Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §147

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 147 of 268.

Source (Persian)

اگر ان جناب يکساعت لوجه اللّه در اموری که از قبل و بعد ظاهر شده تفکّر فرمايند از ما عنده بما عند اللّه توجّه نمايند و سبب اعلاء کلمة اللّه گردند * ايا از اوّل ابداع الی حين از مشرق اراده الهی نوری و يا ظهوری اشراق نموده که قبائل ارض او را قبول نموده و امرش را پذيرفته‌اند ان که بوده و اسمش چه ؟ از حضرت خاتم روح ما سواه فداه و من قبله حضرت روح الی ان ينتهی الی البديع الاوّل در احيان ظهور کلّ مبتلی بوده‌اند بعضی را مجنون گفته‌اند و برخی را کذّاب ناميده‌اند و عمل نموده‌اند انچه را که قلم حيا ميکند از ذکرش * لعمر اللّه ورد عليهم ما ناحت به الاشياء کلّها و لکن القوم اکثرهم فی جهل مبين * نسأل اللّه ان يؤيّدهم علی الرّجوع اليه و الانابة لدی باب رحمته انّه علی کلّ شیء قدير

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Wert thou, for the sake of God, to ponder, though it be but for an hour, upon the things which have occurred in former times and more recently, thou wouldst turn away from the things thou dost possess unto the things which belong unto God, and wouldst become a means for the exaltation of His Word. Hath, from the foundation of the world until the present day, any Light or Revelation shone forth from the dayspring of the will of God which the kindreds of the earth have accepted, and Whose Cause they have acknowledged? Where is it to be found, and what is its name? Since the Seal of the Prophets (Muḥammad) - may all else but Him be His sacrifice - and before Him the Spirit of God (Jesus), as far back as the First Manifestation, all have at the time of Their appearance suffered grievously. Some were held to be possessed, others were called impostors, and were treated in a manner that the pen is ashamed to describe. By God! There befell Them what hath made all created things to sigh, and yet the people are, for the most part, sunk in manifest ignorance! We pray God to assist them to return unto Him, and to repent before the door of His mercy. Potent is He over all things.

Translation Notes

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

جناب

j-n-b → “Wert thou”

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

يکساعت

y-k → “one” Distinctive

literal: hour; moment; time

لوجه

w-j-h → “for the sake of God”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

در

d-r-r → “upon”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

اموری

ʾ-m-r → “things”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

از

ʾ-z → “in” Distinctive

literal: from

قبل

q-b-l → “former times” Distinctive

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

بعد

b-ʿ-d → “after”

literal: after; behind; distance

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “have occurred” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

شده

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

تفکّر

f-k-r → “to ponder”

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

فرمايند

f-r-m

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

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

عنده

ʿ-n-d → “thou dost possess” Distinctive

literal: obstinacy; opposition; enmity

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “hath” Distinctive

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

سبب

s-b-b → “means” Distinctive

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

اعلاء

ʿ-l-w → “exaltation”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

کلمة

k-l-m → “His Word”

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

گردند

g-r-d → “wouldst become”

literal: to become; to happen; to come to pass

ايا

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: does; is it that (interrogative particle); sign; verse; O! (vocative particle); him; them (object pronoun)

اوّل

ʾ-w-l → “first”

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

ابداع

b-d-ʿ → “wondrous” Distinctive

literal: to create; most wondrous; excel

الی

ʾ-l-y → “until”

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

حين

ḥ-y-n → “moment”

literal: time; moment; while; season

مشرق

sh-r-q → “dayspring”

literal: radiance; splendor; dawn; illumination

اراده

r-w-d → “will”

literal: to will; to intend; to wish; will, volition, intention, desire

نوری

n-w-r → “any Light”

literal: light; illumination

يا

y-ʾ → “or”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

نموده

n-m-ود → “they” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do/make

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “of the earth”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

او

h-w-w

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

پذيرفته‌اند

p-dh-y → “have acknowledged”

literal: to accept; to receive; to acknowledge; to adopt

بوده

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

اسمش

s-m-w → “what is its name”

literal: name

چه

ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

حضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “Him”

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

خاتم

kh-t-m → “Seal”

literal: to seal; to conclude; to end; seal

روح

r-w-ḥ → “Spirit”

literal: to go; to depart; to rest; spirit; soul

سواه

s-w-y

literal: other than; other-than; besides

فداه

f-d-y → “be His sacrifice” Distinctive

literal: alas; woe; oh

من

m-n → “from”

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

ينتهی

n-h-y

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

الاوّل

ʾ-w-l

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

کلّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

مبتلی

b-l-w → “tribulations” Distinctive

literal: affliction; trial; calamity

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “Some”

literal: part; some; portion

مجنون

j-n-n → “Paradise” Distinctive

literal: garden; paradise; heaven

گفته‌اند

g-f-t

literal: utterance; speech; word; discourse

برخی

b-r-kh → “others”

literal: to rise; to stand up; to arise; to rebel

کذّاب

k-dh-b → “were called impostors”

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

ناميده‌اند

n-ʾ-m

literal: to name; to call; to designate

عمل

ʿ-m-l → “deeds”

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

نموده‌اند

n-m-w → “have”

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

انچه

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

قلم

q-l-m → “pen”

literal: pen; writing instrument

حيا

ḥ-y-y → “is ashamed”

literal: greeting; salutation; tribute; to make alive; to revive

ميکند

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do, make

ذکرش

dh-k-r → “describe.” Distinctive

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

لعمر

ʿ-m-r → “By God”

literal: life; age; duration; by the life of (oath)

ورد

w-r-d → “There befell”

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

عليهم

ʿ-l-y → “Them” Distinctive

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

ناحت

n-w-ḥ

literal: to wail; to lament; lamentation

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

الاشياء

sh-y-ʾ → “all created things”

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

لکن

l-k-n → “yet”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

القوم

q-w-m → “the people”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

اکثرهم

k-th-r → “for the most part”

literal: majority; multitude; abundance; multiplicity

فی

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

جهل

j-h-l → “manifest ignorance”

literal: ignorant; foolish; the ignorant ones

مبين

b-y-n

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

نسأل

s-ʾ-l → “We pray”

literal: question; problem; issue; matter; asking; petition; request

يؤيّدهم

ʾ-y-d → “inspired” Distinctive

literal: to support, assist, strengthen, confirm; to support; to assist; to strengthen; to aid; confirmation; support; strengthening

الرّجوع

r-j-ʿ → “to return”

literal: deputy; representative; vicegerent; substitute

اليه

ʾ-l-y → “besmirch”

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

الانابة

n-w-b → “to repent”

literal: deputy; representative; vicegerent; substitute

لدی

l-d-y → “before”

literal: with; in the presence of; from; by

باب

b-w-b → “door”

literal: door; gate; chapter; way; manner

رحمته

r-ḥ-m → “of His mercy”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

انّه

ʾ-n-n → “Potent is He”

literal: I, verily; behold I

قدير

q-d-r

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

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 ¶