Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §7

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 7 of 268.

Source (Persian)

ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ ای ربّ اشهد بظلمی سقطت اثمار سدرة عدلک و بنار عصيانی احترقت افئدة المقرّبين من خلقک و ذابت اکباد المخلصين من عبادک فآه آه من شقوتي فآه آه من ظلمی فآه آه من بعدی و غفلتی و جهلی و ذلّتی و اعراضی و اعتراضی * کم من ايّام فيها امرت عبادک و اولياءک علی حفظی و انّی امرتهم بضرّک و ضرّ امنائک و کم من ليال فيها ذکرتنی بفضلک و دللتنی الی صراطک و انّی اعرضت عنک و عن آياتک * و عزّتک يا امل الموحّدين و رجاء افئدة المنقطعين لا اجد لنفسی دونک معينا و لا سواک سلطانا و لا ملجا و لا ملاذا فآه آه اعراضی احرق ستر عصمتی و اعتراضی شقّ حجاب حرمتی * يا ليت کنت تحت اطباق التّراب و ما ظهر سوء اعمالی بين عبادک * ای ربّ تری العاصی اقبل الی مطلع عفوک و عطائک و جبل الظّلم اراد سماء رحمتک و غفرانک فآه آه جريراتی العظمی منعتنی عن التّقرّب الی بساط رحمتک و خطيئاتي الکبری ابعدتنی عن ساحة قربک انا الّذی فرّطت فی جنبک و نقضت عهدک و ميثاقک و ارتکبت ما ناح به سکّان مدائن عدلک و مطالع فضلک فی بلادک * اشهد يا الهی انّی ترکت اوامرک و اخذت اوامر نفسی و نبذت احکام کتابک و اخذت کتاب هوای فآه آه کلّما زادت شقوتی زاد حلمک و کلّما اشتعلت نار عصيانی سترها عفوک و فضلک و عزّتک يا مقصود العالم و محبوب الامم صبرک غرّنی و اصطبارک شجّعنی تری يا الهی عبراتی من خجلتی و زفراتی من غفلتی و عظمتک لا اجد لنفسی مقرّا الّا ظلّ بساط کرمک و لا مهربا الّا تحت قباب رحمتک تراني فی بحر الياس و القنوط بعد ما اسمعتنی کلمة لا تقنطوا و عزّتک ظلمی قطع حبل املی و عصيانی سوّد وجهی امام کرسيّ عدلک * ای ربّ تری الميّت مطروحا لدی باب عطائک و يستحيی ان يطلب کوثر عفوک من يد فضلک * قد اعطيتنی لسانا لذکرک و ثنائک و انّه نطق بما ذابت به اکباد المقرّبين من اصفيائک و احترقت افئدة المخلصين من اهل حظائر قدسک و اعطيتنی بصرا لمشاهدة اثارک و ملاحظة آياتک و مظاهر صنعک و انّی نبذت ارادتک و عملت ما ناح به المخلصون من خلقک و المنقطعون من عبادک و اعطيتنی سمعا لاسمع به ذکرک و ثناءک و ما انزلته من سماء کرمک و هواء ارادتک فآه آه انّی ترکت امرک و امرت عبادک بسبّ امنائک و اوليائک و عملت امام کرسیّ عدلک ما ارتفعت به زفرات الموحّدين و المخلصين من اهل مملکتک * لم ادر يا الهی ایّ عصيانی اذکره تلقاء امواج بحر جودک و ايّ خطائی انطق به عند تجلّيات انوار شموس مواهبک و الطافک

