Tablet of Aḥmad — §14

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 14 of 17.

Source (Arabic)

وَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَيْقِنْ فِي ذَاتِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱلَّذِي أَعْرَضَ عَنْ هَذَا ٱلْجَمَالِ فَقَدْ أَعْرَضَ عَنِ ٱلْرُّسُلِ مِنْ قَبْلُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَكْبَرَ عَلَى اللهِ فِي أَزلِ ٱلْآزَالِ إِلَى أَبَدِ ٱلْآبِدِينَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Be thou assured in thyself that verily, he who turns away from this Beauty hath also turned away from the Messengers of the past and showeth pride towards God from all eternity to all eternity.

Translation Notes

وَإِنَّكَ

waʾinnak ʾ-n-n → “that verily”

literal: that; indeed/verily

thee 43% thou 29% verily 14% since 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §2: And if prayers-and-meditationsP&M §722: to sigh will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §698: They prayers-and-meditationsP&M §126: Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: I call upon Thee gleaningsGWB §2: Thee

أَيْقِنْ

ʾayqin y-q-n → “assured” Distinctive

literal: certainty; certitude

This form usually rendered as “know”, “well”, “thou” (8 occurrences)

know 38% well 13% thou 13% certainty 13% persuaded 13% assured 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: thou mayest be fire-tabletFire §24: Thy certitude gleaningsGWB §286: Will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: Certitude,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: I am persuaded tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: assured epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: them who are well assured gleaningsGWB §18: every true believer

ذَاتِكَ

dhátik dh-w-t → “thyself”

literal: essence; essence, self; essence/self

own 27% essence 23% self 17% thyself 13% thee 7% judgment 3% oneness 3% all-glorious 3% unto 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: being gleaningsGWB §97: of the Ancient Being kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: person prayers-and-meditationsP&M §843: unto Thine Essence will-and-testamentW&T §25: in person epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine Essence gleaningsGWB §536: by My Self kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: you

أَعْرَضَ

ʾaʿraḍ ʿ-r-ḍ → “turns away”

literal: turn away; turning away

turned 39% turneth 23% turn 13% renounce 6% withdraw 3% withdrawn 3% have 3% standeth 3% turns 3% hath 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: such as have turned aside gleaningsGWB §579: turn ye away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: rebellion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §289: turned their backs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: turns away the-hidden-wordsHW §9: by will-and-testamentW&T §17: opposed God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: denial of Thee

ٱلْجَمَالِ

ljamál j-m-l → “beauty”

literal: beauty; beautiful

beauty 83% ancient 5% countenance 2% ornament 2% promised 2% everlasting 2% divine 2% immortal 2% abhá 2% fairest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: among whom gleaningsGWB §103: countenance kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §6: brief prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: of Thy countenance tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: her beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §63: of beauty will-and-testamentW&T §4: another

فَقَدْ

faqad q-d-d → “hath”

literal: then-indeed; already; indeed

hath 82% \‘lo 9% stature 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: \‘Lo kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: stature epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: hath

ٱلْرُّسُلِ

lrrusul r-s-l → “messengers”

literal: messenger; messengers

apostles 42% messengers 25% prophets 17% divine 8% messengers.” 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the Apostle gleaningsGWB §107: Messengership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §198: Messengers of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §255: hast entrusted tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: of the Messengers the-hidden-wordsHW §71: wafted will-and-testamentW&T §3: transferred epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: of the Apostle of God

ٱسْتَكْبَرَ

stakbar k-b-r → “showeth pride” Distinctive

literal: greatest; greater; grandeur

This form usually rendered as “swelleth”, “disdained”, “waxed” (5 occurrences)

swelleth 20% disdained 20% waxed 20% have 20% showeth 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: old gleaningsGWB §665: away disdainfully kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Greater kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: great prayers-and-meditationsP&M §684: six times the greeting “Alláh-u-Abhá,”tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: showeth pride tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: entire tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: Glorified be

أَزلِ

ʾazl ʾ-z-l → “all eternity”

literal: eternity; eternities; eternal

eternity 45% everlasting 27% before 9% forever 9% through 9%

gleaningsGWB §258: before kitab-i-iqanKIQ §258: eternal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: eternity the-hidden-wordsHW §4: ancient eternity gleaningsGWB §550: abiding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: immortal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §180: from eternity gleaningsGWB §124: everlasting

أَبَدِ

ʾabad ʾ-b-d → “all eternity” Distinctive

literal: never; ever

This form usually rendered as “never”, “pause”, “time” (18 occurrences)

never 40% pause 20% time 20% all 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: never gleaningsGWB §419: eternally kitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: everlasting tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: all eternity epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: the Ever-Abiding gleaningsGWB §622: no kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: eternal gleaningsGWB §406: at no time

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 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

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 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 ¶