Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §23

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 23 of 268.

Source (Persian)

* مقصود از علماء در اين موارد که ذکر شده نفوسی هستند که خود را در ظاهر بلباس علم می‌ارايند و در باطن از ان محروم * در ذکر اين مقام در لوح حضرت سلطان چند فقره از فقرات کلمات مکنونه که باسم صحيفه فاطميّه صلوات اللّه عليها از قلم ابهی ظاهر ذکر ميشود *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

By "divines" in the passage cited above is meant those men who outwardly attire themselves with the raiment of knowledge, but who inwardly are deprived therefrom. In this connection, We quote from the Tablet addressed to His Majesty the Sháh, certain passages from the "Hidden Words" which were revealed by the Abhá Pen under the name of the "Book of Fáṭimih," the blessings of God be upon her!

Translation Notes

مقصود

mqṣúd q-ṣ-d → “meant those”

literal: intended; purpose; desired

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: design in this matter gleaningsGWB §233: that directeth his steps kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: meant solely prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: direct our steps towards the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: the Desire of their hearts

از

iz ʾ-z → “amongst”

literal: from

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

موارد

múárd w-r-d

literal: entering; come; arrive

SE rendered مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), علماء (ʿlmáʾ), موارد (múárd), ذکر (dhkr), نفوسی (nfúsí), هستند (hstnd) as “meant those, By "divines, men, are”

instance 33% summons 33% midst 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: there befell gleaningsGWB §561: suffer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: inflict prayers-and-meditationsP&M §848: what hath befallen will-and-testamentW&T §49: midst of my woes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: suffered gleaningsGWB §220: hath wrought kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: not to inflict

ذکر

dhkr dh-k-r → “remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: wherewith to remember and praise Thee gleaningsGWB §716: counseled kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: glorify prayers-and-meditationsP&M §759: Adored tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §5: name thy name

نفوسی

nfúsí n-f-s → “men”

literal: self; soul; souls

men 43% who 29% every 14% handful 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: Himself gleaningsGWB §669: this truth kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: their vain and selfish desires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: of evil tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §32: thy deeds will-and-testamentW&T §58: To none

هستند

hstnd h-s-t → “hath” Distinctive

literal: is; be; are

This form usually rendered as “reside”, ““there” (25 occurrences)

reside 50% “there 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: nor are they now gleaningsGWB §100: am kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: have kitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: been the-hidden-wordsHW §152: are even will-and-testamentW&T §9: is here epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: hath it now gleaningsGWB §344: are to be found

ظاهر

ẓáhr ẓ-h-r → “outwardly” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “revealed”, “appeared” (458 occurrences)

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 §286: which kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: fall down upon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §840: the means for the revelation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: the revelation of thy glory

بلباس

blbás l-b-s → “attire” Distinctive

literal: garment; clothe; garment, clothing

This form usually rendered as “raiment”, “robe” (2 occurrences)

raiment 50% robe 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: with the raiment gleaningsGWB §699: with the robe kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: apparel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: of appearing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: clothes gleaningsGWB §130: garb kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: pomp prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: woven

می‌ارايند

mí‌áráynd ʾ-r-y → “attire”

literal: adorn

1 occurrence in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: attire

باطن

báṭn b-ṭ-n → “inwardly”

literal: inward; inner

inwardly 32% inner 27% invisible 23% spiritual 9% inward 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: hidden gleaningsGWB §137: invisible kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “hidden,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §661: my inner being the-hidden-wordsHW §104: womb epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: inwardly gleaningsGWB §465: My inner kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: Concealment,”

مقام

mqám q-w-m

literal: station; place

SE rendered باطن (báṭn), از (iz), محروم (mḥrúm), ذکر (dhkr), مقام (mqám), لوح (lúḥ), حضرت (ḥḍrt), سلطان (slṭán), چند (chnd), فقره (fqrh), از (iz) as “inwardly, from the, deprived, connection, Tablet, His Majesty, Sháh, certain, passages”

station 55% connection 12% place 6% most 5% seat 5% such 5% spot 3% another 3% court 2% instance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: the depths of fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §277: Arise to further kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your station kitab-i-iqanKIQ §21: time prayers-and-meditationsP&M §626: and resolved tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: own station

سلطان

slṭán s-l-ṭ → “sháh”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: with manifest dominion gleaningsGWB §40: King in truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: of the King prayers-and-meditationsP&M §805: before Thy sovereignty tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: my King

