Skip to main content

Kitáb-i-Íqán — §101

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 101 of 291.

Source (Persian)

در اين وقت از اهل بيان و عرفاء و حکماء و علماء و شهدای آن استدعا می نمايم که وصايای الهی را که در کتاب فرموده فراموش ننمايند و هميشه ناظر به اصل امر باشند که مبادا حين ظهور آن جوهرالجواهر و حقيقة الحقائق و نور الانوار متمسّک به بعضی عبارات کتاب شوند و بر او وارد بياورند آنچه را که در کور فرقان وارد آمد. چه که آن سلطان هويّه قادر است بر اينکه جميع بيان و خلق آن را به حرفی از بدايع کلمات خود قبض روح فرمايد و يا به حرفی جميع را حيات بديعه قدميّه بخشد و از قبور نفس و هوی محشور و مبعوث نمايد. ملتفت و مراقب بوده که جميع منتهی به ايمان به او و ادراک ايّام و لقای او می شود. " لَيْسَ البِرَّ اَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَکُم قِبَلَ المَشرِقِ والمَغرِبِ و لَکِنَّ الِبرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّه و اليَومِ الآخرِ." اسمعوا يا اَهلَ البيان ما وَصَّيناکُم بالحقِّ لَعَلَّ تسکُنُنَّ فی ظِلٍّ کانَ فی اَيّام اللّه مَمدوداً.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And now, We beseech the people of the Bayán, all the learned, the sages, the divines, and witnesses amongst them, not to forget the wishes and admonitions revealed in their Book. Let them, at all times, fix their gaze upon the essentials of His Cause, lest when He, Who is the Quintessence of truth, the inmost Reality of all things, the Source of all light, is made manifest, they cling unto certain passages of the Book, and inflict upon Him that which was inflicted in the Dispensation of the Qur’án. For, verily, powerful is He, the King of divine might, to extinguish with one letter of His wondrous words, the breath of life in the whole of the Bayán and the people thereof, and with one letter bestow upon them a new and everlasting life, and cause them to arise and speed out of the sepulchres of their vain and selfish desires. Take heed, and be watchful; and remember that all things have their consummation in belief in Him, in attainment unto His day, and in the realization of His divine presence. “There is no piety in turning your faces toward the east or toward the west, but he is pious who believeth in God and the Last Day.” Give ear, O people of the Bayán, unto the truth whereunto We have admonished you, that haply ye may seek the shelter of the shadow extended, in the Day of God, upon all mankind.

Translation Notes

وقت
wqt w-q-t

literal: time; appointed time; times

SE rendered وقت (wqt)از (iz)اهل (ihl)بيان (bíán)عرفاء (ʿrfáʾ)حکماء (ḥkmáʾ) as “amongst, the people of the Bayán, the sages”

time 38% hour 25% ages 6% moment 6% days 6% age 6% what 6% chance 6%
بيان
bíán b-y-n

literal: utterance

SE rendered وقت (wqt)از (iz)اهل (ihl)بيان (bíán)عرفاء (ʿrfáʾ)حکماء (ḥkmáʾ)علماء (ʿlmáʾ) as “amongst, the people of the Bayán, the sages, the learned”

utterance 65% bayán 8% words 6% divine 4% speech 4% unfold 4% force 2% recount 2% word 2% sayings 2%
حکماء
ḥkmáʾ ḥ-k-m

literal: wisdom; judgment; firm

SE rendered وقت (wqt)از (iz)اهل (ihl)بيان (bíán)عرفاء (ʿrfáʾ)حکماء (ḥkmáʾ)علماء (ʿlmáʾ)شهدای (shhdáy)استدعا (istdʿá) as “amongst, the people of the Bayán, the sages, the learned, witnesses, beseech”

می
m-y-y “will”

literal: present continuous marker; continuous-marker

3 occurrences in corpus

نمايم
nmáym n-m-ʾ

literal: do; show; make

SE rendered علماء (ʿlmáʾ)شهدای (shhdáy)استدعا (istdʿá)می (mí)نمايم (nmáym)وصايای (wṣáyáy)الهی (al-hí)کتاب (ktáb) as “the learned, witnesses, beseech, the wishes and admonitions, divine, Book”

recount 33% will 33% relate 33%
باشند
báshnd b-w-d “is”

literal: be; is; to be

SE rendered ننمايند (nnmáynd)هميشه (hmíshh)ناظر (náẓr)اصل (iṣl)امر (imr)باشند (báshnd)مبادا (mbádá)حين (ḥín)ظهور (ẓhúr)جوهرالجواهر (júhráljúáhr) as “they, at all times, fix their gaze, the essentials, Cause, lest, when, made manifest, the Quintessence”

must 50% under 50%
شوند
shúnd sh-w-d

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered متمسّک (mtmssk)بعضی (bʿḍí)عبارات (ʿbárát)کتاب (ktáb)شوند (shúnd)بر (br)وارد (wárd)بياورند (bíáwrnd)آنچه (ánchh) as “cling unto, certain passages, Book, upon, inflict, that which”

again 14% would 14% feed 14% unraveling 14% will 14% therein 14% intervening 14%
بياورند
bíáwrnd ʾ-w-r

literal: bring; to bring; to_bring

SE rendered کتاب (ktáb)شوند (shúnd)بر (br)وارد (wárd)بياورند (bíáwrnd)آنچه (ánchh)کور (kúr)فرقان (frqán)وارد (wárd) as “Book, upon, was inflicted, that which, the Dispensation of the Qur’án”

refuse 14% fail 14% breathe 14% hath 14% performed 14% brought 14% gather 14%
کور
kúr k-w-r

literal: blind

SE rendered وارد (wárd)بياورند (bíáwrnd)آنچه (ánchh)کور (kúr)فرقان (frqán)وارد (wárd)آمد (ámd)چه (chh)سلطان (slṭán) as “was inflicted, that which, the Dispensation of the Qur’án, the King”

