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Kitáb-i-Íqán — §114

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 114 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و ديگر آنکه مقصود از سلطنت، احاطه و قدرت آن حضرت است بر همه ممکنات و خواه در عالم ظاهر به استيلای ظاهری ظاهر شود يا نشود. و اين بسته به اراده ومشيّت خود آن حضرت است. و ليکن بر آن جناب معلوم بوده که سلطنت و غنا وحيات و موت و حشر و نشر که در کتب قبل مذکور است مقصود اين نيست که اليوم اين مردم احصاء و ادراک می نمايند. بلکه مراد از سلطنت سلطنتی است که در ايّام ظهور هر يک از شموس حقيقت بنفسه لنفسه ظاهرمی شود و آن احاطه باطنيّه است که به آن احاطه می نمايد کلّ من فی السّموات و الارض را، و بعد به استعداد کون و زمان وخلق در عالم ظاهر به ظهور می آيد چنانچه سلطنت حضرت رسول حال در ميان ناس ظاهر و هويداست. و در اوّل، امر آن حضرت آن بود که شنيديد. چه مقدار اهل کفر وضلال که علمای آن عصر و اصحاب ايشان باشند بر آن جوهر فطرت و ساذج طينت وارد آوردند. چه مقدار خاشاک ها و خارها که بر محلّ عبور آن حضرت ريختند. و اين معلوم است که آن اشخاص به ظنون خبيثه شيطانيّه خود اذيّت به آن هيکل ازلی را سبب رستگاری خود می دانستند زيرا که جميع علمای عصر به مثل عبداللّه اُبَيّ و ابو عامر راهب و کعب بن اشرف و نضر بن حارث، جميع آن حضرت را تکذيب نمودند و نسبت به جنون و افترا دادند و نسبت هائی که نَعُوذُ بِالّله مِن اَن يَجری بِهِ المِدادُ اَو يَتَحَرّکَ عَلَيه‌ القَلمُ ‌اَو يَحمِلَهُ الاَلواحُ. بلی، اين نسبت ها بود که سبب ايذای مردم نسبت به آن حضرت شد. و اين معلوم و واضح است که علمای وقت اگر کسی را ردّ و طرد نمايند و از اهل ايمان ندانند چه بر سرآن نفس می آيد چنانچه بر سر اين بنده آمد و ديده شد.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Furthermore, by sovereignty is meant the all-encompassing, all-pervading power which is inherently exercised by the Qá’im whether or not He appear to the world clothed in the majesty of earthly dominion. This is solely dependent upon the will and pleasure of the Qá’im Himself. You will readily recognize that the terms sovereignty, wealth, life, death, judgment and resurrection, spoken of by the scriptures of old, are not what this generation hath conceived and vainly imagined. Nay, by sovereignty is meant that sovereignty which in every dispensation resideth within, and is exercised by, the person of the Manifestation, the Day-star of Truth. That sovereignty is the spiritual ascendancy which He exerciseth to the fullest degree over all that is in heaven and on earth, and which in due time revealeth itself to the world in direct proportion to its capacity and spiritual receptiveness, even as the sovereignty of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, is today apparent and manifest amongst the people. You are well aware of what befell His Faith in the early days of His dispensation. What woeful sufferings did the hand of the infidel and erring, the divines of that age and their associates, inflict upon that spiritual Essence, that most pure and holy Being! How abundant the thorns and briars which they have strewn over His path! It is evident that wretched generation, in their wicked and satanic fancy, regarded every injury to that immortal Being as a means to the attainment of an abiding felicity; inasmuch as the recognized divines of that age, such as ‘Abdu’lláh-i-Ubayy, Abú-‘Amír, the hermit, Ka’b-Ibn-i-Ashraf, and Nadr-Ibn-i-Hárith, all treated Him as an impostor, and pronounced Him a lunatic and a calumniator. Such sore accusations they brought against Him that in recounting them God forbiddeth the ink to flow, Our pen to move, or the page to bear them. These malicious imputations provoked the people to arise and torment Him. And how fierce that torment if the divines of the age be its chief instigators, if they denounce Him to their followers, cast Him out from their midst, and declare Him a miscreant! Hath not the same befallen this Servant, and been witnessed by all?

