Will and Testament — §21

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 21 of 59.

Source (Persian)

و وظیفۀ ایادی امر اللّه نشر نفحات اللّه و تربیت نفوس و تعلیم علوم و تحسین اخلاق عموم و تقدیس و تنزیه در جمیع شئونست از اطوار و احوال و کردار و گفتار باید تقوای الهی ظاهر و آشکار باشد

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.

Translation Notes

وظیفۀ

wẓífۀ w-ẓ-f → “obligations”

literal: duty

1 occurrence in corpus

will-and-testamentW&T §21: obligations

ایادی

iyádí y-d-y → “hands”

literal: hand; hands; by-hand

hands 81% hand 5% through 3% into 3% longing 3% grace 3% thou 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: its hand gleaningsGWB §523: to the hands kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §455: by the hand tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: in Whose hand is tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: with their hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: with the hand gleaningsGWB §636: to the care

نشر

nshr n-sh-r → “diffuse”

literal: spreading; spread; diffusion

diffuse 30% diffusion 20% spreading 20% propagation 10% revival 10% diffusing 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: resurrection gleaningsGWB §187: the signs and tokens kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: Revival prayers-and-meditationsP&M §345: been noised abroad will-and-testamentW&T §34: scattered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: disseminate gleaningsGWB §232: have been diffused prayers-and-meditationsP&M §167: be shed abroad

نفحات

nfḥát n-f-ḥ → “fragrances”

literal: fragrance; breeze; breath

breezes 20% sweet 20% fragrances 17% fragrance 12% breath 11% breaths 9% savors 5% holy 3% carried 2% grievous 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: breath gleaningsGWB §289: the breath kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: savours prayers-and-meditationsP&M §223: the sweet savors will-and-testamentW&T §13: sweet savours epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the breaths gleaningsGWB §506: and have withheld prayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: Thy sweet savors

تربیت

trbít r-b-y → “education”

literal: education; training

education 36% trained 9% disciplined 9% enlightened 9% development 9% educative 9% training 9% edify 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: nurtured gleaningsGWB §44: disciplined kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: educative influence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: reared the-hidden-wordsHW §104: training will-and-testamentW&T §21: edify epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §267: hath been brought up gleaningsGWB §484: fostereth the growth

تعلیم

tʿlím ʿ-l-m → “knowledge” Distinctive

literal: knowledge

This form usually rendered as “taught”, “teaching”, “education” (11 occurrences)

taught 40% teaching 10% education 10% instructed 10% hath 10% learning 10% promote 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: distinguished fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §586: and written down the knowledge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: be known prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: and wisdom tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: existence

تحسین

tḥsín ḥ-s-n → “most” Distinctive

literal: best; Husayn; beautiful

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

most 36% good 13% bounty 10% goodly 8% bountiful 8% excellent 5% do 5% best 5% which 5% kindly 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: Excellent gleaningsGWB §579: kindly manner kitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: profit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §517: through Thy bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §2: kindly will-and-testamentW&T §21: improve epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: the beauty thereof gleaningsGWB §477: with which

اخلاق

ikhláq kh-l-q → “character”

literal: creation; create; created

character 65% conduct 13% virtues 4% characteristics 4% saintly 4% righteousness 4% attributes 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: created fire-tabletFire §40: wert created gleaningsGWB §457: created you kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: the world of creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §131: Thou didst call into tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §69: why epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §195: virtues

عموم

ʿmúm ʿ-m-m → “all”

literal: generality; general; general, universal

all 57% universally 14% everyone 14% common 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: with his gleaningsGWB §697: all men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: high and lowly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: hath encompassed all things will-and-testamentW&T §23: everyone epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: “Of what ask they kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: generality will-and-testamentW&T §17: universally

تقدیس

tqdís q-d-s → “sanctified” Distinctive

literal: holiness; sanctified

This form usually rendered as “sanctity”, “holiness”, “exalted” (41 occurrences)

sanctity 50% holiness 12% exalted 8% sanctified 8% self 4% glory 4% purge 4% praise 4% acknowledge 4% purging 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: the Holy Spirit gleaningsGWB §187: of sanctity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: Kázim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §670: entirely strip tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse the-hidden-wordsHW §135: the epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Purge and sanctify gleaningsGWB §726: undefiled

تنزیه

tnzíh n-z-h → “sanctified”

literal: exaltation; exalted; transcendence

purity 33% description 8% sanctified 8% indivisible 8% shall 8% detachment 8% ye 8% holy 8% detached 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: the purity of Thine Essence fire-tabletFire §31: Thy gleaningsGWB §115: exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: purify prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: most exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thy freedom will-and-testamentW&T §21: detached epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: description

