Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §244

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 244 of 268.

Source (Persian)

هر جا اين مظلوم رفت ميرزا يحيی از عقب امد خود تو گواهی و ميدانی که انچه ذکر شد صدقست و لکن در سرّ سيّد اصفهانی او را اغوا نمود و عمل نمودند انچه را که سبب فزع اکبر شد * ايکاش از مامورين دولت سؤال مينموديد عمل ميرزا يحيی را در ان ارض * از همه گذشته اقسمک باللّه الفرد الواحد المقتدر القدير که در نوشتجاتی که باسم او نزد نقطه اولی رفته ملاحظه نما تا آثار حقّ را بمثابه افتاب ممتاز مشاهده نمائی * و همچنين از کلمات نقطه بيان روح ما سواه فداه ظاهر شده انچه که هيچ ستری ان را منع ننمايد و سبحات جلال و حجبات اهل ضلال ان را از ظهور باز ندارد * قد خرقت الاحجاب من اصبع ارادة ربّک القویّ الغالب القدير * بلی مفترين و مغلّين را چاره نبوده و نيست * چندی قبل مذکور شد کتاب ايقان و بعضی از الواح را نسبت بغير داده ای لعمر اللّه هذا ظلم عظيم * غير از ادراک ان عاجز است تا چه رسد بتنزيل ان *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Wherever this Wronged One went Mírzá Yaḥyá followed Him. Thou art thyself a witness and well knowest that whatever hath been said is the truth. The Siyyid of Iṣfahán, however, surreptitiously duped him. They committed that which caused the greatest consternation. Would that thou wouldst inquire from the officials of the government concerning the conduct of Mírzá Yaḥyá in that land. Aside from all this, I adjure thee by God, the One, the Incomparable, the Lord of Strength, the Most Powerful, to carefully look into the communications addressed in his name to the Primal Point, that thou mayest behold the evidences of Him Who is the Truth as clear as the sun. Likewise, there proceeded from the words of the Point of the Bayán - may the souls of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake - that which no veil can obscure, and which neither the veils of glory nor the veils interposed by such as have gone astray can hide. The veils have, verily, been rent asunder by the finger of the will of thy Lord, the Strong, the All-Subduing, the All-Powerful. Yea, desperate is the state of such as have calumniated Me and envied Me. Not long ago it was stated that thou hadst ascribed the authorship of the Kitáb-i-Íqán and of other Tablets unto others. I swear by God! This is a grievous injustice. Others are incapable of apprehending their meaning, how much more of revealing them!

Translation Notes

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

جا

j-ʾ-y → “unto” Distinctive

literal: place

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this”

literal: this; these

مظلوم

ẓ-l-m → “Wronged One”

literal: wrongedness, oppression, meekness; state of being wronged or oppressed

رفت

r-f-t → “fled”

literal: to go; to pass; to have gone

يحيی

ḥ-y-y → “life” Distinctive

literal: life; living; shame

از

ʾ-z → “from”

literal: from

عقب

ʿ-q-b → “retribution” Distinctive

literal: outcome; end; result; consequence

امد

ʾ-m-d

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

خود

kh-w-d → “their own”

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

تو

t-w-w → “thou”

literal: you

گواهی

sh-h-d → “witness”

literal: promised; the Promised One

ميدانی

d-ʾ-n → “knowest”

literal: this world; earthly life; temporal realm; lowest; base; mean; of little account; to know; to be acquainted with

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

انچه

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

شد

sh-d → “hath been”

literal: to become; to be

صدقست

ṣ-d-q → “is the truth”

literal: to confirm; to verify; to acknowledge; to testify to truth

لکن

l-k-n → “however”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

سرّ

s-r-r

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

سيّد

s-y-d → “Siyyid”

literal: master; lord; chief; my master

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

اغوا

gh-w-y → “plainly a most depraved” Distinctive

literal: to seduce; to tempt; to deceive; to lead astray; to beguile

نمود

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

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

عمل

ʿ-m-l → “conduct” Distinctive

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

نمودند

n-m-ود → “hath” Distinctive

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

سبب

s-b-b → “caused”

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

فزع

f-z-ʿ → “caused”

literal: to fear; to be terrified; terror, fright

اکبر

k-b-r → “grandeur” Distinctive

literal: liver; soul; essence

مامورين

ʾ-m-r → “Cause” Distinctive

literal: appointed; commissioned; officer; official

دولت

d-w-l → “of the government”

literal: state; government; dynasty; period of rule; dominion

سؤال

s-ʾ-l → “I implore Thee” Distinctive

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

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

همه

h-m-h → “all this”

