Kitáb-i-Íqán — §278

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 278 of 291.

Source (Persian)

باری، اميدواريم که اهل بيان تربيت شوند و در هوای روح طيران نمايند و در فضای روح ساکن شوند، حقّ را از غيرتميز دهند و تلبيس باطل را به ديده بصيرت بشناسند. اگر چه در اين ايّام رائحه حسدی وزيده که قسم به مربّی وجود از غيب و شهود که از اوّل بنای وجود عالم، با اينکه آن را اوّلی نه، تا حال چنين غلّ و حسد و بغضائی ظاهر نشده و نخواهد شد. چنانچه جمعی که رائحه انصاف را نشنيدهاند رايات نفاق برافراختهاند و بر مخالفت اين عبد اتّفاق نمودهاند و از هر جهت رمحی آشکار و ازهر سمت تيری طيّار. با اينکه با احدی در امری افتخار ننمودم و به نفسی برتری نجستم. مع هر نفسی مصاحبی بودم در نهايت مهربان و رفيقی به غايت بردبار و رايگان. با فقراء مثل فقراء بودم و با علماء و عظماء در کمال تسليم و رضا. مع ذلک فَوَاللّه الَّذی لا إله إلّا هُو با آن همه ابتلاء و بأساء و ضرّاء که از اعداء و اولی الکتاب وارد شد نزد آنچه از احبّاء وارد شد معدوم صرف است و مفقود بحت.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

We fain would hope that the people of the Bayán will be enlightened, will soar in the realm of the spirit and abide therein, will discern the Truth, and recognize with the eye of insight dissembling falsehood. In these days, however, such odours of jealousy are diffused, that—I swear by the Educator of all beings, visible and invisible—from the beginning of the foundation of the world—though it hath no beginning—until the present day, such malice, envy, and hate have in no wise appeared, nor will they ever be witnessed in the future. For a number of people who have never inhaled the fragrance of justice, have raised the standard of sedition, and have leagued themselves against Us. On every side We witness the menace of their spears, and in all directions We recognize the shafts of their arrows. This, although We have never gloried in any thing, nor did We seek preference over any soul. To everyone We have been a most kindly companion, a most forbearing and affectionate friend. In the company of the poor We have sought their fellowship, and amidst the exalted and learned We have been submissive and resigned. I swear by God, the one true God! grievous as have been the woes and sufferings which the hand of the enemy and the people of the Book inflicted upon Us, yet all these fade into utter nothingness when compared with that which hath befallen Us at the hand of those who profess to be Our friends.

Translation Notes

باری،

b-r-y → “We”

literal: well; cistern; pit

اميدواريم

ʾ-m-d → “fain would hope”

literal: hopeful; hope; hoping

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

اهل

ʾ-h-l → “people”

literal: people; inhabitants; family; kin; worthy; deserving; my family; my people; my kin

بيان

b-y-n → “Bayán” Distinctive

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

تربيت

r-b-y → “education”

literal: education; upbringing; training; cultivation

شوند

sh-w-d → “will be” Distinctive

literal: become; to become; became

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

هوای

h-w-y

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

روح

r-w-ḥ → “spirit”

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

طيران

ṭ-y-r → “soar”

literal: bird; birds; flying creature; flying; flight

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

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

فضای

f-ḍ-w → “realm”

literal: space; expanse; void

ساکن

s-k-n → “abide”

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “Truth”

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

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

غيرتميز

m-y-z → “distinguish” Distinctive

literal: to distinguish; to differentiate; to discern

دهند

d-h

literal: to give; to provide; to yield; to grant; to bestow

تلبيس

l-b-s → “garb” Distinctive

literal: garment; clothing; raiment; vesture

باطل

b-ṭ-l → “falsehood”

literal: falsehood, false; vain, null

به

b-h → “with” Distinctive

literal: by it; by him; with it

ديده

d-y-d → “witnessed”

literal: to give; to grant; to present; justice; judgment; to see; sight; eye; seen

بصيرت

b-ṣ-r → “eye of insight”

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

بشناسند.

sh-n-kh-t → “recognize”

literal: to recognize, know, distinguish

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

ايّام

y-w-m → “days”

literal: day; age; period; era; a day

حسدی

ḥ-s-d → “envy” Distinctive

literal: envy; jealousy; coveting

وزيده

w-z-d → “be wafted” Distinctive

literal: increase; excess; more; additional; to increase; to grow; to be added

قسم

q-s-m → “swear”

literal: oath; division; kind; type

مربّی

r-b-b → “Educator”

literal: father; paternal

وجود

w-j-d → “beings”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

غيب

gh-y-b

literal: the unseen; the invisible; the hidden; the unknowable; stranger; foreign; alien; separated

شهود

sh-h-d → “visible and invisible—from”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

