Kitáb-i-Íqán — §226

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 226 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و همچنين در جای ديگر می فرمايد: "وَ إن کُنتُم فی رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلنَا عَلَی عَبْدِنَا فَأتُوا بسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلهِ و ادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَکُم مِنْ دُونِ اللّهِ إنْ کُنتُمْ صَادِقينَ." که ترجمه ظاهر آن اين است: اگر بوديد شما در شکّ و شبهه در آنچه ما نازل فرموديم بر عبد خود محمّد، پس بياريد سوره ای به مثل اين سُوَر مُنزله و بخوانيد شهدای خود را يعنی علمای خود را تا اعانت نمايند شما را در انزال سوره اگر هستيد راست گويان. حال ملاحظه فرمائيد چه مقدار عظيم است شأن آيات و بزرگ است قدر آن که حجّت بالغه و برهان کامل و قدرت قاهره و مشيّت نافذه را به آن ختم فرموده. و هيچ شيئی را آن سلطان احديّه در اظهار حجّت خود به آن شريک نفرموده چه ميانه حجج و دلائل، آيات به منزله شمس است و سوای آن به منزله نجوم. و آن است حجّت باقيه و برهان ثابت و نور مضیء از جانب سلطان حقيقی در ميان عباد. هيچ فضلی به آن نرسد و هيچ امری برآن سبقت نگيرد. کنز لئالی الهيّه است و مخزن اسرار احديّه. و آن است خيط محکم و حبل مستحکم و عروه وثقی و نور لايطفی. شريعه معارف الهيّه از آن در جريان است و نار حکمت بالغه صمدانيّه از آن در فوران. اين ناری است که در يک حين دو اثر از آن ظاهر است، در مقبلين حرارت حبّ احداث نمايد و در مبغضين برودت غفلت آورد.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

In another passage He likewise saith: “And if ye be in doubt as to that which We have sent down to Our Servant, then produce a Súrah like it, and summon your witnesses, beside God, if ye are men of truth.” Behold, how lofty is the station, and how consummate the virtue, of these verses which He hath declared to be His surest testimony, His infallible proof, the evidence of His all-subduing power, and a revelation of the potency of His will. He, the divine King, hath proclaimed the undisputed supremacy of the verses of His Book over all things that testify to His truth. For compared with all other proofs and tokens, the divinely-revealed verses shine as the sun, whilst all others are as stars. To the peoples of the world they are the abiding testimony, the incontrovertible proof, the shining light of the ideal King. Their excellence is unrivalled, their virtue nothing can surpass. They are the treasury of the divine pearls and the depository of the divine mysteries. They constitute the indissoluble Bond, the firm Cord, the Urvatu’l-Vuthqá, the inextinguishable Light. Through them floweth the river of divine knowledge, and gloweth the fire of His ancient and consummate wisdom. This is the fire which, in one and the same moment, kindleth the flame of love in the breasts of the faithful, and induceth the chill of heedlessness in the heart of the enemy.

Translation Notes

همچنين

ch-n-n → “likewise”

literal: always; ever; forever; at all times; constantly

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

جای

j-y-ʾ

literal: to come; to arrive; to happen

ديگر

d-g-r → “another”

literal: home; place; land; abode

می

m-y-y

literal: present continuous marker; continuous-marker

فرمايد:

f-r-m → “saith”

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

"وَ

w-w-w → ““And”

literal: and; quotation mark

إن

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

کُنتُم

k-w-n → “ye be”

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

فی

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

رَيْبٍ

r-y-b → “doubt”

literal: doubt, suspicion, uncertainty; doubt; suspicion

نَزَّلنَا

n-z-l → “sent down”

literal: to descend, to be revealed

عَلَی

ʿ-l-w → “to”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

عَبْدِنَا

ʿ-b-d → “Our Servant”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

فَأتُوا

ʾ-t-y → “produce” Distinctive

literal: to come; to arrive; to bring; to go; coming; arrival; the one coming; to give; Revelation; came; gave; brought

بسُورَةٍ

s-w-r → “riding” Distinctive

literal: chapter (of Qurʾan); surah

مِنْ

m-n

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

مِثْلهِ

m-th-l → “like it” Distinctive

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

ادْعُوا

d-ʿ-w → “summon”

literal: call, invocation, summons; to call, invite, summon

شُهَدَاءَکُم

sh-h-d → “your witnesses”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

دُونِ

d-w-n → “beside” Distinctive

literal: below; lower than; beneath

اللّهِ

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

صَادِقينَ."

ṣ-d-q → “men of truth.””

literal: truth; truthful; true

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

ترجمه

t-r-j-m

literal: translation

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “revelation” Distinctive

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

اين

ʾ-y-n → “This is” Distinctive

literal: this; these

اگر

ʾ-g-r

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

بوديد

b-w-d → “are” Distinctive

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

شما

sh-m-ʾ

literal: you (plural); your

شکّ

sh-k-k

literal: doubt; doubting

شبهه

sh-b-h

literal: doubt; uncertainty; suspicion; resemblance; semblance

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

بر

b-r-r

literal: on; on, upon; upon

خود

kh-w-d

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

محمّد،

ḥ-m-d

literal: praise; Muhammad; praised

پس

p-s → “From”

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

بياريد

ʾ-w-r

literal: bring; to bring; to_bring

ای

ʾ-y-y

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

بخوانيد

kh-w-ʾ-n

literal: call; read; called

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

يعنی

ʿ-n-y

literal: that is; meaning; i.e.