7 occurrences in corpus

آمد
ámd ʾ-m-d

literal: come; came; to come

SE rendered آنچه (ánchh)کور (kúr)فرقان (frqán)وارد (wárd)آمد (ámd)چه (chh)سلطان (slṭán)هويّه (húyyh)قادر (qádr) as “that which, the Dispensation of the Qur’án, was inflicted, the King, of divine might, powerful is”

came 25% turned 13% advisable 13% come 13% appeared 13% hath 13% befallen 13%
چه
chh ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

SE rendered کور (kúr)فرقان (frqán)وارد (wárd)آمد (ámd)چه (chh)سلطان (slṭán)هويّه (húyyh)قادر (qádr)بر (br) as “the Dispensation of the Qur’án, was inflicted, the King, of divine might, powerful is, to”

what 50% whatsoever 50%
اينکه

literal: this; where; these

SE rendered سلطان (slṭán)هويّه (húyyh)قادر (qádr)بر (br)اينکه (iynkh)جميع (jmíʿ)بيان (bíán)خلق (khlq) as “the King, of divine might, powerful is, to, whole of the Bayán, the people”

حرفی
ḥrfí ḥ-r-f

literal: letter; word

SE rendered جميع (jmíʿ)بيان (bíán)خلق (khlq)حرفی (ḥrfí)از (iz)بدايع (bdáyʿ)کلمات (klmát)قبض (qbḍ)روح (rúḥ) as “whole of the Bayán, the people, of, His wondrous, words, the breath, of life”

letter 38% single 23% word 15% drop 8% dead 8% one 8%
قدميّه
qdmímh q-d-m

literal: ancient

SE rendered حرفی (ḥrfí)جميع (jmíʿ)حيات (ḥíát)بديعه (bdíʿh)قدميّه (qdmímh)بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)قبور (qbúr)نفس (nfs) as “all, life, new and everlasting, bestow upon them, out of, sepulchres, their vain and selfish desires”

ancient 60% imperishable 20% one 20%
هوی

literal: desire; passion

SE rendered بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)قبور (qbúr)نفس (nfs)هوی (húy)محشور (mḥshúr)مبعوث (mbʿúth)نمايد (nmáyd)ملتفت (mltft) as “bestow upon them, out of, sepulchres, their vain and selfish desires, cause them to arise, Take heed”

desire 28% passion 20% essence 12% corrupt 8% desires 8% divine 8% evil 4% glory 4% heaven 4% would 4%
مبعوث
mbʿúth b-ʿ-th

literal: sent

SE rendered از (iz)قبور (qbúr)نفس (nfs)هوی (húy)محشور (mḥshúr)مبعوث (mbʿúth)نمايد (nmáyd)ملتفت (mltft)مراقب (mráqb) as “out of, sepulchres, their vain and selfish desires, cause them to arise, Take heed, be watchful”

sent 43% made 14% risen 7% invested 7% arise 7% hath 7% quickened 7% inspired 7%
لَيْسَ
lays l-y-s “is no”

literal: not

SE rendered ايّام (iyyám)لقای (lqáy)می (mí)لَيْسَ (lays)البِرَّ (al-birr)تُوَلُّوا (túallúá)وُجُوهَکُم (wujúhakum) as “day, presence, . “There, is no, piety, turning, faces”

can 29% none 14% have 14% nothing 7% there 7% given 7% sorrow 7% possessed 7% cannot 7%
المَشرِقِ
al-mashriq sh-r-q

literal: shining; east; shine

SE rendered تُوَلُّوا (túallúá)وُجُوهَکُم (wujúhakum)المَشرِقِ (al-mashriq)والمَغرِبِ (wálmaghrib)لَکِنَّ (lakinn)الِبرَّ (al-ibrr) as “turning, faces, or toward the west, but, upon”

لَکِنَّ
lakinn l-k-n “but”

literal: but; but, however; but/however

SE rendered المَشرِقِ (al-mashriq)والمَغرِبِ (wálmaghrib)لَکِنَّ (lakinn)الِبرَّ (al-ibrr)آمَنَ (áman)بِاللّه (biálllh) as “or toward the west, but, upon, believeth, in God”

however 67% yet 20% “but 7% whereas 7%
الآخرِ
al-ákhr ʾ-kh-r

literal: other

SE rendered آمَنَ (áman)بِاللّه (biálllh)اليَومِ (al-yawm)الآخرِ (al-ákhr)اسمعوا (ismʿúá)اَهلَ (ahl) as “believeth, in God, the Last Day.”, Give ear, people of the Bayán”

world 42% next 32% concluding 3% culmination 3% can 3% another 3% “life 3% other 3% others 3% end 3%

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán

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 ¶

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 ¶

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.

59 ¶