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Will and Testament — §5

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 5 of 59.

Source (Persian)

ای ثابتان بر پیمان مرکز نقض و قطب شقاق میرزا محمّد علی چون منحرف از ظلّ امر شد و نقض میثاق نمود و تحریف آیات کتاب کرد و خلل عظیم در دین اللّه انداخت و تشتیت حزب اللّه نمود و ببغضاء عظیم قیام بر اذیّت عبدالبهآء کرد و بعداوت بینهایت بر این عبد آستان مقدّس هجوم کرد تیری نماند که بر سینۀ این مظلوم نینداخت زخمی نماند که روا نداشت زهری نماند که در کام این ناکام نریخت قسم بجمال اقدس ابهی و نور مشرق از حضرت اعلی روحی لأرقّائهم الفدآء که از این ظلم اهل سرادق ملکوت ابهی گریستند و ملأ اعلی نوحه و ندبه نمایند و حوریّات فردوس بجزع و فزع آمدند و طلعات مقدّسه ناله و فغان کنند ظلم و اعتساف این بی‌انصاف بدرجه‌ئی رسید که تیشه بر ریشۀ شجرۀ مبارکه زد و ضربت شدیده بر هیکل امر اللّه وارد آورد دوستان جمال مبارک را سرشک خونین از دیده جاری کرد و دشمنان حقّرا خوشنود و شادمان نمود بسا طالبان حقیقت را بنقض عهد از امر اللّه بیزار کرد و امّت مأیوس یحیی را امیدوار نمود خویشتن را منفور کرد و دشمنان اسم اعظم را جری و جسور نمود آیات محکماترا بگذاشت و القای شبهات کرد و اگر تأییدات موعودۀ جمال قدم پی در پی باین لاشیء نمیرسید بکلّی امر اللّه را محو و نابود مینمود و بنیان رحمانی را از اساس برمیانداخت ولی الحمد للّه نصرت ملکوت ابهی رسید و جنود ملأ اعلی هجوم نمود و امر اللّه مرتفع گردید و صیت حقّ جهانگیر شد کلمة اللّه مسموع آفاق گشت علم حقّ مرتفع شد و رایات تقدیس باوج اثیر رسید و آیات توحید ترتیل گردید حال محض حفظ و صیانت دین اللّه و وقایه و حمایت شریعت اللّه و مصونیّت امر اللّه بنصّ آیۀ مبارکۀ ثابتۀ در حقّ او تشبّث باید نمود زیرا انحرافی اعظم از این تصوّر نگردد قوله تعالی و تقدّس ولکن احبّائی الجهلآء اتّخذوه شریکاً لنفسی و فسدوا فی البلاد و کانوا من المفسدین ملاحظه نما که چه ‌قدر ناس جاهلند نفوسیکه تلقاء حضور بوده‌اند مع‌ذلک رفته‌اند و چنین سخنها اشتهار داده‌اند الی ان قال جلّت صراحته اگر آنی از ظلّ امر منحرف شود معدوم صرف خواهد بود ملاحظه فرمائید چه‌ قدر تأکید است که آنی انحراف تصریح فرموده زیرا بمقدار رأس شعر اگر بیمین و یسار میل حاصل شود انحراف تحقّق یابد و میفرماید معدوم صرف خواهد شد چنانکه حال ملاحظه مینمائید که غضب الهی چگونه احاطه نموده و یوماً فیوماً رو بانعدامست فسوف ترونه و اعوانه سرّاً و جهاراً فی خسران مبین

