Kitáb-i-Íqán — §7

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 7 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و از جمله انبياء نوح بود که نهصد و پنجاه سال نوحه نمود و عباد را به وادی ايمن روح دعوت فرمود و احدی او را اجابت ننمود. و در هر يوم به قدری ايذاء و اذيّت بر آن وجود مبارک وارد می آوردند که يقين بر هلاکت او می نمودند. و چه مراتب سخريّه و استهزاء و کنايه که بر آن حضرت وارد شد چنانچه می فرمايد: "و کُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيهِ مَلَأٌ مِن قَومِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنهُ قَالَ اِن تَسخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإنَّا نَسخَرُ مِنکُمْ کَمَا تَسخَرُونَ فَسَوفَ تَعلَمُونَ." و بعد از مدّت ها چند مرتبه وعده انزال نصر به اصحاب خود فرمودند به وعده معيّن و در هر مرتبه بدا شد. و بعضی از آن اصحاب معدوده به علّت ظهور بدا اعراض می نمودند چنانچه تفصيل آن در اکثر کتب مشهوره ثبت شده و البتّه بنظر عالی رسيده يا می رسد. تا آنکه باقی نماند از برای آن حضرت مگر چهل نفس و يا هفتاد و دو نفس چنانچه در کتب و اخبار مذکور است. تا آنکه بالاخره نداء "رَبِّ لا تَذَر عَلَی الاَرضِ مِنَ الکافِرينَ دَيَّاراً" از جان بر کشيد

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Among the Prophets was Noah. For nine hundred and fifty years He prayerfully exhorted His people and summoned them to the haven of security and peace. None, however, heeded His call. Each day they inflicted on His blessed person such pain and suffering that no one believed He could survive. How frequently they denied Him, how malevolently they hinted their suspicion against Him! Thus it hath been revealed: “And as often as a company of His people passed by Him, they derided Him. To them He said: ‘Though ye scoff at us now, we will scoff at you hereafter even as ye scoff at us. In the end ye shall know.’” Long afterward, He several times promised victory to His companions and fixed the hour thereof. But when the hour struck, the divine promise was not fulfilled. This caused a few among the small number of His followers to turn away from Him, and to this testify the records of the best-known books. These you must certainly have perused; if not, undoubtedly you will. Finally, as stated in books and traditions, there remained with Him only forty or seventy-two of His followers. At last from the depth of His being He cried aloud: “Lord! Leave not upon the land a single dweller from among the unbelievers.”

Translation Notes

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

جمله

j-m-l → “Among”

literal: beauty; totality; beautiful

انبياء

n-b-ʾ → “Prophets”

literal: prophet; messenger

نوح

n-w-ḥ → “groan”

literal: to wail; to lament; lamentation

بود

b-w-d → “was”

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

نهصد

n-h-ṣ-d → “nine hundred”

literal: to place; to lay down; to set; to submit

پنجاه

p-n-j → “fifty”

literal: fifty

سال

s-n-h → “years”

literal: most beautiful; finest; highest

نمود

n-m-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

literal: is not; not to be; does not exist; negation, denial, banishment; to negate, deny, banish; contradiction; opposition; contrariety

عباد

ʿ-b-d → “His people”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

به

b-h → “to”

literal: by it; by him; with it

وادی

w-d-y → “vale”

literal: valley

ايمن

y-m-n → “right hand”

literal: right hand; oath; right side

روح

r-w-ḥ

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

دعوت

d-ʿ-w → “summoned them”

literal: call; invitation; claim

فرمود

f-r-m → “He” Distinctive

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

احدی

ʾ-ḥ-d → “one”

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

او

h-w-w → “He” Distinctive

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

اجابت

j-w-b → “heeded”

literal: answer, reply, response

در

d-r-r

literal: in; in, at; radiant

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

يوم

y-w-m → “day”

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

قدری

q-d-r

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

ايذاء

ʾ-dh-y → “woes”

literal: harm; hurt; injury; persecution; torment

اذيّت

ʾ-dh-y

literal: harm; hurt; injury; persecution; torment

بر

b-r-r → “on”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

آن

ʾ-n → “His” Distinctive

literal: that; those; he; she; it

وجود

w-j-d → “being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

مبارک

b-r-k → “blessed”

literal: blessed; auspicious; fruitful; blest; blessed word

وارد

w-r-d → “inflicted”

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

می

m-y-y

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

آوردند

ʾ-w-r

literal: to bring; bring; brought

يقين

y-q-n → “certitude”

literal: certainty; certitude; conviction; faith

هلاکت

h-l-k

literal: to destroy; to ruin; to cause to perish; perishing; destroyer; lost

نمودند.