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O Lord, my Lord! and again, O Lord, my Lord! and yet again, O Lord, my Lord! I bear witness that by reason of mine iniquity the fruits of the tree of Thy justice have fallen, and through the fire of my rebelliousness the hearts of such of Thy creatures as enjoy near access to Thee were consumed, and the souls of the sincere among Thy servants have melted. O wretched, wretched that I am! O the cruelties, the glaring cruelties, I inflicted! Woe is me, woe is me, for my remoteness from Thee, and for my waywardness, and mine ignorance, and my baseness, and my repudiation of Thee, and my protests against Thee! How many the days during which Thou didst bid Thy servants and Thy loved ones to protect me, whilst I commanded them to harm Thee and to harm them that Thou didst trust! And how numerous the nights during which Thou didst graciously remember me, and didst show me Thy path, whilst I turned away from Thee and from Thy signs! By Thy glory! O Thou Who art the Hope of such as have acknowledged Thy unity, and the Desire of the hearts of them that are rid of all attachment to any save Thee! I find no succorer except Thee, nor king, nor refuge, nor haven besides Thyself. Alas, alas! My turning away from Thee hath burnt up the veil of mine integrity, and my denial of Thee hath rent asunder the covering cast over mine honor. O would that I were beneath the depths of the earth, so that my evil deeds would remain unknown to Thy servants! Thou seest the sinner, O my Lord, who hath turned towards the dawning-place of Thy forgiveness and Thy bounty, and the mountain of iniquity that hath sought the heaven of Thy mercy and pardon. Alas, alas! My mighty sins have prevented me from approaching the court of Thy mercy, and my monstrous deeds have caused me to stray far from the sanctuary of Thy presence. Indeed, I am he that hath failed in duty towards Thee, and hath broken Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, and committed that which hath made the dwellers of the cities of Thy justice, and the dawning-places of Thy grace in Thy realms, to lament. I testify, O my God, that I have put away Thy commandments, and clung to the dictates of my passions, and have cast away the statutes of Thy Book, and seized the book of mine own desire. O misery, misery! As mine iniquities waxed greater and greater, Thy forbearance towards me augmented, and as the fire of my rebelliousness grew fiercer, the more did Thy forgiveness and Thy grace seek to smother up its flame. By the power of Thy might! O Thou Who art the desire of the world and the Best-Beloved of the nations! Thy long-suffering hath puffed me up, and Thy patience hath emboldened me. Thou beholdest, O my God, the tears that my shame have caused to flow, and the sighs which my heedlessness have led me to utter. I swear by the greatness of Thy majesty! I can find for myself no habitation save beneath the shadow of the court of Thy bounty, nor any refuge except under the canopy of Thy mercy. Thou seest me in the midst of a sea of despair and of hopelessness, after Thou didst cause me to hear Thy words "Despair not." By Thy power! My sore injustice hath severed the cord of my hope, and my rebellion hath darkened my face before the throne of Thy justice. Thou beholdest, O my God, him who is as one dead fallen at the door of Thy favor, ashamed to seek from the hand of Thy loving-kindness the living waters of Thy pardon. Thou hast given me a tongue wherewith to remember and praise Thee, and yet it uttereth that which hath caused the souls of such of Thy chosen ones as are nigh unto Thee to melt, and the hearts of the sincere amongst the dwellers of the habitations of holiness to be consumed. Thou hast given me eyes to witness Thy signs, and to behold Thy verses, and to contemplate the revelations of Thine handiwork, but I have rejected Thy will, and have committed what hath caused the faithful among Thy creatures and the detached amidst Thy servants to groan. Thou hast given me ears that I may incline them unto Thy praise and Thy celebration, and unto that which Thou didst send down from the heaven of Thy bounty and the firmament of Thy will. And yet, alas, alas, I have forsaken Thy Cause, and have commanded Thy servants to blaspheme against Thy trusted ones and Thy loved ones, and have acted, before the throne of Thy justice, in such wise that those that have recognized Thy unity and are wholly devoted to Thee among the dwellers of Thy realm mourned with a sore lamentation. I know not, O my God, which among my evil doings to mention before the billowing ocean of Thy favor, nor which of my trespasses to declare when face to face with the splendors of the suns of Thy goodly gifts and bounties.

