Will and Testament — §13
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 13 of 59.
Source (Persian)
ای ثابتان بر پیمان این طیر بال و پر شکسته و مظلوم چون آهنگ ملأ اعلی نماید و بجهان پنهان شتابد و جسدش تحت اطباق قرار یابد یا مفقود گردد باید افنان ثابتۀ راسخۀ بر میثاق اللّه که از سدرۀ تقدیس روئیدهاند با حضرات ایادی امر اللّه علیهم بهآء اللّه و جمیع یاران و دوستان بالاتّفاق بنشر نفحات اللّه و تبلیغ امر اللّه و ترویج دین اللّه بدل و جان قیام نمایند دقیقهئی آرام نگیرند و آنی استراحت نکنند در ممالک و دیار منتشر شوند و آوارۀ هر بلاد و سرگشتۀ هر اقلیم گردند دقیقهئی نیاسایند و آنی آسوده نگردند و نفسی راحت نجویند در هر کشوری نعرۀ یابهآءالأبهی زنند و در هر شهری شهرۀ آفاق شوند و در هر انجمنی چون شمع برافروزند و در هر محفلی نار عشق برافروزند تا در قطب آفاق انوار حقّ اشراق نماید و در شرق و غرب جمّ غفیری در ظلّ کلمة اللّه آید و نفحات قدس بوزد و وجوه نورانی گردد و قلوب ربّانی شود و نفوس رحمانی گردد
Shoghi Effendi Translation
O ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh that this wronged and broken-winged bird will have taken its flight unto the Celestial Concourse, when it will have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will have been either lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the Afnán, that are steadfast in the Covenant of God and have branched from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God, the glory of the Lord rest upon them; and all the friends and loved ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savours of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His Faith. It behoveth them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose. They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime and travel throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end, they must raise in every land the triumphal cry “O Thou the Glory of Glories!” (Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá), must achieve renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet savours of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly.
Translation Notes
پیمان
literal: covenant; bond; pledge; testament; to measure; to traverse; to pass
ملأ
literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly
روئیدهاند
literal: narration; tradition; fragrance; to grow; to spring forth; to sprout
ترویج
literal: promotion; propagation; circulation (verbal noun of روّج)
ممالک
literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty; possessions; property; ownership
