Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §138

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 138 of 268.

Source (Persian)

عند ذلک ارتفع نداء الفطرة مرّة اخری و حنينها و تقول انّ الطّور ينادی و يقول يا ملأ البيان اتّقوا الرّحمن انّی فزت بمکلّمی و اخذ جذب فرحی حصاة الارض و ترابها و السّدرة تقول يا ملأ البيان انصفوا فيما ظهر بالحقّ قد ظهرت النّار الّتی اظهرها اللّه للکليم يشهد بذلک کلّ ذی بصر عليم *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thereupon hath the cry and the lamentation of the true Faith been raised once again, saying: "Verily, Sinai calleth aloud and saith: ‘O people of the Bayán! Fear ye the Merciful. Indeed have I attained unto Him Who conversed upon me, and the ecstasies of my joy have seized the pebbles of the earth and the dust thereof.' And the Bush exclaimeth: ‘O people of the Bayán! Judge ye fairly that which hath in truth been manifested. Verily the Fire which God revealed unto the One Who conversed with Him is now manifested. Unto this beareth witness every man of insight and understanding.'"

Translation Notes

ارتفع

irtfʿ r-f-ʿ → “been raised”

literal: raise; raised

raised 37% hath 22% lifted 15% have 4% planted 4% hast 4% loud 4% calleth 4% cometh 4% calling 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: grandeur fire-tabletFire §47: hast caused gleaningsGWB §232: hath been pitched kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: serveth to exalt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: were hoisted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §166: ascend towards Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: dispel the-hidden-wordsHW §63: hath risen

نداء

ndáʾ n-d-y → “cry”

literal: call; called; call/voice

voice 47% call 17% cry 10% cried 7% proclaim 3% divine 3% lift 3% prayer 3% through 3% howling 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: Call fire-tabletFire §48: Thy Call gleaningsGWB §216: the prayer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: call of the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §719: my voice tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: she thus exclaimed tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §30: raised the call epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: didst supplicate

الفطرة

al-fṭrh f-ṭ-r → “true faith”

literal: creator; creator/originator

true 50% inner 25% through 8% mouthpiece 8% creation 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: Maker gleaningsGWB §117: Essence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: cloven asunder.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: his inner ear the-hidden-wordsHW §139: aim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: would cleave asunder gleaningsGWB §661: to be rent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: cloven asunder

مرّة

mrrh m-r-r → “once”

literal: pass; passed

one 24% again 21% once 14% utterly 10% another 10% subsequent 7% “again 3% following 3% later 3% revelation 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §151: again and gleaningsGWB §279: flee away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §47: bitterness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: then the-hidden-wordsHW §122: follow epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: it passeth over gleaningsGWB §163: In a later age kitab-i-iqanKIQ §90: passing

حنينها

ḥnínhá ḥ-n-n → “lamentation”

literal: lamentation; lamentation, yearning

lamentation 26% voice 21% cry 11% sighing 11% utter 5% moans 5% groaneth 5% lamenting 5% lamentations 5% groaning 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: the voice of My lamentation gleaningsGWB §170: groaneth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §740: sighing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: the voice of the lamentation gleaningsGWB §118: moans prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: and the groaning epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: utter Thy lamentations prayers-and-meditationsP&M §49: my sighing

تقول

tqúl q-w-l → “saying”

literal: say; saying

saith 30% saying 10% exclaimeth 10% say 10% thou 10% maintain 10% exclaim: 10% cry 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: asketh gleaningsGWB §63: exclaimed kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: speaketh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: when they say prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: I make reply tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: We made reply tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: And thus proclaimed the-hidden-wordsHW §2: counsel

ملأ

mlʾ m-l-ʾ → “people of”

literal: assembly; assembly/people

concourse 45% people 22% ye 12% peoples 4% followers 4% celestial 4% inmates 3% believers 3% chiefs 3% entire 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: inmates fire-tabletFire §45: are filled gleaningsGWB §464: congregation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the chiefs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §831: and the Concourse on high tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: assemblage tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse will-and-testamentW&T §34: filling

