Kitáb-i-Íqán — §187

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 187 of 291.

Source (Persian)

اين است که از وجهه، حساب خلايق کشيده می شود و کفر و ايمان و عصيان، جميع ظاهر می گردد. چنانچه اليوم مشهود است که به سيما اهل ضلالت از اصحاب هدايت معلوم و واضح اند. و اگر اين عباد خالصاً للّه و طلباً لرضائه در آيات کتاب ملاحظه نمايند جميع آنچه را که می طلبند البتّه ادراک می نمايند. به قسمی که جميع امور واقعه در اين ظهور را از کلّی و جزئی در آيات او ظاهر و مکشوف ادراک می نمايند حتّی خروج مظاهر اسماء و صفات را از اوطان، و اعراض و اغماض ملّت و دولت را، و سکون و استقرار مظهر کلّيّه در ارض معلوم مخصوص. وَلکِن لا يَعرِفُ ذلک إلّا اُولُو الالباب.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thus the peoples of the world are judged by their countenance. By it, their misbelief, their faith, and their iniquity are all made manifest. Even as it is evident in this day how the people of error are, by their countenance, known and distinguished from the followers of divine Guidance. Were these people, wholly for the sake of God and with no desire but His good-pleasure, to ponder the verses of the Book in their heart, they would of a certainty find whatsoever they seek. In its verses would they find revealed and manifest all the things, be they great or small, that have come to pass in this Dispensation. They would even recognize in them references unto the departure of the Manifestations of the names and attributes of God from out their native land; to the opposition and disdainful arrogance of government and people; and to the dwelling and establishment of the Universal Manifestation in an appointed and specially designated land. No man, however, can comprehend this except he who is possessed of an understanding heart.

Translation Notes

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

است

b-w-d → “are”

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

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

از

ʾ-z → “by” Distinctive

literal: from

وجهه،

w-j-h → “their countenance” Distinctive

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

حساب

ḥ-s-b → “accounted” Distinctive

literal: according to; in accordance with; as regards

خلايق

kh-l-q → “peoples”

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

کشيده

k-sh-d

literal: to draw; to pull; to drag; to extend

می

m-y-y

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

شود

sh-w-d

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

کفر

k-f-r → “their misbelief”

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

ايمان

ʾ-m-n → “their faith”

literal: to believe; to have faith; to be secure; trust; trustworthiness; covenant; deposit; believer, faithful

عصيان،

ʿ-ṣ-y → “transgressed”

literal: disobey; transgress; rebel

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “manifest”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

گردد.

g-r-d

literal: become; to become; make

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “Even as”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

اليوم

y-w-m → “this day”

literal: day; age; period; era; a day

مشهود

sh-h-d → “evident”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

به

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

سيما

s-w-m

literal: countenance; mark; appearance; distinctive mark

اهل

ʾ-h-l → “people”

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

ضلالت

ḍ-l-l → “of error”

literal: error; straying; misguidance; delusion; falsehood

اصحاب

ṣ-ḥ-b → “followers” Distinctive

literal: possessor; those who have; companion; followers

هدايت

h-d-y → “of divine Guidance”

literal: guidance; to guide; direction; leading rightly; this; this one

معلوم

ʿ-l-m → “known”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

واضح

w-ḍ-ḥ → “evident”

literal: clear; evident; manifest; obvious

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

عباد

ʿ-b-d → “these people”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

خالصاً

kh-l-ṣ → “wholly”

literal: sincere; devoted; pure one

للّه

ʾ-l-h → “for the sake of God”

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

طلباً

ṭ-l-b → “theme” Distinctive

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

لرضائه

r-ḍ-y → “His good-pleasure”

literal: satisfied; pleasure; pleasing

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

آيات

ʾ-y-y → “verses”

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

کتاب

k-t-b → “Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

ملاحظه

l-ḥ-ẓ → “ponder” Distinctive

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “may”

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

آنچه

ʾ-n → “whatsoever they seek”

literal: that; indeed; that, to

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

البتّه

b-t-t → “assuredly”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

ادراک

d-r-k → “comprehend”

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

قسمی

q-s-m

literal: oath; division; kind; type

امور

ʾ-m-r → “things”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

واقعه

w-q-ʿ → “have come to pass”

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

کلّی

k-l-l → “great or small”

literal: for us; to us

جزئی

j-z-ʾ

literal: except; part; parts

او

h-w-w → “is”

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

مکشوف

k-sh-f

literal: unveiling; disclosure; revelation

حتّی

ḥ-t-y → “even”

literal: to be necessary, inevitable; determined

خروج

kh-r-j → “departure”

literal: bringing out, taking out, expulsion, extraction

اسماء

s-m-w → “names”

literal: to name, to nominate, to designate, to appoint

صفات

w-ṣ-f → “attributes”

literal: attribute; quality; characteristic

اوطان،

w-ṭ-n

literal: homeland; native country; dwelling place

اعراض

ʿ-r-ḍ → “opposition” Distinctive

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

اغماض

gh-m-ḍ → “ignore the”

literal: closing of the eye; overlooking; disregarding

ملّت

m-l-l → “people”

literal: nation; nations; religion

دولت

d-w-l → “of government”

literal: state; government; dynasty; period of rule; dominion

سکون

s-k-n → “dwelling” Distinctive

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

استقرار

q-r-r → “acknowledged” Distinctive

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

کلّيّه

k-l-l

literal: for us; to us

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “land”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

مخصوص.

kh-ṣ-ṣ → “specially designated”

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

وَلکِن

l-k-n → “however”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

يَعرِفُ

ʿ-r-f → “can comprehend”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

ذلک

dh-l-k → “this”

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

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

اُولُو

ʾ-w-l

literal: first; firstness; beginning

الالباب.

l-b-b → “an understanding heart”

literal: core; essence; intellect; hearts (of understanding)

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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.

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50 ¶

Gleanings

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 ¶