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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §165

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 165 of 268.

Source (Persian)

در اين مقام لازم امری که ظاهر شد ذکر شود شايد عباد بحبل عدل و راستی تمسّک نمايند * جناب حاجی شيخ محمّد علی عليه بهاء اللّه الابدیّ از تجّار معروف بوده اکثری از اهل مدينه کبيره او را ميشناسند * در ايّام اخيره که سفارت ايران در استانه در سرّ سرّ بتحريک مشغول ان مقبل صادق را پريشان ديده‌اند تا انکه شبی از شبها خود را در بحر انداخت و از قضا جمعی از عباد حاضر و او را اخذ نمودند * و اين عمل را هر حزبی تعبيری نمود و ذکری کرد تا انکه مرّة اخری شبی از شبها در جامعی رفته و خادم ان محلّ ذکر نمود اين شخص شب را احيا داشت و تا صبح بمناجات و دعا و عجز و ابتهال مشغول و بعد ذکرش قطع شد و اين عبد توجّه نمود مشاهده شد روح را تسليم نموده و شيشه خالی نزدش ديده شد مشعر بر اينکه سمّ خورده * باری بکمال تحيّر قوم را اطّلاع داد و دو وصيّت نامه از او ظاهر شد امّا اوّل مشعر بر اقرار و اعتراف بر وحدانيّت حقّ و تقديس ذاته تعالی عن الاشباه و الامثال و تنزيه کينونته عن الاوصاف و الاذکار و الاقوال و الاقرار بظهور الانبياء و الاولياء و الاعتراف بما کان مرقوما فی کتب اللّه مولی الوری * و در ورقه ديگر مناجاتی عرض کرده و در اخر ورقه ذکر نموده اين عبد و اولياء متحيّر مانده‌اند چه که در يک مقام قلم اعلی کلّ را از فساد و نزاع و جدال منع فرموده و در مقامی هم از قلم اعلی اينکلمه عليا نازل اگر نفسی سوء قصدی از احدی در حضور مشاهده نمايد بايد تعرّض نکند و بحقّ گذارد * اين حکم محکم از يکجهت ظاهر و ثابت و از جهت ديگر مشاهده شد مفترين بکلماتی نطق مينمايند که قوّه بشری از حمل و اصغاء ان عاجز و قاصر است * لذا اين عبد اين ذنب اعظم را اختيار نمود و از بحر کرم الهی و سماء رحمت ربّانی سائل و املم که جريرات اين عبد را از قلم فضل و عطا محو فرمايد سيّئات بسيار و خطايا بيشمار و لکن بحبل جودش متمسّکم و بذيل کرمش متشبّث * حقّ شاهد و مقرّبان درگاه اگاه که اين عبد قادر بر اصغاء مقالات مغلّين نبوده لذا اين عمل را ارتکاب نمود * لو يعذّبنی انّه هو محمود فی فعله و لو يغفر لی انّه مطاعٌ فی امره *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

In this connection it is necessary to mention the following occurrence, that haply men may take fast hold of the cord of justice and truthfulness. Ḥájí Shaykh Muḥammad-‘Alí - upon him be the glory of God, the Ever-Abiding - was a merchant of high repute, well-known unto most of the inhabitants of the Great City (Constantinople). Not long ago, when the Persian Embassy in Constantinople was secretly engaged in stirring up mischief, it was noticed that this believing and sincere soul was greatly distressed. Finally, one night he threw himself into the sea, but was rescued by some passers-by who chanced to come upon him at that moment. His act was widely commented upon and given varied interpretations by different people. Following this, one night he repaired to a mosque, and, as reported by the guardian of that place, kept vigil the whole night, and was occupied until the morning in offering, ardently and with tearful eyes, his prayers and supplications. Upon hearing him suddenly cease his devotions, the guardian went to him, and found that he had already surrendered his soul. An empty bottle was found by his side, indicating that he had poisoned himself. Briefly, the guardian, while greatly astonished, broke the news to the people. It was found out that he had left two testaments. In the first he recognized and confessed the unity of God, that His Exalted Being had neither peer nor equal, and that His Essence was exalted above all praise, all glorification and description. He also testified to the Revelation of the Prophets and the holy ones, and recognized what had been written down in the Books of God, the Lord of all men. On another page, in which he had set down a prayer, he wrote these words in conclusion: "This servant and the loved ones of God are perplexed. On the one hand the Pen of the Most High hath forbidden all men to engage in sedition, contention or conflict, and on the other that same Pen hath sent down these most sublime words: ‘Should anyone, in the presence of the Manifestation, discover an evil intention on the part of any soul, he must not oppose him, but must leave him to God.' Considering that on the one hand this binding command is clear and firmly established, and that on the other calumnies, beyond human strength to bear or endure, have been uttered, this servant hath chosen to commit this most grievous sin. I turn suppliantly unto the ocean of God's bounty and the heaven of Divine mercy, and hope that He will blot out with the pen of His grace and bounteousness the misdeeds of this servant. Though my transgressions be manifold, and unnumbered my evil-doings, yet do I cleave tenaciously to the cord of His bounty, and cling unto the hem of His generosity. God is witness, and they that are nigh unto His Threshold know full well, that this servant could not bear to hear the tales related by the perfidious. I, therefore, have committed this act. If He chastise me, He verily is to be praised for what He doeth; and if He forgive me, His behest shall be obeyed."