اتّقوا

ittqúá w-q-y → “fear”

literal: fear; to fear

fear 68% lay 9% let 9% “fear 9% walk 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: most pious fire-tabletFire §21: of purity gleaningsGWB §564: the fear kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: the fear of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: dissimulation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §752: “Fear ye the-hidden-wordsHW §1: of Divine virtue will-and-testamentW&T §1: protected

الرّحمن

ar-rḥmn r-ḥ-m → “merciful”

literal: mercy; merciful; the merciful

all-merciful 46% god 15% most 12% merciful 9% compassionate 7% mercy 5% who 3% thou 1% “the 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: Most Merciful fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §537: more mercy kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: divine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §851: Have pity tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: in token of His mercy

فزت

fzt f-w-z → “attained”

literal: attain

hath 33% attained 17% attain 17% have 17% thou 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: attaineth gleaningsGWB §633: favored ones kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: is enabled to achieve kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: commune prayers-and-meditationsP&M §716: been led tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: hath been honoured the-hidden-wordsHW §111: gazeth upon epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: have attained

بمکلّمی

bmkllmí k-l-m → “him who conversed” Distinctive

literal: word; words; speak

This form usually rendered as “unto”, “"he” (2 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Him Who conversed”

unto 50% “he 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sayings fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §157: Such a recognition kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: utter kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: term prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: Who conversed with Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: gave utterance the-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith

اخذ

ikhdh ʾ-kh-dh → “seized” Distinctive

literal: take; taking; seize

This form usually rendered as “arrested”, “hath”, “seek” (81 occurrences)

arrested 19% hath 15% seek 12% seized 8% have 8% seize 8% usurp 8% clung 8% receive 8% bewildered 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: to seize thee fire-tabletFire §12: afflicted gleaningsGWB §15: portion kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: Grasp ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §111: will they take it prayers-and-meditationsP&M §32: fallen tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou

جذب

jdhb j-dh-b → “ecstasies”

literal: attract; attraction; attract, draw

rapture 20% ecstasy 20% ecstasies 10% eagerness 10% such 10% joy 10% stirred 10% sweetness 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: that they may draw him fire-tabletFire §3: O Enchanter gleaningsGWB §32: have been made to vibrate kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: transports prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: my Joy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: lodestone gleaningsGWB §458: hath attracted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §520: and enrapture their hearts

فرحی

frḥí f-r-ḥ → “joy”

literal: joy; joy, gladness

joy 30% rejoice 24% exult 6% exultest 6% delight 6% into 6% rejoicing 6% gladness 6% will 6% joys 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: of them that exult fire-tabletFire §12: Delight gleaningsGWB §64: felicity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: gladness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §212: exult will-and-testamentW&T §57: happiness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: glad gleaningsGWB §78: ye rejoice

حصاة

ḥṣáh ḥ-ṣ-y → “can” Distinctive

literal: count; enumerate; counted

This form usually rendered as “stone”, “stones” (2 occurrences)

stone 50% stones 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: unnumbered gleaningsGWB §322: can kitab-i-iqanKIQ §240: estimate their number prayers-and-meditationsP&M §45: could measure it the-hidden-wordsHW §66: recount will-and-testamentW&T §11: boundless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §170: countless gleaningsGWB §305: can search

الارض

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; earth, land

earth 65% land 13% world 9% all 4% soil 2% whole 2% amongst 2% mankind 1% realm 1% city 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: land fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §352: and on earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §138: site of his martyrdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §816: and all who are on earth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §43: the lands the-hidden-wordsHW §95: within it epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §219: upon earth

ترابها

trábhá t-r-b → “dust”

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

dust 72% earth 10% clay 7% pertaining 1% upon 1% lieth 1% dwell 1% world 1% lowly 1% now 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: dust gleaningsGWB §488: the dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the clay the-hidden-wordsHW §115: dust-heap epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earth gleaningsGWB §13: of dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the lowly dust

