Kitáb-i-Íqán — §258
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 258 of 291.
Source (Persian)
و دليل و برهان ديگر که چون شمس بين دلائل مُشرق است استقامت آن جمال ازلی است بر امر الهی که با اينکه در سنّ شباب بودند و امری که مخالف کلّ اهل ارض از وضيع و شريف و غنيّ و فقير و عزيز و ذليل و سلطان و رعيّت بود با وجود اين قيام بر آن امر فرمود چنانچه کلّ استماع نمودند و از هيچ کس و هيچ نفس خوف ننمودند و اعتنا نفرمودند. آيا می شود اين، به غير امر الهی و مشيّت مثبته ربّانی؟ قسم به خدا که اگر کسی فکر و خيال چنين امری نمايد فی الفور هلاک شود. و اگر قلب های عالم را در قلبش جا دهی باز جسارت بر چنين امر مهمّ ننمايد مگر به اذن الهی باشد و قلبش متّصل به فيوضات رحمانی و نفسش مطمئنّ به عنايات ربّانی. آيا اين را به چه حمل می کنند؟ آيا به جنون نسبت می دهند چنانچه به انبيای قبل دادند و يا می گويند برای رياست ظاهره و جمع زخارف دنيای فانيه اين امور را متعرّض شدهاند؟
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Another proof and evidence of the truth of this Revelation, which amongst all other proofs shineth as the sun, is the constancy of the eternal Beauty in proclaiming the Faith of God. Though young and tender of age, and though the Cause He revealed was contrary to the desire of all the peoples of earth, both high and low, rich and poor, exalted and abased, king and subject, yet He arose and steadfastly proclaimed it. All have known and heard this. He was afraid of no one; He was regardless of consequences. Could such a thing be made manifest except through the power of a divine Revelation, and the potency of God’s invincible Will? By the righteousness of God! Were any one to entertain so great a Revelation in his heart, the thought of such a declaration would alone confound him! Were the hearts of all men to be crowded into his heart, he would still hesitate to venture upon so awful an enterprise. He could achieve it only by the permission of God, only if the channel of his heart were to be linked with the Source of divine grace, and his soul be assured of the unfailing sustenance of the Almighty. To what, We wonder, do they ascribe so great a daring? Do they accuse Him of folly as they accused the Prophets of old? Or do they maintain that His motive was none other than leadership and the acquisition of earthly riches?
Translation Notes
بين
literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment
اينکه
literal: that, the fact that, this (demonstrative particle)
استماع
literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention
هلاک
literal: to destroy; to ruin; to cause to perish; perishing; destroyer; lost
عنايات
literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense
برای
literal: to see; to perceive; to look; to see, to observe, to behold; to view; vision; dream; sight; ل is prefix; verb تری (you see) is from ر-ا-ي
