Will and Testament — §1

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 1 of 59.

Source (Persian)

حمداً لمن صان هیکل امره بدرع المیثاق عن سهام الشّبهات و حمی حمی شریعته السّمحآء و وقی محجّته البیضآء بجنود عهوده من هجوم عصبة ناقضة و ثلّة هادمة للبنیان و حرس الحصن الحصین و دینه المبین برجال لا تأخذهم لومة لائم و لا تلهیهم تجارة و لا عزّة و لا سلطة عن عهد اللّه و میثاقه الثّابت بآیات بیّنات من اثر القلم الأعلی فی لوح حفیظ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

All praise to Him Who, by the Shield of His Covenant, hath guarded the Temple of His Cause from the darts of doubtfulness; Who by the Hosts of His Testament hath preserved the Sanctuary of His Most Beneficent Law and protected His Straight and Luminous Path, staying thereby the onslaught of the company of Covenant-breakers, that have threatened to subvert His Divine Edifice; Who hath watched over His Mighty Stronghold and All-Glorious Faith, through the aid of men whom the slander of the slanderer affecteth not, whom no earthly calling, glory and power can turn aside from the Covenant of God and His Testament, established firmly by His clear and manifest words, writ and revealed by His All-Glorious Pen and recorded in the Preserved Tablet.

Translation Notes

صان

ṣán ṣ-w-n → “preservation” Distinctive

literal: preservation; protection, preservation; protection / preservation

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

preservation 15% protection 15% safe 15% insure 8% protect 8% well-guarded 8% guarded 8% freed 8% safety 8% preserve 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: insure the protection gleaningsGWB §477: and protect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §141: Thy well-guarded will-and-testamentW&T §38: preserve epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: preservation gleaningsGWB §602: protection and security will-and-testamentW&T §38: the safety will-and-testamentW&T §5: safe and secure

هیکل

híkl h-y-k-l → “temple”

literal: temple; form; temples

temple 29% form 24% embodiment 6% immortal 6% incarnation 6% glory 6% state 6% idol 6% one 6% age 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §15: my temple fire-tabletFire §44: Thy temple gleaningsGWB §195: form kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: Temples prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: bodies tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §9: the embodiments the-hidden-wordsHW §65: of thy temple will-and-testamentW&T §1: the Temple

امره

imrh ʾ-m-r → “of his cause”

literal: command; cause

SE expanded to “of His Cause”

cause 53% revelation 22% command 5% bidding 4% faith 4% decree 4% ordainer 3% message 2% behest 2% all 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §131: Revelation fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §192: in my power kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: all acts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §752: His behests tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §33: summoned the-hidden-wordsHW §35: of power

بدرع

bdrʿ d-r-ʿ → “by the shield”

literal: shield

SE expanded to “by the Shield”

2 occurrences in corpus

gleaningsGWB §564: shield will-and-testamentW&T §1: by the Shield

المیثاق

al-mítháq w-th-q → “of his covenant”

literal: covenant; testament; covenant/pact

SE expanded to “of His Covenant”

covenant 74% testament 22% pledge 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Covenant fire-tabletFire §41: of gleaningsGWB §687: pledge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: Urvatu’l-Vuthqá prayers-and-meditationsP&M §106: and Thy Testament will-and-testamentW&T §10: the Covenant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Covenant and Thy Testament gleaningsGWB §611: thy pledge

سهام

shám s-h-m → “darts”

literal: arrows; arrow; arrow/dart

darts 60% arrows 20% shafts 15% dart 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: the shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §387: the arrows epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: darts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: dart epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: arrows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §304: for the darts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: the darts

الشّبهات

ash-shbhát sh-b-h → “of doubtfulness”

literal: doubts

doubt 41% doubts 32% doubtfulness 9% distrust 5% vain 5% such 5% seeds 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: such gleaningsGWB §289: will always remain distinguished kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: unequivocal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: suggestions will-and-testamentW&T §5: of doubt epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: all comparison gleaningsGWB §126: peers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: doubted

حمی

ḥmí ḥ-m-y → “protection” Distinctive

literal: protection; sanctuary

This form usually rendered as “preserved”, “sanctuary” (2 occurrences)

preserved 50% sanctuary 50%

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §354: protection will-and-testamentW&T §3: the safeguarding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §546: Thy care will-and-testamentW&T §10: Thy secret Sanctuary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §661: of Thy defense will-and-testamentW&T §1: the Sanctuary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §403: Thy protection will-and-testamentW&T §1: preserved