Translation Notes

جناب
jnáb j-n-b

literal: excellency

SE rendered عدل (ʿdl), راستی (rástí), تمسّک (tmssk), نمايند (nmáynd), جناب (jnáb), حاجی (ḥájí), شيخ (shíkh), محمّد (mḥmmd), عليه (ʿlíh), بهاء (bháʾ) as “justice, truthfulness, take fast hold, may, Ḥájí, Shaykh, praise, upon, glory”

thee 41% thou 38% one 3% thyself 3% wert 3% shaykh 3% excellency 3% mullá 3% honour 3%
ايران
iyrán r-ʾ-y

literal: see; to see; mirror

SE rendered ايّام (iyyám), اخيره (ikhírh), سفارت (sfárt), ايران (iyrán), استانه (istánh), سرّ (srr), سرّ (srr), بتحريک (btḥrík) as “long ago, Finally, Embassy, in, secretly, stirring up”

thou 45% seest 10% mirrors 9% see 8% mirror 8% behold 7% may 5% have 3% beholdest 3% hath 2%
پريشان
príshán príshán → “greatly”

literal: distressed

1 occurrence in corpus

ديده‌اند
dídh‌ánd dídn

literal: see; to see; saw

SE rendered مشغول (mshghúl), مقبل (mqbl), صادق (ṣádq), پريشان (príshán), ديده‌اند (dídh‌ánd), انکه (inkh), شبی (shbí), از (iz), شبها (shbhá) as “in, sincere, soul, distressed, he, night, into”

noticed 33% have 33% finding 33%
شبی
shbí sh-b → “one”

literal: night; nights

6 occurrences in corpus

قضا
qḍá q-ḍ-y

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

SE rendered بحر (bḥr), انداخت (indákht), از (iz), قضا (qḍá), جمعی (jmʿí), از (iz), عباد (ʿbád), حاضر (ḥáḍr), اخذ (ikhdh) as “the sea, threw, of, some, men, upon, rescued”

decree 33% fate 17% ordained 17% god’s 17% accidentally 17%
هر
hr h-r

literal: every; each; every/each

SE rendered اخذ (ikhdh), نمودند (nmúdnd), عمل (ʿml), هر (hr), حزبی (ḥzbí), تعبيری (tʿbírí), نمود (nmúd), ذکری (dhkrí), کرد (krd) as “rescued, hath, interpretations, will”

حزبی
ḥzbí ḥ-z-b

literal: party; parties; party, group

SE rendered اخذ (ikhdh), نمودند (nmúdnd), عمل (ʿml), هر (hr), حزبی (ḥzbí), تعبيری (tʿbírí), نمود (nmúd), ذکری (dhkrí), کرد (krd) as “rescued, hath, interpretations, will”

still 25% different 25% sect 25% people 25%
مرّة
mrrh m-r-r

literal: pass; passed

SE rendered تعبيری (tʿbírí), نمود (nmúd), ذکری (dhkrí), کرد (krd), انکه (inkh), مرّة (mrrh), اخری (ikhrí), شبی (shbí), از (iz), شبها (shbhá), جامعی (jámʿí) as “interpretations, will, hath, he, other, night, of, mosque”

عجز
ʿjz ʿ-j-z

literal: unable; powerlessness

SE rendered داشت (dásht), صبح (ṣbḥ), بمناجات (bmnáját), دعا (dʿá), عجز (ʿjz), ابتهال (ibthál), مشغول (mshghúl), ذکرش (dhkrsh), قطع (qṭʿ) as “kept, different people, prayers, supplications, occupied, devotions, cease”

ابتهال
ibthál b-h-l

literal: earnest prayer, entreaty; entreaty

SE rendered صبح (ṣbḥ), بمناجات (bmnáját), دعا (dʿá), عجز (ʿjz), ابتهال (ibthál), مشغول (mshghúl), ذکرش (dhkrsh), قطع (qṭʿ) as “different people, prayers, supplications, occupied, devotions, cease”

2 occurrences in corpus

شيشه
shíshh sh-y-sh → “bottle”

literal: bottle

1 occurrence in corpus

سمّ
smm s-m-m

literal: poison; eye (of needle), hole; eye/hole

SE rendered نزدش (nzdsh), ديده (dídh), مشعر (mshʿr), بر (br), اينکه (iynkh), سمّ (smm), خورده (khúrdh), باری (bárí), بکمال (bkmál), تحيّر (tḥíḥr), قوم (qúm) as “unto, found, indicating, upon, poisoned, Briefly, greatly astonished, Exalted, people”

خورده
khúrdh khúrdn → “never” Distinctive

literal: eat; consumed; eat, receive, suffer

This form usually rendered as “foiled” (2 occurrences)

never 25% vary 25% feed 25% foiled 25%
نامه
námh n-m-h

literal: letter

SE rendered قوم (qúm), اطّلاع (iṭṭláʿ), داد (dád), دو (dú), وصيّت (wṣíṣt), نامه (námh), از (iz), ظاهر (ẓáhr), امّا (immá) as “people, news, left, two, testaments, of, first”

