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Kitáb-i-Íqán — §31

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 31 of 291.

Source (Persian)

و قوله: "تُظلَمُ الشَّمسُ وَالقَمَرُ لا يُعطی ضَوءَهُ وَ الکَواکبُ تَتَساقَطُ مِنَ السَّماء." مقصود از شمس و قمر که در کلمات انبياء مذکور است منحصر به اين شمس و قمر ظاهری نيست که ملاحظه می شود. بلکه از شمس و قمر معانی بسيار اراده فرمودهاند که در هر مقام به مناسبت آن مقام معنيی اراده می فرمايند. مثلاً يک معنی از شمس، شمس های حقيقت اند که از مشرق قدم طالع می شوند و بر جميع ممکنات ابلاغ فيض می فرمايند. و اين شموس حقيقت، مظاهر کلّيّه الهی هستند در عوالم صفات و اسمای او. و همچنان که شمس ظاهری تربيت اشيای ظاهره از اثمار و اشجار و الوان و فواکه و معادن و دون ذلک از آنچه در عالم ملک مشهود است، به امر معبود حقيقی به اعانت اوست، همچنين اشجار توحيد و اثمار تفريد و اوراق تجريد و گل های علم و ايقان و رياحين حکمت و بيان از عنايت و تربيت شمس های معنوی ظاهر می شود. اين است که در حين اشراق اين شموس، عالم جديد می شود و انهار حَيَوان جاری می گردد و ابحر احسان به موج می آيد و سحاب فضل مرتفع می شود و نسمات جود بر هياکل موجودات می وزد و از حرارت اين شمس های الهی و نارهای معنوی است که حرارت محبّت الهی در ارکان عالم احداث می شود و از عنايت اين ارواح مجرّده است که روح حيوان باقيه بر اجساد مردگان فانيه مبذول می گردد. و فی الحقيقه اين شمس ظاهری يک آيه از تجلّی آن شمس معنوی است و آن شمسی است که از برای او مقابلی و شبهی و مثلی و ندّی ملاحظه نمی شود و کلّ به وجود او قائمند و از فيض او ظاهر و به او راجع. مِنها ظَهَرتِ الاَشياءُ وَإلی خَزائِنِ اَمرها رَجَعَت وَ مِنها بُدِئتِ المُمکِناتُ وَ إلی کَنائِزِ حُکمِها عادَت.

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And now, concerning His words—“The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.” By the terms “sun” and “moon,” mentioned in the writings of the Prophets of God, is not meant solely the sun and moon of the visible universe. Nay rather, manifold are the meanings they have intended for these terms. In every instance they have attached to them a particular significance. Thus, by the “sun” in one sense is meant those Suns of Truth Who rise from the dayspring of ancient glory, and fill the world with a liberal effusion of grace from on high. These Suns of Truth are the universal Manifestations of God in the worlds of His attributes and names. Even as the visible sun that assisteth, as decreed by God, the true One, the Adored, in the development of all earthly things, such as the trees, the fruits, and colours thereof, the minerals of the earth, and all that may be witnessed in the world of creation, so do the divine Luminaries, by their loving care and educative influence, cause the trees of divine unity, the fruits of His oneness, the leaves of detachment, the blossoms of knowledge and certitude, and the myrtles of wisdom and utterance, to exist and be made manifest. Thus it is that through the rise of these Luminaries of God the world is made new, the waters of everlasting life stream forth, the billows of loving-kindness surge, the clouds of grace are gathered, and the breeze of bounty bloweth upon all created things. It is the warmth that these Luminaries of God generate, and the undying fires they kindle, which cause the light of the love of God to burn fiercely in the heart of humanity. It is through the abundant grace of these Symbols of Detachment that the Spirit of life everlasting is breathed into the bodies of the dead. Assuredly the visible sun is but a sign of the splendour of that Day-star of Truth, that Sun Which can never have a peer, a likeness, or rival. Through Him all things live, move, and have their being. Through His grace they are made manifest, and unto Him they all return. From Him all things have sprung, and unto the treasuries of His revelation they all have repaired. From Him all created things did proceed, and to the depositories of His law they did revert.

