Kitáb-i-Íqán — §149

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 149 of 291.

Source (Persian)

جميع اين آيات مدلّه بر لقاء را که حکمی محکم تر از آن در کتب سماوی ملحوظ نگشته انکار نمودهاند و از اين رتبه بلند اعلی و مرتبه ارجمند ابهی خود را محروم ساختهاند. و بعضی ذکر نمودهاند که مقصود از لقاء، تجلّی اللّه است در قيامت. و حال آنکه اگر گويند تجلّی عامّ مقصود است اين در همه اشياء موجود است. چنانچه از قبل ثابت شد که همه اشياء محلّ و مظهر تجلّی آن سلطان حقيقی هستند و آثار اشراقِ شمسِ مجلّی در مرايای موجودات موجود و لائح است. بلکه اگر انسان را بصر معنوی الهی مفتوح شود ملاحظه می نمايد که هيچ شیء بی ظهور تجلّی پادشاه حقيقی موجود نه. چنانچه همه ممکنات و مخلوقات را ملاحظه می نمائيد که حاکی اند از ظهور و بروز آن نور معنوی. و ابواب رضوان الهی را مشاهده می فرمائيد که در همه اشياء مفتوح گشته برای ورود طالبين در مدائن معرفت و حکمت و دخول واصلين در حدائق علم و قدرت. و در هر حديقه ای عروس معانی ملاحظه آيد که در غرف های کلمات در نهايت تزيين و تلطيف جالس اند. و اکثر آيات فرقانی بر اين مطلب روحانی مدلّ و مشعر است. "وَ إنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إلّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمدِهِ." شاهدی است ناطق، "وَ کُلَّ شیءٍ اَحْصَيْنَاهُ کِتَاباً" گواهی است صادق. حال اگر مقصود از لقاء اللّه، لقاء اين تجلّيات باشد پس جميع ناس به لقاء طلعت لايزال آن سلطان بی مثال مشرّف اند ديگر تخصيص به قيامت چرا؟

Shoghi Effendi Translation

This people have repudiated all these verses, that unmistakably testify to the reality of “attainment unto the Divine Presence.” No theme hath been more emphatically asserted in the holy scriptures. Notwithstanding, they have deprived themselves of this lofty and most exalted rank, this supreme and glorious station. Some have contended that by “attainment unto the Divine Presence” is meant the “Revelation” of God in the Day of Resurrection. Should they assert that the “Revelation” of God signifieth a “Universal Revelation,” it is clear and evident that such revelation already existeth in all things. The truth of this We have already established, inasmuch as We have demonstrated that all things are the recipients and revealers of the splendours of that ideal King, and that the signs of the revelation of that Sun, the Source of all splendour, exist and are manifest in the mirrors of beings. Nay, were man to gaze with the eye of divine and spiritual discernment, he will readily recognize that nothing whatsoever can exist without the revelation of the splendour of God, the ideal King. Consider how all created things eloquently testify to the revelation of that inner Light within them. Behold how within all things the portals of the Ridván of God are opened, that seekers may attain the cities of understanding and wisdom, and enter the gardens of knowledge and power. Within every garden they will behold the mystic bride of inner meaning enshrined within the chambers of utterance in the utmost grace and fullest adornment. Most of the verses of the Qur’án indicate, and bear witness to, this spiritual theme. The verse: “Neither is there aught which doth not celebrate His praise” is eloquent testimony thereto; and “We noted all things and wrote them down,” a faithful witness thereof. Now, if by “attainment unto the Presence of God” is meant attainment unto the knowledge of such revelation, it is evident that all men have already attained unto the presence of the unchangeable Countenance of that peerless King. Why, then, restrict such revelation to the Day of Resurrection?