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O ye that stand fast and firm in the Covenant! The Centre of Sedition, the Prime Mover of mischief, Mírzá Muḥammad-‘Alí, hath passed out from under the shadow of the Cause, hath broken the Covenant, hath falsified the Holy Text, hath inflicted a grievous loss upon the true Faith of God, hath scattered His people, hath with bitter rancour endeavoured to hurt ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and hath assailed with the utmost enmity this servant of the Sacred Threshold. Every dart he seized and hurled to pierce the breast of this wronged servant, no wound did he neglect to grievously inflict upon me, no venom did he spare but he poisoned therewith the life of this hapless one. I swear by the most holy Abhá Beauty and by the Light shining from His Holiness the Exalted One (may my soul be a sacrifice for Their lowly servants), that because of this iniquity the dwellers in the Pavilion of the Abhá Kingdom have bewailed, the Celestial Concourse is lamenting, the Immortal Maids of Heaven in the All-Highest Paradise have raised their plaintive cries and the angelic company sighed and uttered their moanings. So grievous the deeds of this iniquitous person became that he struck with his axe at the root of the Blessed Tree, dealt a heavy blow at the Temple of the Cause of God, deluged with tears of blood the eyes of the loved ones of the Blessed Beauty, cheered and encouraged the enemies of the One True God, by his repudiation of the Covenant turned many a seeker after Truth aside from the Cause of God, revived the blighted hopes of Yaḥyá’s following, made himself detested, caused the enemies of the Greatest Name to become audacious and arrogant, put aside the firm and conclusive verses and sowed the seeds of doubt. Had not the promised aid of the Ancient Beauty been graciously vouchsafed at every moment to this one, unworthy though he be, he surely would have destroyed, nay exterminated the Cause of God and utterly subverted the Divine Edifice. But, praised be the Lord, the triumphant assistance of the Abhá Kingdom was received, the hosts of the Realm above hastened to bestow victory. The Cause of God was promoted far and wide, the call of the True One was noised abroad, ears in all regions were inclined to the Word of God, His standard was unfurled, the ensigns of Holiness gloriously waved aloft and the verses celebrating His Divine Unity were chanted. Now, that the true Faith of God may be shielded and protected, His Law guarded and preserved and His Cause remain safe and secure, it is incumbent upon everyone to hold fast unto the Text of the clear and firmly established blessed verse revealed about him. None other transgression greater than his can be ever imagined. He (Bahá’u’lláh) sayeth, glorious and holy is His Word: “My foolish loved ones have regarded him even as my partner, have kindled sedition in the land and they verily are of the mischief-makers.” Consider, how foolish are the people! They that have been in His (Bahá’u’lláh’s) Presence and beheld His Countenance, have nevertheless noised abroad such idle talk, until, exalted be His explicit words, He said: “Should he for a moment pass out from under the shadow of the Cause, he surely shall be brought to naught.” Reflect! What stress He layeth upon one moment’s deviation: That is, were he to incline a hair’s breadth to the right or to the left, his deviation would be clearly established and his utter nothingness made manifest. And now ye are witnessing how the wrath of God hath from all sides afflicted him and how day by day he is speeding towards destruction. Ere long will ye behold him and his associates, outwardly and inwardly, condemned to utter ruin.

Translation Notes

کتاب
ktáb k-t-b

literal: book; books; write

SE rendered نقض (nqḍ), میثاق (mítháq), نمود (nmúd), تحریف (tḥríf), آیات (áyát), کتاب (ktáb), کرد (krd), خلل (khll), عظیم (ʿẓím), دین (dín), اللّه (al-lh) as “broken, the Covenant, hath, falsified, the Holy Text, loss, grievous, true Faith, of God”

تشتیت
tshtít sh-t-t → “several” Distinctive

literal: scattering; dispersal; dispersion

This form usually rendered as “breach”, “scattered”, “dispersing” (3 occurrences)

بینهایت
bínháyt b-n-h

literal: endless

SE rendered اذیّت (idhíht), عبدالبهآء (ʿbdálbháʾ), کرد (krd), بعداوت (bʿdáwt), بینهایت (bínháyt), بر (br), عبد (ʿbd), آستان (ástán), مقدّس (mqdds), هجوم (hjúm) as “hurt, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, hath, the utmost enmity, upon, servant, the Sacred Threshold, holy, assailed”

1 occurrence in corpus

نینداخت
níndákht n-d-kh-t → “seized”

literal: threw

1 occurrence in corpus

کام
kám k-ʾ-m → “sickness” Distinctive

literal: desire; palate; unfortunate

This form usually rendered as “selfish”, “life” (2 occurrences)

selfish 50% life 50%
مشرق
mshrq sh-r-q

literal: shining; east; shine

SE rendered قسم (qsm), بجمال (bjmál), اقدس (iqds), ابهی (ibhí), نور (núr), مشرق (mshrq), از (iz), حضرت (ḥḍrt), اعلی (iʿlí), روحی (rúḥí) as “swear, the most holy Abhá Beauty, exalted, have, Light shining, from, His Holiness the Exalted One, my soul”