شریعته

shríʿth sh-r-ʿ → “of his most beneficent law”

literal: law; law, religious law

SE expanded to “of His Most Beneficent Law”

law 52% faith 13% dispensation 9% revelation 9% lawgiver 4% “the 4% law.” 4% most 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: the dictates gleaningsGWB §148: the truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: and the followers thereof?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §160: the dispensations will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Resplendent Law epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: “The dispensation of John gleaningsGWB §101: a particular Revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: Revelation

السّمحآء

as-smḥáʾ s-m-ḥ

literal: beneficent

SE rendered الشّبهات (ash-shbhát), حمی (ḥmí), حمی (ḥmí), شریعته (shríʿth), السّمحآء (as-smḥáʾ), وقی (wqí), محجّته (mḥjjth), البیضآء (al-bíḍáʾ), بجنود (bjnúd) as “of doubtfulness, the Sanctuary, of His Most Beneficent Law, protected, His Straight and Luminous Path, by the Hosts”

1 occurrence in corpus

وقی

wqí w-q-y → “fear” Distinctive

literal: fear; to fear

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

fear 63% let 8% lay 5% righteousness 5% virtue 5% god-fearing 3% integrity 3% beware 3% most 3% purity 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §151: Beware that fire-tabletFire §21: of purity gleaningsGWB §250: Let Him be your fear kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: about prayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: Look, then the-hidden-wordsHW §1: of spirit will-and-testamentW&T §1: protected epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: the fear of God

محجّته

mḥjjth ḥ-j-j → “testimony” Distinctive

literal: proof, testimony

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

testimony 56% proof 13% proofs 8% testimonies 6% evidences 5% evidence 3% pilgrimage 3% ḥájí 2% all 2% any 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: proof gleaningsGWB §585: the testimony kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: abiding testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §467: a Testimony the-hidden-wordsHW §160: argument will-and-testamentW&T §2: Proofs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: any proof gleaningsGWB §77: Their proofs

البیضآء

al-bíḍáʾ b-y-ḍ

literal: white; whiteness; the white

SE rendered شریعته (shríʿth), السّمحآء (as-smḥáʾ), وقی (wqí), محجّته (mḥjjth), البیضآء (al-bíḍáʾ), بجنود (bjnúd), عهوده (ʿhúdh), هجوم (hjúm), عصبة (ʿṣbh) as “of His Most Beneficent Law, protected, His Straight and Luminous Path, by the Hosts, of His Testament, the onslaught, of the company”

snow-white 50% white 25% shining 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: whiteness gleaningsGWB §36: with the white hand kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: the hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §591: have turned white epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: snow-white gleaningsGWB §588: shining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: white hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §32: brightness

بجنود

bjnúd j-n-d → “by the hosts”

literal: hosts; host

SE expanded to “by the Hosts”

hosts 76% invisible 5% aided 2% piety 2% armies 2% through 2% powers 2% nations 2% multitude 2% battalions 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the hosts of justice gleaningsGWB §277: powers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: heroism prayers-and-meditationsP&M §297: Thine invisible hosts will-and-testamentW&T §5: hosts of the Realm above epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: the hosts gleaningsGWB §63: the multitude of the hosts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §135: warrior

عهوده

ʿhúdh ʿ-h-d → “of his testament”

literal: covenant; era; age

SE expanded to “of His Testament”

covenant 50% dispensation 17% days 10% testament 8% time 4% age 4% pledgeth 2% cannot 2% qur’án 2% cycle 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §233: covenant concerning Mine own Mission gleaningsGWB §124: cannot comprehend kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the object of our expectation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: His covenant the-hidden-wordsHW §1: that they may stand faithful will-and-testamentW&T §6: God’s Testament epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of Thy Covenant gleaningsGWB §110: Dispensation

هجوم

hjúm h-j-m → “onslaught”

literal: onslaught; assault

onslaught 38% assaulted 13% have 13% assailed 13% hastened 13% launched 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: have assaulted will-and-testamentW&T §5: assailed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: assaulted will-and-testamentW&T §1: the onslaught will-and-testamentW&T §44: onslaught will-and-testamentW&T §52: launched will-and-testamentW&T §5: hastened to bestow victory

عصبة

ʿṣbh ʿ-ṣ-b → “company”

literal: company

company 50% onslaught 50%

will-and-testamentW&T §10: the onslaught will-and-testamentW&T §1: of the company

ناقضة

náqḍh n-q-ḍ → “of covenant-breakers”

literal: break

covenant-breakers 33% have 33% hath 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hath broken gleaningsGWB §296: They broke prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: and broken will-and-testamentW&T §11: of Sedition epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: broken will-and-testamentW&T §1: of Covenant-breakers epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: have broken will-and-testamentW&T §40: Covenant-breakers

