Will and Testament — §7

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 7 of 59.

Source (Persian)

که چند ماه پیش بالاتّفاق ناقض میثاق با جمعی لائحه‌ئی ترتیب دادند و از افترا و بهتان چیزی باقی نگذاشتند و عبدالبهآء را نعوذاً باللّه عدوّ صائل و بدخواه مرکز سلطنت عظمی گفتند و از این قبیل مفتریات عدیدۀ شدیده بسیار و حکومت شهریاریرا سبب تشویش افکار گشتند نهایت هیئت تفتیش از مرکز حکومت اعلیحضرت شهریاری آمد و مخالف عدل و انصاف تاجداری بلکه در نهایت اعتساف تفتیش کردند یعنی بدخواهان حقّ هیئت را احاطه نمودند و مضمون لائحه را بلکه زیاده شرح و تفصیل دادند و آنان نیز من‌دون تحقیق تصدیق کردند که معاذاللّه این عبد علمی در اینمدینه برافراخت و ناس را باجتماع در زیر علم دعوت نمود و تأسیس سلطنت جدیده کرده و در کوه کرمل قلعه انشاء نموده و جمیع اهالی اینصفحات را تابع و مطیع کرده و دین اسلام را تفریق نموده و با مسیحیان عقد پیوند نموده و معاذاللّه قصد آن کرده که در سلطنت عظمی رخنۀ کبری اندازد و از این قبیل مفتریات اعاذنا اللّه من هذا الافک العظیم

Shoghi Effendi Translation

A few months ago, in concert with others, he that hath broken the Covenant hath prepared a document teeming with calumny and slander wherein, the Lord forbid, among many similar slanderous charges, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá is deemed a deadly enemy, the ill-wisher of the Crown. They so perturbed the minds of the members of the Imperial Government that at last a Committee of Investigation was sent from the seat of His Majesty’s Government which, violating every rule of justice and equity that befitteth His Imperial Majesty, nay, with the most glaring injustice, proceeded with its investigations. The ill-wishers of the One True God surrounded them on every side and explained and excessively enlarged upon the text of the document whilst they (the members of the Committee) in their turn blindly acquiesced. One of their many calumnies was that this servant had raised aloft a banner in this city, had summoned the people together under it, had established a new sovereignty for himself, had erected upon Mount Carmel a mighty stronghold, had rallied around him all the peoples of the land and made them obedient to him, had caused disruption in the Faith of Islám, had covenanted with the following of Christ and, God forbid, had purposed to cause the gravest breach in the mighty power of the Crown. May the Lord protect us from such atrocious falsehoods!

Translation Notes

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

چند

ch-n-d → “while” Distinctive

literal: some; several; a few; how many

ماه

m-ʾ-h → “moon”

literal: moon; month

پیش

p-y-sh → “before Us”

literal: before; in front; ago; forward; leader; guide; one who precedes

بالاتّفاق

w-f-q → “aid” Distinctive

literal: trial; affliction; tribulation; testing

ناقض

n-q-ḍ → “hath broken”

literal: breaker; violator; one who breaks (covenant); covenant-breaker

میثاق

w-th-q → “Covenant”

literal: covenant; testament; bond

با

b-ʾ-ʾ → “with”

literal: to; with; by

جمعی

j-m-ʿ → “others”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

لائحه‌ئی

l-w-ḥ → “Tablet” Distinctive

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

ترتیب

r-t-b → “station” Distinctive

literal: arrangement; organization; composition; order

دادند

d-ʾ-d → “of equity” Distinctive

literal: to give; to grant; to issue

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

افترا

f-r-y → “calumny”

literal: slander; calumny; fabrication; false accusation

بهتان

b-h-t → “slander”

literal: slander; calumny; false accusation

چیزی

ch-y-z → “something”

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

باقی

b-q-y

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal; permanence; duration; continuance

نگذاشتند

g-dh-ار

literal: to write; to compose; to set down

عبدالبهآء

ʿ-b-d → “among many” Distinctive

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

نعوذاً

ʿ-w-dh → “Lord forbid” Distinctive

literal: we seek refuge; God forbid

باللّه

ʾ-l-h → “Lord forbid” Distinctive

literal: supplication; earnest entreaty; imploring

عدوّ

ʿ-d-w → “enemy”

literal: hostility, aggression, enmity, transgression

صائل

ṣ-w-l → “deadly”

literal: assailant; aggressor; one who seeks to harm

بدخواه

kh-w-h → “will” Distinctive

literal: ill-wisher; malevolent; one with bad intentions

مرکز

r-k-z → “Centre”

literal: center; focal point; axis

سلطنت

s-l-ṭ → “sovereignty”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

عظمی

ʿ-ẓ-m → “Most Great” Distinctive

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

گفتند

g-f-t → “said” Distinctive

literal: speech; utterance; saying; word

این

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

قبیل

q-b-l

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

عدیدۀ

ʿ-d-d → “capacity” Distinctive

literal: numerous; many; multiple

شدیده

sh-d-d

literal: strong; severe; intense; violent

بسیار

b-s-r

literal: much; many; very; greatly

حکومت

ḥ-k-m → “Government”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom; firm; solid; strengthened

