Kitáb-i-'Ahd — §15

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 15 of 16.

Source (Persian)

احترام و ملاحظه اغصان بر کلّ لازم لأعزاز امر و ارتفاع کلمه * و اين حکم از قبل و بعد در کتب الهی مذکور و مسطور * طوبی لمن فاز بما أمر به من لدن آمر قديم * و همچنين احترام حرم و آل اللّه و أفنان و منتسبين و نوصيکم بخدمة الأمم و اصلاح العالم

Shoghi Effendi Translation

It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the Aghṣán, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word exalted. This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded in the Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnán and the kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nations and to strive for the betterment of the world.

Translation Notes

احترام

ḥ-t-r-m → “Respect”

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

ملاحظه

l-ḥ-ẓ → “regard” Distinctive

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

اغصان

gh-ṣ-n → “Aghṣán”

literal: branch; twig

بر

b-r-r → “upon”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

کلّ

k-l-l → “everyone”

literal: for us; to us

لازم

l-z-m → “incumbent”

literal: necessary, incumbent, obligatory, essential

لأعزاز

ʿ-z-z → “glorified”

literal: glory; might; honor; dignity; power; majesty

امر

ʾ-m-r → “Cause”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

ارتفاع

r-f-ʿ → “exalted”

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

کلمه

k-l-m → “Word”

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

اين

ʾ-y-n → “This”

literal: this; these

حکم

ḥ-k-m → “injunction” Distinctive

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

قبل

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

بعد

literal: after; behind; distance

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

کتب

k-t-b → “Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

مذکور

dh-k-r → “mentioned”

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

مسطور

s-ṭ-r → “recorded”

literal: written; inscribed; recorded

طوبی

ṭ-w-b → “Well is it”

literal: happiness; blessedness; felicity

لمن

m-n → “him who” Distinctive

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

فاز

f-w-z → “achieve” Distinctive

literal: to attain; to gain; to succeed; to win

بما

m-ʾ → “that” Distinctive

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

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

لدن

literal: from; on the part of; from before; near

قديم

q-d-m → “Ancient of Days”

literal: ancientness; antiquity; foot; to come forward

همچنين

ch-n-n → “likewise”

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

حرم

ḥ-r-m → “deprived” Distinctive

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

آل

literal: first; beginning; family

أفنان

f-n-n → “Afnán”

literal: twigs; branches

منتسبين

n-s-b → “relationship” Distinctive

literal: relation; relationship; connection; attribution; proportion

نوصيکم

w-ṣ-y → “admonish you”

literal: counsel; commandment; bequest; will; testament; admonition; command

بخدمة

kh-d-m → “serve”

literal: service; servitude; to serve

الأمم

ʾ-m-m → “nations”

literal: people; nation; community; female servant; handmaiden

اصلاح

ṣ-l-ḥ → “betterment”

literal: peace; reconciliation

العالم

ʿ-l-m → “world”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

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