2 occurrences in corpus

اوّل
iwwl ʾ-w-l

literal: first; beginning; firstness

SE rendered وصيّت (wṣíṣt), نامه (námh), از (iz), ظاهر (ẓáhr), امّا (immá), اوّل (iwwl), مشعر (mshʿr), بر (br), اقرار (iqrár) as “testaments, of, first, Upon, confessed”

الاوصاف
al-áwṣáf w-ṣ-f

literal: description

SE rendered الامثال (al-ámthál), تنزيه (tnzíh), کينونته (kínúnth), الاوصاف (al-áwṣáf), الاذکار (adh-dhkár), الاقوال (al-áqúál), الاقرار (al-áqrár) as “equal, description, was, glorification, words, testified”

مانده‌اند
mándh‌ánd mándn

literal: remain; remained; to remain

SE rendered نموده (nmúdh), عبد (ʿbd), اولياء (iwlíáʾ), متحيّر (mtḥíḥr), مانده‌اند (mándh‌ánd), چه (chh), يک (yk), مقام (mqám), قلم (qlm), اعلی (iʿlí) as “had, servant, loved, perplexed, on the one hand, one, hand the, Pen, Most High”

bereft 50% have 50%
گذارد
gdhárd gdhárd → “take”

literal: place; place/put; to leave

8 occurrences in corpus

نطق
nṭq n-ṭ-q

literal: spoke

SE rendered جهت (jht), ديگر (dígr), مشاهده (msháhdh), مفترين (mftrín), بکلماتی (bklmátí), نطق (nṭq), مينمايند (mínmáynd), قوّه (qúqh), بشری (bshrí), از (iz), حمل (ḥml) as “other, calumnies, strength, human, of, bear”

hath 39% spoken 25% spoke 7% uttered 7% which 4% made 4% related 4% uttereth 4% glorify 4% claim 4%
قاصر
qáṣr q-ṣ-r

literal: palace; deficient; fault

SE rendered بشری (bshrí), از (iz), حمل (ḥml), اصغاء (iṣgháʾ), عاجز (ʿájz), قاصر (qáṣr), لذا (ldhá), عبد (ʿbd), ذنب (dhnb) as “human, of, bear, endure, therefore, servant, sin”

dare 33% can 33% would 33%
سائل
sáʾl s-ʾ-l

literal: ask; question; ask/beseech

SE rendered کرم (krm), الهی (al-hí), سماء (smáʾ), رحمت (rḥmt), ربّانی (rbbání), سائل (sáʾl), املم (imlm), جريرات (jrírát), عبد (ʿbd) as “and, heaven, mercy, Divine, hope, servant”

suppliant 43% pray 29% seeker 29%
جريرات
jrírát j-r-r

literal: and trespasses

SE rendered رحمت (rḥmt), ربّانی (rbbání), سائل (sáʾl), املم (imlm), جريرات (jrírát), عبد (ʿbd), از (iz), قلم (qlm), فضل (fḍl) as “mercy, Divine, hope, servant, of, pen, grace”

trespasses 40% misdeeds 20% own 20% evil 20%
عطا
ʿṭá ʿ-ṭ-w

literal: bounty

SE rendered عبد (ʿbd), از (iz), قلم (qlm), فضل (fḍl), عطا (ʿṭá), محو (mḥú), فرمايد (frmáyd), سيّئات (sísʾát), بسيار (bsíár), خطايا (khṭáyá) as “servant, of, pen, grace, blot, he, transgressions, manifold, evil-doings”

جودش
júdsh j-w-d

literal: bounty; generosity, bounty

SE rendered خطايا (khṭáyá), بيشمار (bíshmár), لکن (lkn), بحبل (bḥbl), جودش (júdsh), متمسّکم (mtmsskm), بذيل (bdhíl), کرمش (krmsh), متشبّث (mtshbbth) as “evil-doings, unnumbered, yet, cord of His bounty, cling, hem of His generosity, cleave tenaciously”

قادر
qádr q-d-r

literal: power; powerful

SE rendered مقرّبان (mqrrbán), درگاه (drgáh), اگاه (igáh), عبد (ʿbd), قادر (qádr), بر (br), اصغاء (iṣgháʾ), مقالات (mqálát), مغلّين (mghllín), نبوده (nbúdh) as “nigh, Threshold, know, servant, hear, tales, perfidious, was”

powerless 15% almighty 12% can 12% all-powerful 12% able 12% powerful 12% potent 8% power 8% could 8% bear 4%
يعذّبنی
yʿdhdhbní ʿ-dh-b

literal: punishment; torment; tormented

SE rendered عمل (ʿml), ارتکاب (irtkáb), نمود (nmúd), لو (lú), يعذّبنی (yʿdhdhbní), محمود (mḥmúd), فعله (fʿlh), لو (lú) as “act, committed, if, praised, doeth”

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

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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50 ¶

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729 ¶

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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858 ¶

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17 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