Kitáb-i-Íqán — §25

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 25 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و علمای انجيل چون عارف به معانی اين بيانات و مقصود مودعه در اين کلمات نشدند و به ظاهر آن متمسّک شدند لهذا از شريعه فيض محمّديّه و از سحاب فضل احمديّه ممنوع گشتند. و جهّال آن طائفه هم تمسّک به علمای خود جسته، از زيارت جمال سلطان جلال محروم ماندند زيرا که در ظهور شمس احمديّه چنين علامات که مذکور شد به ظهور نيامد. اين است که قرن ها گذشت و عهدها به آخر رسيد و آن جوهر روح به مقرّ بقای سلطنت خود راجع شد و نفخه ديگر از نَفْس روحانی در صور الهی دميده شد و نفس های مرده از قبور غفلت و ضلالت به ارض هدايت و محلّ عنايت محشورشدند و هنوز آن گروه در انتظار که کی اين علامات ظاهر شود و آن هيکل معهود به وجود آيد تا نصرت نمايند و مال ها در راهش انفاق کنند و جان ها در سبيلش ايثار. چنانچه امم ديگر هم به همين ظنونات از کوثر معانيِ رحمت نامتناهيِ حضرت باری دور ماندهاند و به خيال خود مشغولند.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Inasmuch as the Christian divines have failed to apprehend the meaning of these words, and did not recognize their object and purpose, and have clung to the literal interpretation of the words of Jesus, they therefore became deprived of the streaming grace of the Muhammadan Revelation and its showering bounties. The ignorant among the Christian community, following the example of the leaders of their faith, were likewise prevented from beholding the beauty of the King of glory, inasmuch as those signs which were to accompany the dawn of the sun of the Muhammadan Dispensation did not actually come to pass. Thus, ages have passed and centuries rolled away, and that most pure Spirit hath repaired unto the retreats of its ancient sovereignty. Once more hath the eternal Spirit breathed into the mystic trumpet, and caused the dead to speed out of their sepulchres of heedlessness and error unto the realm of guidance and grace. And yet, that expectant community still crieth out: When shall these things be? When shall the promised One, the object of our expectation, be made manifest, that we may arise for the triumph of His Cause, that we may sacrifice our substance for His sake, that we may offer up our lives in His path? In like manner, have such false imaginings caused other communities to stray from the Kawthar of the infinite mercy of Providence, and to be busied with their own idle thoughts.

Translation Notes

علمای

ʿ-l-m → “Christian divines”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

انجيل

n-j-l → “the”

literal: Gospel; the Good Tidings

چون

ch-w-n → “As”

literal: since; when; as

عارف

ʿ-r-f → “knowledge” Distinctive

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

به

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

معانی

ʿ-n-y → “meaning”

literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

بيانات

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “purpose”

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

مودعه

w-d-ʿ

literal: deposit, trust, pledge

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

کلمات

k-l-m → “words”

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

نشدند

sh-d → “did not recognize” Distinctive

literal: to become; to be

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

آن

ʾ-n → “among the”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

متمسّک

m-s-k

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

لهذا

l-dh-ʾ → “they therefore”

literal: therefore; for this reason; hence; so

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

شريعه

sh-r-ʿ

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

فيض

f-y-ḍ → “streaming grace”

literal: flood; abundance; overflow; emanation; grace; overflowing; emanating; surplus

سحاب

s-ḥ-b → “clouds”

literal: cloud; clouds

فضل

f-ḍ-l → “grace”

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

احمديّه

ḥ-m-d → “thanks”

literal: praise; to praise

ممنوع

m-n-ʿ → “prevented” Distinctive

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

گشتند.

g-sh-t → “were”

literal: to become; to turn; to be

جهّال

j-h-l → “ignorant” Distinctive

literal: ignorant; foolish; the ignorant ones

طائفه

ṭ-w-f → “circle”

literal: the letter Ṭá; refers to Ṭihrán (also spelled Ṭehran)

هم

h-m-m → “endeavor” Distinctive

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

تمسّک

m-s-k → “cleave”

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

خود

kh-w-d → “of their faith” Distinctive

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

جسته،

j-s-t

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

زيارت

z-w-r → “visit” Distinctive

literal: visitation; visit; Zawra

جمال

j-m-l → “beauty”

literal: beauty; comeliness

سلطان

s-l-ṭ → “of the King”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

جلال

j-l-l → “of glory”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

محروم

ḥ-r-m

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

ماندند

m-ʾ-n

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

زيرا

z-y-r → “inasmuch as”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

شمس

sh-m-s → “of the sun”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

مذکور

dh-k-r → “mentioned”

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

نيامد.