لأرقّائهم
lʾarqqáʾhm r-q-q

literal: delicacies; fine; parchment/scroll

SE rendered نور (núr), مشرق (mshrq), از (iz), حضرت (ḥḍrt), اعلی (iʿlí), روحی (rúḥí), لأرقّائهم (lʾarqqáʾhm), الفدآء (al-fdáʾ), از (iz) as “Light shining, of, His Holiness the Exalted One, my soul, sacrifice for Their lowly servants)”

slaves 18% subtle 9% thralls 9% most 9% holiness 9% kindly 9% roll 9% bondsmen 9% upon 9% hearts 9%
اهل
ihl ʾ-h-l

literal: people; people/folk; people/inhabitants

SE rendered الفدآء (al-fdáʾ), از (iz), ظلم (ẓlm), اهل (ihl), سرادق (srádq), ملکوت (mlkút), ابهی (ibhí), گریستند (grístnd) as “sacrifice for Their lowly servants), of, the Pavilion, the Abhá Kingdom, have, bewailed”

ندبه
ndbh n-d-b

literal: lamentation

SE rendered گریستند (grístnd), ملأ (mlʾ), اعلی (iʿlí), نوحه (núḥh), ندبه (ndbh), نمایند (nmáynd), حوریّات (ḥúrírát), فردوس (frdús), بجزع (bjzʿ) as “bewailed, Celestial Concourse, lamenting, may, the All-Highest Paradise, have”

حوریّات
ḥúrírát ḥ-w-r

literal: maiden; maidens

SE rendered ملأ (mlʾ), اعلی (iʿlí), نوحه (núḥh), ندبه (ndbh), نمایند (nmáynd), حوریّات (ḥúrírát), فردوس (frdús), بجزع (bjzʿ), فزع (fzʿ), آمدند (ámdnd) as “Celestial Concourse, lamenting, may, the All-Highest Paradise, have, raised their plaintive cries”

maids 71% húrís 14% immortal 14%
آمدند
ámdnd ámdn

literal: come; came; to come

SE rendered حوریّات (ḥúrírát), فردوس (frdús), بجزع (bjzʿ), فزع (fzʿ), آمدند (ámdnd), طلعات (ṭlʿát), مقدّسه (mqddsh), ناله (nálh), فغان (fghán) as “the All-Highest Paradise, have, raised their plaintive cries, the angelic company, sighed, uttered”

have 40% warred 20% reveal 20% sought 20%
فغان

literal: cry

1 occurrence in corpus

بی‌انصاف
bí‌ánṣáf n-ṣ-f

literal: fairness; equity; be fair

SE rendered فغان (fghán), کنند (knnd), ظلم (ẓlm), اعتساف (iʿtsáf), بی‌انصاف (bí‌ánṣáf), بدرجه‌ئی (bdrjh‌ʾí), رسید (rsíd), تیشه (tíshh), بر (br), ریشۀ (ríshۀ) as “uttered, hath, deeds, iniquitous, became, axe, upon, root”

fair 21% equity 18% fair-minded 15% judge 12% fairness 12% justice 11% every 5% fairly 3% ye 3% will 2%
بدرجه‌ئی
bdrjh‌ʾí d-r-j

literal: degree; degree/step; degrees

SE rendered ظلم (ẓlm), اعتساف (iʿtsáf), بی‌انصاف (bí‌ánṣáf), بدرجه‌ئی (bdrjh‌ʾí), رسید (rsíd), تیشه (tíshh), بر (br), ریشۀ (ríshۀ) as “deeds, iniquitous, became, axe, upon, root”

intense 50% grievous 50%
تیشه
tíshh t-y-sh → “axe”

literal: axe

1 occurrence in corpus

ریشۀ
ríshۀ r-y-sh → “root”

literal: root

2 occurrences in corpus

شجرۀ
shjrۀ sh-j-r

literal: tree; trees

SE rendered رسید (rsíd), تیشه (tíshh), بر (br), ریشۀ (ríshۀ), شجرۀ (shjrۀ), مبارکه (mbárkh), زد (zd), ضربت (ḍrbt), شدیده (shdídh), بر (br) as “became, axe, upon, root, Blessed Tree, struck, heavy blow, grievous”

tree 80% lote-trees 20%
آورد
áwrd áwrdn

literal: brought

SE rendered شدیده (shdídh), بر (br), هیکل (híkl), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), وارد (wárd), آورد (áwrd), دوستان (dústán), جمال (jmál), مبارک (mbárk), سرشک (srshk) as “grievous, upon, Temple, Cause of God, God, dealt a, loved ones, Blessed Beauty, tears”

