Kitáb-i-Íqán — §87

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 87 of 291.

Source (Persian)

باری، چون اين وجودات قدسيّه از عوارض بشريّه پاک و مقدّس گشتند و متخلّق به اخلاق روحانيّين و متّصف به اوصاف مقدّسين شدند لهذا اسم ملائکه بر آن نفوس مقدّسه اطلاق گشته. باری، اين است معنی اين کلمات که هر فقره آن به آيات واضحه و دليل های متقنه و براهين لائحه اظهار شد.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And now, inasmuch as these holy beings have sanctified themselves from every human limitation, have become endowed with the attributes of the spiritual, and have been adorned with the noble traits of the blessed, they therefore have been designated as “angels.” Such is the meaning of these verses, every word of which hath been expounded by the aid of the most lucid texts, the most convincing arguments, and the best established evidences.

Translation Notes

باری،

b-r-y → “And now”

literal: well; cistern; pit

چون

ch-w-n → “As”

literal: since; when; as

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

وجودات

w-j-d → “holy beings”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

از

ʾ-z → “from every”

literal: from

عوارض

ʿ-r-ḍ → “turned away” Distinctive

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

بشريّه

b-sh-r → “human”

literal: human; mankind; human nature

پاک

p-ʾ-k → “sanctified” Distinctive

literal: pure; clean; sanctified; holy

گشتند

g-sh-t → “have been”

literal: to become; to turn; to be

متخلّق

kh-l-q → “Thy creatures” Distinctive

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

به

b-h → “with” Distinctive

literal: by it; by him; with it

روحانيّين

r-w-ḥ → “spiritual”

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

اوصاف

w-ṣ-f → “attributes” Distinctive

literal: pure one; chosen one; selected one; elite; purity; clarity; sincerity; pure; sincere

مقدّسين

q-d-s → “blessed”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

شدند

sh-d → “have become”

literal: to not become; to not be

لهذا

l-dh-ʾ → “therefore”

literal: therefore; for this reason; hence; so

اسم

s-m-w → “heaven” Distinctive

literal: name; title; designation

ملائکه

m-l-k → ““angels.””

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty

بر

b-r-r → “as” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

آن

ʾ-n → “they”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

نفوس

n-f-s

literal: self; soul; psyche

اطلاق

ṭ-l-q

literal: divorce; release; freeing

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

معنی

ʿ-n-y → “meaning”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

کلمات

k-l-m → “verses” Distinctive

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

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

هر

h-r → “every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

فقره

f-q-r → “poor”

literal: poor; needy; the poor one; pauper

آيات

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: verse; sign; miracle; proof; sign, verse, miracle, token, indication; ayah; he; him; it

واضحه

w-ḍ-ḥ → “lucid” Distinctive

literal: clear; evident; manifest; obvious

دليل

d-l-l → “proof”

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

های

null

literal: and; that; in

متقنه

t-q-n → “convincing”

literal: perfect, well-arranged, firmly constructed

براهين

b-r-h → “evidences” Distinctive

literal: proof, evidence, demonstration, argument

لائحه

l-w-ḥ → “Tablet” Distinctive

literal: document; list; manifest; to appear; to be evident

اظهار

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

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