Translation Notes

ای

ʾ-y-y → “O”

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

ربّ

r-b-b → “Lord”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

اشهد

sh-h-d → “I bear witness”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

بظلمی

ẓ-l-m → “by reason of mine iniquity”

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

سقطت

s-q-ṭ → “have fallen”

literal: dropping; omitting; falsifying; interpolating

اثمار

th-m-r → “fruits of the tree of Thy justice”

literal: fruit; the fruit

سدرة

s-d-r → “fruits of the tree of Thy justice”

literal: lote-tree; divine tree

عدلک

ʿ-d-l → “fruits of the tree of Thy justice”

literal: justice; equity

بنار

n-ʾ-r → “through the fire of my rebelliousness”

literal: light; illumination

عصيانی

ʿ-ṣ-y → “rebellion” Distinctive

literal: disobey; transgress; rebel

احترقت

ḥ-r-q → “were consumed”

literal: to burn; to be consumed by fire; burning

افئدة

f-ʾ-d → “hearts”

literal: heart, innermost soul, mind; heart; inner consciousness; mind; one who benefits; advantageous

المقرّبين

q-r-b → “as enjoy near access to Thee”

literal: place of sacrifice; altar

من

m-n → “from”

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

خلقک

kh-l-q → “Thy creatures”

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

ذابت

dh-w-b → “have melted”

literal: to melt; to waste away

اکباد

k-b-d → “souls of the sincere among Thy servants” Distinctive

literal: liver; soul; essence

المخلصين

kh-l-ṣ → “souls of the sincere among Thy servants”

literal: sincere; devoted; pure one

عبادک

ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

فآه

ʾ-w-h → “Alas, alas”

literal: alas; woe; oh

آه

ʾ-h → “Alas”

literal: alas

شقوتي

sh-q-y → “wicked doers” Distinctive

literal: wretchedness; misery; ill-fortune

بعدی

b-ʿ-d → “far” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

غفلتی

gh-f-l → “for my waywardness”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

جهلی

j-h-l → “mine ignorance”

literal: ignorant; foolish; the ignorant ones

ذلّتی

dh-l-l → “abasement”

literal: for us; to us

اعراضی

ʿ-r-ḍ → “my repudiation”

literal: to turn away; to avert; to abstain; heedless

کم

k-m-m → “How many”

literal: how many

ايّام

y-w-m → “days”

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

فيها

f-y → “in”

literal: in it; in them

امرت

ʾ-m-r → “didst bid” Distinctive

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

اولياءک

w-l-y → “Thy loved ones”

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

علی

ʿ-l-w → “to”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

حفظی

ḥ-f-ẓ → “protect me”

literal: guardian; preserver; keeper

انّی

ʾ-n-n → “I”

literal: I, verily; behold I

بضرّک

ḍ-r-r → “to harm Thee”

literal: harm; hardship; affliction

امنائک

ʾ-m-n → “trustworthy” Distinctive

literal: to believe; to have faith; to be secure; trust; trustworthiness; covenant; deposit; believer, faithful

ليال

l-y-l → “nights”

literal: night; nights; the nights

ذکرتنی

dh-k-r → “graciously remember me”

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

بفضلک

f-ḍ-l → “bounty” Distinctive

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

دللتنی

d-l-l → “proof” Distinctive

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

الی

ʾ-l-y

literal: to; to, toward; to, until

صراطک

ṣ-r-ṭ → “Thy path”

literal: path, way, straight path

عنک

ʿ-n → “from Thee” Distinctive

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

آياتک

ʾ-y-y → “Thy signs”

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

عزّتک

ʿ-z-z → “Thy glory”

literal: seclusion; retreat; to seclude oneself

يا

y-ʾ → “O ye”

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

امل

ʾ-m-l → “desire”

literal: hope; expectation; aspiration; desire; wish; to hope; to wish

الموحّدين

w-ḥ-d → “have acknowledged Thy unity”

