Kitáb-i-Íqán — §140

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 140 of 291.

Source (Persian)

ديگر اگر بخواهم رشحی از اسرار شهادت و ثمرهای آن را ذکر نمايم البتّه اين الواح کفايت نکند و به انتها نرساند. انشاءاللّه اميدواريم که نسيم رحمتی بوزد و شجره وجود از ربيع الهی خلعت جديد پوشد تا به اسرار حکمت ربّانی پی بريم و به عنايت او از عرفان کلّ شیء بی نياز گرديم. تا حال نفسی مشهود نگشت که به اين مقام فائز آيد مگر معدودی قليل که هيچ معروف نيستند تا بعد قضای الهی چه اقتضا نمايد و ازخلف سرادق امضا چه ظاهر شود. کَذلِکَ نَذکُرُ لَکُم مِن بَدائعِ امراللّه وَ نُلقی عَلَيکُم من نَغَماتِ الفِردوسِ لَعَلَّکُم بِمواقع العِلمِ تَصِلُونَ و مِن ثَمَراتِ العِلمِ تُرزَقُونَ. پس به يقين بايددانست که اين شموس عظمت اگر چه بر نقطه تراب جالس باشند بر عرش اعظم ساکن اند و اگر فلسی نزدشان موجود نباشد بر رفرف غنا طائراند و در حينی که در دست دشمنان مبتلايند بر يمين قدرت و غلبه ساکن و در کمال ذلّت ظاهره بر عرش عزّت صمدانی جالس و متّکأ و در نهايت عجز ظاهری بر کرسيّ سلطنت و اقتدار قائم.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Should We wish to impart unto thee a glimmer of the mysteries of Husayn’s martyrdom, and reveal unto thee the fruits thereof, these pages could never suffice, nor exhaust their meaning. Our hope is that, God willing, the breeze of mercy may blow, and the divine Springtime clothe the tree of being with the robe of a new life; so that we may discover the mysteries of divine Wisdom, and, through His providence, be made independent of the knowledge of all things. We have, as yet, descried none but a handful of souls, destitute of all renown, who have attained unto this station. Let the future disclose what the Judgment of God will ordain, and the Tabernacle of His decree reveal. In such wise We recount unto thee the wonders of the Cause of God, and pour out into thine ears the strains of heavenly melody, that haply thou mayest attain unto the station of true knowledge, and partake of the fruit thereof. Therefore, know thou of a certainty that these Luminaries of heavenly majesty, though their dwelling be in the dust, yet their true habitation is the seat of glory in the realms above. Though bereft of all earthly possessions, yet they soar in the realms of immeasurable riches. And whilst sore tried in the grip of the enemy, they are seated on the right hand of power and celestial dominion. Amidst the darkness of their abasement there shineth upon them the light of unfading glory, and upon their helplessness are showered the tokens of an invincible sovereignty.

Translation Notes

ديگر

d-g-r

literal: home; place; land; abode

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

بخواهم

kh-w-h → “will” Distinctive

literal: to want; to wish; will (future auxiliary); brother; sibling

رشحی

r-sh-ḥ → “sprinkling”

literal: emanations; outpourings; effusions

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

اسرار

s-r-r → “mysteries”

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

شهادت

sh-h-d → “martyrdom”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

ثمرهای

th-m-r → “fruits”

literal: fruit; the fruit

آن

ʾ-n → “thereof”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

نمايم

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to grow, develop

البتّه

b-t-t

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

الواح

l-w-ḥ → “pages” Distinctive

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

کفايت

k-f-y → “suffice”

literal: to be content; to suffice; to be satisfied; to be satisfied with

نکند

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

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

به

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

انتها

n-h-y → “utmost” Distinctive

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

نرساند.

r-s-d → “reached” Distinctive

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

انشاءاللّه

sh-y-ʾ → “that, God willing” Distinctive

literal: creation; bringing into existence; establishment; God willing; if God wishes; please God

اميدواريم

ʾ-m-d → “Our hope is”

literal: hopeful; hope; hoping

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

نسيم

n-s-m → “breeze”

literal: breeze; gentle wind; fragrance

رحمتی

r-ḥ-m → “mercy”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

بوزد

w-z-d → “be wafted” Distinctive

literal: to blow; to waft

شجره

sh-j-r → “tree”

literal: tree

وجود

w-j-d → “being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

ربيع

r-b-ʿ → “Springtime”

literal: four; quarter; group of four

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “divine”

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

خلعت

kh-l-ʿ → “robe”

literal: robe; garment of honor; investiture

جديد

j-d-d → “new”

literal: new, novel, renewed; novelty, innovation

پوشد

p-w-sh → “clothed it with the mantle”

literal: to cover; to clothe; to dress

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

حکمت

ḥ-k-m → “Wisdom”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

ربّانی

r-b-b → “divine”

literal: education; upbringing; training; cultivation

پی

p-y → “discover”

literal: trace; pursuit; trace, awareness

بريم

b-r-y → “Briefly” Distinctive

literal: for; on; briefly

عنايت

ʿ-n-y → “providence” Distinctive

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

او

h-w-w → “His”