Translation Notes

ديگر
dígr dígr

literal: other; other, another; other/another

SE rendered ديگر (dígr), آنکه (ánkh), مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), سلطنت، (slṭnt،), احاطه (iḥáṭh) as “meant, by, sovereignty, all-encompassing”

another 31% other 15% moreover 15% different 13% yet 6% furthermore 6% again 4% else 4% now 4% following 2%
همه
hmh h-m-h → “by”

literal: all; every/all

SE rendered احاطه (iḥáṭh), قدرت (qdrt), حضرت (ḥḍrt), بر (br), همه (hmh), ممکنات (mmknát), خواه (khúáh), عالم (ʿálm), ظاهر (ẓáhr) as “all-encompassing, power, is, inherently exercised, by, Qá’im, whether, not, He”

all 52% every 17% whole 9% each 4% besides 4% throughout 4% solely 4% one 4%
استيلای
istíláy s-w-l → “prompted” Distinctive

literal: dominion

This form usually rendered as “dominion” (1 occurrences)

prompted 33% hath 33% dominion 33%
جناب
jnáb j-n-b

literal: excellency

SE rendered حضرت (ḥḍrt), ليکن (líkn), بر (br), جناب (jnáb), معلوم (mʿlúm), سلطنت (slṭnt), غنا (ghná) as “Qá’im, over, world, sovereignty, wealth”

thee 41% thou 38% one 3% thyself 3% wert 3% shaykh 3% excellency 3% mullá 3% honour 3%
نشر
nshr n-sh-r

literal: spread; spreading; diffusion

SE rendered سلطنت (slṭnt), غنا (ghná), وحيات (wḥíát), موت (mút), حشر (ḥshr), نشر (nshr), کتب (ktb), مذکور (mdhkúr), مقصود (mqṣúd) as “sovereignty, wealth, life, and, scriptures, meant”

مذکور
mdhkúr dh-k-r

literal: mention; mentioned

SE rendered حشر (ḥshr), نشر (nshr), کتب (ktb), مذکور (mdhkúr), مقصود (mqṣúd), نيست (níst), اليوم (al-yúm) as “and, scriptures, meant, not, today”

يک
yk y-k

literal: one; with/to-one

SE rendered سلطنتی (slṭntí), ايّام (iyyám), ظهور (ẓhúr), هر (hr), يک (yk), از (iz), شموس (shmús), حقيقت (ḥqíqt), بنفسه (bnfsh), لنفسه (lnfsh), ظاهرمی (ẓáhrmí) as “sovereignty, every, dispensation, by, Day-star of Truth, God, person of, revealeth”

one 73% alike 9% other 9% each 9%
باطنيّه
báṭnính b-ṭ-n

literal: inward; inner; hidden

SE rendered بنفسه (bnfsh), لنفسه (lnfsh), ظاهرمی (ẓáhrmí), احاطه (iḥáṭh), باطنيّه (báṭnính), احاطه (iḥáṭh), می (mí), نمايد (nmáyd) as “person of, revealeth, exerciseth, Hath”

spiritual 38% hidden 25% inner 25% inwardly 13%
الارض
ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “on”

literal: earth; land; earth, land

SE rendered نمايد (nmáyd), السّموات (as-smúát), الارض (ar-rḍ), استعداد (istʿdád), کون (kún) as “Hath, heaven, on, capacity and spiritual receptiveness, Being”

earth 65% land 13% world 9% all 4% soil 2% whole 2% amongst 2% mankind 1% realm 1% city 1%
زمان
zmán z-m-n

literal: time; time, era; time, age

SE rendered استعداد (istʿdád), کون (kún), زمان (zmán), وخلق (wkhlq), عالم (ʿálm), ظاهر (ẓáhr) as “capacity and spiritual receptiveness, Being, world”

days 20% time 20% day 20% age 12% whenever 8% countless 4% life 4% cycle 4% when 4% faith 4%
آيد
áyd ʾ-y-d

literal: support; come; strengthen

SE rendered عالم (ʿálm), ظاهر (ẓáhr), ظهور (ẓhúr), می (mí), آيد (áyd), چنانچه (chnánchh), سلطنت (slṭnt), حضرت (ḥḍrt), رسول (rsúl), حال (ḥál) as “world, even as, sovereignty, Muhammad, Messenger”

may 33% assist 33% aid 10% all-merciful 5% will 5% “seal.” 5% how 5% step 5%
حال
ḥál ḥ-w-l

literal: now; state

SE rendered چنانچه (chnánchh), سلطنت (slṭnt), حضرت (ḥḍrt), رسول (rsúl), حال (ḥál), ميان (míán), ناس (nás), ظاهر (ẓáhr) as “even as, sovereignty, Muhammad, Messenger, the, people, apparent and manifest”

