Tablet of the Holy Mariner — §4

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 4 of 57.

Source (Arabic)

إذًا فاطلق زمام الفلك ليجري على قلزم الكبرياء

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Unmoor it, then, that it may sail upon the ocean of glory, Glorified be my Lord, the All-Glorious!

Translation Notes

فاطلق

fáṭlq ṭ-l-q → “applied” Distinctive

literal: application

This form usually rendered as “unmoor” (1 occurrences)

applied 25% applicable 13% slightest 13% divorce 13% all-pervading 6% interpreted 6% release 6% friendly 6% pervasive 6% absolute 6%

gleaningsGWB §106: All-Pervading kitab-i-iqanKIQ §41: application prayers-and-meditationsP&M §386: Judgment Day tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §4: Unmoor will-and-testamentW&T §23: universality gleaningsGWB §156: be interpreted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: absolute prayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: rid me of my bondage

زمام

zmám z-m-m

literal: rein; reins; rein/control

SE rendered فاطلق (fáṭlq), زمام (zmám), الفلك (al-flk), ليجري (líjrí), قلزم (qlzm), الكبرياء (al-kbríáʾ) as “Unmoor, that it, may sail, the ocean, of glory”

reins 93% restrain 4% empire 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: the reins kitab-i-iqanKIQ §78: restrain Our prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: that the reins epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: are the reins prayers-and-meditationsP&M §777: the empire epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: reins

الفلك

al-flk f-l-k → “that it”

literal: for you; ship; ark/ship

SE rendered فاطلق (fáṭlq), زمام (zmám), الفلك (al-flk), ليجري (líjrí), قلزم (qlzm), الكبرياء (al-kbríáʾ) as “Unmoor, that it, may sail, the ocean, of glory”

yield 40% ark 33% heaven 7% mine 7% heavens.” 7% crimson 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: ark on fire-tabletFire §25: Ark gleaningsGWB §594: an ark kitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: heavens.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §118: Crimson Ark tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §4: that it gleaningsGWB §633: Mine Ark kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the ark

ليجري

líjrí j-r-y → “may sail” Distinctive

literal: flowing; flow; to flow

This form usually rendered as “floweth”, “flow”, “traveleth” (16 occurrences)

floweth 23% flow 15% traveleth 8% will 8% mention 8% recounteth 8% gush 8% ascribeth 8% may 8% knoweth 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: floweth gleaningsGWB §467: mention kitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: is prayers-and-meditationsP&M §284: floweth out tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §33: maiden epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: flowing gleaningsGWB §478: cause kitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: be

الكبرياء

al-kbríáʾ k-b-r → “of glory”

literal: grandeur

grandeur 70% glory 20% glorified 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: most weighty gleaningsGWB §159: most perfect kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Greater kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: philosopher’s stone.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: disdained tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: showeth pride tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: entire tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: Glorified be

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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

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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

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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 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

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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

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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

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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 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

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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

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5 ¶

The Hidden Words

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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 ¶