n-m-ود → “hath” Distinctive

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

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

مراتب

r-t-b

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

استهزاء

h-z-ʾ → “scorn”

literal: to mock; to ridicule; mockery

کنايه

k-n-y → “their suspicion”

literal: allusion

حضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “Him”

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

شد.

sh-d → “was”

literal: to become; to be

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “Thus”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

"و

w-w-w → ““And”

literal: and; quotation mark

کُلَّمَا

k-l-l → “all” Distinctive

literal: words; utterances; locutions; word; utterance; speech; sayings; verses

مَرَّ

m-r-r → “passed” Distinctive

literal: to pass; to pass by; to go

عَلَيهِ

ʿ-l-y → “by” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

مَلَأٌ

m-l-ʾ → “Concourse”

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

مِن

m-n → “of”

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

قَومِهِ

q-w-m → “His people”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

سَخِرُوا

s-kh-r → “derided”

literal: to subdue, subject, render submissive; to harness

قَالَ

q-w-l → “said”

literal: speech; utterance; saying; word

فَإنَّا

ʾ-n-ʾ

literal: I

کَمَا

k-m → “loss” Distinctive

literal: as; like; how much; lane; street; quarter; abode

فَسَوفَ

s-w-f → “Ere long will”

literal: shall; will (future marker)

تَعلَمُونَ."

ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

بعد

b-ʿ-d → “Long afterward”

literal: after; behind; distance

مدّت

m-d-d

literal: hopeful; hope; hoping

ها

w-j-h

literal: He; He is

چند

ch-n-d → “while” Distinctive

literal: some; several; a few; how many

وعده

w-ʿ-d → “promised”

literal: promised; the Promised One

انزال

n-z-l

literal: to descend, to be revealed

نصر

n-ṣ-r → “victory”

literal: aid, help, succor, victory, support

اصحاب

ṣ-ḥ-b → “His companions”

literal: possessor; those who have; companion; followers

خود

kh-w-d

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

معيّن

ʿ-y-n

literal: eye; fountain; spring; essence; to appoint; to designate; to specify; to determine

بدا

b-d-w

literal: lest; perhaps; in order that not

بعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “a”

literal: part; some; portion

معدوده

ʿ-d-d → “few” Distinctive

literal: numerous; many; multiple

علّت

ʿ-l-l → “caused”

literal: for us; to us

ظهور

ẓ-h-r

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

اعراض

ʿ-r-ḍ → “turn away”

literal: to turn away; to avert; to abstain; heedless

تفصيل

f-ṣ-l → “separated” Distinctive

literal: detail; distinction; differentiation; to detail; to separate

اکثر

k-th-r → “of the” Distinctive

literal: majority; multitude; abundance; multiplicity

کتب

k-t-b → “best-known books”

literal: book; scripture; writing

مشهوره

sh-h-r

literal: city; month; fame, renown

ثبت

th-b-t

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

البتّه

b-t-t

literal: certainly; certainly, definitely; absolute

بنظر

n-ẓ-r

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

رسيده

r-s-d

literal: to send; dispatch; transmission

يا

y-ʾ → “or”

literal: O; or

تا

t-y-y

literal: so that/until

باقی

b-q-y

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal

نماند

m-ʾ-n

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

برای

b-r-y

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

مگر

m-g-r

literal: matter; affair; thing

نفس

n-f-s → “souls”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

هفتاد

h-f-t → “seventh” Distinctive

literal: lion; wild beast

دو

d-w

literal: two; run; running

اخبار

kh-b-r → “traditions”

literal: news; inform; informed

مذکور

dh-k-r → “stated” Distinctive

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

بالاخره

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

literal: the hereafter, the next life, the world to come; last, latter; the next life, the hereafter; delay; postponement

نداء

n-d-y → “cried aloud” Distinctive

literal: call; called; call, voice

"رَبِّ

r-b-b → ““Lord”

literal: Lord; lord; divine

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

تَذَر

dh-r

literal: leave

عَلَی

ʿ-l-w → “upon” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

الاَرضِ

ʾ-r-ḍ → “the land” Distinctive

literal: earth; land; ground; country

الکافِرينَ

k-f-r → “repudiated” Distinctive

literal: to disbelieve, reject; unbelief, ingratitude; to deny, to disbelieve, to reject

دَيَّاراً"

d-y-r → “single dweller”

literal: homes; other; dweller

جان

j-ʾ-n → “lives”

literal: soul; life; spirit; self

کشيد

k-sh-y

literal: to draw; to pull; to drag; to extend

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 ¶