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

رجاء

r-j-w → “Desire”

literal: hope; expectation

المنقطعين

q-ṭ-ʿ → “them that are rid of all attachment to any save Thee”

literal: to be severed; to be cut off; to detach oneself; to abstain

لا

l-ʾ → “no”

literal: no; not; negation particle

اجد

w-j-d → “find”

literal: creation; bringing into existence

دونک

d-w-n → “except Thee”

literal: below; lower than; beneath

معينا

ʿ-w-n → “aid” Distinctive

literal: help; aid; helper; supporter

سواک

s-w-y → “besides Thyself” Distinctive

literal: other than; besides; except; equal; alike

سلطانا

s-l-ṭ → “king”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

ملجا

l-j-ʾ → “refuge”

literal: refuge; shelter; place of asylum

ملاذا

l-w-dh → “my Refuge”

literal: refuge; shelter; asylum

ستر

s-t-r → “veil of mine integrity”

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

عصمتی

ʿ-ṣ-m → “protection” Distinctive

literal: immaculate; protected; infallible

شقّ

sh-q-q → “discord” Distinctive

literal: to cleave; to split; to crack open

حجاب

ḥ-j-b → “veils”

literal: to veil oneself, to be veiled

حرمتی

ḥ-r-m → “deprived” Distinctive

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

ليت

l-y-t → “would”

literal: would that; oh that; expressing a wish

کنت

k-w-n → “I were” Distinctive

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

تحت

t-ḥ-t → “beneath”

literal: under; under, beneath; beneath

اطباق

ṭ-b-q → “conform” Distinctive

literal: layer; stratum; to fold; to accord

التّراب

t-r-b → “depths of the earth”

literal: dust; earth; soil

ما

m-ʾ → “so” Distinctive

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

ظهر

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

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

سوء

s-w-ʾ → “evil deeds”

literal: worst; evil; bad; other than; besides; save; except

اعمالی

ʿ-m-l → “evil deeds”

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

بين

b-y-n

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

تری

r-ʾ-y → “Thou seest”

literal: to see; to perceive; to look; to see, to observe, to behold; to view; vision; dream; sight; ل is prefix; verb تری (you see) is from ر-ا-ي

اقبل

q-b-l → “hath turned towards”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

مطلع

ṭ-l-ʿ → “dawning-place of Thy forgiveness”

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

عفوک

ʿ-f-w → “dawning-place of Thy forgiveness”

literal: to pardon; to efface; to forgive

عطائک

ʿ-ṭ-w → “bounty”

literal: the letter Ṭá; refers to Ṭihrán (also spelled Ṭehran)

جبل

j-b-l → “mountain of iniquity”

literal: mountain; nature, constitution; to create, to form

اراد

r-y-d → “hath sought”

literal: to will, to intend, to wish, to desire; to want; to intend; to desire

سماء

s-m-w → “heaven of Thy mercy”

literal: heaven; sky

رحمتک

r-ḥ-m → “heaven of Thy mercy”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

غفرانک

gh-f-r → “pardon”

literal: to forgive; forgiveness

جريراتی

j-r-r → “mighty sins”

literal: sin; transgression; crime; that which is drawn or dragged

منعتنی

m-n-ʿ → “have prevented me” Distinctive

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

بساط

b-s-ṭ → “court of Thy mercy”

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

خطيئاتي

kh-ṭ-ʾ → “sins”

literal: sin; error; errors

الکبری

k-b-r

literal: great; grand; mighty; large; greatness; majesty; sovereignty; arrogance

ساحة

s-w-ḥ → “court”

literal: court; plaza; courtyard; open space; domain; presence

انا

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

الّذی

l-dh-y

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

فرّطت

f-r-ṭ → “hath failed in duty towards Thee”

literal: neglect; excess; you neglected

جنبک

j-n-b → “Thee”

literal: to avoid; to shun; to keep away from

نقضت

n-q-ḍ → “hath broken”

literal: break; violation; breaking

عهدک

ʿ-h-d → “Covenant and Thy Testament”

literal: covenant; testament; promise; command

ميثاقک

w-th-q → “Covenant and Thy Testament”

literal: covenant; testament; bond

ارتکبت

r-k-b → “committed that”

literal: to ride; to commit; to undertake; composition; combination; structure

ناح

n-w-ḥ → “groan” Distinctive

literal: to wail; to lament; lamentation

به

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

سکّان

s-k-n → “inmates”

