Epistle to the Son of the Wolf — §194

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 194 of 268.

Source (Persian)

هذه آياتٌ انزلناها من قبل فی اوّل ورودنا فی سجن عکّاء و ارسلناها اليک لتعرف ما نطقت به ألسنتهم الکذبة اذ اتی الامر بقدرة و سلطان * قد تزعزع بنيان الظّنون و انفطرت سماء الاوهام و القوم فی مِرْيَةٍ و شقاق * قد انکروا حجّة اللّه و برهانه بعد اذ اتی من افق الاقتدار بملکوت الآيات * ترکوا ما امروا به و ارتکبوا ما منعوا عنه فی الکتاب * وضعوا إلههم اخذوا اهواءهم أَلَا انّهم فی غفلة و ضلال * يقرءون الآيات و ينکرونها يرون البيّنات و يعرضون عنها أَلَا انّهم فی ريب عجاب *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

These are verses We sent down previously, soon after Our arrival in the prison-city of ‘Akká, and We have sent them unto thee, that thou mayest be acquainted with what their lying tongues have spoken, when Our Cause came unto them with might and sovereignty. The foundations of idle fancies have trembled, and the heaven of vain imaginings hath been cleft asunder, and yet the people are in doubt and in contention with Him. They have denied the testimony of God and His proof, after He came from the heaven of power with the kingdom of His signs. They have cast away what had been prescribed, and perpetrated what had been forbidden them in the Book. They have abandoned their God, and clung unto their desires. They truly have strayed and are in error. They read the verses and deny them. They behold the clear tokens and turn aside. They truly are lost in strange doubt.

Translation Notes

انزلناها

inzlnáhá n-z-l → “sent down”

literal: send down; descending; descend

sent 24% revealed 20% hath 17% send 16% have 8% revealer 4% rain 4% thou 3% revelation 3% descended 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: it hath been sent down gleaningsGWB §160: declineth kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: that which We have revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: spoken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §249: and at having attained tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: Haste thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: grades the-hidden-wordsHW §60: for My descent

اوّل

iwwl ʾ-w-l → “first”

literal: first; beginning; firstness

first 49% beginning 19% hath 9% early 7% former 3% earliest 3% ever 3% inception 2% prime 2% “beginning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: that hath no beginning fire-tabletFire §31: the people gleaningsGWB §327: in the past kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: members kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: the “Beginning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §769: come the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §58: falsely interpret

ورودنا

wrúdná w-r-d → “arrival”

literal: entering; come; came upon

have 22% hath 20% befallen 10% inflicted 9% arrival 8% things 8% there 7% befell 7% attain 5% suffered 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: how grievous hath been the plight of gleaningsGWB §512: entering kitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: summons of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: have borne will-and-testamentW&T §49: in the midst of my woes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: hath been perpetrated gleaningsGWB §137: that have afflicted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: was inflicted

ارسلناها

irslnáhá r-s-l → “have sent them unto”

literal: messenger; send; messengers

SE expanded to “have sent them unto”

messengers 24% apostle 23% messenger 14% sent 13% send 8% apostles 5% messengership 4% entrusted 4% hath 3% prophet 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the Apostle of God gleaningsGWB §289: continually been wafted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §222: Prophethood prayers-and-meditationsP&M §288: Whom Thou didst send forth tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: hath sent forth the-hidden-wordsHW §71: wafted will-and-testamentW&T §6: documents epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the Apostle (Muḥammad)

لتعرف

ltʿrf ʿ-r-f → “that thou mayest be”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

SE expanded to “that thou mayest be”

thou 42% unacquainted 11% make 11% couldst 5% recognition 5% truth 5% appreciate 5% acquaint 5% reveal 5% inscrutable 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: the fragrance of which gleaningsGWB §161: of human understanding kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: true knowledge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §396: Thou hast revealed unto her tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §4: knew epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: recognize

نطقت

nṭqt n-ṭ-q → “have spoken”

literal: spoke

have 60% proclaimed 20% spoken 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: uttered fire-tabletFire §37: uttereth gleaningsGWB §690: Unloose your tongues kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: words kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: eloquent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §472: whether I should speak forth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: hath been moved to disclose will-and-testamentW&T §2: declared

