Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §85
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 85 of 268.
Source (Persian)
يا ملک انّا سمعنا منک کلمة تکلّمت بها اذ سألک ملک الرّوس عمّا قُضِیَ من حکم الغزاء انّ ربّک هو العليم الخبير * قلت کنت راقدا فی المهاد ايقظنی نداء العباد الّذين ظلموا الی ان غرقوا فی البحر الاسود کذلک سمعنا و ربّک علی ما اقول شهيد * نشهد انّک ما ايقظک النّداء بل الهوی لانّا بلوناک وجدناک فی معزل * اعرف لحن القول و کن من المتفرّسين * انّا ما نحبّ ان نرجع اليک کلمة سوء حفظا للمقام الّذی اعطيناک فی الحياة الظّاهرة انّا اخترنا الادب و جعلناه سجيّة المقرّبين * انّه ثوب يوافق النّفوس من کلّ صغير و کبير * طوبی لمن جعله طراز هيکله ويل لمن جعل محروما من هذا الفضل العظيم * لو کنت صاحب الکلمة ما نبذت کتاب اللّه وراء ظهرک اذ ارسل اليک من لدن عزيز حکيم * انّا بلوناک به ما وجدناک علی ما ادّعيت * قم و تدارک ما فات عنک سوف تفنی الدّنيا و ما عندک و يبقی الملک للّه ربّک و ربّ ابائک الاوّلين * لا ينبغی لک ان تقتصر الامور علی ما يهوی هواک اتّق زفرات المظلوم احفظه من سهام الظّالمين *
Shoghi Effendi Translation
"O King! We heard the words thou didst utter in answer to the Czar of Russia, concerning the decision made regarding the war (Crimean War). Thy Lord, verily, knoweth, is informed of all. Thou didst say: \‘I lay asleep upon my couch, when the cry of the oppressed, who were drowned in the Black Sea, wakened me.' This is what We heard thee say, and, verily, thy Lord is witness unto what I say. We testify that that which wakened thee was not their cry but the promptings of thine own passions, for We tested thee, and found thee wanting. Comprehend the meaning of My words, and be thou of the discerning. It is not Our wish to address thee words of condemnation, out of regard for the dignity We conferred upon thee in this mortal life. We, verily, have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark of such as are nigh unto Him. Courtesy is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether young or old. Well is it with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe unto him who is deprived of this great bounty. Hadst thou been sincere in thy words, thou wouldst have not cast behind thy back the Book of God, when it was sent unto thee by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise. We have proved thee through it, and found thee other than that which thou didst profess. Arise, and make amends for that which escaped thee. Erelong the world and all that thou possessest will perish, and the kingdom will remain unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy fathers of old. It behooveth thee not to conduct thine affairs according to the dictates of thy desires. Fear the sighs of this Wronged One, and shield Him from the darts of such as act unjustly.
Translation Notes
الهوی
literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region
بلوناک
literal: affliction; trial; calamity; trial, tribulation, affliction, calamity; yes; indeed; verily
کبير
literal: great; grand; mighty; large; greatness; majesty; sovereignty; arrogance
تدارک
literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend
الاوّلين
literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of
