Kitáb-i-Íqán — §194

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 194 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و در مقام ثانی که مقام تميز و تفصيل و تحديد و اشارات و دلالات ملکيّه است عبوديّت صرفه و فقر بحت و فنای باتّ از ايشان ظاهر است. چنانچه می فرمايد: "إنّی عَبدُ اللّه و ما اَنَا إلّا بَشَرٌ مِثلُکُم."

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Viewed in the light of their second station—the station of distinction, differentiation, temporal limitations, characteristics and standards,—they manifest absolute servitude, utter destitution and complete self-effacement. Even as He saith: “I am the servant of God. I am but a man like you.”

Translation Notes

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

مقام

q-w-m → “station—the station”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

ثانی

th-n-y → “second”

literal: praise; commendation; eulogy; glorification; praise, commendation, eulogy

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

تميز

m-y-z → “distinguish”

literal: to distinguish; to differentiate; to discern

تفصيل

f-ṣ-l → “differentiation”

literal: detail; distinction; differentiation; to detail; to separate

تحديد

ḥ-d-d → “temporal limitations”

literal: iron; sharp, keen, acute

اشارات

sh-y-r → “allusions”

literal: explanation; commentary; to explain; to open

دلالات

d-l-l → “proof” Distinctive

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

ملکيّه

m-l-k

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty; possessions; property; ownership

است

b-w-d

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

عبوديّت

ʿ-b-d → “servitude”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

صرفه

ṣ-r-f → “absolute”

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

فقر

f-q-r → “destitution”

literal: poor; needy; the poor one; pauper

بحت

b-ḥ-t → “utter”

literal: mere; pure; absolute; sheer

فنای

f-n-y → “self-effacement”

literal: annihilation; perishing; extinction; cessation; the threshold

باتّ

b-t-t → “complete”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

ايشان

ʾ-y-sh → “Prophets”

literal: that; it (object pronoun with suffix)

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “manifest”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “Even as”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

می

m-y-y → “will be made”

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

فرمايد:

f-r-m → “saith”

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

"إنّی

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

ما

m-ʾ

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

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r → “but” Distinctive

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

بَشَرٌ

b-sh-r → “man”

literal: human; mankind; human nature

مِثلُکُم."

m-th-l → “like you.””

literal: like; likeness; example

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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