brought 38% hath 25% into 13% heard 13% dealt 13%
سرشک

literal: tears

1 occurrence in corpus

خوشنود
khúshnúd kh-w-sh

literal: better; desire; pleased

SE rendered دیده (dídh), جاری (járí), کرد (krd), دشمنان (dshmnán), حقّرا (ḥqqrá), خوشنود (khúshnúd), شادمان (shádmán), نمود (nmúd), بسا (bsá) as “eyes, deluged, enemies, True, cheered and encouraged, may, many a seeker after Truth”

requested 33% prefer 33% cheered 33%
شادمان
shádmán sh-d-y → “encouraged”

literal: happy

1 occurrence in corpus

طالبان
ṭálbán ṭ-l-b

literal: seeking; seek; seeker

SE rendered شادمان (shádmán), نمود (nmúd), بسا (bsá), طالبان (ṭálbán), حقیقت (ḥqíqt), بنقض (bnqḍ), عهد (ʿhd), از (iz), امر (imr) as “cheered and encouraged, may, many a seeker after Truth, the Covenant, from, the Cause”

seeker 50% who 25% seekers 25%
بیزار
bízár b-z-r → “men” Distinctive

literal: averse; disgusted; market

This form usually rendered as “contemptuous”, “weary”, “absolute” (4 occurrences)

contemptuous 25% weary 25% absolute 25% aside 25%
مأیوس
mʾayús y-ʾ-s

literal: despair; despairing; despaired

SE rendered از (iz), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), بیزار (bízár), کرد (krd), امّت (immt), مأیوس (mʾayús), یحیی (yḥíy), امیدوار (imídúár), نمود (nmúd), خویشتن (khúyshtn) as “from, the Cause, aside, turned, following, Yaḥyá’s, blighted hopes of, revived, himself”

امیدوار
imídúár ʾ-m-y-d → “fain” Distinctive

literal: hope; hopeful

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

fain 50% blighted 50%
جسور
jsúr j-s-r

literal: audacity; boldness/audacity; boldness

SE rendered دشمنان (dshmnán), اسم (ism), اعظم (iʿẓm), جری (jrí), جسور (jsúr), نمود (nmúd), آیات (áyát), محکماترا (mḥkmátrá), بگذاشت (bgdhásht) as “enemies of the Greatest Name, Heaven, audacious and arrogant, will, firm and conclusive verses, put aside”

audacious 14% made 14% bold 14% venture 14% dared 14% arrogant 14% daring 14%
محکماترا
mḥkmátrá ḥ-k-m

literal: wisdom; wise; judgment

SE rendered جری (jrí), جسور (jsúr), نمود (nmúd), آیات (áyát), محکماترا (mḥkmátrá), بگذاشت (bgdhásht), القای (al-qáy), شبهات (shbhát), کرد (krd) as “audacious and arrogant, will, firm and conclusive verses, put aside, sowed the seeds, of doubt, and”

wisdom 39% all-wise 27% law 8% laws 7% ordaineth 5% rule 3% divine 3% perspicuous 3% judge 3% wise 3%
بگذاشت
bgdhásht bgdhásht → “put”

literal: leave

1 occurrence in corpus

موعودۀ
múʿúdۀ w-ʿ-d

literal: promised; promise

SE rendered القای (al-qáy), شبهات (shbhát), کرد (krd), تأییدات (tʾayídát), موعودۀ (múʿúdۀ), جمال (jmál), قدم (qdm), پی (pí), پی (pí), باین (báyn) as “sowed the seeds, of doubt, and, promised aid, Ancient Beauty, at every moment, words”

قدم
qdm q-d-m

literal: ancient; eternity; step

SE rendered کرد (krd), تأییدات (tʾayídát), موعودۀ (múʿúdۀ), جمال (jmál), قدم (qdm), پی (pí), پی (pí), باین (báyn) as “and, promised aid, Ancient Beauty, at every moment, words”

ancient 50% eternity 11% everlasting 9% who 7% step 6% eternal 5% feet 5% steps 2% entered 2% advance 2%
لاشیء
láshíʾ sh-y-ʾ

literal: thing

SE rendered جمال (jmál), قدم (qdm), پی (pí), پی (pí), باین (báyn), لاشیء (láshíʾ), نمیرسید (nmírsíd), بکلّی (bkllí), امر (imr) as “Ancient Beauty, at every moment, words, utterly, Cause of God”

nothingness 67% one 33%
نابود
nábúd n-b-d → “fleeting”

literal: annihilated, destroyed; destroyed; destroyed, annihilated

رحمانی
rḥmání r-ḥ-m

literal: mercy; merciful

SE rendered محو (mḥú), نابود (nábúd), مینمود (mínmúd), بنیان (bníán), رحمانی (rḥmání), از (iz), اساس (isás), برمیانداخت (brmíándákht), ولی (wlí) as “destroyed, exterminated, hath, Divine Edifice, of, but”