ثلّة

thllh th-l-l

literal: overthrow; band

SE rendered عهوده (ʿhúdh), هجوم (hjúm), عصبة (ʿṣbh), ناقضة (náqḍh), ثلّة (thllh), هادمة (hádmh), للبنیان (llbníán), حرس (ḥrs), الحصن (al-ḥṣn), الحصین (al-ḥṣín) as “of His Testament, the onslaught, of the company, of Covenant-breakers, to subvert, His Divine Edifice, hath watched, His Mighty Stronghold”

2 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: subverted

هادمة

hádmh h-d-m → “will” Distinctive

literal: demolish; demolition; demolished

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

will 14% hath 14% demolition 14% have 14% subvert 14% destroy 14% ruin 14%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: hath demolished prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: have been abolished will-and-testamentW&T §52: ruin kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: and demolition will-and-testamentW&T §1: to subvert kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: will demolish will-and-testamentW&T §41: destroy the Divine Edifice

للبنیان

llbníán b-n-y → “his divine edifice”

literal: son; foundation; sons

SE expanded to “His Divine Edifice”

son 79% children 7% foundations 3% sons 3% edifice 2% descendant 2% baní-háshim 2% foundation 2% “o 1% rear 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: foundations gleaningsGWB §453: a Scion kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: by prayers-and-meditationsP&M §824: and the-hidden-wordsHW §70: SONS will-and-testamentW&T §1: His Divine Edifice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: “O son of man gleaningsGWB §154: Son of Man

حرس

ḥrs ḥ-r-s → “protect”

literal: guard; guarding; security

protect 50% hath 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: guardeth gleaningsGWB §475: protect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §619: of Thy protection will-and-testamentW&T §1: hath watched epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: protect him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §702: the Keeper will-and-testamentW&T §17: shelter epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: security

الحصن

al-ḥṣn ḥ-ṣ-n → “his mighty stronghold”

literal: fortress; fortified

SE expanded to “His Mighty Stronghold”

stronghold 62% fortress-town 12% tower 8% mighty 8% fortress 4% captivity 4% sanctuary 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: tower of strength gleaningsGWB §594: a tower of strength kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: married man prayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: the fortress-town of the-hidden-wordsHW §10: My stronghold will-and-testamentW&T §10: Thy secret Sanctuary epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: fortress kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: married woman

دینه

dính d-y-n → “all-glorious faith”

literal: religion; religions

faith 63% religion 17% reckoning 3% muḥammadan 3% cause 3% all-glorious 3% true 3% god’s 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: the adornment gleaningsGWB §232: the holy and shining city kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: destitute prayers-and-meditationsP&M §50: Thy Faith will-and-testamentW&T §3: True Faith epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: Great City gleaningsGWB §475: sincere in the faith kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: Cause

بیّنات

bíbnát b-y-n → “clear and manifest” Distinctive

literal: clear

This form usually rendered as “evidences”, “tokens”, “proofs” (10 occurrences)

SE expanded to “clear and manifest”

evidences 57% tokens 14% proofs 14% clear 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: the clear tokens fire-tabletFire §38: Expounder gleaningsGWB §451: with proofs kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: among My kitab-i-iqanKIQ §189: set forth the meaning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: out of all the-hidden-wordsHW §155: of wisdom will-and-testamentW&T §36: from

برجال

brjál r-j-l → “through the aid of men”

literal: men

SE expanded to “through the aid of men”

men 67% through 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: two men gleaningsGWB §106: feet kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: among you prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: their footsteps the-hidden-wordsHW §69: the same feet will-and-testamentW&T §1: through the aid of men epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: men gleaningsGWB §105: man

تأخذهم

tʾakhdhhm ʾ-kh-dh → “have” Distinctive

literal: take; take/seize; seize

This form usually rendered as “do”, “affecteth” (2 occurrences)

do 50% affecteth 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: fell fire-tabletFire §16: made captive gleaningsGWB §468: lay hold on kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: have refused to seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: Thou didst establish tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou the-hidden-wordsHW §38: lest

لومة

lúmh l-w-m → “slander of the slanderer”

literal: blame; blamer; blaming

SE expanded to “slander of the slanderer”

blame 67% slander 33%

gleaningsGWB §686: blamed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: execration prayers-and-meditationsP&M §589: blamer will-and-testamentW&T §1: the slander of the slanderer gleaningsGWB §584: of the blamer gleaningsGWB §455: blame

