Kitáb-i-Íqán — §193

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 193 of 291.

Source (Persian)

باری، معلوم بوده و خواهد بود که جميع اين اختلافات کلمات از اختلافات مقامات است. اين است که در مقام توحيد و علوّ تجريد، اطلاق ربوبيّت و الوهيّت و احديّت صرفه و هويّه بحته بر آن جواهر وجود شده و می شود زيرا که جميع بر عرش ظهوراللّه ساکن اند و بر کرسيّ بطون اللّه واقف. يعنی ظهوراللّه به ظهورشان ظاهر و جمال اللّه از جمالشان باهر. چنانچه نغمات ربوبيّه از اين هياکل احديّه ظاهر شد.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

It hath ever been evident that all these divergences of utterance are attributable to differences of station. Thus, viewed from the standpoint of their oneness and sublime detachment, the attributes of Godhead, Divinity, Supreme Singleness, and Inmost Essence, have been and are applicable to those Essences of being, inasmuch as they all abide on the throne of divine Revelation, and are established upon the seat of divine Concealment. Through their appearance the Revelation of God is made manifest, and by their countenance the Beauty of God is revealed. Thus it is that the accents of God Himself have been heard uttered by these Manifestations of the divine Being.

Translation Notes

باری،

b-r-y → “It” Distinctive

literal: well; cistern; pit

معلوم

ʿ-l-m → “evident”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

بوده

b-w-d → “hath ever been”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

خواهد

kh-w-h

literal: will; to wish; to want

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

اختلافات

kh-l-f → “divergences”

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

کلمات

k-l-m → “utterance”

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

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

مقامات

q-w-m → “station”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

توحيد

w-ḥ-d → “oneness” Distinctive

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

علوّ

ʿ-l-w → “sublime”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

تجريد،

j-r-d → “detachment”

literal: neck; throat

اطلاق

ṭ-l-q → “applicable”

literal: divorce; release; freeing

ربوبيّت

r-b-b → “Godhead”

literal: divine; of God; lordly

الوهيّت

ʾ-l-h → “Divinity”

literal: to preserve, guard, protect

احديّت

ʾ-ḥ-d → “none” Distinctive

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

صرفه

ṣ-r-f

literal: pure; absolute; to turn away; to expend

هويّه

h-w-y → “Inmost Essence” Distinctive

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

بحته

b-ḥ-t

literal: mere; pure; absolute; sheer

بر

b-r-r → “to”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

آن

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

جواهر

j-w-h-r → “Essences”

literal: jewel; essence; gem; substance

وجود

w-j-d → “being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

شده

sh-d → “have been”

literal: to become; to be

می

m-y-y

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

شود

sh-w-d → “are” Distinctive

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

زيرا

z-y-r → “inasmuch as”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

عرش

ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: of the Throne; companion of the Throne

ظهوراللّه

ẓ-h-r → “divine Revelation”

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

ساکن

s-k-n → “abide”

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

کرسيّ

k-r-s → “seat”

literal: throne, seat; chair

بطون

b-ṭ-n → “Concealment”

literal: inner; hidden; inward; esoteric

واقف.

w-q-f → “established”

literal: to stop; to halt; to pause; to hesitate