اساس
isás ʾ-s-s

literal: foundation; foundation, basis

SE rendered مینمود (mínmúd), بنیان (bníán), رحمانی (rḥmání), از (iz), اساس (isás), برمیانداخت (brmíándákht), ولی (wlí), الحمد (al-ḥmd) as “hath, Divine Edifice, of, but, the Lord”

برمیانداخت
brmíándákht ʾ-n-d-ʾ-kh-t

literal: overthrow, destroy; overturn, subvert

SE rendered بنیان (bníán), رحمانی (rḥmání), از (iz), اساس (isás), برمیانداخت (brmíándákht), ولی (wlí), الحمد (al-ḥmd), للّه (lllh), نصرت (nṣrt), ملکوت (mlkút) as “Divine Edifice, of, but, the Lord, triumphant assistance, Abhá Kingdom”

جهانگیر
jhángír jhángír → “noised”

literal: world-conquering

1 occurrence in corpus

اثیر
ithír ʾ-th-r

literal: traces; effect; trace

SE rendered مرتفع (mrtfʿ), رایات (ráyát), تقدیس (tqdís), باوج (báwj), اثیر (ithír), رسید (rsíd), آیات (áyát), توحید (túḥíd), ترتیل (trtíl), گردید (grdíd) as “was, ensigns of Holiness, aloft, verses celebrating His Divine Unity, One, chanted, were”

ترتیل
trtíl r-t-l → “chanted”

literal: chanting, recitation

1 occurrence in corpus

محض
mḥḍ m-ḥ-ḍ

literal: pure; mere; pure, merely

SE rendered آیات (áyát), توحید (túḥíd), ترتیل (trtíl), گردید (grdíd), حال (ḥál), محض (mḥḍ), حفظ (ḥfẓ), صیانت (ṣíánt), دین (dín), اللّه (al-lh) as “verses celebrating His Divine Unity, One, chanted, were, Now, shielded and protected, true Faith, of God”

utter 33% essence 13% token 13% wholly 7% sole 7% sheer 7% open 7% grievous 7% sign 7%
وقایه
wqáyh w-q-y

literal: fear; piety; to fear

SE rendered حفظ (ḥfẓ), صیانت (ṣíánt), دین (dín), اللّه (al-lh), وقایه (wqáyh), حمایت (ḥmáyt), شریعت (shríʿt), اللّه (al-lh), مصونیّت (mṣúnínt) as “shielded and protected, true Faith, of God, guarded and preserved, His Law, safe and secure”

fear 57% let 7% righteousness 7% piety 5% lay 5% virtue 5% “fear 5% walk 4% god-fearing 2% most 2%
نما
nmá n-m-ʾ → “hath”

literal: do

SE rendered کانوا (kánúá), المفسدین (al-mfsdín), ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), نما (nmá), چه (chh), ‌قدر (‌qdr), ناس (nás), جاهلند (jáhlnd), نفوسیکه (nfúsíkh) as “was, the mischief-makers.”, Consider, the people, They that”

strive 21% thou 14% endeavour 14% do 7% set 7% gird 7% cut 7% shouldst 7% consider 7% nurtured 7%
‌قدر
‌qdr q-d-r

literal: power; powerful

SE rendered المفسدین (al-mfsdín), ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), نما (nmá), چه (chh), ‌قدر (‌qdr), ناس (nás), جاهلند (jáhlnd), نفوسیکه (nfúsíkh), تلقاء (tlqáʾ), حضور (ḥḍúr) as “the mischief-makers.”, Consider, the people, They that, His (Bahá’u’lláh’s) Presence”

hath 21% ordain 18% power 16% ordained 11% how 7% do 7% might 6% decreed 5% had 4% according 4%
مع‌ذلک
mʿ‌dhlk dh-l-k

