Kitáb-i-'Ahd — §10

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 10 of 16.

Source (Persian)

وصيّت اللّه آنکه بايد اغصان و افنان و منتسبين طرّا بغصن اعظم ناظر باشند * أُنْظُرُوا مَا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِی کِتَابِي الأَقْدَس * إذا غيض بحر الوصال و قضي کتاب المبدأ فی المآل توجّهوا إلی من أراده اللّه الّذی انشعب من هذا الأصل القديم * مقصود از اين آيه مبارکه غصن أعظم بوده *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghṣán, the Afnán and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: ‘When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [‘Abdu’l-Bahá].

Translation Notes

وصيّت

wṣíṣt w-ṣ-y → “testaments”

literal: admonition; admonish; testament

testaments 20% admonished 20% exhorted 20% exhort 20% counsel 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: testaments gleaningsGWB §493: admonished kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: exhort kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the wishes and admonitions will-and-testamentW&T §38: I counsel you saying epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §238: viceregent gleaningsGWB §493: counsels kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: admonitions

اللّه

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “the divine testator”

literal: divine

SE expanded to “the divine Testator”

god 67% divine 18% god’s 4% lord 4% divinity 3% holy 1% other 1% mystic 1% heavenly 1% godhead 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Divinity gleaningsGWB §560: is kitab-i-iqanKIQ §123: Cause of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: my God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §23: is of God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Godhead gleaningsGWB §563: Divine mercy

آنکه

ánkh ʾ-n → “is this”

literal: that; indeed; that, to

SE rendered وصيّت (wṣíṣt), اللّه (al-lh), آنکه (ánkh), بايد (báyd), اغصان (ighṣán), افنان (ifnán), منتسبين (mntsbín) as “The Will, the divine Testator, is this, is incumbent, the Aghṣán, the Afnán, My Kindred”

have 10% behold 10% will 10% such 10% either 10% \‘verily 10% verily 10% truth 10% \‘they 10% although 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: to kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: Although the-hidden-wordsHW §120: moment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §69: Either thou or someone else kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: that He epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: in truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: that

بايد

báyd b-y-d → “is incumbent”

literal: must; must, should

must 56% incumbent 25% should 13% behooveth 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: incumbent upon gleaningsGWB §564: should kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: awaken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the wilderness the-hidden-wordsHW §109: With the hands will-and-testamentW&T §17: watchful epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: behooveth gleaningsGWB §334: quickened

اغصان

ighṣán gh-ṣ-n → “aghṣán”

literal: branch; branches; boughs

branches 50% aghṣán 40% boughs 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: branch gleaningsGWB §235: have branched from My Tree kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: ye My Branches prayers-and-meditationsP&M §773: Thy Branches will-and-testamentW&T §19: one epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: its branches gleaningsGWB §66: the immortal Branch kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the Most Mighty Branch

افنان

ifnán f-n-n → “afnán”

literal: branches; twig

afnán 36% branches 29% twigs 14% boughs 7% blissful 7% sadrih 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: branches gleaningsGWB §66: its blissful bower kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the Afnán kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: the Sadrih prayers-and-meditationsP&M §347: the branches tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: twigs will-and-testamentW&T §16: Afnán epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: arts

منتسبين

mntsbín n-s-b → “my kindred”

literal: relation

kindred 67% relatives 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: of gleaningsGWB §122: resemblance kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: My Kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: imputations prayers-and-meditationsP&M §389: caused to be related the-hidden-wordsHW §30: to will-and-testamentW&T §43: connection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: charge

طرّا

ṭrrá ṭ-r-r → “one and all”

literal: all; entirely

SE expanded to “one and all”

one 67% entirety 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: one and all gleaningsGWB §176: entirety

اعظم

iʿẓm ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE rendered افنان (ifnán), منتسبين (mntsbín), طرّا (ṭrrá), بغصن (bghṣn), اعظم (iʿẓm), ناظر (náẓr), باشند (báshnd), أُنْظُرُوا (ʾunẓurúá) as “the Afnán, My Kindred, one and all, the Most Mighty Branch, to turn, their faces, Consider”

most 61% greater 10% greatest 6% great 5% more 5% supreme 4% mightier 4% transcendeth 2% potency 2% mightiest 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: most grievous gleaningsGWB §183: most mighty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: more grievous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §809: infinite the-hidden-wordsHW §21: plenteous will-and-testamentW&T §40: more glaring epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: of the Grandeur gleaningsGWB §721: glorious

ناظر

náẓr n-ẓ-r → “to turn”

literal: look; looking

fix 24% turned 17% fixed 10% gaze 10% hast 7% consider 7% keep 7% guided 7% turn 7% looking 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: Wait fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §293: Look not kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: Most Sublime Vision kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: gazing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: I contemplate tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: resplendent Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §121: turn your eyes

باشند

báshnd b-w-d → “hath” Distinctive

literal: be; is; to be

This form usually rendered as “must”, “under” (18 occurrences)

must 50% under 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: hath been gleaningsGWB §342: would be regarded kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: hath never been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §3: have they the-hidden-wordsHW §120: Live will-and-testamentW&T §53: arose epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: should be gleaningsGWB §287: not been

أَنْزَلْنَاهُ

ʾanzalnáh n-z-l → “have revealed”

literal: send down; descending; descend

revealed 50% have 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: disclosed gleaningsGWB §493: hath kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: have already been revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: immeasurable distances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: have been revealed tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: ‘Haste thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §42: then descended the-hidden-wordsHW §68: in accordance with

کِتَابِي

kitábí k-t-b → “our most holy book”

literal: book; books; Book

SE expanded to “Our Most Holy Book”

book 67% most 17% wondrous 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: in His Book gleaningsGWB §19: written confession kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: wondrous Book kitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: books—words will-and-testamentW&T §42: the Holy Text epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: His Book gleaningsGWB §417: heavenly Book kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: Our Most Holy Book

