Kitáb-i-Íqán — §130

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 130 of 291.

Source (Persian)

چنانچه اليوم می بينی که با وجود شمس معانی، جميع ناس از اعالی و ادانی تمسّک به جُعَل های ظلمانی و مظاهر شيطانی جستهاند و متّصل مسائل مشکله خود را از ايشان مستفسر می شوند و ايشان نظر به عدم عرفان چيزی جواب می گويند که ضرری بر اسباب ظاهره ايشان نرساند. و اين معلوم و واضح است که جُعَل خود قسمتی از نسيم مشک بقا نبرده و به رضوان رياحين معنوی قدم نگذاشته، با وجود اين چگونه می تواند رائحه عطر به مشام ديگران رساند؟ لم يزل شأن اين عباد اين بوده و خواهد بود. و لَن يَفُوزَ بِآثار اللّه إلّا الَّذينَهُم اَقبَلوا إلَيه و اَعْرَضُوا عن مَظاهِر الشَّيطان و کَذلِکَ اَثبَتَ اللّهُ حُکْمَ اليَوم مِنْ قَلَم العِزَّةِ عَلی لَوحٍ کانَ خَلفَ سُرادِقِ العزِّ مکنُوناً. اگر ملتفت به اين بيانات شويد و تفکّر در ظاهر و باطن آن بفرمائيد جميع مسائل مشکله را که اليوم سدّی شده ميان عباد و معرفت يوم التّناد عارف شوی ديگر احتياج به سؤال نخواه داشت. انشاءاللّه اميدواريم که از شاطی بحر الهی لب تشنه و محروم بر نگرديد و از حرم مقصود لايزالی بی بهره راجع نشويد. ديگر تا همّت و مجاهده شما چه کند.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou dost witness today how, notwithstanding the radiant splendour of the Sun of divine knowledge, all the people, whether high or low, have clung to the ways of those abject manifestations of the Prince of Darkness. They continually appeal to them for aid in unraveling the intricacies of their Faith, and, owing to lack of knowledge, they make such replies as can in no wise damage their fame and fortune. It is evident that these souls, vile and miserable as the beetle itself, have had no portion of the musk-laden breeze of eternity, and have never entered the Ridván of heavenly delight. How, therefore, can they impart unto others the imperishable fragrance of holiness? Such is their way, and such will it remain for ever. Only those will attain to the knowledge of the Word of God that have turned unto Him, and repudiated the manifestations of Satan. Thus God hath reaffirmed the law of the day of His Revelation, and inscribed it with the pen of power upon the mystic Tablet hidden beneath the veil of celestial glory. Wert thou to heed these words, wert thou to ponder their outward and inner meaning in thy heart, thou wouldst seize the significance of all the abstruse problems which, in this day, have become insuperable barriers between men and the knowledge of the Day of Judgment. Then wilt thou have no more questions to perplex thee. We fain would hope that, God willing, thou wilt not return, deprived and still athirst, from the shores of the ocean of divine mercy, nor come back destitute from the imperishable Sanctuary of thy heart’s desire. Let it now be seen what thy search and endeavours will achieve.

Translation Notes

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

اليوم

y-w-m → “dost witness today”

literal: day; age; period; era; a day

می

m-y-y

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

بينی

b-y-n

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

با

b-ʾ-ʾ → “have clung”

literal: to; with; by

وجود

w-j-d

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

شمس

sh-m-s → “radiant splendour of the Sun”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

معانی،

ʿ-n-y → “loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all the”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

ناس

n-ʾ-s → “people”

literal: companionship; fellowship; familiarity; to keep company

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

اعالی

ʿ-l-w → “whether high”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

ادانی

d-n-w → “or low”

literal: to know; to understand

تمسّک

m-s-k → “have clung”

literal: musk; to seize; grip; to hold fast; to cling to; to grasp

به

b-h → “to”

literal: by it; by him; with it

جُعَل

j-ʿ-l → “make” Distinctive

literal: to make; to cause; to render; to appoint

های

null

literal: and; that; in

ظلمانی

ẓ-l-m → “Wronged One” Distinctive

literal: wrongedness, oppression, meekness; state of being wronged or oppressed

مظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “manifestations”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

شيطانی

sh-ṭ-n → “satanic”

literal: Satan; devil; evil one; accursed one

جستهاند

j-s-t → “have clung”

literal: to seek; to cling; to grasp; to strive

متّصل

w-ṣ-l → “and” Distinctive

literal: and; union; reach

مسائل

s-ʾ-l → “I implore Thee” Distinctive

literal: question; problem; issue; matter; asking; petition; request

مشکله

sh-k-l

literal: formation; constitution; establishment; composition; to form; to establish

خود

kh-w-d → “their”

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

ايشان

ʾ-y-sh → “Prophets”

literal: that; it (object pronoun with suffix)

مستفسر

f-s-r → “interpreted” Distinctive

literal: commentary; explanation; interpretation; exegesis

شوند

sh-w-d → “be”

literal: to become; to be

نظر

n-ẓ-r → “Consider”

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

عدم

ʿ-d-m

literal: nonexistent; void; nullified

عرفان

ʿ-r-f → “knowledge”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

چيزی

ch-y-z → “something”

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

جواب

j-w-b → “answer”

literal: answer, reply, response

گويند

g-w-y

literal: say; to say; as-if

ضرری

ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm; damage; injury; detriment

بر

b-r-r

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

اسباب

s-b-b

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

نرساند.