السّدرة

as-sdrh s-d-r → “bush” Distinctive

literal: lote-tree; tree; lote tree

This form usually rendered as “tree”, “lote-tree”, “burning” (78 occurrences)

tree 41% lote-tree 23% burning 11% divine 5% bush 5% sadratu’l-muntahá 5% sadrih 5% sadratu’l-muntaha 1% upon 1% sadratu’l 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: Lote-Tree gleaningsGWB §127: Sadratu’l kitab-i-iqanKIQ §139: Sadrih prayers-and-meditationsP&M §73: of the Tree of tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: within the deathless tree will-and-testamentW&T §16: Lote-Trees epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: the Lote-Tree gleaningsGWB §193: Trees

انصفوا

inṣfúá n-ṣ-f → “judge ye fairly”

literal: fairness; be fair

SE expanded to “Judge ye fairly”

fair 60% judge 30% observe 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: justice gleaningsGWB §682: Were ye to be fair in your judgment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: unfair prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: fair-minded soul the-hidden-wordsHW §47: Judge thou aright will-and-testamentW&T §5: this iniquitous person epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: fairness gleaningsGWB §455: if ye but judge fairly

ظهر

ẓhr ẓ-h-r → “been manifested”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

hath 44% appeared 16% manifested 11% revealed 8% made 5% have 5% uncovered 5% come 3% defender 2% perpetrated 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: breathed fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §286: have been manifested kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §36: cometh out of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §777: been unveiled to men’s eyes tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §99: guise

بالحقّ

bálḥqq ḥ-q-q → “in truth”

literal: truth; true; right

god 29% truth 29% one 20% true 8% who 6% through 3% eternal 3% right 1% unto 1% righteousness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: to God gleaningsGWB §148: the Eternal Truth kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: righteousness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §243: confirmeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: have thereby deserved the-hidden-wordsHW §92: mysteries will-and-testamentW&T §9: indisputable epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: as it behooveth you

النّار

an-nár n-ʾ-r → “fire”

literal: fire; fire, flame

fire 64% flame 17% flames 5% into 3% hell 3% former 3% latter 3% afire 1% set 1% utter 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §180: flame gleaningsGWB §36: the flames kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: undying fires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §33: Thy fire tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: of fire will-and-testamentW&T §53: mischief-kindling epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: thine own fire gleaningsGWB §312: hell fire

اللّه

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “god”

literal: god; divine; o god

god 93% god’s 2% lord 1% divine 1% almighty 1% “god 1% god.” 0% unto 0% towards 0% \‘god 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Divinity fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §186: the Faith of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: God”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §821: art God tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

ذی

dhí dh-w-y → “man”

literal: possessor; possessor of; possessor-of

man 44% every 17% beings 6% discerning 6% word 6% ears 6% each 6% one 6% who 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: man of gleaningsGWB §35: every prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: their kindred will-and-testamentW&T §32: my kinsmen epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: man gleaningsGWB §242: discerning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: they who are endowed with gleaningsGWB §484: each

بصر

bṣr b-ṣ-r → “insight”

literal: sight; insight; eyes

eyes 20% insight 20% sight 18% eye 18% power 7% vision 4% whose 4% discerning 4% faculty 2% man 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: a keen gleaningsGWB §75: all eyes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: insight!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §716: a man of insight tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: heart the-hidden-wordsHW §45: My sight epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: of insight gleaningsGWB §321: observer

عليم

ʿlím ʿ-l-m → “understanding” Distinctive

literal: knowledge

This form usually rendered as “all-knowing”, “omniscient”, “all-wise” (121 occurrences)

all-knowing 73% omniscient 9% all-wise 5% knower 4% god 3% knowing 2% knoweth 2% aware 1% understanding 1% who 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: all that dwell on earth fire-tabletFire §13: ensigns gleaningsGWB §178: dwell on earth kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: sage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §604: O Thou Who art the Knower tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Fire Tablet cover

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 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

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 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 ¶

Will and Testament cover

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 ¶