ألسنتهم

ʾalsnthm l-s-n → “tongues”

literal: tongue; tongue, language; tongues

tongues 50% whose 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: a tongue gleaningsGWB §40: the words uttered by kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: speech prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: the tongues tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: her honeyed tongue the-hidden-wordsHW §101: IN WORD epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: its tongue gleaningsGWB §506: from His own mouth

الکذبة

al-kdhbh k-dh-b → “lying”

literal: liar; falsehood

falsehood 48% lying 14% lies 5% imposture 5% error 5% liar 5% will 5% erred 5% lie 5% impostor 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: falsehood gleaningsGWB §502: a lying kitab-i-iqanKIQ §89: denying tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: false ones will-and-testamentW&T §4: dealt falsely epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: them who speak falsely gleaningsGWB §451: a liar kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: lie

الامر

al-ámr ʾ-m-r → “cause”

literal: command; matter; cause

cause 57% revelation 17% faith 6% command 3% behest 3% divine 3% bidding 3% decree 3% ordainer 2% bidden 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: matters fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §352: His law kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §225: injunction prayers-and-meditationsP&M §175: before Thy Cause tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §57: My way

بقدرة

bqdrh q-d-r → “might” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “ordain”, “power” (181 occurrences)

hath 21% ordain 18% power 16% ordained 11% how 7% do 7% might 6% decreed 5% had 4% according 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: and of might fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §154: the influence kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: cannot prayers-and-meditationsP&M §92: Thy might, in truth, is equal tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §72: be in thy power

سلطان

slṭán s-l-ṭ → “sovereignty”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 42% sovereignty 19% sháh 12% sovereign 11% through 5% lord 4% power 2% majesty 2% virtue 2% excelleth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the powers gleaningsGWB §188: with invincible sovereignty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §69: Kingdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §57: Author tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §41: warrant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: His sovereignty

تزعزع

tzʿzʿ z-ʿ-z-ʿ → “trembled”

literal: shake; shake/tremble; shaken

trembled 50% quake 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: trembled gleaningsGWB §718: shake gleaningsGWB §395: to quake

بنيان

bníán b-n-y → “foundations”

literal: foundation

foundations 44% edifice 33% foundation 11% divine 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: sons gleaningsGWB §272: “My son kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: scion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §582: and the son the-hidden-wordsHW §151: CHILDREN will-and-testamentW&T §5: Divine Edifice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Our sons gleaningsGWB §682: the foundations

الظّنون

aẓ-ẓnún ẓ-n-n → “idle fancies”

literal: conjecture; think; suppositions

idle 53% vain 23% fancy 9% fancies 5% imaginings 2% imaginations 2% all 2% superstitions 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: the vain imaginings fire-tabletFire §24: fancy gleaningsGWB §448: them that walk after the vain imaginings which their hearts devise kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: false imaginings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §721: my thought tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitions the-hidden-wordsHW §63: thy fancies epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: Have they no thought

انفطرت

infṭrt f-ṭ-r → “hath been cleft asunder”

literal: creator; nature; creator/originator

SE expanded to “hath been cleft asunder”

cleft 33% rent 33% hath 17% split 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: Maker gleaningsGWB §300: the creation of man kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: cloven asunder.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: his inner ear the-hidden-wordsHW §139: aim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: hath been cleft asunder gleaningsGWB §128: by virtue of their own innate powers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: “cleaving

الاوهام

al-áwhám w-h-m → “vain imaginings”

literal: illusion; fancy; illusions

vain 51% idle 32% vague 4% imaginations 4% superstitions 2% imagined 2% prompted 2% men’s 2% all 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: of vague fancies fire-tabletFire §24: idle imaginings gleaningsGWB §548: fancies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: idle and faulty conception prayers-and-meditationsP&M §673: all vain imaginings tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of delusion the-hidden-wordsHW §83: doubt will-and-testamentW&T §34: suspicion

القوم

al-qúm q-w-m → “people”

literal: people

people 91% men 3% others 2% sent 1% people!” 1% unto 1% amongst 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: in your stead fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §118: the significance of its own potentialities kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your station kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: of the Day of Judgment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §626: and resolved tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfast tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: Wherein

مِرْيَةٍ

miryahin m-r-y → “doubt”

literal: doubt; doubter; doubter, waverer

doubt 60% waver 20% who 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: doubt gleaningsGWB §510: waver tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: those who doubt

