Kitáb-i-Íqán — §16

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 16 of 291.

Source (Persian)

پس قدری به ديده بصيرت الهيّه در آفاق علم ربّانی و انفس کلمات تامّه صمدانيّه تعقّل فرمائيد تا جميع اسرار حکمت روحانيّه بی سبحات جلال از خلف سرادق فضل و افضال ظاهر و هويدا شود. و کلّيّه اعتراض مردم و احتجاجات ايشان از عدم ادراک و عرفان حاصل شده. مثلاً بياناتی که طلعات جمال حقّ در علامات ظهور بعد فرمودند آن بيانات را ادراک ننمودند و يه حقيقت آن واصل نشدند لهذا عَلَم فساد برافراختند و رايات فتنه برپا نمودند. و اين معلوم است که تأويل کلمات حمامات ازليّه را جز هياکل ازليّه ادراک ننمايند و نغمات ورقاء معنويّه را جز سامعه اهل بقا نشنود. هرگز قبطی ظلم از شراب سبطی عدل نصيب ندارد و فرعون کفر از بيضای موسی اطّلاع نيابد. چنانچه می فرمايد: "وَمَا يَعلَمُ تأويلَهُ إلّا اللّهُ و الرّاسِخُونَ فِی العِلمِ." مع ذلک تأويل کتاب را از اهل حجاب مستفسر شدند و علم را از منبع او اخذ ننمودند.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

With fixed and steady gaze, born of the unerring eye of God, scan for a while the horizon of divine knowledge, and contemplate those words of perfection which the Eternal hath revealed, that haply the mysteries of divine wisdom, hidden ere now beneath the veil of glory and treasured within the tabernacle of His grace, may be made manifest unto you. The denials and protestations of these leaders of religion have, in the main, been due to their lack of knowledge and understanding. Those words uttered by the Revealers of the beauty of the one true God, setting forth the signs that should herald the advent of the Manifestation to come, they never understood nor fathomed. Hence they raised the standard of revolt, and stirred up mischief and sedition. It is obvious and manifest that the true meaning of the utterances of the Birds of Eternity is revealed to none except those that manifest the Eternal Being, and the melodies of the Nightingale of Holiness can reach no ear save that of the denizens of the everlasting realm. The Copt of tyranny can never partake of the cup touched by the lips of the Sept of justice, and the Pharaoh of unbelief can never hope to recognize the hand of the Moses of truth. Even as He saith: “None knoweth the meaning thereof except God and them that are well-grounded in knowledge.” And yet, they have sought the interpretation of the Book from those that are wrapt in veils, and have refused to seek enlightenment from the fountain-head of knowledge.

Translation Notes

پس

p-s

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

قدری

q-d-r → “for a while”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

ديده

d-y-d

literal: to give; to grant; to present; justice; judgment; to see; sight; eye; seen

بصيرت

b-ṣ-r → “gaze” Distinctive

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

الهيّه

ʾ-l-h → “of God”

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

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

آفاق

ʾ-f-q → “horizon” Distinctive

literal: horizons; regions; quarters; skylines

علم

ʿ-l-m → “divine knowledge”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

ربّانی

r-b-b → “Lord” Distinctive

literal: education; upbringing; training; cultivation

انفس

n-f-s

literal: self; soul; souls

کلمات

k-l-m → “those words”

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

تامّه

t-m-m → “of perfection”

literal: most complete; to complete; perfect; fullness

صمدانيّه

ṣ-m-d → “Eternal”

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

تعقّل

ʿ-q-l → “mind” Distinctive

literal: intellect; minds; understand

فرمائيد

f-r-m → “hath revealed” Distinctive

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

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “the” Distinctive

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

اسرار

s-r-r → “mysteries”

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

حکمت

ḥ-k-m → “divine wisdom”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

روحانيّه

r-w-ḥ

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

بی

b-y

literal: without; is; to

سبحات

s-b-ḥ → “Glorified” Distinctive

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

جلال

j-l-l → “of glory”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

از

ʾ-z → “from”

literal: from

خلف

kh-l-f

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

سرادق

s-r-d-q → “tabernacle”

literal: pavilion; tabernacle; canopy; tent

فضل

f-ḍ-l → “of His grace”

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “be made manifest”

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

هويدا

h-w-y → “manifest”

literal: cradle; bed; couch; resting place

شود.

sh-w-d → “may” Distinctive

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

کلّيّه

k-l-l → “all”

literal: all; every; whole; entirety; entire; completely

اعتراض

ʿ-r-ḍ → “denials”

literal: objection, protest, denial; cavil

مردم

m-r-d → “people”

literal: rebellion; mutiny; revolt

احتجاجات

ḥ-j-j

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

ايشان

ʾ-y-sh

literal: that; it (object pronoun with suffix)