r-s-d

literal: reach; to reach; arrive

اين

ʾ-y-n → “It is” Distinctive

literal: this; these

معلوم

ʿ-l-m → “evident”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

واضح

w-ḍ-ḥ

literal: clear; evident; manifest; obvious

قسمتی

q-s-m → “portion”

literal: oath; division; kind; type

نسيم

n-s-m → “musk-laden breeze”

literal: breeze; gentle wind; fragrance

مشک

m-s-k

literal: musk; to seize; grip; to hold fast; to cling to; to grasp

بقا

b-q-y → “of eternity”

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal; permanence; duration; continuance

نبرده

b-r-d → “brother” Distinctive

literal: brother

رضوان

r-ḍ-w → “Ridván”

literal: good-pleasure, consent, satisfaction; satisfaction; pleasure; approval; contentment

رياحين

r-w-ḥ → “souls” Distinctive

literal: to go; to depart; to rest; spirit; soul

قدم

q-d-m → “Ancient of Days”

literal: ancientness; antiquity; foot; to come forward

نگذاشته،

g-dh-r

literal: did not leave; did not allow; left no room for

چگونه

ch-g-n → “How, therefore”

literal: how; in what manner

تواند

t-w-n → “can”

literal: to be able, can; power, strength

عطر

ʿ-ṭ-r

literal: perfume; to perfume; fragrance

مشام

sh-m-m

literal: smell; smelling; Syria

ديگران

d-g-r → “others”

literal: home; place; land; abode

رساند؟

r-s-n → “attain”

literal: to reach; to convey; to cause to arrive; to deliver

لم

l-y-s

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

يزل

z-w-l

literal: to pass away; to vanish; to disappear; to cease

شأن

sh-ʾ-n → “in such wise”

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

عباد

ʿ-b-d → “men”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

بوده

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

خواهد

kh-w-h → “such will” Distinctive

literal: will; to wish; to want

لَن

l-n → “neither”

literal: will not (negation of future)

يَفُوزَ

f-w-z → “will attain”

literal: successful; victorious; attain

بِآثار

ʾ-th-r

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

الَّذينَهُم

l-dh-y → “which” Distinctive

literal: those who; the ones who (relative pronoun)

اَقبَلوا

q-b-l → “turned unto”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

إلَيه

ʾ-l-y → “besmirch”

literal: to; to him; besmirch

اَعْرَضُوا

ʿ-r-ḍ → “repudiated”

literal: to turn away; to avert; to abstain; heedless

عن

ʿ-n

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

کَذلِکَ

dh-l-k → “Thus”

literal: thus; likewise; also

اَثبَتَ

th-b-t → “hath reaffirmed”

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

حُکْمَ

ḥ-k-m → “law”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom; firm; solid; strengthened

مِنْ

m-n

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

قَلَم

q-l-m → “pen”

literal: pen; writing instrument

العِزَّةِ

ʿ-z-z → “glory”

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

لَوحٍ

l-w-ḥ → “mystic Tablet”

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

کانَ

k-w-n

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

خَلفَ

kh-l-f → “contrary” Distinctive

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

سُرادِقِ

s-r-d-q → “veil”

literal: pavilion; tabernacle; canopy; tent

مکنُوناً.

k-n-n → “hidden”

literal: to do; to make; to perform

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

ملتفت

l-f-t

literal: to turn; to perceive; to pay attention

بيانات

b-y-n → “these words” Distinctive

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

تفکّر

f-k-r → “to ponder”

literal: thoughts; ideas; fancies; opinions; to think; to reflect; to contemplate

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

باطن

b-ṭ-n → “and inner”

literal: inner; hidden; inward; esoteric

آن

ʾ-n → “their”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

بفرمائيد

f-r-m-ʾ → “hath said” Distinctive

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

سدّی

s-d-d → “closed” Distinctive

literal: threshold; barrier; seat of authority

شده

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

ميان

m-y-n → “midst”

literal: between; among; amid; in the midst of

التّناد

n-d-w → “Voice” Distinctive

literal: call; caller; call, voice

شوی

sh-d-n

literal: be; become

احتياج

ḥ-w-j → “need”

literal: need; necessity; requirement

داشت.

d-ʾ-sh-t → “have” Distinctive

literal: to have; to possess; to hold

انشاءاللّه

sh-y-ʾ → “God willing” Distinctive

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

اميدواريم

ʾ-m-d → “We fain would hope”

literal: hopeful; hope; hoping

شاطی

sh-ṭ-ʾ → “from the shores”

literal: fitting; suitable; becoming

بحر

b-ḥ-r → “of the ocean”

literal: sea; ocean

لب

l-b → “still athirst”

literal: core; essence; intellect; hearts (of understanding)

تشنه

t-sh-n

literal: thirsty; languishing; athirst

محروم

ḥ-r-m → “not return, deprived”

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

نگرديد

g-r-d

literal: become; to become; make

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “of thy heart’s desire”

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

بی

b-y

literal: without; is; to

بهره

b-h-r → “resplendent” Distinctive

literal: portion, share; for the sake of; spring (season)

راجع

r-j-ʿ

literal: return; reference; place of return; resort

تا

t-y-y

literal: so that/until

همّت

h-m-m

literal: them (feminine or general); by them; through them

مجاهده

j-h-d → “Strive”

literal: effort; striving; exertion; endeavor

شما

sh-m-ʾ → “what thy search”

literal: you (plural); your

چه

ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

کند.

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to act; to dig, excavate; slow

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