ميان
míán míán → “the”

literal: midst; between; midst, between

SE rendered چنانچه (chnánchh), سلطنت (slṭnt), حضرت (ḥḍrt), رسول (rsúl), حال (ḥál), ميان (míán), ناس (nás), ظاهر (ẓáhr), هويداست (húydást) as “even as, sovereignty, Muhammad, Messenger, the, people, apparent and manifest”

amongst 26% midst 26% among 16% amidst 11% unto 5% between 5% hand 5% sight 5%
هويداست
húydást h-w-y

literal: desire; passion; air

SE rendered رسول (rsúl), حال (ḥál), ميان (míán), ناس (nás), ظاهر (ẓáhr), هويداست (húydást), اوّل، (iwwl،), امر (imr), حضرت (ḥḍrt) as “Messenger, the, people, apparent and manifest, early days, dispensation”

desires 23% corrupt 19% desire 16% atmosphere 12% passion 7% essence 6% heaven 6% evil 4% heights 4% self 3%
امر
imr ʾ-m-r

literal: command; matter; cause

SE rendered ظاهر (ẓáhr), هويداست (húydást), اوّل، (iwwl،), امر (imr), حضرت (ḥḍrt), شنيديد (shnídíd), چه (chh) as “apparent and manifest, early days, dispensation, You are well aware, What”

کفر
kfr k-f-r

literal: disbelieve; disbelieved; disbelief

SE rendered شنيديد (shnídíd), چه (chh), مقدار (mqdár), اهل (ihl), کفر (kfr), وضلال (wḍlál), علمای (ʿlmáy), عصر (ʿṣr) as “You are well aware, What, woeful, infidel, erring, that, and their”

اصحاب
iṣḥáb ṣ-ḥ-b

literal: companions; companion

SE rendered وضلال (wḍlál), علمای (ʿlmáy), عصر (ʿṣr), اصحاب (iṣḥáb), ايشان (iyshán), باشند (báshnd), بر (br), جوهر (júhr), فطرت (fṭrt) as “erring, that, and their, their, are, upon, Essence”

فطرت
fṭrt f-ṭ-r

literal: creator; nature; creator/originator

SE rendered ايشان (iyshán), باشند (báshnd), بر (br), جوهر (júhr), فطرت (fṭrt), ساذج (sádhj), طينت (ṭínt), وارد (wárd), آوردند (áwrdnd), چه (chh) as “their, are, upon, Essence, pure, inflict, How”

spiritual 40% true 20% inner 20% souls 20%
طينت
ṭínt ṭ-y-n

literal: clay; clay, mud, mire; nature, temperament

SE rendered باشند (báshnd), بر (br), جوهر (júhr), فطرت (fṭrt), ساذج (sádhj), طينت (ṭínt), وارد (wárd), آوردند (áwrdnd), چه (chh), مقدار (mqdár), خاشاک (kháshák) as “are, upon, Essence, pure, inflict, How, abundant, thorns and briars”

mire 40% clay 40% things 10% holy 10%
آوردند
áwrdnd áwrdn

literal: bring; to bring; brought

SE rendered جوهر (júhr), فطرت (fṭrt), ساذج (sádhj), طينت (ṭínt), وارد (wárd), آوردند (áwrdnd), چه (chh), مقدار (mqdár), خاشاک (kháshák), ها (há), خارها (khárhá) as “Essence, pure, inflict, How, abundant, thorns and briars”

have 29% came 14% returned 14% caused 14% inflict 14% protested 14%
خاشاک

literal: chaff; chaff, rubbish; rubble

SE expanded to “thorns and briars”

thistles 50% briars 50%
خارها
khárhá kh-ʾ-r

literal: thorn; thornbush

SE rendered چه (chh), مقدار (mqdár), خاشاک (kháshák), ها (há), خارها (khárhá), بر (br), محلّ (mḥll), عبور (ʿbúr), حضرت (ḥḍrt), ريختند (ríkhtnd) as “How, abundant, thorns and briars, over, path, Him, strewn”

