Kitáb-i-Íqán — §155
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 155 of 291.
Source (Persian)
و اين رتبه هم از علائم ظهور است چنانچه می فرمايد: "يَجْعَلُ اَعلاکُم اَسْفَلَکم وَ اَسْفَلَکُم اَعلاکُم." و همچنين در فرقان می فرمايد: "و نُرِيدُ اَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَی الَّذِينَ استُضْعِفُوا فِی الاَرضِ و نَجْعَلَهُمْ اَئِمَّةً و نَجْعَلُهُمُ الوَارِثيِن." و اين مشاهده شد که اليوم چه مقدار از علماء نظر به اعراض در اسفل اراضی جهل ساکن شدهاند و اساميشان از دفتر عالين و علماء محو شده. و چه مقدار از جهّال، نظر به اقبال، به اعلی افق علم ارتفاع جستند و اسمشان در الواح علم و به قلم قدرت ثبت گشته. کذلک"يَمْحُوا اللّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ وَ عِنْدَهُ اُمُّ الکِتابِ." اين است که گفتهاند: "طلبُ الدَّليلِ عِندَ حُصُولِ المدلولِ قبيحٌ و الاشتِغالُ بِالعِلمِ بَعدَ الوُصُولِ إلَی المَعلُومِ مَذْمُومٌ." قُل يا اَهلَ الاَرضِ هذا فَتیً نارِيٌّ يَرکُضُ فی بَرِّيَّةِ الرُّوحِ و يُبَشِّرُکُم بِسراج اللّه وَ يُذَکِّرُکُمْ بِالاَمرِ الّذی کانَ عَن اُفُقِ القُدسِ فی شَطرِ العراقِ تَحتَ حُجُباتِ النّور بِالسّترِ مَشهُوداً.
Shoghi Effendi Translation
This station is also one of the signs of the Day of Revelation; even as it is said: “The abased amongst you, He shall exalt; and they that are exalted, He shall abase.” And likewise, He hath revealed in the Qur’án: “And We desire to show favour to those who were brought low in the land, and to make them spiritual leaders among men, and to make of them Our heirs.” It hath been witnessed in this day how many of the divines, owing to their rejection of the Truth, have fallen into, and abide within, the uttermost depths of ignorance, and whose names have been effaced from the scroll of the glorious and learned. And how many of the ignorant who, by reason of their acceptance of the Faith, have soared aloft and attained the high summit of knowledge, and whose names have been inscribed by the Pen of Power upon the Tablet of divine Knowledge. Thus, “What He pleaseth will God abrogate or confirm: for with Him is the Source of Revelation.” Therefore, it hath been said: “To seek evidence, when the Proof hath been established is but an unseemly act, and to be busied with the pursuit of knowledge when the Object of all learning hath been attained is truly blameworthy.” Say O people of the earth! Behold this flamelike Youth that speedeth across the limitless profound of the Spirit, heralding unto you the tidings: “Lo: the Lamp of God is shining,” and summoning you to heed His Cause which, though hidden beneath the veils of ancient splendour, shineth in the land of ‘Iráq above the day-spring of eternal holiness.
Translation Notes
ظهور
literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation
اَهلَ
literal: people; inhabitants; family; kin; worthy; deserving; my family; my people; my kin
بَرِّيَّةِ
literal: to create; to create anew; to be free from; innocent; free from; clear of; to cure; to heal; to clear
يُذَکِّرُکُمْ
literal: remembrance; mention; memory; invocation; reminders; commemorations
بِالاَمرِ
literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order
