Kitáb-i-Íqán — §96

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 96 of 291.

Source (Persian)

چنانچه اليوم مشاهده می شود که چه مقدار ردّ بر اين امر بديع، علمای جاهل عصر نوشتهاند و گمان نمودهاند که اين مفتريّات مطابق آيات کتاب و موافق کلمات اولی الالباب است.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The same may be witnessed today. Consider how abundant are the denunciations written by the foolish divines of this age against this most wondrous Cause! How vain their imaginings that these calumnies are in conformity with the verses of God’s sacred Book, and in consonance with the utterances of men of discernment!

Translation Notes

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

اليوم

y-w-m → “today”

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

مشاهده

sh-h-d → “be witnessed”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

می

m-y-y

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

شود

sh-w-d

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

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

چه

ch-h → “For”

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

مقدار

q-d-r → “abundant”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

ردّ

r-d-d → “reject”

literal: rejected; repudiated

بر

b-r-r → “righteous” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

امر

ʾ-m-r → “Cause”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

بديع،

b-d-ʿ → “wondrous”

literal: to create; most wondrous; excel

علمای

ʿ-l-m → “divines”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

جاهل

j-h-l → “foolish”

literal: ignorant; foolish; the ignorant ones

عصر

ʿ-ṣ-r → “age”

literal: age; era; century; period of time

نوشتهاند

n-w-sh-t → “written”

literal: to write; written

گمان

g-m-n → “Think”

literal: supposition; opinion; conjecture; fancy; to suppose; to think

نمودهاند

n-m-w → “have”

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

مفتريّات

f-r-y → “calumnies”

literal: slander; calumny; fabrications; false accusations

مطابق

ṭ-b-q → “in conformity”

literal: layer; stratum; to fold; to accord

آيات

ʾ-y-y → “verses”

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

کتاب

k-t-b → “Book”

literal: book; scripture; writing

موافق

w-f-q → “aid” Distinctive

literal: accord, agreement, harmony; to agree, accord with

کلمات

k-l-m → “utterances”

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

اولی

ʾ-w-l → “first” Distinctive

literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of

الالباب

l-b-b → “heart”

literal: core; essence; intellect; hearts (of understanding)

است.

b-w-d

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

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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 ¶

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16 ¶

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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 ¶

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17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

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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

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57 ¶

The Hidden Words

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160 ¶

Will and Testament

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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 ¶