Kitáb-i-Íqán — §39

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 39 of 291.

Source (Persian)

چنانچه از انوار مشرقه از شمس محمّديّه مأثور است که بر جميع انبياء در هر عهدی حکم صلات نازل شده، نهايت آنکه در هر عصر به اقتضای وقت به قسمی و آدابی جديد مخصوص گشته. و چون در هر ظهور بعد، آداب و عادات و علوم مرتفعه محکمه مشرقه واضحه ثابته در ظهور قبل منسوخ می شود لهذا تلويحاً به اسم شمس و قمر ذکر نمودهاند. " لِيَبْلُوَکُم اَيُّکُم اَحسَنُ عَمَلاً"

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The traditions established the fact that in all Dispensations the law of prayer hath constituted a fundamental element of the Revelation of all the Prophets of God—a law the form and the manner of which hath been adapted to the varying requirements of every age. Inasmuch as every subsequent Revelation hath abolished the manners, habits, and teachings that have been clearly, specifically, and firmly established by the former Dispensation, these have accordingly been symbolically expressed in terms of ‘sun’ and ‘moon’. “That He might prove you, which of you excel in deeds.”

Translation Notes

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “that” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

انوار

n-w-r → “light”

literal: light; illumination

مشرقه

sh-r-q

literal: radiance; splendor; dawn; illumination

شمس

sh-m-s → “‘sun’”

literal: sun; daystar; manifestation of divine light

مأثور

ʾ-th-r

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

است

b-w-d

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

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

بر

b-r-r → “in” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

انبياء

n-b-ʾ → “Prophets”

literal: prophet; messenger

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

عهدی

ʿ-h-d → “Dispensations”

literal: covenant; testament; promise; command

حکم

ḥ-k-m

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

صلات

ṣ-l-w → “prayer”

literal: blessings; prayers; salutations

نازل

n-z-l → “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: to descend, to be revealed

شده،

sh-d → “hath” Distinctive

literal: to become; to be

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

آنکه

ʾ-n → “to” Distinctive

literal: that; indeed; that, to

عصر

ʿ-ṣ-r → “age”

literal: age; era; century; period of time

به

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

اقتضای

q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: requirement; exigency; what demands or calls for; to require; to necessitate; to demand

وقت

w-q-t

literal: time; occasion; moment; period

قسمی

q-s-m → “swear” Distinctive

literal: oath; division; kind; type

آدابی

ʾ-d-b → “customs” Distinctive

literal: admonition; discipline; etiquette; courtesy

جديد

j-d-d

literal: new, novel, renewed; novelty, innovation

مخصوص

kh-ṣ-ṣ

literal: specific matter; particularity; especially; in this matter

گشته.

g-sh-t → “have been” Distinctive

literal: become; became; to become

چون

ch-w-n → “As”

literal: since; when; as

ظهور

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

بعد،

b-ʿ-d → “subsequent” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

آداب

ʾ-d-b → “conduct”

literal: admonition; discipline; etiquette; courtesy

عادات

ʿ-w-d → “habits”

literal: when; if; whenever; at that time

علوم

ʿ-l-m → “teachings”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

مرتفعه

r-f-ʿ

literal: to be raised, elevated, exalted, lifted up

محکمه

ḥ-k-m → “law” Distinctive

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

واضحه

w-ḍ-ḥ → “clearly”

literal: clear; evident; manifest; obvious

ثابته

th-b-t → “firmly established”

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

قبل

q-b-l → “former” Distinctive

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

منسوخ

n-s-kh → “annulled”

literal: abrogator; repealer; one who abrogates or abrogates the law

می

m-y-y

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

شود

sh-w-d

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

لهذا

l-dh-ʾ → “therefore”

literal: therefore; for this reason; hence; so

تلويحاً

l-w-ḥ → “Tablet” Distinctive

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

اسم

s-m-w

literal: name; title; designation

قمر

q-m-r → “‘moon’”

literal: moon

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

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

نمودهاند.

n-m-w → “have”

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

لِيَبْلُوَکُم

b-l-w → “tribulations” Distinctive

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

اَيُّکُم

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

اَحسَنُ

ḥ-s-n → “most excellent”

literal: goodness; beauty; excellence; good deed

عَمَلاً"

ʿ-m-l → “deeds.””

literal: deed; deeds; work

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 ¶