Will and Testament — §25

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 25 of 59.

Source (Persian)

امّا بیت عدل الّذی جعله اللّه مصدر کلّ خیر و مصوناً من کلّ خطآء باید بانتخاب عمومی یعنی نفوس مؤمنه تشکیل شود و اعضا باید مظاهر تقوای الهی و مطالع علم و دانائی و ثابت بر دین الهی و خیرخواه جمیع نوع انسانی باشند و مقصد بیت عدل عمومیست یعنی در جمیع بلاد بیت عدل خصوصی تشکیل شود و آن بیوت عدل بیت عدل عمومی انتخاب نماید این مجمع مرجع کلّ امور است و مؤسّس قوانین و احکامی که در نصوص الهی موجود نه و جمیع مسائل مشکله در اینمجلس حلّ گردد و ولیّ امر اللّه رئیس مقدّس این مجلس و عضو اعظم ممتاز لاینعزل و اگر در اجتماعات بالذّات حاضر نشود نائب و وکیلی تعیین فرماید و اگر چنانچه عضوی از اعضا گناهی ارتکاب نماید که در حقّ عموم ضرری حاصل شود ولیّ امر اللّه صلاحیّت اخراج او دارد بعد ملّت شخص دیگر انتخاب نماید این بیت عدل مصدر تشریعست و حکومت قوّۀ تنفیذ تشریع باید مؤیّد تنفیذ گردد و تنفیذ باید ظهیر و معین تشریع شود تا از ارتباط و التیام این دو قوّت بنیان عدل و انصاف متین و رزین گردد و اقالیم جنّت النّعیم و بهشت برین شود

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God’s Faith and the well-wishers of all mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body all things must be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should any of the members commit a sin injurious to the common weal, the Guardian of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead. This House of Justice enacteth the laws and the government enforceth them. The legislative body must reinforce the executive, the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so that through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation of fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions of the world may become even as Paradise itself.

Translation Notes

امّا

ʾ-m-m → “nations” Distinctive

literal: mother; to lead; to head; matter; affair; people; nation; community; female servant; handmaiden; umma

بیت

b-y-t → “House”

literal: house; household; family; verse

عدل

ʿ-d-l → “Justice”

literal: justice; equity

الّذی

l-dh-y → “which”

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

جعله

j-ʿ-l → “hath ordained”

literal: to make; to cause; to render; to appoint

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

مصدر

ṣ-d-r → “source”

literal: to issue, emanate, proceed; issued, emanating

کلّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

خیر

kh-y-r → “good”

literal: goodwill; benevolence; kindness; good; goodness; benefit; better; best

مصوناً

ṣ-w-n → “insure the protection” Distinctive

literal: to guard; to protect; to preserve

من

m-n

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

خطآء

kh-ṭ-ʾ

literal: error; mistake; fault; transgression; sin

باید

b-y-d → “must be”

literal: by hand; with hands; eternal; perpetual; everlasting

بانتخاب

n-kh-b → “elected by”

literal: election; selection; election, selection

عمومی

ʿ-m-m → “universal”

literal: universal; general; public; comprehensive

یعنی

ʿ-n-y → “that is”

literal: that is; meaning; i.e.

نفوس

n-f-s → “souls”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

مؤمنه

ʾ-m-n → “believers”

literal: to believe; to have faith; to be secure; trust; trustworthiness; covenant; deposit; believer, faithful

تشکیل

sh-k-l → “difficult” Distinctive

literal: formation; constitution; establishment; composition; to form; to establish

شود

sh-w-d → “be”

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

اعضا

ʿ-ḍ-w → “members”

literal: limb; member; organ

مظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “manifestations”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

تقوای

w-q-y → “fear”

literal: to protect, safeguard, shield

مطالع

ṭ-l-ʿ → “daysprings”

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

علم

ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

دانائی

d-ʾ-n → “understanding”

literal: knowledge; wisdom; understanding

ثابت

th-b-t → “steadfast”

literal: firm; steadfast; established; fixed

بر

b-r-r → “in” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

دین

d-y-n → “Faith”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

خیرخواه

kh-y-r → “good” Distinctive

literal: goodwill; benevolence; kindness; good; goodness; benefit; better; best

جمیع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

نوع

n-w-ʿ

literal: type; kind; species

انسانی

ʾ-n-s → “mankind”

literal: human; mankind; of humanity

باشند

b-w-d → “are” Distinctive

literal: to be; to exist; to remain

مقصد

q-ṣ-d → “meant” Distinctive

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

بلاد

b-l-d → “countries” Distinctive

literal: city; land; country

خصوصی

kh-ṣ-ṣ → “singled out” Distinctive

literal: specific matter; particularity; especially; in this matter

آن

ʾ-n → “these”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

نماید

n-m-ʾ → “may”

