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Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §171

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 171 of 268.

Source (Persian)

قدری در آيات لقاء که از مالک ملکوت اسماء در فرقان نازل شده تفکّر نما شايد راه مستقيم را بيابی و سبب و علّت هدايت خلق شوی * مثل شما امروز بايد بر خدمت امر قيام نمايد ذلّت اين مظلوم و عزّت شما هر دو بفنا راجع جهد کن شايد فائز شوی بعمليکه عرفش از عالم قطع نشود * در ذکر لقاء نازل شده انچه که از برای منکرين مجال رد و عدم قبول نمانده و نيست قوله تبارک و تعالی ﴿اللّهُ الَّذِی رَفَعَ السَّمَوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَی عَلَی العَرْشِ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَ القَمَرَ کُلٌّ يَجْرِی لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّی يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الآياتِ لَعَلَّکُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّکُم تُوقِنُونَ﴾ و ميفرمايد ﴿مَنْ کَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ اللّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ اللّهِ لَآتٍ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ﴾ الی قوله تعالی ﴿وَ الَّذِينَ کَفَرُوا بِآياتِ اللّهِ وَ لِقَائِهِ أُوْلَئِکَ يَئِسُوا مِنْ رَحْمَتِی وَ أُوْلَئِکَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿قَالُوا أَئِذَا ضَلَلْنَا فِی الأَرْضِ أَئِنَّا لَفِی خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ بَلْ هُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ کَافِرُونَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ فِی مِرْيَةٍ مِنْ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ أَلَا إِنَّهُ بِکُلِّ شَیءٍ مُحِيطٌ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا وَ رَضُوا بِالحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ اطْمَأَنُّوا بِهَا وَ الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَنْ آياتِنَا غَافِلُونَ أُوْلَئِکَ مَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا کَانُوا يَکْسِبُونَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿وَ إِذَا تُتْلَی عَلَيْهِمْ آياتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا ائْتِ بِقُرآنٍ غَيْرِ هَذَا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ قُلْ مَا يَکُونُ لِی أَن أُبَدِّلَهُ مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِی إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوْحَی إِلَیَّ إِنِّی أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّی عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿ثُمَّ آتَيْنَا مُوْسَی الکِتَابَ تَمَامًا عَلَی الَّذِی أَحْسَنَ وَ تَفْصِيلاً لِکُلِّ شَیءٍ وَ هُدًی وَ رَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿أُوْلَئِکَ الَّذِينَ کَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ لِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيْمُ لَهُمْ يَومَ القِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا * ذَلِکَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا کَفَرُوا وَ اتَّخَذُوا آياتِی وَ رُسُلِی هُزُوًا﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿هَلْ آتاکَ حَدِيثُ مُوْسَی إِذْ رَأَی نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْکُثُوا إِنِّی آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّی آتِيکُم مِنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَی النَّارِ هُدًی * فَلَمَّا آتاهَا نُودِی يَا مُوْسَی إِنِّی أَنَا رَبُّکَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْکَ إِنَّکَ بِالوَادِ المُقَدَّسِ طُوًی * وَ أَنَا اخْتَرْتُکَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوْحَی إِنَّنِی أَنَا اللّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِی﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَکَّرُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِم مَا خَلَقَ اللّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَ الأَرْضِ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالحَقِّ وَ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّی وَ إِنَّ کَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَکَافِرُونَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُوْلَئِکَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ لِيَومٍ عَظِيمٍ يَومَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ العَالَمِينَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿وَ لَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوْسَی الکِتَابَ فَلَا تَکُنْ فِی مِرْيَةٍ مِنْ لِقَائِهِ ] و ميفرمايد ﴿کَلَّا إِذَا دُکَّتِ الأَرْضُ دَکًّا دَکًّا وَ جَاءَ رَبُّکَ وَ المَلَکُ صَفًّا صَفًّا﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَ اللّهُ مُتَمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ کَرِهَ الکَافِرُونَ﴾ و همچنين ميفرمايد ﴿فَلَمَّا قَضَی مُوْسَی الأَجَلَ وَ سَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ آنَسَ مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا * قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْکُثُوا إِنِّی آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّی آتِيکُم مِنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّکُم تَصْطَلُونَ * فَلَمَّا آتاهَا نُودِی مِنْ شَاطِئِ الوَادِی الأَيْمَن فِی البُقْعَةِ المُبَارَکَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَنْ يَا مُوْسَی إِنِّی أَنَا اللّهُ رَبُّ العَالَمِينَ﴾ انتهی

