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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §197

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 197 of 268.

Source (Persian)

الی ان قلنا فی لوح آخر يا ايّها النّاظر الی الوجه، وصّ العباد بتقوی اللّه تاللّه هو القائد الاوّل فی عساکر ربّک و جنوده الاخلاق المرضيّة و الاعمال الطّيّبة * و بها فتحت فی الاعصار و القرون مدائن الافئدة و القلوب و نصبت رايات النّصر و الظّفر علی اعلی الاعلام *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Further, in another Tablet, We have said: "O thou who hast fixed thy gaze upon My countenance! Admonish men to fear God. By God! This fear is the chief commander of the army of Thy Lord. Its hosts are a praiseworthy character and goodly deeds. Through it have the cities of men's hearts been opened throughout the ages and centuries, and the standards of ascendancy and triumph raised above all other standards."

Translation Notes

الی

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

ان

literal: that; those; he; she; it

قلنا

literal: little; few; scanty; small in quantity

فی
f-y “of” Distinctive

literal: in; in-it; in it

لوح

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

آخر

literal: the hereafter, the next life, the world to come; last, latter; the next life, the hereafter; delay; postponement

يا

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

ايّها
ʾ-y-y “signs” Distinctive

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

النّاظر

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

الوجه،
w-j-h “countenance” Distinctive

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

وصّ

literal: admonition; admonish; testament

العباد

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

بتقوی

literal: strength; power; might; piety; fear of God; godliness

اللّه

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

هو

literal: He; He is

القائد

literal: leader, commander, guide

الاوّل

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

عساکر

literal: army; forces; soldiers

ربّک

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

جنوده

literal: hosts, armies, troops

الاخلاق

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

المرضيّة
r-ḍ-y “Thy pleasure” Distinctive

literal: good-pleasure, consent, satisfaction; satisfaction; pleasure; approval; contentment

الاعمال

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

الطّيّبة

literal: good; pure; sweet; fragrant; virtuous

بها
b-h-w “All-Glorious” Distinctive

literal: by it; by him; with it

فتحت

literal: opening; opening up; conquests; revelations; disclosure

الاعصار

literal: age; era; century; period of time

القرون

literal: conjunction; union; coupling; association

مدائن

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

الافئدة

literal: heart; inner consciousness; mind

القلوب

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

نصبت

literal: share; portion; lot; fate

رايات

literal: to see; to perceive; to look

النّصر
n-ṣ-r “ascendancy” Distinctive

literal: aid, help, succor, victory, support

الظّفر

literal: victory, success; to triumph, prevail; nail, fingernail

علی
ʿ-l-w “above all other” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

الاعلام

literal: to see; to perceive; to look

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

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