الأَقْدَس

al-ʾaqdas q-d-s

literal: holy; sanctified

SE rendered أَنْزَلْنَاهُ (ʾanzalnáh), کِتَابِي (kitábí), الأَقْدَس (al-ʾaqdas), غيض (ghíḍ), بحر (bḥr), الوصال (al-wṣál), قضي (qḍí) as “have revealed, Our Most Holy Book, hath ebbed, the ocean, of My presence, is ended”

most 60% holy 15% kitáb-i-aqdas 5% sanctified 5% sacred 5% presence 5% lofty 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: the Kitáb-i-Aqdas gleaningsGWB §227: sanctity.…kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: are immensely prayers-and-meditationsP&M §317: Divine sweetness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse the-hidden-wordsHW §151: purging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: liberate gleaningsGWB §669: veiled

غيض

ghíḍ gh-y-ḍ → “hath”

literal: ebbed, receded

1 occurrence in corpus

kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: hath ebbed

بحر

bḥr b-ḥ-r → “ocean”

literal: sea; ocean; sea, ocean

ocean 76% sea 16% waters 2% most 1% billowing 1% where 1% outpouring 1% rushing 1% oceans 1% seeking 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: ocean fire-tabletFire §3: Where gleaningsGWB §357: how vast the oceans kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: billows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: seeking tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: the ancient sea will-and-testamentW&T §2: Twin epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: sea for

الوصال

al-wṣál w-ṣ-l → “of my presence”

literal: union

SE expanded to “of My presence”

presence 50% reunion 43% attain 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: would be made fire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reunion gleaningsGWB §555: leadeth him to the stations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: infidel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §743: meeting tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: may attain the-hidden-wordsHW §62: the joy of reunion epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: theft and larceny

قضي

qḍí q-ḍ-y → “decree”

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

hath 25% fulfilled 15% decreed 15% have 10% happened 10% decided 5% decision 5% ordained 5% preordained 5% committed 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: decision made fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §636: irrevocably decreed kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §388: the dispositions of Thy providence the-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordained epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: passed

المبدأ

al-mbdʾ b-d-ʾ → ““first” Distinctive

literal: beginning, origin; origin

This form usually rendered as “source”, “revelation”, “origin” (3 occurrences)

source 33% revelation 33% origin 33%

gleaningsGWB §61: Source kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: of My Revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “beginning”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: the “first,”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “first,”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: Origin kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: the Beginning kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: beginning

المآل

al-mál ʾ-w-l

literal: first; firstness; beginning

SE rendered الوصال (al-wṣál), قضي (qḍí), کتاب (ktáb), المبدأ (al-mbdʾ), المآل (al-mál), توجّهوا (tújjhúá), أراده (ʾarádh), اللّه (al-lh) as “of My presence, is ended, the Book, of My Revelation, turn your faces, hath purposed, God”

first 39% primal 11% beginning 11% early 9% “first” 9% old 7% one 5% former 5% especially 2% foundation 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: early gleaningsGWB §702: ere he kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: our first prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Through His Firstness the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §58: falsely interpret epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: Primal gleaningsGWB §327: have attained in the past

توجّهوا

tújjhúá w-j-h → “turn your faces” Distinctive

literal: face; turning

This form usually rendered as “set”, “have”, “advance” (20 occurrences)

SE expanded to “turn your faces”

set 35% have 18% advance 12% turned 12% lift 6% fasten 6% turn 6% hearest 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §87: We set Our steps fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §266: set her hopes on kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: to turn prayers-and-meditationsP&M §653: with my face set tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §9: thyself

انشعب

inshʿb sh-ʿ-b → “hath branched”

literal: branched

branched 40% hath 20% grown 20% peoples 20%

kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: hath branched prayers-and-meditationsP&M §74: branched out will-and-testamentW&T §24: peoples will-and-testamentW&T §2: grown out

الأصل

aṣ-ṣl ʾ-ṣ-l → “essence”

literal: principles; origin, essence

essence 33% real 8% fundamental 8% principle 8% motivating 8% root 8% upon 8% essentials 8% essential 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: essence gleaningsGWB §159: fundamental verity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: essential prayers-and-meditationsP&M §809: stems epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: foundations gleaningsGWB §712: upon the fundamentals kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the essentials epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: the statutes

القديم

al-qdím q-d-m → “ancient”

literal: ancient; eternity

ancient 77% which 8% eternal 8% past 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: Ancient fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §59: of everlasting days kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: stepped prayers-and-meditationsP&M §743: presence tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: by His presence the-hidden-wordsHW §4: immemorial will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

مقصود

mqṣúd q-ṣ-d → “object” Distinctive

literal: intended; purpose; desired

This form usually rendered as “purpose”, “desire”, “meant” (196 occurrences)

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: By this is meant gleaningsGWB §672: Haste forth unto kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: the terms prayers-and-meditationsP&M §670: all that seek Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: seeking

از

iz ʾ-z → “f t” Distinctive

literal: from

This form usually rendered as “amongst” (23 occurrences)

23 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Amongst kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: from kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: at

آيه

áyh ʾ-y-y → “sacred verse”

literal: sign; signs; verse

verse 57% sign 19% mighty 5% how 5% “smoke” 5% what 5% utterances 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: repudiated Thy signs fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §318: mighty signs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: attain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §747: the kingdom of Thy signs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: are verses

مبارکه

mbárkh b-r-k

literal: blessed; blessing

SE rendered القديم (al-qdím), مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), آيه (áyh), مبارکه (mbárkh), غصن (ghṣn), أعظم (ʾaʿẓm) as “Ancient, The object, of, sacred verse, the Most Mighty Branch”