شقاق

shqáq sh-q-q → “hath” Distinctive

literal: discord

This form usually rendered as “discord”, “contention”, “rebelliousness” (5 occurrences)

discord 40% contention 20% rebelliousness 20% mischief 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: exertion gleaningsGWB §78: are cleft asunder kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: cloven prayers-and-meditationsP&M §261: Tear asunder tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: rent the-hidden-wordsHW §92: wind-flowers will-and-testamentW&T §20: division epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: contention

انکروا

inkrúá n-k-r → “denied”

literal: denial; denier

denied 42% rejected 25% denieth 8% disbelieved 8% who 8% have 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: denial gleaningsGWB §195: repudiate the truth of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §4: repudiation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §153: Whosoever denieth this will-and-testamentW&T §17: disbelieved in epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: denied Him gleaningsGWB §163: faithless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §256: determination

حجّة

ḥjjh ḥ-j-j → “testimony”

literal: proof; proof, testimony

testimony 35% proof 25% pilgrimage 10% evidence 5% what 5% reasoning 5% reason 5% such 5% proofs 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the testimonies gleaningsGWB §77: Their proofs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §228: other testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §848: Thy most weighty testimony the-hidden-wordsHW §160: argument will-and-testamentW&T §1: His Straight and Luminous Path epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: testimonies gleaningsGWB §97: the evidences of His Truth

برهانه

brhánh b-r-h-n → “proof”

literal: proof; evidence

testimony 30% proof 20% burhan 10% what 10% evidence 10% testimonies 10% argument 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: testimonies gleaningsGWB §88: His clear evidence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: demonstrate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: incontrovertibly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: proof gleaningsGWB §587: of His testimony kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: demonstrated prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: and Thine infallible Proof

افق

ifq ʾ-f-q → “heaven” Distinctive

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

This form usually rendered as “horizon”, “dayspring”, “above” (195 occurrences)

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 8% heaven 3% realm 3% towards 3% orient 2% fountain 1% source 1% dawning-place 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: thy horizon fire-tabletFire §19: men gleaningsGWB §561: towards the Dayspring kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: dawning-place kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: the day-spring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §613: the whole world tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: above will-and-testamentW&T §34: all regions

بملکوت

bmlkút m-l-k → “kingdom”

literal: kingdom; king

kingdom 74% kingdoms 10% heaven 6% empire 4% into 1% all 1% glory 1% realm 1% whole 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: Czar gleaningsGWB §64: and in the heavens kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: He Who holdeth in His hand tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worlds the-hidden-wordsHW §15: My dominion will-and-testamentW&T §15: far epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: nation

ترکوا

trkúá t-r-k → “cast away”

literal: leave; abandon; leave/abandon

have 19% cast 14% abandoned 14% renounce 10% forsaken 10% thou 10% wilt 10% darkness 5% discarded 5% noted 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: renounce fire-tabletFire §18: been forsaken gleaningsGWB §580: abandoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §222: leave prayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thou hast abandoned me the-hidden-wordsHW §55: forsake epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: have renounced fire-tabletFire §2: been abandoned

ارتکبوا

irtkbúá r-k-b → “perpetrated”

literal: commit; commit, perpetrate; to commit

have 31% committed 23% perpetrated 23% followeth 8% harassed 8% evil 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: committed that gleaningsGWB §645: and commit kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: accomplish prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: they have transgressed the-hidden-wordsHW §142: charger epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: committed gleaningsGWB §633: hast entered kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: steed

منعوا

mnʿúá m-n-ʿ → “had been forbidden” Distinctive

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

This form usually rendered as “kept”, “hindered”, “withheld” (9 occurrences)

SE expanded to “had been forbidden”

kept 33% hindered 22% withheld 11% what 11% sought 11% deterred 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: forbade them gleaningsGWB §307: interfere kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: have been the cause of the deprivation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §426: neither tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §89: be bereft will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: withhold it from shining

الکتاب

al-ktáb k-t-b → “book”

literal: book; books; write

book 87% holy 3% tablet 2% words 2% sacred 2% books 1% scriptures 1% own 1% writing 1% kitáb-i-íqán 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: Book gleaningsGWB §39: holy Book kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Writ kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: transcribe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: and hath graven the-hidden-wordsHW §68: and have written for thee will-and-testamentW&T §6: such letters and documents epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: will write down

