Kitáb-i-Íqán — §173

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 173 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و به اين مطلب جميع اهل ارض در اين ظهور ممتحن شدهاند چنانچه اکثری به همين قول تمسّک جسته از صاحب قول معرض شدهاند. و نمی دانم اين قوم از اوّليّت و آخريّت حقّ جلّ ذکره چه ادراک نمودهاند؟ اگر مقصود از اوّليّت و آخريّت، اوّليّت و آخريّت مُلکی باشد هنوز که اسباب مُلکی به آخر نرسيده، پس چگونه آخريّت بر آن ذات احديّت صادق می آيد؟ بلکه در اين رتبه اوّليّت نفسِ آخريّت و آخريّت نفس اوّليّت باشد.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The mystery of this theme hath, in this Dispensation, been a sore test unto all mankind. Behold, how many are those who, clinging unto these words, have disbelieved Him Who is their true Revealer. What, We ask, could this people presume the terms “first” and “last”—when referring to God—glorified be His Name!—to mean? If they maintain that these terms bear reference to this material universe, how could it be possible, when the visible order of things is still manifestly existing? Nay, in this instance, by “first” is meant no other than the “last” and by “last” no other than the “first.”

Translation Notes

به

b-h → “unto”

literal: by it; by him; with it

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this”

literal: this; these

مطلب

ṭ-l-b → “theme”

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

اهل

ʾ-h-l

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

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ

literal: earth; land; ground; country

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

ظهور

ẓ-h-r → “Dispensation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

ممتحن

m-ḥ-n → “sore test”

literal: trial; tribulation; affliction; test

شدهاند

sh-d → “been” Distinctive

literal: become; turned into; has become; to become; to be

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

اکثری

k-th-r → “how many”

literal: majority; multitude; abundance; multiplicity

همين

h-m-n → “Help in Peril” Distinctive

literal: the same; that very

قول

q-w-l → “these words”

literal: speech; utterance; saying; word

تمسّک

m-s-k → “clinging” Distinctive

literal: musk; to seize; grip; to hold fast; to cling to; to grasp

جسته

j-s-t → “have clung” Distinctive

literal: to seek; to cling; to grasp; to strive

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

صاحب

ṣ-ḥ-b → “Revealer”

literal: possessor; those who have; companion; followers

معرض

ʿ-r-ḍ → “turned away”

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

نمی

n-h-y → “forbidden”

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

دانم

d-ʾ-n → “considered” Distinctive

literal: this world; earthly life; temporal realm; lowest; base; mean; of little account; to know; to be acquainted with

قوم

q-w-m → “people”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

اوّليّت

ʾ-w-l → ““first””

literal: first; firstness; beginning

آخريّت

ʾ-kh-r → ““last”—when”

literal: the hereafter, the next life, the world to come; last, latter; the next life, the hereafter; delay; postponement

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “God—glorified”

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

جلّ

j-l-l → “God—glorified”

literal: exalted; glory; majesty

ذکره

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

ادراک

d-r-k → “comprehend”

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

نمودهاند؟

n-m-w → “have”

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

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “meant”

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

مُلکی

m-l-k → “Kingdom” Distinctive

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty

باشد

b-w-d → “are” Distinctive

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

هنوز

h-n-w → “still”

literal: still; yet; hitherto

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

اسباب

s-b-b → “cause”

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

آخر

ʾ-kh-r

literal: the hereafter, the next life, the world to come; last, latter; the next life, the hereafter; delay; postponement

نرسيده،

r-s-d → “reached”

literal: not reached; failed to attain; did not arrive

پس

p-s

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

چگونه

ch-g-n → “how”

literal: how; in what manner

بر

b-r-r

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

آن

ʾ-n → “mystery” Distinctive

literal: that; those; he; she; it

ذات

dh-w-t

literal: self; essence; being

احديّت

ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: oneness; uniqueness; absolute unity; singularity of God

صادق

ṣ-d-q → “truth” Distinctive

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

می

m-y-y → “will be made”

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

آيد؟

ʾ-y-d → “aid” Distinctive

literal: come; support; may aid

بلکه

b-l-k → “Nay”

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

رتبه

r-t-b → “station”

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

نفسِ

n-f-s

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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59 ¶