تلهیهم

tlhíhm l-h-w → “beguile”

literal: for-her; for-him; distract

beguile 33% celestial 33% realm 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: for him gleaningsGWB §255: beguile kitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: celestial tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: Realm on High gleaningsGWB §503: is

تجارة

tjárh t-j-r → “reputation” Distinctive

literal: merchant; merchants

This form usually rendered as “merchant”, “merchandise”, “earthly” (4 occurrences)

merchant 33% merchandise 33% earthly 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: merchant gleaningsGWB §255: merchandise will-and-testamentW&T §1: earthly calling epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: reputation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: of

عزّة

ʿzzh ʿ-z-z → “glory”

literal: glory; mighty; might

glory 49% transcendent 20% exalted 10% glorified 4% honor 4% all-glorious 3% mighty 3% most 3% almighty 3% might 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: glory fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §92: noble kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: are exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselves will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: All-Powerful, the

سلطة

slṭh s-l-ṭ → “power”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

set 50% power 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: power of His sovereignty gleaningsGWB §710: sovereign Ruler kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: ruleth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §756: through His sovereignty tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §41: warrant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: King

اللّه

al-lh ʾ-l-h

literal: God; divine; god

SE rendered عزّة (ʿzzh), سلطة (slṭh), عهد (ʿhd), اللّه (al-lh), میثاقه (mítháqh), الثّابت (ath-thábt), بآیات (báyát), بیّنات (bíbnát) as “glory, power, the Covenant of God, His Testament, established firmly, words, clear and manifest”

god 67% divine 18% god’s 4% lord 4% divinity 3% holy 1% other 1% mystic 1% heavenly 1% godhead 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: grace gleaningsGWB §10: His kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the mystic trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: my God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: divine and celestial gleaningsGWB §668: set

الثّابت

ath-thábt th-b-t → “established firmly”

literal: established; establish; affirmation

established 22% firmly 17% confirmed 13% steadfast 13% firm 9% definitely 9% incontestable 4% indisputably 4% establish 4% fixed 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: firmness gleaningsGWB §531: for the purpose of vindicating kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: of His confirmation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: definitely established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: imply an assertion the-hidden-wordsHW §124: writ and recorded will-and-testamentW&T §13: ye that stand fast epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: indisputably established

بآیات

báyát ʾ-y-y → “words”

literal: sign; signs; verse

signs 56% verses 31% words 3% manifold 2% sign 2% testimonies 2% manifest 2% word 2% reveal 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: verse fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §65: of the words of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: “smoke” denotes prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: by His signs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: verses

اثر

ithr ʾ-th-r → “signs” Distinctive

literal: effect; signs

This form usually rendered as “fulfill”, “script”, “effect” (14 occurrences)

fulfill 22% script 11% effect 11% consequence 11% beneficial 11% scar 11% perfume 11% effects 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: witness Thy signs gleaningsGWB §311: the signs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: scar the-hidden-wordsHW §148: trace epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: Thy signs gleaningsGWB §438: a beneficial influence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: of no avail epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: signs

القلم

al-qlm q-l-m → “by his all-glorious pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

SE expanded to “by His All-Glorious Pen”

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: Abhá gleaningsGWB §493: Pen of Revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Pen of Power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: Thy will-and-testamentW&T §1: by His All-Glorious Pen epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My Pen gleaningsGWB §719: Our Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine own exalted pen

الأعلی

al-ʾaʿlí ʿ-l-w → “most”

literal: highest; exalted

most 45% high 18% glory 10% loftiest 6% exalted 6% highest 5% supreme 4% all-glorious 3% heights 2% one 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: loftiest fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §338: above kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: transcendent power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §843: how could tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §98: celestial

لوح

lúḥ l-w-ḥ → “in the preserved tablet”

literal: tablet; tablets

SE expanded to “in the Preserved Tablet”

tablet 77% preserved 4% tablets 4% lawh-i-burhan 2% lawh-i-fu’ad 2% perspicuous 2% original 2% comprehend 2% guarded 2% mystic 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: Lawh-i-Burhan (Tablet gleaningsGWB §424: Writ kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: lucid prayers-and-meditationsP&M §330: and the Tablet tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Books will-and-testamentW&T §1: in the Preserved Tablet epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: in gleaningsGWB §709: His Tablets

حفیظ

ḥfíẓ ḥ-f-ẓ

literal: protection; protect; preserve

SE rendered اثر (ithr), القلم (al-qlm), الأعلی (al-ʾaʿlí), لوح (lúḥ), حفیظ (ḥfíẓ) as “writ and revealed, by His All-Glorious Pen, and recorded, in the Preserved Tablet”