Skip to main content

Kitáb-i-Íqán — §74

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 74 of 291.

Source (Persian)

وقوله: "وَ يَنوحُ کُلُّ قَبائِل الاَرض وَ يَرَونَ ابن الإنسان آتياً عَلی سَحابِ السَّماء مَعَ قُوّاةٍ وَ مجدٍ کبيرٍ." تلويح اين بيان اين است: يعنی در آن وقت نوحه می کنند عباد از جهت فقدان شمس جمال الهی و قمر علم و انجم حکمت لدنّی و در آن اثنا مشاهده می شود که آن طلعت موعود و جمال معبود از آسمان نازل می شود در حالتی که بر ابر سوار است، يعنی آن جمال الهی از سماوات مشيّت ربّانی در هيکل بشری ظهور می فرمايد. و مقصود از سماء نيست مگر جهت علوّ و سموّ که آن محلّ ظهور آن مشارق قدسيّه و مطالع قدميّه است. و اين کينونات قديمه اگر چه به حسب ظاهر از بطن امّهات ظاهر می شوند و ليکن فی الحقيقه از سماوات امر نازلند و اگر چه بر ارض ساکن اند و ليکن بر رفرف معانی متّکأند و در حينی که ميان عباد مشی می نمايند در هواهای قرب طائرند. بی حرکت رِجل در ارض روح مشی نمايند و بی پر به معارج احديّه پرواز فرمايند. در هر نَفَسی مشرق و مغرب ابداع را طيّ فرمايند و در هر آنی ملکوت غيب و شهاده را سير نمايند. بر عرش "لا يَشغَلُه شَأنٌ عَن شَأنٍ " واقف اند و بر کرسيّ"کلُّ يَومٍ هُوَ فی شَأنٍ" ساکن. از علوّ قدرت سلطان قدم و سموّ مشيّت مليک اعظم مبعوث می شوند. اين است که می فرمايد: از آسمان نازل می شود.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And now, with reference to His words: “And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” These words signify that in those days men will lament the loss of the Sun of the divine beauty, of the Moon of knowledge, and of the Stars of divine wisdom. Thereupon, they will behold the countenance of the promised One, the adored Beauty, descending from heaven and riding upon the clouds. By this is meant that the divine Beauty will be made manifest from the heaven of the will of God, and will appear in the form of the human temple. The term “heaven” denoteth loftiness and exaltation, inasmuch as it is the seat of the revelation of those Manifestations of Holiness, the Day-springs of ancient glory. These ancient Beings, though delivered from the womb of their mother, have in reality descended from the heaven of the will of God. Though they be dwelling on this earth, yet their true habitations are the retreats of glory in the realms above. Whilst walking amongst mortals, they soar in the heaven of the divine presence. Without feet they tread the path of the spirit, and without wings they rise unto the exalted heights of divine unity. With every fleeting breath they cover the immensity of space, and at every moment traverse the kingdoms of the visible and the invisible. Upon their thrones is written: “Nothing whatsoever keepeth Him from being occupied with any other thing;” and on their seats is inscribed: “Verily, His ways differ every day.” They are sent forth through the transcendent power of the Ancient of Days, and are raised up by the exalted will of God, the most mighty King. This is what is meant by the words: “coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Translation Notes

کبيرٍ
kbírin k-b-r

literal: greatest; greater; great

SE rendered قُوّاةٍ (qúqáhin), مجدٍ (mjdin), کبيرٍ (kbírin), تلويح (tlúyḥ), بيان (bíán) as “power, great glory.”, These words”

great 53% exalted 12% clear 6% aged 6% supreme 6% old 6% grievous 6% long 6%
بيان
bíán b-y-n

literal: utterance

SE rendered مجدٍ (mjdin), کبيرٍ (kbírin), تلويح (tlúyḥ), بيان (bíán), يعنی (yʿní), وقت (wqt), نوحه (núḥh) as “great glory.”, These words, that, lament”

وقت
wqt w-q-t

literal: time; appointed time; appointed-time

SE rendered بيان (bíán), يعنی (yʿní), وقت (wqt), نوحه (núḥh), می (mí), کنند (knnd), عباد (ʿbád), از (iz), جهت (jht), فقدان (fqdán) as “that, lament, will, men, from, other, the loss”

time 30% hour 17% thereupon 9% moment 9% days 9% age 9% timely 4% hitherto 4% now 4% day 4%
کنند
knnd krdn

literal: do; to do; do/make

SE rendered يعنی (yʿní), وقت (wqt), نوحه (núḥh), می (mí), کنند (knnd), عباد (ʿbád), از (iz), جهت (jht), فقدان (fqdán), شمس (shms), جمال (jmál) as “that, lament, will, men, from, other, the loss, the Sun, beauty, of the Moon”

would 20% appreciate 10% witnessed 10% vainly 10% toward 10% should 10% uttered 10% give 10% indulge 10%
علم
ʿlm ʿ-l-m

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

SE rendered جهت (jht), فقدان (fqdán), شمس (shms), جمال (jmál), الهی (al-hí), قمر (qmr), علم (ʿlm), انجم (injm), حکمت (ḥkmt), لدنّی (ldnní) as “other, the loss, the Sun, beauty, of the Moon, of the divine, of knowledge, the Stars, of divine wisdom”