literal: thus; thus, likewise; likewise

SE rendered نفوسیکه (nfúsíkh), تلقاء (tlqáʾ), حضور (ḥḍúr), بوده‌اند (búdh‌ánd), مع‌ذلک (mʿ‌dhlk), رفته‌اند (rfth‌ánd), چنین (chnín), سخنها (skhnhá), اشتهار (ishthár) as “They that, His (Bahá’u’lláh’s) Presence, been in, even as, idle talk, such”

thus 71% such 17% yet 4% even 4% wise 4%
رفته‌اند
rfth‌ánd rftn

literal: go; to go; gone

SE rendered حضور (ḥḍúr), بوده‌اند (búdh‌ánd), مع‌ذلک (mʿ‌dhlk), رفته‌اند (rfth‌ánd), چنین (chnín), سخنها (skhnhá), اشتهار (ishthár), داده‌اند (dádh‌ánd) as “His (Bahá’u’lláh’s) Presence, been in, even as, idle talk, such, noised abroad”

go 37% hath 21% fled 5% hast 5% delivered 5% repaired 5% joined 5% went 5% addressed 5% visited 5%
سخنها
skhnhá s-kh-n → “such”

literal: word; words

2 occurrences in corpus

جلّت
jllt j-l-l

literal: exalted

SE rendered اشتهار (ishthár), داده‌اند (dádh‌ánd), قال (qál), جلّت (jllt), صراحته (ṣráḥth), آنی (ání), از (iz), ظلّ (ẓll), امر (imr) as “such, noised abroad, explicit, now, from, under the shadow, the Cause”

صرف
ṣrf ṣ-r-f

literal: pure

SE rendered از (iz), ظلّ (ẓll), امر (imr), منحرف (mnḥrf), معدوم (mʿdúm), صرف (ṣrf), خواهد (khúáhd), ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), فرمائید (frmáʾíd), چه‌ (chh‌) as “from, under the shadow, the Cause, pass out, brought to naught.”, shall, Reflect, he, What stress”

utter 31% pure 15% absolute 12% utterly 8% sheer 8% out 8% essence 8% spent 4% supreme 4% nothing 4%
تأکید
tʾakíd ʾ-k-d

literal: confirmed; emphasis; emphatic

SE rendered ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), فرمائید (frmáʾíd), چه‌ (chh‌), قدر (qdr), تأکید (tʾakíd), آنی (ání), انحراف (inḥráf), تصریح (tṣríḥ), فرموده (frmúdh) as “Reflect, he, What stress, deviation”

made 50% stress 50%
رأس
rʾas r-ʾ-s

literal: head

SE rendered انحراف (inḥráf), تصریح (tṣríḥ), فرموده (frmúdh), زیرا (zírá), بمقدار (bmqdár), رأس (rʾas), شعر (shʿr), بیمین (bímín), یسار (ysár), میل (míl) as “deviation, he, hair, the right, the left, incline”

head 60% diadem 20% once 20%
حاصل
ḥáṣl ḥ-ṣ-l

literal: obtained; result; acquisition

SE rendered شعر (shʿr), بیمین (bímín), یسار (ysár), میل (míl), حاصل (ḥáṣl), انحراف (inḥráf), تحقّق (tḥqqq), یابد (yábd), میفرماید (mífrmáyd) as “hair, the right, the left, incline, deviation, clearly established, he”

attained 40% arise 20% having 10% achieved 10% impossible 10% attain 10%
یابد
yábd yáftn

literal: find; found; to find

SE rendered میل (míl), حاصل (ḥáṣl), انحراف (inḥráf), تحقّق (tḥqqq), یابد (yábd), میفرماید (mífrmáyd), معدوم (mʿdúm) as “incline, deviation, clearly established, he, utter nothingness”

سرّاً
srráan s-r-r

literal: secret; secrets; secret, mystery

SE rendered بانعدامست (bánʿdámst), فسوف (fsúf), ترونه (trúnh), اعوانه (iʿúánh), سرّاً (srráan), جهاراً (jháráan), خسران (khsrán), مبین (mbín) as “speeding towards destruction, Ere long, behold him, his associates, outwardly and inwardly, utter ruin”

خسران
khsrán kh-s-r

literal: loss

SE rendered اعوانه (iʿúánh), سرّاً (srráan), جهاراً (jháráan), خسران (khsrán), مبین (mbín) as “his associates, outwardly and inwardly, utter ruin”

ruin 29% loss 29% erred 14% error.… 14% grievous 14%

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 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

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 ¶