Translation Notes

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all these”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

آيات

ʾ-y-y → “verses”

literal: verse; sign; miracle; proof; sign, verse, miracle, token, indication; ayah; he; him; it

مدلّه

d-l-l → “testify”

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

بر

b-r-r

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

لقاء

l-q-y → ““attainment unto the Divine Presence.””

literal: opposite; facing; in front of; towards

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

حکمی

ḥ-k-m → “wisdom”

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

تر

t-r-r → “more”

literal: more (comparative suffix)

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

آن

ʾ-n → “that ideal”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

کتب

k-t-b → “holy scriptures”

literal: book; scripture; writing

سماوی

s-m-w

literal: heaven; sky

ملحوظ

l-ḥ-ẓ → “Behold” Distinctive

literal: to observe; to consider; to note; observation

نگشته

g-sh-t → “hath been” Distinctive

literal: to become; to turn; to be

انکار

n-k-r → “repudiated”

literal: denial; rejection; repudiation; wrong; evil; to deny; to reject

نمودهاند

n-m-w → “have contended”

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

رتبه

r-t-b → “rank”

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

بلند

b-l-n-d → “lofty”

literal: high; lofty; raised; to raise

اعلی

ʿ-l-w → “most exalted”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

ارجمند

r-j-m-n-d → “supreme”

literal: accursed; stoned; expelled

ابهی

b-h-w → “glorious”

literal: splendor; glory; magnificence; Bahá (Proper Name in Bahá’í texts)

خود

kh-w-d

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

محروم

ḥ-r-m → “deprived”

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

ساختهاند.

s-ʾ-z → “illuminate” Distinctive

literal: hard, difficult, severe; harshness

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “Some”

literal: part; some; portion

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “meant”

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

تجلّی

j-l-w → ““Revelation””

literal: effulgence; manifestation; revelation

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

قيامت.

q-w-m → “Day of Resurrection”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

حال

ḥ-w-l → “Now”

literal: state; condition; circumstance

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “that” Distinctive

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

گويند

g-w-y

literal: say; to say; as-if

عامّ

ʿ-m-m → ““Universal”

literal: with her/it; associated with her/it

همه

h-m-h → “all things”

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

اشياء

sh-y-ʾ → “things”

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

موجود

w-j-d → “existeth”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

قبل

q-b-l → “before”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

ثابت

th-b-t → “established”

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

شد

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

محلّ

ḥ-l-l → “recipients”

literal: place; location; spot

مظهر

ẓ-h-r → “revealers”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

سلطان

s-l-ṭ → “King”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

حقيقی

ḥ-q-q → “truth”

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

هستند

h-s-t → “are”

literal: to be; to exist

آثار

ʾ-th-r → “signs”

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

اشراقِ

sh-r-q → “revelation” Distinctive

literal: radiance; splendor; dawn; illumination

شمسِ

sh-m-s → “Sun”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

مرايای

r-ʾ-y → “mirrors”

literal: to guard, watch over, regard, heed, respect, maintain; care; protection; guardianship; watchfulness

لائح

l-w-ḥ → “manifest”

literal: to appear; to shine; to flash; to gleam

بلکه

b-l-k → “Nay”

literal: nay; but rather; on the contrary; but

انسان

ʾ-n-s → “man”

literal: man; human being; mankind

بصر

b-ṣ-r → “eye”

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

معنوی

ʿ-n-y → “spiritual”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

مفتوح

f-t-ḥ → “opened”

literal: opening; opening up; conquests; revelations; disclosure

شود

sh-w-d

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

می

m-y-y

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

نمايد

n-m-ʾ → “recognize” Distinctive

literal: to show, to display, to manifest, to exhibit; to manifest; to display; to show

هيچ

h-y-ch → “any”

literal: nothing; any; not a single

بی

b-y → “without”

literal: without; is; to

پادشاه

p-ʾ-d-sh-ʾ-h → “Sháh”

literal: king; monarch; shah

نه.

n-h-y

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

ممکنات

m-k-n → “created things”

literal: establishment; confirmation; empowerment; firm settlement; place; possibility; being (negated as ‘non-being’)