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

مدائن

m-d-n → “cities of Thy justice”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

بلادک

b-l-d → “city” Distinctive

literal: city; land; country

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “my God”

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

ترکت

t-r-k → “renounce” Distinctive

literal: leave; leave/abandon; abandon

اخذت

ʾ-kh-dh → “laid hold”

literal: to take; to seize; to affect; to grasp

اوامر

ʾ-m-r → “Cause” Distinctive

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

نفسی

n-f-s → “dictates of my passions” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

نبذت

n-b-dh → “have cast away the”

literal: to cast; to reject; to abandon; to throw away

احکام

ḥ-k-m → “wisdom” Distinctive

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom; firm; solid; strengthened

کتابک

k-t-b → “statutes of Thy Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

هوای

h-w-y → “book of mine own desire”

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

کلّما

k-l-l → “all” Distinctive

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

زادت

z-y-d → “waxed greater and greater”

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

حلمک

ḥ-l-m → “forbearance”

literal: forbearance; clemency; dream

اشتعلت

sh-ʿ-l → “kindled”

literal: to kindle, burn, be inflamed; to blaze

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “desire of the world”

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

العالم

ʿ-l-m → “desire of the world”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

محبوب

ḥ-b-b → “Best-Beloved of the nations”

literal: love; affection

الامم

ʾ-m-m → “Best-Beloved of the nations”

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

صبرک

ṣ-b-r → “Thy long-suffering”

literal: patience; forbearance; endurance; to be patient

غرّنی

gh-r-r → “pride” Distinctive

literal: vanity; delusion; pride

شجّعنی

sh-j-ʿ → “hath emboldened me”

literal: to embolden; to encourage; to make brave

عبراتی

ʿ-b-r → “tears that my shame have caused to flow”

literal: expression; phrase; utterance; statement; passage; wording

خجلتی

kh-j-l

literal: shame; embarrassment; disgrace

زفراتی

z-f-r → “sighs which my heedlessness have led me to utter”

literal: sigh; sob; lamentation

عظمتک

ʿ-ẓ-m → “swear by the greatness of Thy majesty”

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

مقرّا

q-r-r → “habitation”

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

الّا

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

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

ظلّ

ẓ-l-l → “shadow of the court of Thy bounty”

literal: to take shelter; to dwell in shadow

کرمک

k-r-m → “shadow of the court of Thy bounty”

literal: Carmel (Mount Carmel); vineyard, fruitful field; honor; generosity; nobility

مهربا

h-r-b → “refuge”

literal: kindness, affection, clemency; kind, compassionate

قباب

q-b-b → “canopy of Thy mercy”

literal: canopy; dome; tent; pavilion

بحر

b-ḥ-r → “sea of despair and of hopelessness” Distinctive

literal: sea; ocean

الياس

y-ʾ-s → “despair”

literal: despair; to despair; hopeless; to lose hope; hopelessness

اسمعتنی

s-m-ʿ → “didst cause me to hear”

literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention

کلمة

k-l-m → “Thy words “Despair not”

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

تقنطوا

q-n-ṭ → “.” By”

literal: despair; loss of hope; hopelessness

حبل

ḥ-b-l → “cord of my hope”

literal: cord; rope; bond; connection

املی

ʾ-m-l → “cord of my hope”

literal: hope; expectation; aspiration; desire; wish; to hope; to wish

سوّد

s-w-d

literal: blackened; dark; tranquil; at peace; undisturbed

وجهی

w-j-h → “my face”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

امام

ʾ-m-m → “before”

