Kitáb-i-Íqán — §124
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 124 of 291.
Source (Persian)
سبحان اللّه، چقدر آن قوم از سبل حقّ دور بودند. با اينکه قيامت به قيام آن حضرت قائم بود و علامات و انوار او همه ارض را احاطه نموده بود مع ذلک سخريّه می نمودند و معتکف بودند به تماثيلی که علمای عصر به افکار عاطل باطل جستهاند و از شمس عنايت ربّانيّه وامطار رحمت سبحانيّه غافل گشتهاند. بلی، جُعَل از روائح قدس ازل محروم است و خفّاش از تجلّی آفتاب جهانتاب درگريز.
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Gracious God! How far have that people strayed from the way of God! Although the Day of Resurrection was ushered in through the Revelation of Muhammad, although His light and tokens had encompassed the earth and all that is therein, yet that people derided Him, gave themselves up to those idols which the divines of that age, in their vain and idle fancy, had conceived, and deprived themselves of the light of heavenly grace and of the showers of divine mercy. Yea, the abject beetle can never scent the fragrance of holiness, and the bat of darkness can never face the splendour of the sun.
Translation Notes
اينکه
literal: that, the fact that, this (demonstrative particle)
معتکف
literal: to seclude oneself; to devote oneself; to be occupied with