مخلوقات

kh-l-q

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

حاکی

ḥ-k-y → “story” Distinctive

literal: telling; indicative; narrator; testifier; narrative; story; account; tale; to relate; one who relates; speaking of

بروز

b-r-z → “Revelation”

literal: appearance; manifestation; coming forth

نور

n-w-r → “inner Light”

literal: light; illumination

ابواب

b-w-b → “portals”

literal: door; gate; chapter; way; manner

رضوان

r-ḍ-w → “Ridván”

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

مشاهده

sh-h-d → “witness”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

فرمائيد

f-r-m → “he” Distinctive

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

برای

b-r-y → “that” Distinctive

literal: to see; to perceive; to look; to see, to observe, to behold; to view; vision; dream; sight; ل is prefix; verb تری (you see) is from ر-ا-ي

ورود

w-r-d → “attain” Distinctive

literal: to enter, to come, to befall, to arrive

طالبين

ṭ-l-b → “seekers”

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

مدائن

m-d-n → “cities”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

معرفت

ʿ-r-f → “understanding”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

دخول

d-kh-l → “enter”

literal: to enter; to admit; to bring in

واصلين

w-ṣ-l

literal: and; union; reach

حدائق

ḥ-d-q → “unto the garden”

literal: garden; gardens; garden, paradise

علم

ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

قدرت.

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

ای

ʾ-y-y

literal: verse; sign; miracle; proof; sign, verse, miracle, token, indication; ayah; he; him; it

عروس

ʿ-r-s → “bride”

literal: bride; bridegroom; resplendent

آيد

ʾ-y-d

literal: come; support; may aid

غرف

gh-r-f → “chambers”

literal: chamber; room; elevated chamber

های

null

literal: and; that; in

کلمات

k-l-m → “utterance”

literal: words; utterances; locutions; word; utterance; speech; sayings; verses

نهايت

n-h-y → “utmost”

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

تزيين

z-y-n → “adorned”

literal: to adorn; ornament; beauty; adornment; embellishment; decoration

تلطيف

l-ṭ-f → “loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: kindness; grace; gentleness; benevolence

جالس

j-l-s → “seated”

literal: council; assembly; gathering; session

اکثر

k-th-r → “Most”

literal: majority; multitude; abundance; multiplicity

فرقانی

f-r-q → “Qur’án”

literal: faction; sect; group; company

روحانی

r-w-ḥ → “spiritual”

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

مشعر

sh-ʿ-r → “consciousness” Distinctive

literal: hair

"وَ

w-w-w → “God” Distinctive

literal: and; quotation mark

مِنْ

m-n

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

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r

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

يُسَبِّحُ

s-b-ḥ → “Glorified” Distinctive

literal: glorified; the All-Praised; exalted; dawn; daybreak; morning

بِحَمدِهِ."

ḥ-m-d → “His praise””

literal: praise; Muhammad; praised

ناطق،

n-ṭ-q → “spoken” Distinctive

literal: to speak; to utter; to pronounce; to articulate

کُلَّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

اَحْصَيْنَاهُ

ḥ-ṣ-y → “reckon”

literal: count; enumerate; enumeration

صادق.

ṣ-d-q → “faithful”

literal: to confirm; to verify; to acknowledge; to testify to truth

پس

p-s

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

ناس

n-ʾ-s → “men”

literal: companionship; fellowship; familiarity; to keep company

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

طلعت

ṭ-l-ʿ → “Dayspring” Distinctive

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

لايزال

z-w-l → “at all times” Distinctive

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

مثال

m-th-l

literal: weight; heavy; weighty testimony

مشرّف

sh-r-f

literal: honor; nobility; eminence; to honor

ديگر

d-g-r → “another”

literal: home; place; land; abode

تخصيص

kh-ṣ-ṣ → “singled out” Distinctive

literal: specific matter; particularity; especially; in this matter

چرا؟

ch-r-ʾ → “Why should”

literal: why; wherefore

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 ¶