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

گذشته

g-dh-r

literal: to leave; to pass; to abandon

اقسمک

q-s-m → “adjure”

literal: oath; division; kind; type

باللّه

ʾ-l-h → “by God”

literal: supplication; earnest entreaty; imploring

الفرد

f-r-d → “One, the Incomparable”

literal: unique; singular; incomparable

الواحد

w-ḥ-d

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

المقتدر

q-d-r → “the Lord of Strength” Distinctive

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

نوشتجاتی

n-w-sh → “drunk” Distinctive

literal: writings; epistles

باسم

s-m-w → “in his name”

literal: harm; strength; blame; hardship, adversity, tribulation, distress

نزد

n-z-d → “to”

literal: near; beside; with; in the presence of

نقطه

n-q-ṭ → “Primal Point”

literal: point; dot; spot; region; area

اولی

ʾ-w-l

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

ملاحظه

l-ḥ-ẓ → “Consider”

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

تا

t-y-y

literal: so that/until

آثار

ʾ-th-r → “signs”

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “Him Who is the Truth”

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

بمثابه

m-th-l → “as”

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

افتاب

ʾ-f-t-ʾ-b → “Day-Star”

literal: horizon, direction, region; horizon; sun

ممتاز

m-y-z

literal: distinguished; excellent; outstanding

همچنين

ch-n-n → “Likewise”

literal: always; ever; forever; at all times; constantly

کلمات

k-l-m → “words”

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

بيان

b-y-n → “of the Bayán” Distinctive

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

روح

r-w-ḥ → “souls” Distinctive

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

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

سواه

s-w-y

literal: other than; other-than; besides

فداه

f-d-y → “sacrificed” Distinctive

literal: alas; woe; oh

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “proceeded” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

هيچ

h-y-ch → “any”

literal: nothing; any; not a single

ستری

s-t-r → “hidden”

literal: to veil; to conceal; to cover; veil; covering

منع

m-n-ʿ → “hinder”

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

سبحات

s-b-ḥ → “veils”

literal: glorified; the All-Praised; exalted; dawn; daybreak; morning

جلال

j-l-l → “glory”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

حجبات

ḥ-j-b → “veils”

literal: to veil oneself, to be veiled

اهل

ʾ-h-l → “people”

literal: people; inhabitants; family; kin; worthy; deserving; my family; my people; my kin

ضلال

ḍ-l-l → “have gone astray” Distinctive

literal: error; straying; misguidance; delusion; falsehood

باز

b-ʾ-z

literal: back; open; back, open

ندارد

d-ʾ-r → “repository” Distinctive

literal: below; lower than; beneath

قد

q-d → “We have been”

literal: verily; indeed; certainly (particle of emphasis)

خرقت

kh-r-q → “rent asunder”

literal: miracle; extraordinary occurrence; to tear; to breach

من

m-n → “by” Distinctive

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

اصبع

ṣ-b-ʿ → “finger”

literal: finger; digit

ارادة

r-w-d → “will”

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

ربّک

r-b-b → “thy Lord”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

القویّ

q-w-y → “power”

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

الغالب

gh-l-b → “All-Subduing”

literal: to overcome, overpower, vanquish, prevail

بلی

b-l-y → “Yea”

literal: affliction; trial; calamity; trial, tribulation, affliction, calamity; yes; indeed; verily

مفترين

f-r-y

literal: calumny; slander; calumnies

مغلّين

gh-l-l

literal: one who envies; envious; malicious

چاره

ch-r-h → “remedy”

literal: remedy; cure; solution; means; way

نبوده

b-w-d → “was”

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

چندی

ch-n-d → “while”

literal: some; several; a few; how many

قبل

q-b-l

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

مذکور

dh-k-r → “stated” Distinctive

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

کتاب

k-t-b → “of the Kitáb-i-Íqán” Distinctive

literal: book; scripture; writing

ايقان

y-q-n

literal: certainty; certitude; conviction; faith

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ

literal: part; some; portion

الواح

l-w-ḥ

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

نسبت

n-s-b → “ascribed”

literal: relation; relationship; connection; attribution; proportion

بغير

gh-y-r → “other”

literal: without; besides; other than; except; other; different

داده

d-ʾ-d

literal: give; to give; given

ای

ʾ-y-y

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

لعمر

ʿ-m-r → “I swear by God”

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

هذا

h-dh-ʾ → “This”

literal: this; that

عظيم

ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

ادراک

d-r-k → “apprehending”

literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend

عاجز

ʿ-j-z → “powerlessness”

literal: to be unable; to fail; to be exhausted; impotence; أعجاز (roots of trees/extremities) is Pattern II plural, distinct from ‘inability’ forms

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

رسد

r-s-d

literal: Persian verb رسیدن (to arrive/reach), not Arabic ر-س-د

بتنزيل

n-z-l → “revealing”

literal: to descend, to be revealed

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 ¶