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Ponder a while upon the verses concerning the Divine Presence, which have been sent down in the Qur’án by Him Who is the Lord of the kingdom of names, perchance thou mayest discover the Straight Path, and be made an instrument for the guidance of His creatures. Such a one as thou must needs in this day arise to serve this Cause. The abasement of this Wronged One as well as thy glory shall both pass away. Strive thou, that haply thou mayest achieve a deed the fragrance of which shall never fade from the earth. Concerning the Divine Presence there hath been sent down what no denier hath been or is now able to refute or repudiate. He - blessed and exalted be He - saith: "It is God Who hath reared the heavens without pillars thou canst behold; then mounted His throne, and imposed laws on the sun and moon: each traveleth to its appointed goal. He ordereth all things. He maketh His signs clear, that ye may have firm faith in the Presence of your Lord." He also saith: "To him who hopeth to attain the Presence of God, the set time of God will surely come. And He is the Hearer, the Knower." And further He - exalted be He - saith: "As for those who believe not in the signs of God, or that they shall ever attain His Presence, these of My mercy shall despair, and these doth a grievous chastisement await." And likewise He saith: "And they say, ‘What! when we shall have lain hidden in the earth, shall we become a new creation?' Yea, they deny that they shall attain the Presence of their Lord." And likewise He saith: "They truly doubt the Presence of their Lord. He, verily, overshadoweth all things." And likewise He saith: "Verily, they who hope not to attain Our Presence, and find their satisfaction in this world's life, and rest on it, and who of Our signs are heedless - these! their abode the fire, in recompense of their deeds!" And likewise He saith: "But when Our clear signs are recited to them, they who look not forward to attain Our Presence, say, ‘Bring a different Qur’án from this, or make some change in it.' Say: It is not for Me to change it as Mine own soul prompteth. I follow only what is revealed to Me: verily, I fear, if I rebel against My Lord, the punishment of a great day." And likewise He saith: "Then gave We the Book to Moses - complete for Him who should do right, and a decision for all matters, and a guidance, and a mercy, that they might believe in the Presence of their Lord." And likewise he saith: "They are those who believe not in the signs of the Lord, or that they shall ever attain His Presence. Vain, therefore, are their works; and no weight will We allow them on the Day of Resurrection. This shall be their reward - Hell. Because they were unbelievers, and treated My signs and My Apostles with scorn." And likewise He saith: "Hath the history of Moses reached thee? When He saw a fire, and said to His family, ‘Tarry ye here, for I perceive a fire; haply I may bring you a brand from it, or find at the fire a guide.' And when He came to it, He was called to, ‘O Moses! Verily, I am Thy Lord; therefore pull off Thy shoes, for Thou art in the holy vale of Towa. And I have chosen Thee; hearken then to what shall be revealed. Verily, I am God, there is no God but Me. Therefore, worship Me.'" And likewise He saith: "Have they not considered within themselves that God hath not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them but for a serious end, and for a fixed term? But truly most men believe not that they shall attain the Presence of their Lord." And likewise He saith: "What! Have they no thought that they shall be raised again for the Great Day, the Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds?" And likewise He saith: "We heretofore gave the Book to Moses. Have thou no doubt as to His attaining Our Presence." And He saith: "Aye! But when the earth shall be crushed with crushing, crushing, and thy Lord shall come and the angels rank on rank." And likewise He saith: "Fain would they put out the light of God with their mouths! But though the infidels hate it, God will perfect His light." And likewise He saith: "And when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was journeying with His family, He perceived a fire on the mountain side. He said to His family: ‘Wait ye, for I perceive a fire, haply I may bring you tidings from it, or a brand from the fire to warm you.' And when He came up to it, a Voice cried to Him out of the Bush from the right side of the Vale in the sacred Spot: ‘O Moses, I truly am God, the Lord of the worlds!'"

Translation Notes

راه
ráh ráh

literal: way; path; path, way

SE rendered فرقان (frqán), نازل (názl), تفکّر (tfkkr), نما (nmá), شايد (sháyd), راه (ráh), مستقيم (mstqím), بيابی (bíábí), سبب (sbb) as “Qur’án, sent down, may, perchance, Straight Path, discover”

led 21% way 14% path 14% enter 14% shed 7% summoned 7% thus 7% beaconing 7% gain 7%
سبب
sbb s-b-b

literal: cause; cause, reason; causes

SE rendered شايد (sháyd), راه (ráh), مستقيم (mstqím), بيابی (bíábí), سبب (sbb), علّت (ʿllt), هدايت (hdáyt), خلق (khlq), شوی (shúy), مثل (mthl) as “perchance, Straight Path, discover, guidance of, creatures, hath been, Such a one”

cause 32% instrument 12% means 12% conducive 12% caused 11% reason 5% hath 5% will 4% motive 4% would 3%
علّت
ʿllt ʿ-l-l

literal: cause; reason

SE rendered مستقيم (mstqím), بيابی (bíábí), سبب (sbb), علّت (ʿllt), هدايت (hdáyt), خلق (khlq), شوی (shúy), مثل (mthl), امروز (imrúz) as “Straight Path, discover, guidance of, creatures, hath been, Such a one, day”

cause 23% motive 14% source 14% caused 9% instrument 9% reason 9% cannot 9% acted 5% what 5% causeth 5%
دو
dú d-w

literal: two

SE rendered ذلّت (dhllt), مظلوم (mẓlúm), عزّت (ʿzzt), هر (hr), دو (dú), بفنا (bfná), راجع (rájʿ), جهد (jhd), کن (kn), شايد (sháyd), فائز (fáʾz), شوی (shúy) as “abasement of, Wronged One, glory, both, pass away, Strive, was, haply, achieve, hath been”

two 82% twofold 9% both 9%
راجع
rájʿ r-j-ʿ

literal: return; returning; to return

SE rendered مظلوم (mẓlúm), عزّت (ʿzzt), هر (hr), دو (dú), بفنا (bfná), راجع (rájʿ), جهد (jhd), کن (kn), شايد (sháyd), فائز (fáʾz), شوی (shúy), بعمليکه (bʿmlíkh) as “Wronged One, glory, both, pass away, Strive, was, haply, achieve, hath been, deed”