علمای

ʿ-l-m

literal: world; universe; the worlds

تا

t-y-y

literal: so that/until

اعانت

ʿ-w-n

literal: help; aid; helper; supporter

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

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

هستيد

h-s-t → “are”

literal: is; be; are

راست

r-s-t → “truth”

literal: chief; leader; head; president; beginning

گويان.

g-w-y

literal: say; to say; as-if

حال

ḥ-w-l → “Behold” Distinctive

literal: state; condition; circumstance

ملاحظه

l-ḥ-ẓ

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

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

مقدار

q-d-r → “how” Distinctive

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

عظيم

ʿ-ẓ-m → “Most Great”

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

شأن

sh-ʾ-n → “station”

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

آيات

ʾ-y-y → “these verses”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

بزرگ

b-z-r-g

literal: great; large; important; grandeur

حجّت

ḥ-j-j → “surest testimony”

literal: path, way; clear path

بالغه

b-l-gh

literal: to reach; to attain; to deliver; to proclaim

برهان

b-r-h → “infallible proof”

literal: proof, evidence, demonstration, argument

کامل

k-m-l → “consummate” Distinctive

literal: desire; appetite; lust; will; heap; hill; mound

قاهره

q-h-r

literal: to overpower; to vanquish; wrath; might; force; compulsion; overwhelming

مشيّت

sh-y-ʾ → “things” Distinctive

literal: way; manner; gait; to walk; to go; to proceed

نافذه

n-f-dh

literal: penetrating, effective; piercing; decisive

ختم

kh-t-m → “Seal”

literal: to seal; to conclude; to end; seal

هيچ

h-y-ch

literal: nothing; any; not a single

سلطان

s-l-ṭ → “divine King”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

احديّه

ʾ-ḥ-d

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

شريک

sh-r-k

literal: partner; associate; sharer; companion

نفرموده

f-r-m-w-d

literal: to say, command; command; command, say

ميانه

w-s-ṭ → “meridian” Distinctive

literal: between; among; amid; in the midst of

دلائل،

d-l-l → “evidence”

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

شمس

sh-m-s → “sun”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

سوای

s-w-y

literal: level; equal; straight; upon a throne; resting upon; toward; to; direction of; other than; besides; except

نجوم.

n-j-m → “as stars”

literal: star

باقيه

b-q-y → “everlasting”

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal

ثابت

th-b-t

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

نور

n-w-r → “shining light”

literal: light; illumination

مضیء

ḍ-w-ʾ

literal: to pass, go by; have passed; past; bygone

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

جانب

j-n-b → “thee” Distinctive

literal: to avoid; to shun; to keep away from

حقيقی

ḥ-q-q

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

ميان

m-y-n

literal: midst; between; middle

فضلی

f-ḍ-l

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

نرسد

r-s-d

literal: to arrive; to reach; to attain; to come

امری

ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

سبقت

s-b-q

literal: to precede; to surpass; to excel

نگيرد.

g-r-f

literal: take; taken; to take

کنز

k-n-z → “treasury of the divine pearls”

literal: treasure; treasure-trove; hidden store; treasury

لئالی

l-ʾ-l

literal: night; darkness

مخزن

kh-z-n → “treasury”

literal: to store, to treasure; storehouse, depository, treasury

اسرار

s-r-r

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

خيط

kh-y-ṭ

literal: thread; thread, rope

حبل

ḥ-b-l → “firm Cord”

literal: cord; rope; bond; connection

عروه

ʿ-r-w → “which is afflicted” Distinctive

literal: handle; rope; firm bond; connection

وثقی

w-th-q

literal: covenant; testament; bond

لايطفی.

ṭ-f-ʾ

literal: extinguish; extinguishing; to extinguish

شريعه

sh-r-ʿ → “river of divine knowledge”

literal: law; legislation; religious law; canon; ordinance

معارف

ʿ-r-f

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

جريان

j-r-y → “floweth”

literal: trade; commerce; business; to flow; to run; to be in effect; flowing

نار

n-ʾ-r → “fire”

literal: fire; blaze; flame

حکمت

ḥ-k-m → “consummate wisdom”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

صمدانيّه

ṣ-m-d

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

فوران.

f-w-r

literal: immediately; gushing

يک

y-k → “one and the same moment”

literal: one; a single

حين

ḥ-y-n

literal: time; moment; while; season

دو

d-w

literal: two; run; running

اثر

ʾ-th-r

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

مقبلين

q-b-l → “before” Distinctive

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

حرارت

ḥ-r-r

literal: heat; writing; freedom

حبّ

ḥ-b-b → “of love”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

احداث

ḥ-d-th

literal: events, occurrences, accidents, changes and chances

مبغضين

b-gh-ḍ

literal: hatred; hatred, enmity; hater

برودت

b-r-d → “brother” Distinctive

literal: brother

غفلت

gh-f-l

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

آورد.

ʾ-w-r

literal: bring; to bring; to_bring

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 ¶