اوّل

ʾ-w-l → “beginning”

literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of

بنای

b-n-y → “foundation”

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

عالم،

ʿ-l-m → “world”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

با

b-ʾ-ʾ → “This” Distinctive

literal: to; with; by

نه،

n-h-y

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

حال

ḥ-w-l → “now”

literal: state; condition; circumstance

چنين

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

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

غلّ

gh-l-l → “malice”

literal: one who envies; envious; malicious

بغضائی

b-gh-ḍ → “hate”

literal: hatred; enmity; animosity

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “appeared”

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

نشده

sh-d → “have been” Distinctive

literal: to become; to happen; to occur

نخواهد

kh-w-h → “will they ever”

literal: will; to wish; to want

جمعی

j-m-ʿ → “number”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

انصاف

n-ṣ-f → “justice”

literal: justice; fairness; equity

نشنيدهاند

sh-n-w → “heard”

literal: hear; to hear; heard

رايات

r-w-y → “banners”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

نفاق

n-f-q → “sedition”

literal: hypocrisy; sedition; discord; betrayal

برافراختهاند

f-r-kh → “kindled” Distinctive

literal: to kindle; raise; raise, hoist

بر

b-r-r → “upon”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

مخالفت

kh-l-f

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

عبد

ʿ-b-d → “people” Distinctive

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

اتّفاق

w-f-q → “aid” Distinctive

literal: accord, agreement, harmony; to agree, accord with

نمودهاند

n-m-w → “have”

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

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

جهت

j-h-t → “side”

literal: direction; aspect; side; regard

رمحی

r-m-ḥ → “spears”

literal: spear; lance; javelin

آشکار

sh-k-r

literal: thankfulness, gratitude; to give thanks, be grateful; manifest; evident; apparent; clear

سمت

s-m-t → “directions”

literal: direction, way; countenance, bearing

تيری

t-y-r → “obscured”

literal: arrow; dark; gloomy

احدی

ʾ-ḥ-d → “one”

literal: oneness; unity; absolute unicity; singleness of divine essence

امری

ʾ-m-r → “any thing” Distinctive

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

افتخار

f-kh-r → “glory” Distinctive

literal: glory; boasting; pride

نفسی

n-f-s → “soul”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

برتری

b-r-t-r → “superior”

literal: higher; superior; elevated; to transcend

نجستم.

j-s-t → “have clung”

literal: seek; sought; to seek

مع

m-ʿ

literal: with; together with; alongside

مصاحبی

ṣ-ḥ-b → “companions”

literal: possessor; those who have; companion; followers

بودم

b-w-d → “are” Distinctive

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

نهايت

n-h-y → “utmost”

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

مهربان

m-h-r

literal: kindness, affection, clemency; kind, compassionate

رفيقی

r-f-q → “unto the Supreme”

literal: companion; friend; associate; the Exalted Companion

غايت

gh-y-t → “highest wish”

literal: purpose; aim; goal; end; ultimate

بردبار

b-r-d → “brother” Distinctive

literal: brother; take; coldness

رايگان.

r-y-g

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

فقراء

f-q-r → “poor”

literal: poor; needy; the poor one; pauper

مثل

m-th-l

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

عظماء

ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

کمال

k-m-l

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

تسليم

s-l-m → “resignation”

literal: resignation; submission; surrender; submissiveness

رضا.

r-ḍ-y → “resigned” Distinctive

literal: good-pleasure, consent, satisfaction; satisfaction; pleasure; approval; contentment

ذلک

dh-l-k

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

فَوَاللّه

w-l-h → “Rapture” Distinctive

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

الَّذی

l-dh-y

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

لا

l-ʾ

literal: no; not; negation particle

إله

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

إلّا

ʾ-kh-r

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

هُو

h-w

literal: He; He is

همه

h-m-h → “all”

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

ابتلاء

b-l-w → “woes”

literal: trial; affliction; tribulation; testing

بأساء

b-ʾ-s → “Wretched” Distinctive

literal: worst; evil; bad; other than; besides; save; except

ضرّاء

ḍ-r-r

literal: harm; damage; injury; detriment

اعداء

ʿ-d-w → “enemy” Distinctive

literal: when; if; whenever; at that time

الکتاب

k-t-b → “Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

وارد

w-r-d → “inflicted”

literal: to enter, to come, to befall, to arrive

نزد

n-z-d → “unto”

literal: near; beside; with; in the presence of

آنچه

ʾ-n → “that which”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

احبّاء

ḥ-b-b → “friends” Distinctive

literal: love; affection

معدوم

ʿ-d-m → “nothingness”

literal: nonexistent; void; nullified

صرف

ṣ-r-f → “utter”

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

مفقود

f-q-d

literal: to lose; to miss; lost; missing

بحت.

b-ḥ-t

literal: mere; pure; absolute; sheer

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 ¶