چند

chnd ch-n-d → “while” Distinctive

literal: some; several; how many, several

This form usually rendered as “thousands”, “who”, “number” (6 occurrences)

thousands 20% who 20% number 20% certain 20% few 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: a while kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: Not long ago kitab-i-iqanKIQ §3: How many epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: for some time kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: thousands of years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: number of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §115: for a time kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: certain

فقره

fqrh f-q-r → “passages” Distinctive

literal: poor; poverty; matter

This form usually rendered as “poverty”, “poor”, “destitution” (43 occurrences)

poverty 38% poor 25% destitution 8% matter 4% subject 4% passages 4% perversity 4% destitute 4% ‘poverty’ 4% lack 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: passages gleaningsGWB §471: have forsaken their all kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: poverty-stricken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §668: is destitute the-hidden-wordsHW §126: of the poor epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: poor gleaningsGWB §366: destitute kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: the passages

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 §201: converse gleaningsGWB §708: the words kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: single utterance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: term the-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith will-and-testamentW&T §9: the phrase epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: at Him Who conversed gleaningsGWB §103: utterance

مکنونه

mknúnh k-n-n → ““hidden”

literal: hidden; hidden/concealed; hidden, treasured

hidden 64% hid 23% concealed 3% “he 3% whom 3% scriptures 3% wrapped 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §257: hidden gleaningsGWB §612: Scriptures prayers-and-meditationsP&M §461: been wrapped up epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: hid gleaningsGWB §56: “He that was hidden prayers-and-meditationsP&M §395: the Hidden epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: concealed gleaningsGWB §56: He Whom none hath

باسم

básm s-m-w → “under the name”

literal: name; names

SE expanded to “under the name”

name 79% most 5% names 4% any 2% title 2% fame 2% great 1% named 1% one 1% person 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: of His fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §168: of their names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: heaven”—one prayers-and-meditationsP&M §217: all-glorious Name tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §9: in thine own

صحيفه

ṣḥífh ṣ-ḥ-f → ““book”

literal: book

book 33% “book 17% sealed 17% companion 17% scroll 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: the Books gleaningsGWB §583: chalice kitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: epistles prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and a scroll epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: you gleaningsGWB §586: the sealed and mystic Scroll prayers-and-meditationsP&M §784: Scrolls epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy Scriptures

فاطميّه

fáṭmímh f-ṭ-m → “mother’s”

literal: Fatimah; weaning

1 occurrence in corpus

gleaningsGWB §352: his mother’s milk

صلوات

ṣlúát ṣ-l-w → “blessings”

literal: bless; blessing

blessings 75% may 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: benediction gleaningsGWB §273: My blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: praying prayers-and-meditationsP&M §818: Blessing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: may the blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: prayer epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: blessed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: the prayer

عليها

ʿlíhá ʿ-l-y → “be upon her” Distinctive

literal: upon; on

This form usually rendered as “aid”, “convulsed” (5 occurrences)

SE expanded to “be upon her”

aid 50% convulsed 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: Me at the hands of gleaningsGWB §729: with him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: the path the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: upon us gleaningsGWB §635: to aid

قلم

qlm q-l-m → “pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the Pen gleaningsGWB §719: Our Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Pen of Power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: of Thy pen will-and-testamentW&T §13: clime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: Abhá gleaningsGWB §387: His Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine own exalted pen

ابهی

ibhí b-h-w → “abhá” Distinctive

literal: glory; most glorious; most-glorious

This form usually rendered as “all-glorious”, “most”, “glorious” (62 occurrences)

all-glorious 63% most 12% glorious 7% abhá 7% effulgent 5% immortality 2% glory 2% brightest 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: lights gleaningsGWB §273: My glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §239: the brightest realities the-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glory will-and-testamentW&T §14: Abhá epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: splendor gleaningsGWB §30: the All-Glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §758: Thine all-glorious

ميشود

míshúd sh-w-d

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered عليها (ʿlíhá), از (iz), قلم (qlm), ابهی (ibhí), ظاهر (ẓáhr), ذکر (dhkr), ميشود (míshúd) as “be upon her, by, Pen, Abhá, revealed, quote”

affirm 14% bringeth 14% conscripted 14% now 14% shall 14% ascribed 14% will 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: is gleaningsGWB §368: is obliterated.…kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: will be kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: constitute prayers-and-meditationsP&M §704: forth the-hidden-wordsHW §130: shall in no wise will-and-testamentW&T §19: not be epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: made

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Fire Tablet

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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 ¶

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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 ¶

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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

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5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

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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

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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 ¶

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‘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 ¶