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

عرفان

ʿ-r-f → “knowledge”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

کلّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

بی

b-y → “independent”

literal: without; is; to

نياز

n-y-ʾ-z

literal: also; likewise; and; as well; too

گرديم.

g-r-d → “become” Distinctive

literal: become; to become; make

حال

ḥ-w-l

literal: state; condition; circumstance

نفسی

n-f-s → “souls”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

نگشت

g-sh-t

literal: to become; to be

مقام

q-w-m → “station”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

فائز

f-w-z → “attained”

literal: benefit, profit, advantage; usefulness; bounty; effusion; grace

آيد

ʾ-y-d

literal: come; support; may aid

مگر

m-g-r → “but” Distinctive

literal: matter; affair; thing

معدودی

ʿ-d-d → “capacity” Distinctive

literal: numerous; many; multiple

قليل

q-l-l

literal: little; few; scanty; small in quantity

هيچ

h-y-ch → “any”

literal: nothing; any; not a single

نيستند

h-s-t → “is” Distinctive

literal: is not; not to be; does not exist; negation, denial, banishment; to negate, deny, banish; contradiction; opposition; contrariety

بعد

b-ʿ-d → “future” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

قضای

q-ḍ-y → “decree”

literal: requirement; exigency; what demands or calls for; to require; to necessitate; to demand

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

ازخلف

kh-l-f

literal: different; behind; difference

سرادق

s-r-d-q → “Tabernacle”

literal: pavilion; tabernacle; canopy; tent

امضا

m-ḍ-y → “decree”

literal: past; signature

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “reveal”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

شود.

sh-w-d

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

کَذلِکَ

dh-l-k → “In such wise”

literal: thus; likewise; also

لَکُم

l-k-m → “unto thee”

literal: for you, to you, your (dative pronoun)

مِن

m-n

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

بَدائعِ

b-d-ʿ → “wonders”

literal: to create; most wondrous; excel

امراللّه

ʾ-m-r → “Cause of God”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

نُلقی

l-q-y → “Presence” Distinctive

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

عَلَيکُم

ʿ-l-y → “upon”

literal: exalted; highest; supreme; most high; upon you; on; over; Ali (name); upon

نَغَماتِ

n-gh-m → “melodies”

literal: melody; tone; note

الفِردوسِ

f-r-d-w-s → “Paradise”

literal: Paradise; garden; the highest paradise

لَعَلَّکُم

ʿ-l-l → “cause” Distinctive

literal: perhaps; perchance; hopefully

بِمواقع

w-q-ʿ → “occurred” Distinctive

literal: to fall, to occur, to happen; incident, event

العِلمِ

ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

تَصِلُونَ

w-ṣ-l → “thou mayest attain”

literal: reunion; union; meeting; connection

تُرزَقُونَ.

r-z-q → “partake of the”

literal: sustenance; provision; to grant livelihood

پس

p-s → “From”

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

يقين

y-q-n → “certainty” Distinctive

literal: certainty; certitude; conviction; faith

بايددانست

d-n-s-t → “interpreted” Distinctive

literal: to know, to consider, to deem; know

شموس

sh-m-s → “Luminaries”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

عظمت

ʿ-ẓ-m → “majesty”

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

بر

b-r-r → “upon”

literal: on; on, upon; upon

نقطه

n-q-ṭ

literal: point; dot; spot; region; area

تراب

t-r-b → “dust”

literal: dust; earth; soil

جالس

j-l-s → “seated”

literal: council; assembly; gathering; session

باشند

b-w-d → “are” Distinctive

literal: to be; to exist; to remain

عرش

ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: of the Throne; companion of the Throne

ساکن

s-k-n → “is” Distinctive

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

فلسی

f-l-s

literal: penny, farthing; coin

نزدشان

n-z-d → “unto”

literal: near; beside; with; in the presence of

رفرف

r-f-r

literal: twinkling; blinking; moment

غنا

gh-n-y → “riches”

literal: to be independent of; to be in no need of; to dispense with; rich; wealthy; needless

طائراند

ṭ-y-r → “they soar”

literal: bird; fly; flight

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

حينی

ḥ-y-n

literal: time; moment; while; season

دست

d-s-t → “hand”

literal: hand; control, power, authority

دشمنان

d-sh-m → “foes”

literal: enemy; adversary; foe

مبتلايند

b-l-w → “tribulations” Distinctive

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

يمين

y-m-n → “right hand”

literal: right hand; oath; right side

قدرت

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

غلبه

gh-l-b → “ascendancy”

literal: to overcome, overpower, vanquish, prevail

کمال

k-m-l

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

ذلّت

dh-l-l → “abasement”

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

عزّت

ʿ-z-z → “glory”

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

صمدانی

ṣ-m-d

literal: eternal, self-sufficient, divine, the Eternal

متّکأ

w-k-ʾ

literal: reclining, leaning

عجز

ʿ-j-z → “helplessness”

literal: to be unable; to fail; to be exhausted; impotence; أعجاز (roots of trees/extremities) is Pattern II plural, distinct from ‘inability’ forms

کرسيّ

k-r-s

literal: throne, seat; chair

سلطنت

s-l-ṭ → “sovereignty”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

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 ¶