Kitáb-i-Íqán — §285

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 285 of 291.

Source (Persian)

باری، ذکر اين مراتب برای آن است که از بعضی روايات و بيانات که در عالم ملک آثار آن ظاهر نشده مضطرب نشوند و حمل بر عدم ادراک خود نمايند نه بر عدم ظهور معانی حديث زيرا که نزد آن عباد معلوم نيست که مقصود أئمّه دين چه بود چنانچه از حديث مستفاد می شود. پس بايد عباد به اين گونه عبارات، خود را از فيوضات ممنوع نسازند و از اهلش سؤال نمايند تا اسرار مستوره، بلا حجاب ظاهر و واضح شود.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

These things We mention only that the people may not be dismayed because of certain traditions and utterances, which have not yet been literally fulfilled, that they may rather attribute their perplexity to their own lack of understanding, and not to the non-fulfilment of the promises in the traditions, inasmuch as the meaning intended by the Imáms of the Faith is not known by this people, as evidenced by the traditions themselves. The people, therefore, must not allow such utterances to deprive them of the divine bounties, but should rather seek enlightenment from them who are the recognized Expounders thereof, so that the hidden mysteries may be unravelled, and be made manifest unto them.

Translation Notes

باری،

b-r-y → “We”

literal: well; cistern; pit

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

مراتب

r-t-b → “things”

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

برای

b-r-y → “Briefly” Distinctive

literal: well; cistern; pit

آن

ʾ-n → “that the people”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

که

k-h → “which”

literal: that; who; who, that

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “certain”

literal: part; some; portion

روايات

r-w-y → “traditions”

literal: narration; tradition; fragrance; to grow; to spring forth; to sprout

بيانات

b-y-n → “utterances”

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

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

ملک

m-l-k

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty; possessions; property; ownership

آثار

ʾ-th-r

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

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “literally fulfilled” Distinctive

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 not yet been”

literal: to become; to happen; to occur

مضطرب

ḍ-r-b → “tremble”

literal: to shake, quiver, vibrate, tremble with emotion

حمل

ḥ-m-l → “bear” Distinctive

literal: to bear; to endure; to carry; to tolerate

بر

b-r-r → “righteous” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

عدم

ʿ-d-m → “lack”

literal: nonexistent; void; nullified

ادراک

d-r-k → “understanding”

literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend

خود

kh-w-d

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

نمايند

n-m-ʾ → “may”

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

نه

n-h-y → “not” Distinctive

literal: end; ended; utmost

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

حديث

ḥ-d-th → “traditions”

literal: events, occurrences, accidents, changes and chances

زيرا

z-y-r → “inasmuch as”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

نزد

n-z-d → “by” Distinctive

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

عباد

ʿ-b-d → “people”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

معلوم

ʿ-l-m → “known”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

نيست

b-w-d → “is not”

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

مقصود

q-ṣ-d

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

أئمّه

ʾ-m-m → “Imáms”

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

دين

d-y-n → “Faith”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

چه

ch-h

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

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “as”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

مستفاد

f-y-d → “idle talk” Distinctive

literal: flood; abundance; overflow; emanation; grace

می

m-y-y

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

شود.

sh-w-d → “may be unravelled”

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

پس

p-s → “From”

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

بايد

b-y-d → “must”

literal: by hand; with hands; eternal; perpetual; everlasting

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

گونه

g-w-n

literal: kind, type; kind; manner

عبارات،

ʿ-b-r → “utterances”

literal: expression; phrase; utterance; statement; passage; wording

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

فيوضات

f-y-ḍ → “bounties”

literal: flood; abundance; overflow; emanation; grace

ممنوع

m-n-ʿ → “deprive” Distinctive

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

نسازند

s-ʾ-z → “illuminate” Distinctive

literal: well-being, happiness, prosperity, tranquility, ease, comfort

اهلش

ʾ-h-l → “people”

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

سؤال

s-ʾ-l → “I implore Thee” Distinctive

literal: question; problem; issue; matter; asking; petition; request

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

اسرار

s-r-r → “mysteries”

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

مستوره،

s-t-r → “hidden”

literal: to veil; to conceal; to cover; veil; covering

بلا

b-l-w

literal: no; not; negation particle

حجاب

ḥ-j-b

literal: to veil oneself, to be veiled

واضح

w-ḍ-ḥ

literal: clear; evident; manifest; obvious

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