سبب

s-b-b → “so” Distinctive

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

تشویش

sh-w-sh → “troubled” Distinctive

literal: disturbance; agitation; turmoil; encouragement

افکار

f-k-r → “minds”

literal: thoughts; ideas; fancies; opinions; to think; to reflect; to contemplate

گشتند

g-sh-t

literal: to become; to turn; to be

نهایت

n-h-y → “utmost”

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

هیئت

h-y-ʾ → “Committee”

literal: every; each; any; whoever; form; figure; state; condition; prepared, ready, suitable

تفتیش

f-t-sh → “Investigation”

literal: examination; investigation; search; inquiry

اعلیحضرت

ḥ-ḍ-r → “him”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

شهریاری

sh-h-r → “well-known”

literal: city; month; fame, renown

آمد

ʾ-m-d → “came”

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

مخالف

kh-l-f → “contrary”

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

عدل

ʿ-d-l → “justice and equity”

literal: justice; equity

انصاف

n-ṣ-f → “equity”

literal: justice; fairness; equity

تاجداری

t-w-j → “crowned” Distinctive

literal: monarch; sovereign; crowned king

بلکه

b-l-k → “nay”

literal: nay; but rather; on the contrary; but

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

اعتساف

ʿ-s-f → “injustice”

literal: oppression; tyranny; wrongdoing; unjust treatment

کردند

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to perform; deed; action; conduct; behavior

یعنی

ʿ-n-y

literal: that is; meaning; i.e.

بدخواهان

b-d → “most hideously” Distinctive

literal: bad; be/was; is

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “One True God”

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

احاطه

ḥ-w-ṭ → “surrounded” Distinctive

literal: to encompass, surround, envelop, embrace

نمودند

n-m-ود → “hath” Distinctive

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

مضمون

ḍ-m-n → “purport”

literal: content; substance; to contain; to imply

زیاده

z-y-d → “increase” Distinctive

literal: increase; excess; more; additional; to increase; to grow; to be added

شرح

sh-r-ḥ → “dilated” Distinctive

literal: explanation; commentary; to explain; to open

تفصیل

f-ṣ-l

literal: detail; distinction; differentiation; to detail; to separate

آنان

ʾ-n → “they”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

نیز

n-y-z

literal: also; likewise; and; as well; too

من‌دون

d-w-n

literal: besides; below; without

تصدیق

ṣ-d-q → “truth”

literal: to confirm; to verify; to acknowledge; to testify to truth

علمی

ʿ-l-m → “banner” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

اینمدینه

m-d-n → “city”

literal: city; cities; civilization

برافراخت

f-r-kh → “kindled” Distinctive

literal: to kindle; to light; to raise; to establish

ناس

n-ʾ-s → “people”

literal: companionship; fellowship; familiarity; to keep company

زیر

z-y-r → “inasmuch as”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

دعوت

d-ʿ-w → “summoned”

literal: call; invitation; claim

نمود

n-m-ʾ

literal: to become; to be

تأسیس

ʾ-s-s → “established”

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

جدیده

j-d-d → “new”

literal: new, novel, renewed; novelty, innovation

کوه

k-w-h → “censured” Distinctive

literal: mountain, hill, peak

کرمل

k-r-m → “bounty”

literal: Carmel (Mount Carmel); vineyard, fruitful field; honor; generosity; nobility

قلعه

q-l-ʿ → “stronghold”

literal: fortress, stronghold, castle, citadel

انشاء

sh-y-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

اهالی

ʾ-h-l → “peoples”

literal: people; people, family; people/folk

اینصفحات

ṣ-f-ḥ → “pages” Distinctive

literal: page; regions

تابع

t-b-ʿ

literal: to follow; to obey; to pursue

مطیع

ṭ-w-ʿ → “obey” Distinctive

literal: to obey; to comply with

دین

d-y-n → “Faith”

literal: religion; faith; creed

اسلام

s-l-m → “resignation” Distinctive

literal: resignation; submission; surrender; submissiveness

تفریق

f-r-q → “separation”

literal: faction; sect; group; company

مسیحیان

m-s-ḥ → “rubbeth” Distinctive

literal: to wipe, anoint, touch lightly; to pass over

عقد

ʿ-q-d → “belief” Distinctive

literal: contract; covenant; knot; to tie; to contract; to conclude

پیوند

p-y-w-n-d

literal: bond; connection; link; attachment

قصد

q-ṣ-d → “purposed” Distinctive

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

رخنۀ

r-kh-n → “disruption” Distinctive

literal: breach; aperture; opening; gap; chink

کبری

k-b-r → “pride” Distinctive

literal: great; grand; mighty; large

اندازد

ʾ-n-d-ʾ-z → “cause”

literal: throws; casts; hurls; measurement; proportion

من

m-n → “from”

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

هذا

h-dh-ʾ → “this”

literal: this; that

الافک

ʾ-f-k → “blatant error”

literal: creation; creation act

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 ¶