” Distinctive

literal: by it; by him; with it

خون

kh-w-n → “disloyalty” Distinctive

literal: blood

يافتيم

y-f-t → “have kept both”

literal: find; found; to find, to attain

بگفت

g-w-y

literal: speech; utterance; saying; word

جان

j-ʾ-n → “lives”

literal: soul; life; spirit; self

داد

d-ʾ-d → “of equity”

literal: to give; to grant; to present; justice; judgment; to see; sight; eye; seen

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

اشراق

sh-r-q → “splendor” Distinctive

literal: radiance; splendor; dawn; illumination

تجلّی

j-l-w → “revelation”

literal: effulgence; manifestation; revelation; manifestation, revelation, appearance

نيّر

n-w-r → “light” Distinctive

literal: fires; blazes; luminary; celestial body; light-giver

انقطاع

q-ṭ-ʿ → “renunciation”

literal: to be severed; to be cut off; to detach oneself; to abstain

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

از

ʾ-z → “from”

literal: from

شطر

sh-ṭ-r → “direction”

literal: side, direction; half; to split

قلب

q-l-b → “heart”

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

ملّا

m-l-ʾ → “Concourse”

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

نظر

n-ẓ-r → “Meditate on” Distinctive

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

نفحات

n-f-ḥ → “breezes”

literal: breeze; fragrance; whiff; breath; emanation

عليا

ʿ-l-w → “Most Sublime” Distinctive

literal: exalted; highest; supreme; most high; upon you; on; over; Ali (name); upon

اقتدار

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

قلم

q-l-m → “Pen”

literal: pen; writing instrument

بشانی

sh-ʾ-n

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

کرد

k-r-d

literal: to do; to make; to perform; deed; action; conduct; behavior

ميدان

m-y-d → “Table” Distinctive

literal: field; arena; space

ايوان

ʾ-y-w-ʾ-n → “haunts”

literal: hall

عشرت

ʿ-sh-r → “associated” Distinctive

literal: association; companionship; social interaction; عشرين (twenty) is from numeral root ع-ش-ر, distinct from ‘association’ meaning

نزدش

n-z-d → “unto” Distinctive

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

يکسان

y-k-s → “equalled”

literal: the same; uniform; equal; alike

بل

b-l → “nay”

literal: rather; but; rather/nay

الاولی

ʾ-w-l → “this world”

literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of

اولی

ʾ-w-l

literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of

جناب

j-n-b → “thee”

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

ابا

ʾ-b-w → “fathers”

literal: father; ancestry; forefathers

بصير

b-ṣ-r

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

سيّد

s-y-d → “Siyyid”

literal: master; lord; chief; my master

اشرف

sh-r-f → “honored” Distinctive

literal: honor; nobility; eminence; to honor

زنجانی

z-n-j

literal: chain; bonds

تفکّر

f-k-r → “Ponder”

literal: thoughts; ideas; fancies; opinions; to think; to reflect; to contemplate

امّ

ʾ-m-m → “mother”

literal: mother

ابنش

b-n-y → “her son”

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

نصيحت

n-ṣ-ḥ → “counsel”

literal: counsel; advice; admonition

ترغيب

r-gh-b → “spurred him on”

literal: desiring; encouragement; desirable

الی

ʾ-l-y → “until”

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

ان

ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

فاز

f-w-z → “attain”

literal: to attain; to gain; to succeed; to win

الکبری

k-b-r → “a most glorious martyrdom” Distinctive

literal: great; grand; mighty; large; greatness; majesty; sovereignty; arrogance

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

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

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

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

Bahá’u’lláh

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

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

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

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

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

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 ¶

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 ¶