Kitáb-i-Íqán — §132

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 132 of 291.

Source (Persian)

باری، اين است يک معنی از سلطنت باطنی که نظر به استعداد و قابليّت ناس ذکر شد. و از برای آن نقطه وجود و طلعت محمود سلطنت هاست که اين مظلوم قادر براظهار آن رتبه نيست و خلق لايق ادراک آن نه. فَسُبحانَ اللّهِ عَمّا يَصِفُ العِبادُ فِی سَلطَنَتِهِ وَ تَعَالی عَمّا هُم يَذکُرُونَ.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

This is but one of the meanings of the spiritual sovereignty which We have set forth in accordance with the capacity and receptiveness of the people. For He, the Mover of all beings, that glorified Countenance, is the source of such potencies as neither this wronged One can reveal, nor this unworthy people comprehend. Immensely exalted is He above men’s praise of His sovereignty; glorified is He beyond that which they attribute unto Him!

Translation Notes

باری،

b-r-y → “such” Distinctive

literal: well; cistern; pit

اين

ʾ-y-n → “This is” Distinctive

literal: this; these

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

يک

y-k

literal: one; a single

معنی

ʿ-n-y → “of the meanings”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

از

ʾ-z → “of the”

literal: from

سلطنت

s-l-ṭ → “spiritual sovereignty”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

باطنی

b-ṭ-n

literal: inner; hidden; inward; esoteric

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

نظر

n-ẓ-r → “Consider”

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

استعداد

ʿ-d-d → “capacity”

literal: numerous; many; multiple

قابليّت

q-b-l → “before” Distinctive

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

ناس

n-ʾ-s → “of the people”

literal: companionship; fellowship; familiarity; to keep company

ذکر

dh-k-r → “set forth” Distinctive

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

شد.

sh-d → “We have” Distinctive

literal: to become; to be

برای

b-r-y

literal: well; cistern; pit

آن

ʾ-n → “that glorified”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

نقطه

n-q-ṭ

literal: point; dot; spot; region; area

وجود

w-j-d → “of all beings”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

طلعت

ṭ-l-ʿ → “Countenance”

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

محمود

ḥ-m-d

literal: praise; to praise

هاست

h-s-t

literal: is; be; are

مظلوم

ẓ-l-m → “One”

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

قادر

q-d-r → “can” Distinctive

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

براظهار

ẓ-h-r → “reveal”

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

رتبه

r-t-b

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

خلق

kh-l-q → “this unworthy people” Distinctive

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

لايق

l-y-q

literal: worthy, befitting, appropriate, suitable

ادراک

d-r-k → “comprehend”

literal: veiling; concealment