Will and Testament — §18
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 18 of 59.
Source (Persian)
ای احبّای الهی باید ولیّ امر اللّه در زمان حیات خویش من هو بعده را تعیین نماید تا بعد از صعودش اختلاف حاصل نگردد و شخص معیّن باید مظهر تقدیس و تنزیه و تقوای الهی و علم و فضل و کمال باشد لهذا اگر ولد بکر ولیّ امر اللّه مظهر الولد سرّ ابیه نباشد یعنی از عنصر روحانی او نه و شرف اعراق با حسن اخلاق مجتمع نیست باید غصن دیگر را انتخاب نماید
Shoghi Effendi Translation
O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own lifetime him that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first-born of the Guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words “The child is the secret essence of its sire”, that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he (the Guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch to succeed him.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §28: His willfire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §673: the Beloved Himselfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: their heart’s desireprayers-and-meditationsP&M §107: Him Who is dear to Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §30: wouldst not have ascribedwill-and-testamentW&T §38: for His steadfast friends)
SE expanded to “of the Lord”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: to Godfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §385: with the Lordkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: but God aloneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: Who worshippeth no onetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial
SE expanded to “It is incumbent”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: as they shouldgleaningsGWB §709: It behoovethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: must needsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: into the wildernessthe-hidden-wordsHW §53: be no morewill-and-testamentW&T §25: must beepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: is incumbentgleaningsGWB §146: needeth
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §72: ImamsgleaningsGWB §38: To them that are endowed withkitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: every discerningprayers-and-meditationsP&M §88: them that are dear to Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §157: menwill-and-testamentW&T §35: mercyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: outrivalledgleaningsGWB §91: discerning
SE expanded to “of the Cause”
SE rendered باید (báyd), ولیّ (wlíl), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), زمان (zmán), حیات (ḥíát), خویش (khúysh), بعده (bʿdh), تعیین (tʿíyn) as “It is incumbent, the Guardian, of the Cause, of God, own lifetime, his successor, to appoint”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: lifefire-tabletFire §19: eternal lifegleaningsGWB §615: Be ye ashamedkitab-i-ahdAhd §16: the regenerationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §139: immortalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §512: regeneratetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: for having quickened my soulwill-and-testamentW&T §2: Salutation
after 50% when 16% remoteness 9% then 5% notwithstanding 4% since 4% subsequent 4% future 4% subsequently 3% later 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §178: wellspringgleaningsGWB §167: with your eyeskitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: Itselfprayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: Thee with Thine own eyestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyestablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: thosetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: tearsthe-hidden-wordsHW §58: with Mine eye
This form usually rendered as “will”, “may”, “must” (188 occurrences)
This form usually rendered as “passing” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: his ascentgleaningsGWB §337: strivingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: and from ascendingtablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: shedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §32: ascend unto thethe-hidden-wordsHW §23: Rise thenwill-and-testamentW&T §58: Day of Ascensionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Get thee up
discord 23% differences 19% difference 12% strife 12% contention 8% dissensions 8% dissension 8% divergencies 4% diversities 4% differed 4%
SE rendered از (iz), صعودش (ṣʿúdsh), اختلاف (ikhtláf), حاصل (ḥáṣl), نگردد (ngrdd), شخص (shkhṣ), معیّن (mʿíʿn), باید (báyd), مظهر (mẓhr) as “of, his passing, differences, may not arise, He that, is appointed, must, manifest”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: is attainedgleaningsGWB §596: achievedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §76: resultthe-hidden-wordsHW §159: earn a livelihoodwill-and-testamentW&T §18: ariseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: acquisitiongleaningsGWB §356: found and recognizedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: are impossible
This form usually rendered as “will”, “partake”, “such” (10 occurrences)
SE expanded to “may not arise”
manifestation 58% revealer 16% who 12% manifest 3% dayspring 2% manifested 2% manifestations 2% revealest 1% focused 1% symbol 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Revealerfire-tabletFire §8: the signsgleaningsGWB §682: being unveiled to men’s eyeskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: literally fulfilledprayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: worthy of any noticetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assistthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: for My manifestation
SE rendered نگردد (ngrdd), شخص (shkhṣ), معیّن (mʿíʿn), باید (báyd), مظهر (mẓhr), تقدیس (tqdís), تنزیه (tnzíh), تقوای (tqúáy), الهی (al-hí), علم (ʿlm) as “may not arise, He that, is appointed, must, manifest, purity, the fear of God, God, knowledge”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: His holinessgleaningsGWB §707: One immeasurably exalted abovekitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Heavenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: infinitely exaltedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exaltedthe-hidden-wordsHW §57: thy sanctitywill-and-testamentW&T §38: Mostepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: exalted
