Kitáb-i-Íqán — §51
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 51 of 291.
Source (Persian)
و ديگر معنی اين آيه را ادراک نما که می فرمايد: "والاَرضُ جَميعاً قَبضَتُهُ يَومَ القيامَة وَالسَّمواتُ مَطويَّاتٌ بِيَمينهِ سُبحَانَهُ و تَعَالَی عَمَّا يُشرِکُونَ." مضمون آن اين است که همه زمين اخذ شده، در دست اوست روز قيامت و آسمان پيچيده شده، در دست راست اوست. حال قدری انصاف می خواهد که اگر مقصود اين است که مردم ادراک نمودهاند چه حسن بر آن مرتّب می شود؟ وانگهی اين مسلّم است که حقّ منيع، دستی که مرئی شود به بصر ظاهر و مرتکب اين امورات شود منسوب به ذات نيست بلکه کفری است محض و افکی است صرف اقرار بر چنين امری. و اگر بگوئی مظاهر امر او هستند که در قيامت به اين امر مأمور می شوند اين هم به غايت بعيد است و بی فائده. بلکه مقصود از ارض، ارض معرفت و علم است و از سماوات، سماوات اديان. حال ملاحظه فرما که چگونه ارض علم و معرفت که از قبل مبسوط شده بود به قبضه قدرت و اقتدار قبض نمود و ارض منيعه تازه در قلوب عباد مبسوط فرمود و رياحين جديده و گل های بديعه و اشجار منيعه از صُدور منيره انبات نمود.
Shoghi Effendi Translation
And now, comprehend the meaning of this verse: “The whole earth shall on the Resurrection Day be but His handful, and in His right hand shall the heavens be folded together. Praise be to Him! and high be He uplifted above the partners they join with him!” And now, be fair in thy judgment. Were this verse to have the meaning which men suppose it to have, of what profit, one may ask, could it be to man? Moreover, it is evident and manifest that no such hand as could be seen by human eye could accomplish such deeds, or could possibly be ascribed to the exalted Essence of the one true God. Nay, to acknowledge such a thing is naught but sheer blasphemy, an utter perversion of the truth. And should it be supposed that by this verse are meant the Manifestations of God, Who will be called upon, on the Day of Judgment, to perform such deeds, this too seemeth far from the truth, and is surely of no profit. On the contrary, by the term “earth” is meant the earth of understanding and knowledge, and by “heavens” the heavens of divine Revelation. Reflect thou, how, in one hand, He hath, by His mighty grasp, turned the earth of knowledge and understanding, previously unfolded, into a mere handful, and, on the other, spread out a new and highly exalted earth in the hearts of men, thus causing the freshest and loveliest blossoms, and the mightiest and loftiest trees to spring forth from the illumined bosom of man.
Translation Notes
ادراک
literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend
سُبحَانَهُ
literal: glorified; the All-Praised; exalted; dawn; daybreak; morning
ظاهر
literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation
مرتکب
literal: to ride; to commit; to undertake; composition; combination; structure
منسوب
literal: relation; relationship; connection; attribution; proportion
کفری
literal: to disbelieve, reject; unbelief, ingratitude; to deny, to disbelieve, to reject
انبات
literal: to grow, to spring forth, to produce; plant, growth