thorns 50% thorn 50%
محلّ
mḥll ḥ-l-l

literal: place; place, location

SE rendered مقدار (mqdár), خاشاک (kháshák), ها (há), خارها (khárhá), بر (br), محلّ (mḥll), عبور (ʿbúr), حضرت (ḥḍrt), ريختند (ríkhtnd) as “abundant, thorns and briars, over, path, Him, strewn”

place 19% seat 19% recipient 12% recipients 12% targets 8% path 8% within 8% object 8% one 4% another 4%
شيطانيّه
shíṭánính sh-y-ṭ → “satanic”

literal: satanic; satanic, devilish

2 occurrences in corpus

ازلی
izlí ʾ-z-l

literal: eternal; eternity; eternities

SE rendered شيطانيّه (shíṭánính), اذيّت (idhíht), هيکل (híkl), ازلی (izlí), سبب (sbb), رستگاری (rstgárí), می (mí), دانستند (dánstnd) as “satanic, injury, Being, means, felicity, regarded”

رستگاری
rstgárí rstgárí → “abiding”

literal: deliverance/salvation; salvation; salvation, deliverance

مثل
mthl m-th-l

literal: like; likeness; example

SE rendered دانستند (dánstnd), زيرا (zírá), جميع (jmíʿ), علمای (ʿlmáy), عصر (ʿṣr), مثل (mthl), عبداللّه (ʿbdálllh), اُبَيّ (ubayy), ابو (ibú), عامر (ʿámr) as “regarded, all, divines, age, ‘Abdu’lláh-i-Ubayy, Abú-‘Amír”

instance 18% like 14% even 12% consider 12% such 10% same 10% equal 8% what 8% one 6% peerless 2%
بن
bn b-n-y

literal: son; sons

SE rendered ابو (ibú), عامر (ʿámr), راهب (ráhb), کعب (kʿb), بن (bn), اشرف (ishrf), نضر (nḍr), بن (bn), حارث، (ḥárth،), جميع (jmíʿ) as “Abú-‘Amír, hermit, Ka’b-Ibn-i-Ashraf, Nadr-Ibn-i-Hárith, all”

اشرف
ishrf sh-r-f

literal: noble

SE rendered ابو (ibú), عامر (ʿámr), راهب (ráhb), کعب (kʿb), بن (bn), اشرف (ishrf), نضر (nḍr), بن (bn), حارث، (ḥárth،), جميع (jmíʿ), حضرت (ḥḍrt) as “Abú-‘Amír, hermit, Ka’b-Ibn-i-Ashraf, Nadr-Ibn-i-Hárith, all, Him”

حارث،
ḥárth، ḥ-r-th

literal: harith

SE rendered راهب (ráhb), کعب (kʿb), بن (bn), اشرف (ishrf), نضر (nḍr), بن (bn), حارث، (ḥárth،), جميع (jmíʿ), حضرت (ḥḍrt), تکذيب (tkdhíb), نمودند (nmúdnd) as “hermit, Ka’b-Ibn-i-Ashraf, Nadr-Ibn-i-Hárith, all, Him, impostor, they”

1 occurrence in corpus

واضح
wáḍḥ w-ḍ-ḥ

literal: clear; clear, evident; clear/evident

SE rendered حضرت (ḥḍrt), معلوم (mʿlúm), واضح (wáḍḥ), علمای (ʿlmáy), وقت (wqt), کسی (ksí) as “Him, divines, age”

طرد
ṭrd ṭ-r-d

literal: cast out

SE rendered علمای (ʿlmáy), وقت (wqt), کسی (ksí), ردّ (rdd), طرد (ṭrd), نمايند (nmáynd), از (iz), اهل (ihl), ايمان (iymán) as “divines, age, Him, they brought against, declare, from, midst, Faith”

cast 55% drive 16% outcast 6% have 3% abandoned 3% banishment 3% thrust 3% reject 3% driven 3% wilt 3%
سرآن
srán s-r

literal: head; care; head, top, outer

SE rendered از (iz), اهل (ihl), ايمان (iymán), ندانند (ndánnd), چه (chh), بر (br), سرآن (srán), نفس (nfs), می (mí), آيد (áyd), چنانچه (chnánchh), بر (br), سر (sr) as “from, midst, Faith, How”

heads 27% head 9% soul 9% himself 9% among 9% outer 9% submit 9% led 9% cares 9%

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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