وضعوا

wḍʿúá w-ḍ-ʿ → “low” Distinctive

literal: lowly

This form usually rendered as “cast”, “abandoned” (2 occurrences)

cast 50% abandoned 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: Cast away gleaningsGWB §163: of the perverse and faithless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: cases prayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: hast established the-hidden-wordsHW §43: graciously visit will-and-testamentW&T §39: hath power to enact epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: forsake gleaningsGWB §63: will cast away

اخذوا

ikhdhúá ʾ-kh-dh → “clung unto”

literal: seize

clung 30% have 30% seized 10% followed 10% plundered 10% received 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §256: overwhelmed fire-tabletFire §12: afflicted gleaningsGWB §507: plundered kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: perisheth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: amass prayers-and-meditationsP&M §63: laid hold on them tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou

اهواءهم

ihúáʾhm h-w-y → “desires”

literal: desire

desires 23% corrupt 19% desire 16% atmosphere 12% passion 7% essence 6% heaven 6% evil 4% heights 4% self 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: mere impulse fire-tabletFire §21: passion gleaningsGWB §668: unmortified passions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: after their own fancy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §520: the wings tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: sphere the-hidden-wordsHW §39: thou desirest will-and-testamentW&T §15: self

غفلة

ghflh gh-f-l → “strayed” Distinctive

literal: heedless; heedlessness; neglect

This form usually rendered as “waywardness”, “wayward”, “forgetfulness” (20 occurrences)

waywardness 27% wayward 13% forgetfulness 13% would 7% strayed 7% careless 7% error 7% stray 7% trespasses 7% turneth 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: wholly unaware gleaningsGWB §415: careless kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: “deprivation,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §839: forgetful they may become the-hidden-wordsHW §142: negligent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: My heedlessness gleaningsGWB §457: your heedlessness

ضلال

ḍlál ḍ-l-l → “error”

literal: error; error, misguidance; error/misguidance

error 56% have 11% erring 11% failure 6% wayward 6% froward 6% gone 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §24: astray gleaningsGWB §77: those that led them astray kitab-i-iqanKIQ §236: misleadeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: the wayward the-hidden-wordsHW §35: canst thou go astray epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: misleader gleaningsGWB §552: grievous error kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: they stray even further

يقرءون

yqrʾún q-r-ʾ → “read”

literal: read; reading

read 33% recite 11% reciteth 11% recited 11% studied 6% “peruse 6% peruse 6% intone 6% perused 6% reading 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: reciteth gleaningsGWB §85: Read it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: reading prayers-and-meditationsP&M §810: To be recited tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Chant it epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: recited gleaningsGWB §85: Perused ye not prayers-and-meditationsP&M §529: who recite

يرون

yrún r-ʾ-y → “behold”

literal: see; to see

behold 20% see 20% recognize 20% regard 10% will 10% find 10% witness 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: His advice fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §720: will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: seen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §543: outwardly perceive the-hidden-wordsHW §146: hypocrisy will-and-testamentW&T §32: seest me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: We beheld

البيّنات

al-bíbnát b-y-n → “clear tokens”

literal: clear

clear 40% manifest 20% proofs 7% undoubted 7% signs 7% sure 7% revealeth 7% glorious 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: plainly fire-tabletFire §23: to speak forth gleaningsGWB §223: the Most Manifest kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: amidst My kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: the power of utterance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: into the hands tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: absolute the-hidden-wordsHW §120: see

يعرضون

yʿrḍún ʿ-r-ḍ → “turn aside”

literal: turn away; turning away

turned 27% have 20% turn 12% denial 7% turneth 7% such 6% protest 5% denials 5% opposition 5% cavil 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: turning away gleaningsGWB §612: and turned away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: rebellion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §475: turn them away tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him turn aside from the-hidden-wordsHW §9: by renouncing will-and-testamentW&T §3: exposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: they that have repudiated Us

ريب

ríb r-y-b → “doubt”

literal: doubt; doubter; doubter/suspicious

doubt 67% doubteth 13% misgivings 13% doubts 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: The doubters gleaningsGWB §555: and misgivings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: misgivings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: from the doubters the-hidden-wordsHW §13: a doubt thereof epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: doubters kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: doubts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §19: the suspicious

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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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