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

کرسيّ

k-r-s → “seat”

literal: throne, seat; chair

الميّت

m-w-t → “him who is as one dead fallen”

literal: death; dead; to die

مطروحا

ṭ-r-ḥ

literal: prostrate; thrown down; helpless

لدی

l-d-y → “at”

literal: with; in the presence of; from; by

باب

b-w-b → “door of Thy favor”

literal: door; gate; chapter; way; manner

يستحيی

ḥ-y-y → “ashamed”

literal: greeting; salutation; tribute; to make alive; to revive

يطلب

ṭ-l-b → “seek”

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

کوثر

k-w-th-r → “living waters of Thy pardon” Distinctive

literal: abundance; river of paradise; the Kawthar

يد

y-d-y → “hand of Thy loving-kindness”

literal: hand; power; strength; (plural) hands; agents; helpers; to assist, to support, to aid, to strengthen

قد

q-d

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

اعطيتنی

ʿ-ṭ-y → “of Thy bounty” Distinctive

literal: bounty; gift; bestowal; grace; bountifulness

لسانا

l-s-n → “tongue”

literal: tongue; language

انّه

ʾ-n-n

literal: I, verily; behold I

نطق

n-ṭ-q → “spoken”

literal: to speak; to utter; to pronounce; to articulate

اصفيائک

ṣ-f-w → “chosen ones”

literal: pure one; chosen one; selected one; elite; purity; clarity; sincerity; pure; sincere

اهل

ʾ-h-l → “people”

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

حظائر

ḥ-ẓ-r → “dwellers of the habitations of holiness”

literal: enclosure; enclosures; courts

قدسک

q-d-s → “dwellers of the habitations of holiness”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

بصرا

b-ṣ-r → “eyes”

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

اثارک

ʾ-th-r → “witness Thy signs”

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

ملاحظة

l-ḥ-ẓ → “behold Thy verses” Distinctive

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

صنعک

ṣ-n-ʿ → “revelations of Thine handiwork”

literal: fashioning; making; creation; artifice

ارادتک

r-w-d → “Thy will”

literal: will; want; desire

ثناءک

th-n-y → “praise” Distinctive

literal: praise; commendation; eulogy; glorification; praise, commendation, eulogy

انزلته

n-z-l → “send down” Distinctive

literal: to descend, to be revealed

هواء

h-w-y → “desires” Distinctive

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

بسبّ

s-b-b → “cause” Distinctive

literal: cause; cause, reason; means

ارتفعت

r-f-ʿ → “raised”

literal: to be raised, elevated, exalted, lifted up

مملکتک

m-l-k → “among the dwellers of Thy realm”

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty; possessions; property; ownership

لم

l-y-s

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

ادر

d-r-y → “know not”

literal: know; in; sea

تلقاء

l-q-y → “before”

literal: opposite; facing; in front of; towards

امواج

m-w-j → “billowing ocean of Thy favor”

literal: wave; billows; surge

جودک

j-w-d → “billowing ocean of Thy favor” Distinctive

literal: generosity; bounty; liberality

خطائی

kh-ṭ-ʾ → “my trespasses”

literal: sin; error; errors

عند

ʿ-n-d → “when” Distinctive

literal: obstinacy; opposition; enmity

تجلّيات

j-l-w → “revelation” Distinctive

literal: effulgence; manifestation; revelation; manifestation, revelation, appearance

انوار

n-w-r → “suns of Thy goodly gifts” Distinctive

literal: light; illumination

شموس

sh-m-s → “suns of Thy goodly gifts”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

مواهبک

w-h-b → “suns of Thy goodly gifts”

literal: gift; grant; bestowal

الطافک

l-ṭ-f → “bounties”

literal: kindness; grace; gentleness; benevolence

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 ¶