Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §58

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 58 of 268.

Source (Persian)

و در خزائن علوم الهی علمی موجود که عمل بان خوفرا زائل مينمايد و لکن علی قدر مقدور و ان ترتيبی است که بايد از ايّام طفوليّت بان عمل شود بسيار فرق مينمايد و انچه از ان بکاهد بر جراة ميافزايد * اگر اراده الهی مدد فرمايد شرح مبسوطی در انچه ذکر شد از قلم بيان جاری ميگردد و شايد در مراتب علوم و فنون هم ظاهر شود انچه که سبب تجديد عالم و امم گردد * و همچنين کلمه ای در صحيفه حمراء از قلم اعلی مرقوم و مسطور و ان کلمه قوّت مکنونه در عباد را بتمامها ظاهر فرمايد بلکه مثل ان بر ان بيفزايد * نسأل اللّه تبارک و تعالی ان يؤيّد عباده علی ما يحبّ و يرضی *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination. Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage. Should the Will of God assist Us, there would flow out from the Pen of the Divine Expounder a lengthy exposition of that which hath been mentioned, and there would be revealed, in the field of arts and sciences, what would renew the world and the nations. A word hath, likewise, been written down and recorded by the Pen of the Most High in the Crimson Book which is capable of fully disclosing that force which is hid in men, nay of redoubling its potency. We implore God - exalted and glorified be He - to graciously assist His servants to do that which is pleasing and acceptable unto Him.

Translation Notes

در

d-r-r → “In the”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

خزائن

kh-z-n → “treasuries”

literal: to store, to treasure; storehouse, depository, treasury

علوم

ʿ-l-m → “knowledge of God”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “Divine”

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

موجود

w-j-d → “being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

عمل

ʿ-m-l → “deeds”

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

بان

ʾ-n-n

literal: that; indeed; moment

خوفرا

kh-w-f → “fear”

literal: to fear; to be afraid; fear

زائل

z-w-l → “at all times” Distinctive

literal: to pass away; to vanish; to disappear; to cease

مينمايد

n-m-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

literal: to show, to display, to manifest, to exhibit; to manifest; to display; to show

لکن

l-k-n → “however”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

مقدور

q-d-r → “power” Distinctive

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

ان

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

است

b-w-d

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

بايد

b-y-d → “should”

literal: by hand; with hands; eternal; perpetual; everlasting

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

ايّام

y-w-m

literal: day; age; period; era; a day

طفوليّت

ṭ-f-l → “childhood”

literal: childhood; infancy

شود

sh-w-d

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

بسيار

b-s-r → “SON” Distinctive

literal: much; many; very; greatly

فرق

f-r-q → “separation” Distinctive

literal: faction; sect; group; company

بکاهد

k-h-d → “reduce”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

بر

b-r-r

literal: on; on, upon; upon

جراة

j-r-ʾ → “courage”

literal: boldness; daring; courage

ميافزايد

z-y-d → “increase”

literal: increase; excess; more; additional; to increase; to grow; to be added

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

اراده

r-w-d → “Will of God”

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

مدد

m-d-d → “ink” Distinctive

literal: extended; outstretched; sustained

فرمايد

f-r-m → “He” Distinctive

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

شرح

sh-r-ḥ → “dilated” Distinctive

literal: explanation; commentary; to explain; to open

مبسوطی

b-s-ṭ → “court” Distinctive

literal: carpet; mat; carpet of realm; expanse; table; surface

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mentioned”

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

شد

sh-d → “hath been”

literal: to become; to be

قلم

q-l-m → “Pen of the”

literal: pen; writing instrument

بيان

b-y-n → “utterance”

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident

جاری

j-r-y → “flow out” Distinctive

literal: trade; commerce; business; to flow; to run; to be in effect; flowing

ميگردد

g-r-d

literal: to become; to happen; to come to pass

شايد

sh-y-d

literal: perhaps, perchance, haply, maybe, possibly; to become; to be; to happen; to occur

مراتب

r-t-b → “station”

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

فنون

f-n-n → “Afnán” Distinctive

literal: twigs; branches

هم

h-m-m

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “revealed”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

سبب

s-b-b → “cause”

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

تجديد

j-d-d → “renew”

literal: to demolish, destroy, tear down

امم

ʾ-m-m → “nations”

literal: mother; to lead; to head; matter; affair; people; nation; community; female servant; handmaiden; umma

همچنين

ch-n-n → “likewise”

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

کلمه

k-l-m → “word”

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

ای

ʾ-y-y

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

صحيفه

ṣ-ḥ-f → “Book”

literal: pages; scriptures; book

حمراء

ḥ-m-r → “Crimson”

literal: to be red; to redden

اعلی

ʿ-l-w → “Most High”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

مرقوم

r-q-m → “written down”

literal: written; inscribed; marked; recorded

مسطور

s-ṭ-r → “recorded”

literal: written; inscribed; recorded

قوّت

q-w-t → “power”

literal: strength; power; might

مکنونه

k-n-n → “hid”

literal: to do; to make; to perform

عباد

ʿ-b-d → “men”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

بتمامها

t-m-m → “all” Distinctive

literal: most complete; to complete; perfect; fullness

بلکه

b-l-k → “nay”

literal: nay; but rather; on the contrary; but

مثل

m-th-l

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

بيفزايد

f-z-y → “kindleth”

literal: to increase; increase

نسأل

s-ʾ-l → “implore” Distinctive

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

تبارک

b-r-k → “blessed”

literal: blessed; auspicious; fruitful; blest; blessed word

يؤيّد

ʾ-y-d → “assist”

literal: support; strengthen; assist

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

يحبّ

ḥ-b-b → “pleasing”

literal: love; affection

يرضی

r-ḍ-y → “Thy pleasure”

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

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 ¶