لدنّی
ldnní l-d-n

literal: divine

SE rendered الهی (al-hí), قمر (qmr), علم (ʿlm), انجم (injm), حکمت (ḥkmt), لدنّی (ldnní), اثنا (ithná), مشاهده (msháhdh), می (mí) as “of the divine, of knowledge, the Stars, of divine wisdom, behold, will”

divine 30% who 26% part 9% bidden 9% proceeded 4% decreed 4% one 4% future 4% born 4% name 4%
اثنا
ithná th-n-y

literal: praise; second; praise, commendation

SE rendered انجم (injm), حکمت (ḥkmt), لدنّی (ldnní), اثنا (ithná), مشاهده (msháhdh), می (mí) as “the Stars, of divine wisdom, behold, will”

طلعت
ṭlʿt ṭ-l-ʿ

literal: countenance

SE rendered اثنا (ithná), مشاهده (msháhdh), می (mí), طلعت (ṭlʿt), موعود (múʿúd), جمال (jmál), معبود (mʿbúd), از (iz), آسمان (ásmán) as “behold, will, of the promised One, the adored Beauty, heaven”

مقصود
mqṣúd q-ṣ-d

literal: intended; purpose; desired

SE rendered هيکل (híkl), بشری (bshrí), ظهور (ẓhúr), می (mí), فرمايد (frmáyd), مقصود (mqṣúd), از (iz), سماء (smáʾ), نيست (níst), مگر (mgr), جهت (jht), علوّ (ʿlúl) as “the form, of the human, will be made manifest, will appear, The term “heaven”, denoteth, loftiness, inasmuch as”

purpose 28% desire 26% meant 20% goal 5% meaning 4% desired 3% who 3% object 3% intended 3% thou 3%
حسب
ḥsb ḥ-s-b

literal: according; reckoned; reckoning

SE rendered کينونات (kínúnát), قديمه (qdímh), چه (chh), حسب (ḥsb), ظاهر (ẓáhr), از (iz), بطن (bṭn), امّهات (immhát), ظاهر (ẓáhr), می (mí) as “delivered, from, the womb, of their mother, have”

متّکأند
mttkʾand t-k-y → “true”

literal: resting, leaning

1 occurrence in corpus

حينی
ḥíní ḥ-y-n

literal: time; time/moment; moment

SE rendered رفرف (rfrf), معانی (mʿání), متّکأند (mttkʾand), حينی (ḥíní), ميان (míán), عباد (ʿbád), مشی (mshí), می (mí), نمايند (nmáynd) as “the retreats, of glory, are, amongst, mortals, walking, they”

whilst 75% same 25%
هواهای
húáháy h-w-ʾ → “breeze” Distinctive

literal: air; air, atmosphere; air, wind

This form usually rendered as “heavens”, “heaven” (2 occurrences)

heavens 50% heaven 50%
حرکت
ḥrkt ḥ-r-k

literal: movement; move; movement, motion

SE rendered هواهای (húáháy), قرب (qrb), طائرند (ṭáʾrnd), بی (bí), حرکت (ḥrkt), رِجل (rijl), ارض (irḍ), روح (rúḥ), مشی (mshí), نمايند (nmáynd) as “the realms, of the divine presence, soar, Without, feet, the spirit, ways, they tread”

مغرب
mghrb gh-r-b

literal: west

SE rendered فرمايند (frmáynd), هر (hr), نَفَسی (nafasí), مشرق (mshrq), مغرب (mghrb), ابداع (ibdáʿ), طيّ (ṭíṭ), فرمايند (frmáynd), هر (hr) as “the immensity of, at every moment, fleeting breath, cover”

west 75% toward 13% uttermost 13%
ابداع
ibdáʿ b-d-ʿ

literal: creation

SE rendered هر (hr), نَفَسی (nafasí), مشرق (mshrq), مغرب (mghrb), ابداع (ibdáʿ), طيّ (ṭíṭ), فرمايند (frmáynd), هر (hr) as “at every moment, fleeting breath, cover, the immensity of”

creation 25% entire 25% created 13% whole 8% all 8% world 4% universe 4% eye 4% uttermost 4% east 4%
طيّ
ṭíṭ ṭ-y-y → “ta” Distinctive

literal: the letter ta; traverse

This form usually rendered as “traverse” (3 occurrences)

ta 40% traverse 40% full 20%
عرش
ʿrsh ʿ-r-sh

literal: throne

SE rendered شهاده (shhádh), سير (sír), نمايند (nmáynd), بر (br), عرش (ʿrsh), يَشغَلُه (yashghaluh) as “and the invisible, traverse, Upon their thrones, occupied”

قدرت
qdrt q-d-r → “of”

literal: power; powerful

SE rendered شَأنٍ (shaʾanin), ساکن (sákn), از (iz), علوّ (ʿlúl), قدرت (qdrt), سلطان (slṭán), قدم (qdm), سموّ (smúm), مشيّت (mshíht), مليک (mlík) as “: “Verily,, is inscribed, from, transcendent power, of, the Ancient of Days, exalted, will, the most mighty King”

power 44% thou 30% might 8% dominion 3% omnipotence 2% through 2% didst 2% divine 2% ordained 2% hast 2%
اعظم
iʿẓm ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE rendered سلطان (slṭán), قدم (qdm), سموّ (smúm), مشيّت (mshíht), مليک (mlík), اعظم (iʿẓm), مبعوث (mbʿúth), می (mí), شوند (shúnd) as “the Ancient of Days, exalted, will, the most mighty King, are sent, raised up”

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 cover

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 ¶