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Kitáb-i-Íqán — §256

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 256 of 291.

Source (Persian)

ولکن معلوم باشد که اين علما و فقها که مذکور شد هيچ يک رياست ظاهره نداشتهاند چه که محال است علمای مقتدر معروف عصر که بر صدرحکم جالسند و بر سرير امر ساکن، تابع حقّ شوند إلّا مَن شاءَ رَبُّکَ. چنين امری در عالم ظهور ننمود مگر قليلیقَليلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّکورُ." چنانچه در اين عهد احدی از علمای مشهور که زمام ناس در قبضه حکم ايشان بود اقبال نجستند. بلکه به تمام بغض و انکار در دفع کوشيدند به قسمی که هيچ گوشی نشنيده و هيچ چشمی نديده.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Let it be known, however, that none of these doctors and divines to whom we have referred was invested with the rank and dignity of leadership. For well-known and influential leaders of religion, who occupy the seats of authority and exercise the functions of leadership, can in no wise bear allegiance to the Revealer of truth, except whomsoever thy Lord willeth. But for a few, such things have never come to pass. “And few of My servants are the thankful.” Even as in this Dispensation, not one amongst the renowned divines, in the grasp of whose authority were held the reins of the people, hath embraced the Faith. Nay, they have striven against it with such animosity and determination that no ear hath heard and no eye hath seen the like.

Translation Notes

فقها
fqhá f-q-h

literal: understand; jurists; comprehend, understand

SE rendered ولکن (wlkn)معلوم (mʿlúm)باشد (báshd)علما (ʿlmá)فقها (fqhá)مذکور (mdhkúr)هيچ (hích)يک (yk)رياست (ríást) as “however, known, Let it be, doctors and divines, referred, none, rank and dignity”

هيچ
hích h-y-ch “any”

literal: any

5 occurrences in corpus

ظاهره
ẓáhrh ẓ-h-r

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

SE rendered مذکور (mdhkúr)هيچ (hích)يک (yk)رياست (ríást)ظاهره (ẓáhrh)نداشتهاند (ndáshthánd)چه (chh)محال (mḥál) as “referred, none, rank and dignity, was invested, For, can in no wise”

چه
chh ch-h “for”

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

SE rendered هيچ (hích)يک (yk)رياست (ríást)ظاهره (ẓáhrh)نداشتهاند (ndáshthánd)چه (chh)محال (mḥál)علمای (ʿlmáy)مقتدر (mqtdr)معروف (mʿrúf) as “none, rank and dignity, was invested, For, can in no wise, leaders of religion, influential, well-known”

what 50% whatsoever 50%
عصر
ʿṣr ʿ-ṣ-r

literal: age; age, era; ages

SE rendered محال (mḥál)علمای (ʿlmáy)مقتدر (mqtdr)معروف (mʿrúf)عصر (ʿṣr)بر (br)صدرحکم (ṣdrḥkm)جالسند (jálsnd)بر (br) as “can in no wise, leaders of religion, influential, well-known, exercise the functions, leadership”

age 76% day 7% time 5% dispensation 5% days 5% generation 2%
صدرحکم
ṣdrḥkm ṣ-d-ر/ح-k-m

literal: seat of judgment

SE rendered علمای (ʿlmáy)مقتدر (mqtdr)معروف (mʿrúf)عصر (ʿṣr)بر (br)صدرحکم (ṣdrḥkm)جالسند (jálsnd)بر (br)سرير (srír)امر (imr) as “leaders of religion, influential, well-known, exercise the functions, leadership, authority”

1 occurrence in corpus

سرير
srír s-r-r

literal: secret; secrets; secret, mystery

SE rendered بر (br)صدرحکم (ṣdrḥkm)جالسند (jálsnd)بر (br)سرير (srír)امر (imr)ساکن، (sákn،)تابع (tábʿ)حقّ (ḥqq)شوند (shúnd) as “exercise the functions, leadership, authority, bear allegiance, the Revealer of truth”

throne 25% sanctuary 25% seat 25% seats 13% couch 13%
ساکن،
sákn، s-k-n

literal: dwelling; dwell

SE rendered جالسند (jálsnd)بر (br)سرير (srír)امر (imr)ساکن، (sákn،)تابع (tábʿ)حقّ (ḥqq)شوند (shúnd)شاءَ (sháʾ) as “leadership, exercise the functions, authority, bear allegiance, the Revealer of truth, willeth”

abide 29% abiding 14% silenced 7% still 7% muteness 7% now 7% have 7% occupy 7% dwelling 7% tranquil 7%
شوند
shúnd sh-w-d

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered بر (br)سرير (srír)امر (imr)ساکن، (sákn،)تابع (tábʿ)حقّ (ḥqq)شوند (shúnd)شاءَ (sháʾ)رَبُّکَ (rabbuk)چنين (chnín) as “exercise the functions, authority, bear allegiance, the Revealer of truth, willeth, thy Lord, such things”

again 14% would 14% feed 14% unraveling 14% will 14% therein 14% intervening 14%
امری

literal: command; cause

SE rendered شاءَ (sháʾ)رَبُّکَ (rabbuk)چنين (chnín)امری (imrí)عالم (ʿálm)ظهور (ẓhúr)ننمود (nnmúd)مگر (mgr)قليلی (qlílí) as “willeth, thy Lord, such things, have never come to pass, But for, a few”

مگر

literal: except; except/unless

SE rendered چنين (chnín)امری (imrí)عالم (ʿálm)ظهور (ẓhúr)ننمود (nnmúd)مگر (mgr)قليلی (qlílí)قَليلٌ (qalílun)عِبَادِيَ (ʿibádí) as “such things, have never come to pass, But for, a few, few, servants”

save 50% other 50%
ايشان
iyshán ʾ-y-sh “prophets”

literal: they; they, them; they/them

3 occurrences in corpus

کوشيدند
kúshídnd k-w-sh

literal: strive

SE rendered تمام (tmám)بغض (bghḍ)انکار (inkár)دفع (dfʿ)کوشيدند (kúshídnd)قسمی (qsmí)هيچ (hích)گوشی (gúshí)نشنيده (nshnídh) as “such, animosity, determination, striven against, no ear, hath, heard”

strive 43% exertions 14% labor 14% persevere 14% striven 14%
قسمی
qsmí q-s-m

literal: manner; oath; oath, swear

SE rendered بغض (bghḍ)انکار (inkár)دفع (dfʿ)کوشيدند (kúshídnd)قسمی (qsmí)هيچ (hích)گوشی (gúshí)نشنيده (nshnídh)هيچ (hích)چشمی (chshmí) as “animosity, determination, striven against, no eye, hath, heard”

such 47% great 18% potent 6% complete 6% like 6% much 6% form 6% know 6%

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán

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