عدم

ʿ-d-m → “lack of”

literal: nonexistent; void; nullified

ادراک

d-r-k → “understood” Distinctive

literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend

عرفان

ʿ-r-f → “knowledge”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

حاصل

ḥ-ṣ-l

literal: obtained; result; sum

مثلاً

m-th-l

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

بياناتی

b-y-n → “Those words”

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

طلعات

ṭ-l-ʿ → “Revealers” Distinctive

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

جمال

j-m-l → “beauty”

literal: beauty; comeliness

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “true God”

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

بعد

b-ʿ-d → “to come” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

آن

ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

بيانات

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

يه

literal: to; to, by; to/with

واصل

w-ṣ-l

literal: reunion; union; meeting; connection

نشدند

sh-d → “they”

literal: to become; to be

لهذا

l-dh-ʾ → “therefore”

literal: therefore; for this reason; hence; so

فساد

f-s-d → “up mischief”

literal: corruption; ruin; discord; mischief; decay

برافراختند

ʾ-f-r-kh-t → “they raised”

literal: to raise

رايات

r-w-y

literal: banner; banner/flag; banners

فتنه

f-t-n → “and sedition”

literal: trial; tribulation; temptation; sedition; discord; strife

برپا

b-r-p-ʾ

literal: erected; established; set up

نمودند.

n-m-ود → “hath” Distinctive

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

اين

ʾ-y-n → “It”

literal: this; these

است

b-w-d

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

تأويل

ʾ-w-l → “first” Distinctive

literal: interpretation; elucidation; commentary

حمامات

ḥ-m-m → “Doves”

literal: dove; pigeon

ازليّه

ʾ-z-l → “of Eternity” Distinctive

literal: eternity; pre-eternity; without beginning; eternal; everlasting; from eternity

جز

j-z → “apart from”

literal: except

هياکل

h-y-k-l → “form” Distinctive

literal: temple; body; edifice; structure

نغمات

n-gh-m → “melodies”

literal: melody; tone; note

ورقاء

w-r-q → “Nightingale” Distinctive

literal: leaf, page, sheet, parchment, document

معنويّه

ʿ-n-y → “meaning” Distinctive

literal: meaning; sense; significance

سامعه

s-m-ʿ → “no ear” Distinctive

literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention

اهل

ʾ-h-l → “denizens” Distinctive

literal: people; inhabitants; family; kin; worthy; deserving; my family; my people; my kin

بقا

b-q-y → “everlasting” Distinctive

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

نشنود.

sh-n-w → “heard” Distinctive

literal: most ugly; most abominable; most heinous

هرگز

h-r-g → “can never”

literal: never; at no time; never ever

قبطی

q-b-ṭ → “Copt”

literal: Copt, Egyptian

ظلم

ẓ-l-m → “of tyranny”

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

شراب

sh-r-b → “quaffed” Distinctive

literal: to drink; to imbibe

سبطی

s-b-ṭ → “Sept”

literal: Sept, descendant

عدل

ʿ-d-l → “of justice”

literal: justice; equity

نصيب

n-ṣ-b → “partake”

literal: share; portion; lot; fate

ندارد

d-ʾ-r

literal: below; lower than; beneath

فرعون

f-r-ʿ → “offshoots”

literal: branch; offshoot; to branch off

کفر

k-f-r → “of unbelief”

literal: to disbelieve, reject; unbelief, ingratitude; to deny, to disbelieve, to reject

بيضای

b-y-ḍ → “snow-white” Distinctive

literal: white; pure; bright; radiant; clear

نيابد.

y-ʾ-f → “discover the things” Distinctive

literal: to find; to obtain; to discover; to reach

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “Even as”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

می

m-y-y

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

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

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

الرّاسِخُونَ

r-s-kh → “them that are well-grounded”

literal: steadfast; firm; firmly rooted; established

فِی

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

مع

m-ʿ → “And yet”

literal: with; together with; alongside

ذلک

dh-l-k

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

کتاب

k-t-b → “Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

حجاب

ḥ-j-b → “that are wrapt” Distinctive

literal: to veil oneself, to be veiled

مستفسر

f-s-r → “interpreted” Distinctive

literal: commentary; explanation; interpretation; exegesis

منبع

n-b-ʿ → “Source”

literal: to not be; non-existence; there is not

او

h-w-w

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

اخذ

ʾ-kh-dh → “have refused to seek”

literal: to take; to seize; to affect; to grasp

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 ¶