ʾ-m-d → “hope” Distinctive

literal: to not come; to not arrive; reaching; arrival; attainment; to bring, to produce; to present

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

قرن

q-r-n

literal: conjunction; union; coupling; association

ها

w-j-h → “face”

literal: He; He is

گذشت

g-dh-r → “have passed”

literal: to leave; to pass; to abandon

آخر

ʾ-kh-r

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

رسيد

r-s-d

literal: Persian verb رسیدن (to arrive/reach), not Arabic ر-س-د

جوهر

j-w-h-r → “Essences”

literal: jewel; essence; gem; substance

روح

r-w-ḥ → “that most pure Spirit”

literal: to go; to depart; to rest; spirit; soul

مقرّ

q-r-r → “acknowledged” Distinctive

literal: matter; affair; thing

بقای

b-q-y → “eternal” Distinctive

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal; permanence; duration; continuance

راجع

r-j-ʿ

literal: return; reference; place of return; resort

نفخه

n-f-kh → “breathe”

literal: to blow; to breathe; to inflate; to sound (a trumpet)

ديگر

d-g-r → “another”

literal: home; place; land; abode

نَفْس

n-f-s → “eternal Spirit” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

صور

ṣ-w-r → “mystic trumpet” Distinctive

literal: to imagine; to conceive; to suppose

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

دميده

d-m-y → “blood” Distinctive

literal: breath; moment; instant

های

null

literal: and; that; in

مرده

m-w-t

literal: rebellion; mutiny; revolt

قبور

q-b-r → “their sepulchres”

literal: Cyprus (toponym)

غفلت

gh-f-l → “of heedlessness”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

ضلالت

ḍ-l-l → “error”

literal: error; straying; misguidance; delusion; falsehood

ارض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

هدايت

h-d-y → “of guidance”

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

محلّ

ḥ-l-l

literal: place; location; spot

محشورشدند

ḥ-sh-r

literal: gather; gathered; gathering, resurrection

هنوز

h-n-w → “And yet”

literal: still; yet; hitherto

گروه

g-r-w → “people”

literal: numerous; many; multiple

انتظار

n-ẓ-r → “Consider” Distinctive

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

کی

k-w → “unto Him”

literal: street

شود

sh-w-d → “be made manifest”

literal: to not become; to not be

هيکل

h-y-k-l → “form”

literal: temple; structure; form; body

معهود

ʿ-h-d → “Covenant” Distinctive

literal: covenant; testament; promise; command

وجود

w-j-d

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

آيد

ʾ-y-d

literal: come; support; may aid

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

نصرت

n-ṣ-r → “for the triumph”

literal: aid, help, succor, victory, support

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “may”

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

مال

m-w-l → “sacrifice our substance”

literal: hope; wish; desire; aspiration

راهش

r-h → “guide” Distinctive

literal: path; way; ways, paths

انفاق

n-f-q

literal: hypocrisy; sedition; discord; betrayal

کنند

k-r-d → “hath” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do, make

جان

j-ʾ-n → “our lives”

literal: soul; life; spirit; self

سبيلش

s-b-l → “in His path”

literal: path; way; path/way

ايثار.

ʾ-th-r → “writings” Distinctive

literal: to sacrifice; to devote oneself

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “In like manner” Distinctive

literal: such; thus; in this manner; like this

امم

ʾ-m-m → “before” Distinctive

literal: mother; to lead; to head; matter; affair; people; nation; community; female servant; handmaiden; umma

همين

h-m-n → “Help in Peril” Distinctive

literal: the same; that very

ظنونات

ẓ-n-n → “such false imaginings”

literal: fancy; supposition; vain imagination; idle conjecture

کوثر

k-w-th-r → “Kawthar”

literal: abundance; river of paradise; the Kawthar

رحمت

r-ḥ-m → “infinite mercy”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

حضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “His Majesty”

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

باری

b-r-y → “we”

literal: well; cistern; pit

دور

d-w-r

literal: cycle; dispensation; age; turn; round

خيال

kh-y-l → “desire”

literal: ill-wishing; malice; enmity

مشغولند.

sh-gh-l

literal: to occupy; to engage; to busy; occupation

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 ¶