Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §49

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 49 of 268.

Source (Persian)

فی الحقيقه کنز حقيقی از برای انسان علم اوست و اوست علّت عزّت و نعمت و فرح و نشاط و بهجت و انبساط * طوبی لمن تمسّک به و ويل للغافلين *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him. Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless.

Translation Notes

الحقيقه

al-ḥqíqh ḥ-q-q → “truth”

literal: truth; true

reality 30% truth 17% truly 13% fact 13% verily 9% unquestionably 4% true 4% inmost 4% assuredly 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: of God gleaningsGWB §113: true meaning kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: real kitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: confined prayers-and-meditationsP&M §106: about Whom the-hidden-wordsHW §92: mysteries will-and-testamentW&T §27: a fixed money offering (Ḥuqúq)epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: for a serious end

کنز

knz k-n-z → “treasure”

literal: treasure; treasures

treasury 33% treasure 24% treasured 14% treasures 10% all 5% gem 5% obtaining 5% enshrined 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: treasury gleaningsGWB §52: Gem kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: depositories prayers-and-meditationsP&M §640: enshrined the-hidden-wordsHW §117: HANDMAID epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: treasures gleaningsGWB §305: treasured prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: the treasuries

انسان

insán ʾ-n-s → “man”

literal: human; man

man 85% men 5% human 2% all 1% unto 1% soul 1% man’s 1% “man 1% mortal 1% two 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: The companions gleaningsGWB §552: fellowman kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: eternal reunion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: of Thy fellowship the-hidden-wordsHW §133: commune will-and-testamentW&T §42: plotted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: man gleaningsGWB §69: and My companion

اوست

iwst h-s-t → “am” Distinctive

literal: are; be; is

This form usually rendered as “source” (10 occurrences)

am 18% still 9% into 9% ye 9% source 9% existence 9% hath 9% destitute 9% have 9% neither 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: Ye are gleaningsGWB §100: am kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: He is epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: are gleaningsGWB §126: hath ever been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: not epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: a source gleaningsGWB §93: They are

علّت

ʿllt ʿ-l-l → “of”

literal: cause; reason

SE rendered برای (bráy), انسان (insán), علم (ʿlm), اوست (iwst), اوست (iwst), علّت (ʿllt), عزّت (ʿzzt), نعمت (nʿmt), فرح (frḥ), نشاط (nsháṭ) as “for, man, knowledge, a source, of, glory, bounty, joy, exaltation”

cause 23% motive 14% source 14% caused 9% instrument 9% reason 9% cannot 9% acted 5% what 5% causeth 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: motive gleaningsGWB §300: having caused kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: promoting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: criterions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: sick the-hidden-wordsHW §107: ills epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: instrument gleaningsGWB §312: by a cause

عزّت

ʿzzt ʿ-z-z → “glory”

literal: mighty; glory; might

glory 75% might 7% sovereignty 4% exaltation 4% honor 4% influence 4% magnificence 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the power of Thy might gleaningsGWB §374: and exalted be His glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §337: infinite tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendor will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: precious in my estimation

نعمت

nʿmt n-ʿ-m → “bounty”

literal: blessing; bounty; favor

bounty 23% precious 15% welfare 8% prosperity 8% favors 8% gifts 8% highest 8% token 8% blessing 8% gift 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: bounty gleaningsGWB §673: token of His grace kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: like unto the brutes prayers-and-meditationsP&M §467: Thy bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §160: the divine favor epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: great is his blessedness gleaningsGWB §389: favors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: blessing

فرح

frḥ f-r-ḥ → “joy”

literal: joy; joy, gladness

joy 55% joys 9% delight 9% gladness 9% fountain 9% happiness 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: with joy fire-tabletFire §12: Delight gleaningsGWB §594: a joy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: gladness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: are cheered will-and-testamentW&T §57: happiness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: joys of gleaningsGWB §666: Our heart will assuredly rejoice

نشاط

nsháṭ n-sh-ṭ → “exaltation”

literal: exaltation; joy, ecstasy

exaltation 50% ecstasy 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: exaltation the-hidden-wordsHW §147: ecstasy

بهجت

bhjt b-h-j → “joy” Distinctive

literal: gladness; rejoice; rejoicing

This form usually rendered as “cheer” (1 occurrences)

joy 20% all-glorious 13% rejoice 13% gladness 13% cheer 7% blissfulness 7% blissful 7% undying 7% delight 7% increased 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: All-Glorious fire-tabletFire §13: gladness gleaningsGWB §46: blissfulness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: undying Fire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §652: gladden the-hidden-wordsHW §76: most effulgent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: cheer gleaningsGWB §46: Blissful

انبساط

inbsáṭ b-s-ṭ → “gladness”

literal: carpet; extended; carpet, expanse

gladness 75% shall 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: detailed gleaningsGWB §279: the pomp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: unfolded prayers-and-meditationsP&M §106: stretched out the-hidden-wordsHW §147: the domain epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: and gladness gleaningsGWB §660: spread out kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: thy bed

طوبی

ṭúbí ṭ-w-b → “happy”

literal: blessed; blessedness; blessedness, happiness

blessed 39% happy 27% well 16% great 8% how 3% blessedness 2% “blessed 2% rejoice 2% “great 2% “great 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: Well is it gleaningsGWB §432: How great the felicity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: of Blessedness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §301: Great is his blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Blessed gleaningsGWB §639: Great is the blessedness awaiting thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §138: “Great is the blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: Blessed are

تمسّک

tmssk m-s-k → “cleaveth”

literal: clinging; hold fast; cling

cleave 30% clung 21% cling 10% cleaveth 8% hold 8% take 7% lay 5% clinging 5% have 3% seized 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §39: cleaveth fast unto gleaningsGWB §227: fixeth his heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §188: musk prayers-and-meditationsP&M §675: I am but a wretched creature tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: Launch epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: cleave gleaningsGWB §655: the fragrance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: We cleave

ويل

wíl w-y-l → “woe”

literal: woe; woe, calamity; woe, destruction

woe 94% ‘woe 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: woe betide him gleaningsGWB §297: Woe be to you!kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: ‘Woe betide kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: bewail prayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: and woe betide will-and-testamentW&T §4: tumult epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: Woe betide thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: “Woe

للغافلين

llgháflín gh-f-l → “heedless”

literal: heedless; heedlessness

heedless 39% wayward 25% have 8% unaware 6% erring 6% gone 6% strayed 3% still 3% who 3% live 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: wholly unaware gleaningsGWB §362: ignoring kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: How oblivious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §855: and banish the-hidden-wordsHW §104: neglect epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: are unaware gleaningsGWB §281: and still ye slumber

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Fire Tablet

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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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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 ¶

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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 ¶

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Prayers and Meditations

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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 ¶

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Tablet of Aḥmad

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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 ¶

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5 ¶

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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 ¶

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The Hidden Words

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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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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 ¶