Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §16

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 16 of 268.

Source (Persian)

عدل و انصاف دو حارسند از برای حفظ عباد و از اين دو کلمات محکمه مبارکه که علّت صلاح عالم و حفظ امم است ظاهر گردد *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over men. From them are revealed such blessed and perspicuous words as are the cause of the well-being of the world and the protection of the nations

Translation Notes

انصاف

inṣáf n-ṣ-f → “equity”

literal: fairness; equity; be fair

equity 25% justice 23% fair 18% fairness 18% fair-minded 5% fairly 4% injustice 4% equitable 2% equitably 2% far 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: justice gleaningsGWB §181: claim to be just kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: unfair the-hidden-wordsHW §47: Judge thou aright epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: might judge equitably gleaningsGWB §220: unbiased observer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: is it fair epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: equity

دو

dú d-w → “two”

literal: two

two 89% twofold 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §256: sought gleaningsGWB §144: twofold kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: two are will-and-testamentW&T §42: again epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: two months gleaningsGWB §168: hastened forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: hundred epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: two

حارسند

ḥársnd ḥ-r-s → “protect”

literal: guard; guarding; security

protect 33% protection 25% security 8% guardeth 8% keeper 8% hath 8% shelter 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: security gleaningsGWB §475: protect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §677: protection will-and-testamentW&T §17: shelter epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: protect him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §619: of Thy protection will-and-testamentW&T §1: hath watched epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: guardeth

از

iz ʾ-z → “from”

literal: from

SE rendered عدل (ʿdl), انصاف (inṣáf), دو (dú), حارسند (ḥársnd), از (iz), برای (bráy), حفظ (ḥfẓ), عباد (ʿbád), از (iz), دو (dú), کلمات (klmát) as “Justice, equity, twin, Guardians, From, protection, men, words”

23 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Amongst kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: at kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: from

برای

bráy b-r-y

literal: for

SE rendered عدل (ʿdl), انصاف (inṣáf), دو (dú), حارسند (ḥársnd), از (iz), برای (bráy), حفظ (ḥfẓ), عباد (ʿbád), از (iz), دو (dú), کلمات (klmát) as “Justice, equity, twin, Guardians, From, protection, men, words”

wherefore 50% light 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: for kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: we may epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: In brief kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: Whereas epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: Meanwhile kitab-i-iqanKIQ §250: by the light of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: wherefore kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: to

حفظ

ḥfẓ ḥ-f-ẓ → “protection”

literal: protection; protect; preserve

protection 27% protect 20% protected 10% guard 10% security 7% shield 7% preservation 7% safeguarding 7% about 3% hath 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: shield gleaningsGWB §265: may be shielded kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: safeguarding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §249: “Guarded prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: Thou didst preserve tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Learn well will-and-testamentW&T §5: shielded and protected epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: preserved

عباد

ʿbád ʿ-b-d → “men”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 34% men 30% people 21% man 3% all 3% peoples 3% unto 2% who 2% serve 2% mankind 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: men fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §196: a soul kitab-i-iqanKIQ §238: your father’s worship.’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: for Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §3: of others will-and-testamentW&T §36: this Thy servant

کلمات

klmát k-l-m → “words”

literal: word; words

words 63% utterances 10% word 10% utterance 4% terms 4% sayings 2% which 2% mysteries 2% vain 2% holy 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: sayings gleaningsGWB §669: the Word of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: This exalted utterance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §135: utterances the-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith will-and-testamentW&T §38: of His Word epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy Word gleaningsGWB §708: the words

مبارکه

mbárkh b-r-k → “blessed”

literal: blessed; blessing

blessed 61% holy 19% sacred 6% hallowed 6% hand 3% blest 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: hallowed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: sacred the-hidden-wordsHW §83: Hallowed be will-and-testamentW&T §27: draweth Divine increase epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: blessed and kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: waters will-and-testamentW&T §5: Blessed Tree epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: blessed

علّت

ʿllt ʿ-l-l → “cause”

literal: cause; reason

cause 20% caused 13% motive 13% source 13% causeth 7% pretext 7% reason 7% essential 7% cannot 7% fix 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: of gleaningsGWB §441: source kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: the instrument kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: as the criterion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: am sick the-hidden-wordsHW §107: ills epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §16: cause gleaningsGWB §156: sickness

صلاح

ṣláḥ ṣ-l-ḥ → “betterment” Distinctive

literal: reform; peace; Salih

This form usually rendered as “amity”, “well-being”, “uprightness” (7 occurrences)

amity 40% well-being 20% uprightness 20% righteousness 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: it hath been well ordered gleaningsGWB §562: to ennoble kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: current prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: graciously bless the-hidden-wordsHW §129: seeking their own good will-and-testamentW&T §8: to show forth peace epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: converted into instruments of gleaningsGWB §511: the world’s Great Peace

عالم

ʿálm ʿ-l-m → “world”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

world 68% earth 8% mankind 7% realm 4% men 3% whole 2% all 2% all-knowing 2% knoweth 2% dwell 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: earth fire-tabletFire §13: ensigns gleaningsGWB §163: through Thy knowledge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §198: realm of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §776: the contingent world tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §144: peoples

ظاهر

ẓáhr ẓ-h-r → “revealed”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

manifest 29% revealed 16% appeared 11% outward 8% made 7% appear 7% manifested 6% outwardly 5% have 5% visible 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: of Thy revelation fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §49: whether seen kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: Manifestation of the All-Glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §19: uncovered tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: the revelation of thy glory

گردد

grdd g-r-d

literal: become; to become

SE rendered صلاح (ṣláḥ), عالم (ʿálm), حفظ (ḥfẓ), امم (imm), ظاهر (ẓáhr), گردد (grdd) as “the well-being, world, nations, revealed”

may 31% made 13% become 13% end 6% arise 6% set 6% shake 6% station 6% disclosed 6% exert 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: wouldst become gleaningsGWB §288: not stray kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: behold prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: express the-hidden-wordsHW §130: is not will-and-testamentW&T §24: may be filled epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §219: hath gleaningsGWB §287: be rejected

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 ¶