شئونست

shʾúnst sh-ʾ-n

literal: affairs; affair; matter

SE rendered عموم (ʿmúm), تقدیس (tqdís), تنزیه (tnzíh), جمیع (jmíʿ), شئونست (shʾúnst), از (iz), اطوار (iṭúár), احوال (iḥúál), کردار (krdár) as “all, sanctified, detached, from, manners, conditions, conduct”

state 15% manifold 15% changes 10% station 10% rank 10% tokens 10% glory 10% excellence 10% distinction 5% worldly 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: rank gleaningsGWB §129: separation and distinction kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: these prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: the excellence will-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly things epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: distinction gleaningsGWB §283: corrupt inclination kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: concerning Him

از

iz ʾ-z → “amongst”

literal: from

23 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: from kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Amongst kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: at

اطوار

iṭúár ṭ-w-r → “another” Distinctive

literal: Sinai; mount; Mount Sinai

This form usually rendered as “rustling”, “behavior”, “machinations” (7 occurrences)

rustling 60% behavior 20% machinations 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: mountain side gleaningsGWB §557: rustling prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: At another time tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: soared will-and-testamentW&T §42: machinations epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: the behavior gleaningsGWB §683: mysterious and transcendent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §506: and soared

احوال

iḥúál ḥ-w-l → “conditions”

literal: state

times 30% conditions 15% under 15% all 10% continually 10% condition 5% state 5% circumstances 5% whatever 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: at the present time gleaningsGWB §113: their acts and manners kitab-i-iqanKIQ §4: Ponder for a moment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §799: Thy power and Thy might tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: waver tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §26: plight will-and-testamentW&T §30: untouched

کردار

krdár k-r-d → “conduct”

literal: do; to do; do, make

conduct 50% acts 25% righteousness 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: made gleaningsGWB §43: behold kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: could never the-hidden-wordsHW §116: loose will-and-testamentW&T §5: deluged epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: to recount gleaningsGWB §677: suffer not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: have spent

گفتار

gftár g-f-t → “say” Distinctive

literal: say; to say

This form usually rendered as “words”, “truth”, “message” (8 occurrences)

words 43% truth 14% message 14% unseemly 14% must 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: words gleaningsGWB §40: say kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: I say kitab-i-iqanKIQ §239: denounced will-and-testamentW&T §21: must epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: make gleaningsGWB §40: voicing kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: with unseemly talk

باید

báyd b-y-d → “must”

literal: must; must, should

must 56% incumbent 25% should 13% behooveth 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: must gleaningsGWB §564: should kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: awaken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §832: wilderness the-hidden-wordsHW §53: be no more will-and-testamentW&T §25: must be epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: incumbent upon gleaningsGWB §334: quickened

تقوای

tqúáy w-q-y → “fear”

literal: fear; to fear

fear 50% righteousness 17% purest 17% virtue 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: the God-fearing fire-tabletFire §21: of purity gleaningsGWB §110: piety kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: about prayers-and-meditationsP&M §484: “Fear the-hidden-wordsHW §110: purest virtue will-and-testamentW&T §1: protected epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Fear ye God

ظاهر

ẓáhr ẓ-h-r → “manifest”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

manifest 29% revealed 16% appeared 11% outward 8% made 7% appear 7% manifested 6% outwardly 5% have 5% visible 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §18: have proceeded fire-tabletFire §12: Dayspring gleaningsGWB §391: is the kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: have We graciously revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: hath been prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: in all the glory tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: the revelation of thy glory

آشکار

áshkár sh-k-r

literal: manifest, clear

SE rendered گفتار (gftár), باید (báyd), تقوای (tqúáy), الهی (al-hí), ظاهر (ẓáhr), آشکار (áshkár), باشد (báshd) as “must, fear, God, manifest, are”

reveal 33% manifest 33% gloriously 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: render thanks gleaningsGWB §505: the thankful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §22: thanks.”the-hidden-wordsHW §128: gloriously epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: Render thou thanksgiving gleaningsGWB §334: manifest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: thanks the-hidden-wordsHW §108: honeyed

باشد

báshd b-w-d → “hath” Distinctive

literal: be; is; to be

This form usually rendered as “may”, “self”, “dwelling” (49 occurrences)

may 20% self 10% dwelling 10% interpreted 10% true 10% regarded 10% should 10% sincerely 10% required 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: hath been gleaningsGWB §140: nonexistence kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: hath never been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §276: are to be attributed the-hidden-wordsHW §120: Live will-and-testamentW&T §30: being epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: hath never had gleaningsGWB §94: are not

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 ¶

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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 Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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 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 ¶