مجال
mjál m-j-l

literal: possibility

SE rendered انچه (inchh), از (iz), برای (bráy), منکرين (mnkrín), مجال (mjál), رد (rd), عدم (ʿdm), قبول (qbúl), نمانده (nmándh), نيست (níst) as “what, of, denier, refute, repudiate, was”

able 33% room 33% possibility 33%
عدم
ʿdm ʿ-d-m

literal: non-existence; non-existent; nonexistent

SE rendered از (iz), برای (bráy), منکرين (mnkrín), مجال (mjál), رد (rd), عدم (ʿdm), قبول (qbúl), نمانده (nmándh), نيست (níst), قوله (qúlh), تبارک (tbárk) as “of, denier, refute, repudiate, was, saith, blessed”

نمانده
nmándh mándn

literal: remain; remained; to remain

SE rendered منکرين (mnkrín), مجال (mjál), رد (rd), عدم (ʿdm), قبول (qbúl), نمانده (nmándh), نيست (níst), قوله (qúlh), تبارک (tbárk), تعالی (tʿálí) as “denier, refute, repudiate, was, saith, blessed, exalted”

longer 33% leaveth 33% hath 33%
يُفَصِّلُ
yufaṣṣil f-ṣ-l

literal: detail; separate; separated

SE rendered مُسَمًّی (musammaní), يُدَبِّرُ (yudabbir), الأَمْرَ (al-ʾamr), يُفَصِّلُ (yufaṣṣil), الآياتِ (al-áyát), لَعَلَّکُمْ (laʿallakum), بِلِقَاءِ (biliqáʾ) as “appointed, ordereth, all things, signs, Presence”

maketh 33% may 33% shall 33%
مَأْوَاهُمُ
maʾawáhum ʾ-w-y → “abide” Distinctive

literal: abode

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

abide 40% repose 20% abode 20% everlasting 20%
فَحَبِطَتْ
faḥabiṭat ḥ-b-ṭ → “shall” Distinctive

literal: failed/became vain; vain

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

shall 33% vain 33% come 33%
جَهَنَّمُ
jahannam j-h-n-m → “hell”

literal: hell

1 occurrence in corpus

بِالحَقِّ
biálḥaqq ḥ-q-q

literal: truth; true; right

SE rendered بَيْنَهُمَا (baynahumá), بِالحَقِّ (biálḥaqq), أَجَلٍ (ʾajalin), مُسَمًّی (musammaní) as “between, term”

god 29% truth 29% one 20% true 8% who 6% through 3% eternal 3% right 1% unto 1% righteousness 1%
يَظُنُّ
yaẓunn ẓ-n-n

literal: conjecture; think; suppositions

SE rendered همچنين (hmchnín), ميفرمايد (mífrmáyd), يَظُنُّ (yaẓunn), أُوْلَئِکَ (ʾúlaʾik), أَنَّهُمْ (ʾannahum), مَبْعُوثُونَ (mabʿúthún) as “likewise, saith, their, He, raised”

have 50% fancied 50%
﴿يُرِيدُونَ
﴿yurídún r-y-d

literal: want; desire; will

SE rendered صَفًّا﴾ (ṣaffan﴾), همچنين (hmchnín), ميفرمايد (mífrmáyd), ﴿يُرِيدُونَ (﴿yurídún), لِيُطْفِئُوا (líuṭfiʾúá), نُورَ (núr), اللّهِ (al-lh) as “." And, likewise, saith, put out, light, God”

seek 50% craving 25% wish 25%
شَاطِئِ
sháṭiʾ sh-ṭ-ʾ

literal: shore; shore, bank; shore/bank

SE rendered فَلَمَّا (falammá), آتاهَا (átáhá), نُودِی (núdí), شَاطِئِ (sháṭiʾ), الوَادِی (al-wádí), الأَيْمَن (al-ʾayman) as “when, cried, Vale, right side”

shores 77% ocean 7% shore 7% side 3% towards 3% strand 3%
البُقْعَةِ
al-buqʿah b-q-ʿ

literal: spot; spot/place; spots

SE rendered الوَادِی (al-wádí), الأَيْمَن (al-ʾayman), البُقْعَةِ (al-buqʿah), المُبَارَکَةِ (al-mubárakah), الشَّجَرَةِ (ash-shajarah) as “Vale, right side, sacred Spot, : ‘O”

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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.

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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.

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Will and Testament cover

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

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