purity 29% detached 14% exalted 7% sanctified 7% indivisible 7% shall 7% detachment 7% holy 7% singleness 7% essence 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: exalted abovefire-tabletFire §31: Thy holinessgleaningsGWB §669: concealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: freeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §103: and is holy beyondthe-hidden-wordsHW §57: thy freedomwill-and-testamentW&T §21: detached from earthly thingsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: purity
SE expanded to “fear of God”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: could ye but comprehend itfire-tabletFire §49: all the worldsgleaningsGWB §356: to be well versed in human learningkitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognizedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: divines ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §442: world and all thattablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worldstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught
grace 63% bounty 10% token 7% favor 6% through 3% favors 3% excellence 3% mercy 3% knowledge 1% concerning 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: is better thangleaningsGWB §101: have caused to excelkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Graciouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: the most distinguishedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: of Thy gracious favorstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a bountythe-hidden-wordsHW §1: as a token of gracewill-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: hath been fulfilledgleaningsGWB §405: completelykitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: whollyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: have been perfectedthe-hidden-wordsHW §160: fulfilledwill-and-testamentW&T §53: greatestepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: an all-powerfulgleaningsGWB §287: perfected
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: mothergleaningsGWB §725: generation ofkitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: That which is bornprayers-and-meditationsP&M §94: At his birthwill-and-testamentW&T §18: The childepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §69: begetteth notgleaningsGWB §452: and the fatherskitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: children
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: at morngleaningsGWB §67: dayprayers-and-meditationsP&M §19: into lightwill-and-testamentW&T §16: first-bornepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: at dawngleaningsGWB §633: the night seasonwill-and-testamentW&T §16: the first-bornepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: first-fruits of
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: contentmentgleaningsGWB §207: thy thronekitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: a couchprayers-and-meditationsP&M §134: and to lay bare Thy mysteriestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: that which they have concealedthe-hidden-wordsHW §37: the gladnesswill-and-testamentW&T §18: the secret essenceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: secretly
This form usually rendered as “abi”, “abu”, “sire”” (4 occurrences)
SE rendered امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), مظهر (mẓhr), الولد (al-wld), سرّ (srr), ابیه (ibíh), نباشد (nbáshd), یعنی (yʿní), از (iz), عنصر (ʿnṣr), روحانی (rúḥání), نه (nh) as “of the Cause, of God, not manifest, the secret essence, of its sire”, that is, of, spiritual, not inherit”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: had not comegleaningsGWB §172: can best be achievedkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: it behovethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: We cherished no otherprayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: hath remainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §93: ye werewill-and-testamentW&T §19: shall at all times beepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: was not
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: of the spiritfire-tabletFire §49: fragrancegleaningsGWB §603: in a spirit ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happinesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: “Spirit,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: the windstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: of heaventhe-hidden-wordsHW §68: By My spirit
This form usually rendered as “having”, “honoured”, “excellence” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: highgleaningsGWB §357: the glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: was honouredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: and conferred upon us the honortablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: hath been honouredwill-and-testamentW&T §18: gloriousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: it might be honoredgleaningsGWB §119: hath received them
This form usually rendered as “lineage” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: veinfire-tabletFire §50: their veinsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: every pulsating vein within metablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: Arabianwill-and-testamentW&T §18: lineagefire-tabletFire §50: veinsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: my veinsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: my
character 38% conduct 13% righteousness 8% praiseworthy 8% goodly 8% saintly 8% virtues 4% characteristics 4% virtuous 4% behavior 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: createdfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §449: Who hath created theekitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: the world and all that is thereinprayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: of Thy creaturestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §14: I created theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: a virtuous character
This form usually rendered as “gathered”, “together”, “matched” (5 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: branchgleaningsGWB §235: have branched from My Treekitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the Aghṣánprayers-and-meditationsP&M §773: Thy Brancheswill-and-testamentW&T §19: oneepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: My Branches (sons)gleaningsGWB §501: to one ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §12: Aghṣán