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to grow, develop

این

ʾ-y-n → “this”

literal: this; these

مرجع

r-j-ʿ

literal: return; place of return; pasture

امور

ʾ-m-r → “things”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

مؤسّس

ʾ-s-s → “foundation” Distinctive

literal: foundation; basis; groundwork; founder; establisher; to found; to establish; we have founded

قوانین

q-n-n → “laws”

literal: law; canon; principle

احکامی

ḥ-k-m → “wisdom” Distinctive

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

نصوص

n-ṣ-ṣ → “Text”

literal: text; text, explicit statement; texts

موجود

w-j-d → “found” Distinctive

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

نه

n-h-y → “not” Distinctive

literal: end; ended; utmost

مسائل

s-ʾ-l → “I implore Thee” Distinctive

literal: question; problem; issue; matter; asking; petition; request

اینمجلس

j-l-s → “seated”

literal: council; assembly; gathering; session

حلّ

ḥ-l-l → “place” Distinctive

literal: place; location; spot

گردد

g-r-d → “may become”

literal: become; to become; make

ولیّ

w-l-y → “Guardian”

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally

رئیس

r-ʾ-s → “leadership”

literal: chief; leader; head; president; beginning

مقدّس

q-d-s → “sacred” Distinctive

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

اعظم

ʿ-ẓ-m → “Most Great”

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

ممتاز

m-y-z → “distinguished”

literal: distinguished; excellent; outstanding

لاینعزل

ʿ-z-l → “avoidance”

literal: to withdraw; to separate oneself; to refrain

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

بالذّات

dh-w-t → “Essence”

literal: in essence; intrinsically; specifically

حاضر

ḥ-ḍ-r → “attend”

literal: presence; majesty; His/Your Excellency

نائب

n-w-b → “repent” Distinctive

literal: deputy; representative; vicegerent; substitute

وکیلی

w-k-l → “trust” Distinctive

literal: agency; representation; trusteeship; delegated authority; to rely; to trust; to place trust in

تعیین

ʿ-y-n → “appoint”

literal: eye; fountain; spring; essence

فرماید

f-r-m → “saith”

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

چنانچه

ch-n-n

literal: thus; in such manner; as

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

گناهی

g-n-h → “sin”

literal: sin; transgression; fault

ارتکاب

r-k-b → “commit”

literal: to ride; to commit; to undertake; composition; combination; structure

حقّ

ḥ-q-q

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

ضرری

ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm; damage; injury; detriment

حاصل

ḥ-ṣ-l

literal: obtained; result; sum

صلاحیّت

ṣ-l-ḥ → “betterment” Distinctive

literal: peace; reconciliation

اخراج

kh-r-j → “banished” Distinctive

literal: go out; exit; outside

او

h-w-w → “is”

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

دارد

d-ʾ-r → “repository” Distinctive

literal: to have; to hold; to possess; to maintain

بعد

b-ʿ-d → “whereupon” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

ملّت

m-l-l → “people”

literal: nation; nations; religion

شخص

sh-kh-ṣ → “one” Distinctive

literal: person, individual, self; movement, stirring

دیگر

d-g-r → “another”

literal: home; place; land; abode

تشریعست

sh-r-ʿ → “laws”

literal: law; legislation; religious law; canon; ordinance

قوّۀ

q-w-y

literal: strength; power; strong

تنفیذ

n-f-dh → “irresistible” Distinctive

literal: penetrating, effective; piercing; decisive

مؤیّد

ʾ-y-d

literal: to support; to assist; to strengthen; to confirm

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

ارتباط

r-b-ṭ → “firm” Distinctive

literal: connection; attachment; link; bond

التیام

l-ḥ-m → “flesh” Distinctive

literal: most complete; to complete; perfect; fullness

دو

d-w → “two”

literal: two; run; running

قوّت

q-w-t → “power”

literal: strength; power; might

بنیان

b-n-y → “foundation”

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

انصاف

n-ṣ-f → “fairness”

literal: justice; fairness; equity

متین

m-t-n → “mighty”

literal: strong; firm; solid; robust

رزین

r-z-y-n → “strong”

literal: strong

اقالیم

q-l-m → “Pen” Distinctive

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

جنّت

j-n-n → “Paradise”

literal: you (singular/plural pronoun)

النّعیم

n-ʿ-m

literal: bliss; bounty; grace; comfort; felicity

بهشت

b-h-sh

literal: paradise

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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 ¶

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ¶