Translation Notes

الکَواکبُ
al-kawákb k-w-b → “gallon-measure” Distinctive

literal: gallon-measure; stars

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

مذکور
mdhkúr dh-k-r

literal: mention; mentioned

SE rendered شمس (shms), قمر (qmr), کلمات (klmát), انبياء (inbíáʾ), مذکور (mdhkúr), منحصر (mnḥṣr), شمس (shms), قمر (qmr) as “sun, moon, writings, Prophets, solely”

ملاحظه
mláḥẓh l-ḥ-ẓ → “the”

literal: observation; observe; observation, consideration

SE rendered شمس (shms), قمر (qmr), ظاهری (ẓáhrí), نيست (níst), ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), می (mí), بلکه (blkh), از (iz), شمس (shms), قمر (qmr) as “manifold, meanings, visible, the, Nay, rather”

بسيار
bsíár bsíár

literal: many; much, many

SE rendered بلکه (blkh), از (iz), شمس (shms), قمر (qmr), معانی (mʿání), بسيار (bsíár), اراده (irádh), فرمودهاند (frmúdhánd), هر (hr), مقام (mqám) as “Nay, rather, manifold, meanings, In”

قدم
qdm q-d-m

literal: ancient; eternity; step

SE rendered شمس (shms), های (háy), حقيقت (ḥqíqt), اند (ind), از (iz), مشرق (mshrq), قدم (qdm), طالع (ṭálʿ), می (mí), شوند (shúnd), بر (br), جميع (jmíʿ), ممکنات (mmknát) as “sense, one, is, meant, those, Truth, of, rise, the, and, fill”

ancient 50% eternity 11% everlasting 9% who 7% step 6% eternal 5% feet 5% steps 2% entered 2% advance 2%
طالع
ṭálʿ ṭ-l-ʿ → “of”

literal: dawning-place

SE rendered های (háy), حقيقت (ḥqíqt), اند (ind), از (iz), مشرق (mshrq), قدم (qdm), طالع (ṭálʿ), می (mí), شوند (shúnd), بر (br), جميع (jmíʿ), ممکنات (mmknát), ابلاغ (iblágh) as “one, is, meant, those, Truth, of, rise, the, and, fill”

rise 23% shine 15% hath 8% made 8% will 8% dawn 8% resplendent 8% dawning 8% risen 8% shedding 8%
جميع
jmíʿ j-m-ʿ → “and”

literal: all; all, entire

SE rendered از (iz), مشرق (mshrq), قدم (qdm), طالع (ṭálʿ), می (mí), شوند (shúnd), بر (br), جميع (jmíʿ), ممکنات (mmknát), ابلاغ (iblágh), فيض (fíḍ), می (mí), فرمايند (frmáynd) as “those, Truth, of, effusion, the, and, fill, world, a”

all 80% every 9% whole 4% each 2% one 2% whatsoever 1% concourse 1% divers 1% entire 1% throughout 1%
ابلاغ
iblágh b-l-gh → “the”

literal: reach; reached; attainment

SE rendered طالع (ṭálʿ), می (mí), شوند (shúnd), بر (br), جميع (jmíʿ), ممکنات (mmknát), ابلاغ (iblágh), فيض (fíḍ), می (mí), فرمايند (frmáynd), شموس (shmús) as “of, effusion, the, and, fill, world, a, These”

endue 25% teach 25% fill 25% deliver 25%
کلّيّه
kllílh k-l-l → “the”

literal: all; all, every

SE rendered شموس (shmús), حقيقت، (ḥqíqt،), مظاهر (mẓáhr), کلّيّه (kllílh), الهی (al-hí), هستند (hstnd), عوالم (ʿúálm), صفات (ṣfát) as “These, Suns, of, the, universal, God, Manifestations”

صفات
ṣfát w-ṣ-f → “the”

literal: attributes; attribute

SE rendered کلّيّه (kllílh), الهی (al-hí), هستند (hstnd), عوالم (ʿúálm), صفات (ṣfát), اسمای (ismáy), همچنان (hmchnán), شمس (shms) as “the, universal, God, Manifestations, His, names, as”

الوان
al-wán l-w-n → “and”

literal: colors; colored, multicolored; colors/varieties

SE rendered ظاهره (ẓáhrh), از (iz), اثمار (ithmár), اشجار (ishjár), الوان (al-wán), فواکه (fúákh), معادن (mʿádn), دون (dún), از (iz) as “that, earth, things, earthly, and, the, of”

livery 33% glory 33% colours 33%
فواکه
fúákh f-k-h → “the”

literal: fruit; fruits

SE rendered از (iz), اثمار (ithmár), اشجار (ishjár), الوان (al-wán), فواکه (fúákh), معادن (mʿádn), دون (dún), از (iz), آنچه (ánchh) as “earth, things, earthly, and, the, of, that”

5 occurrences in corpus

معادن
mʿádn ʿ-d-n → “of”

literal: mine, source; mine; mine, repository

SE rendered اشجار (ishjár), الوان (al-wán), فواکه (fúákh), معادن (mʿádn), دون (dún), از (iz), آنچه (ánchh), عالم (ʿálm), ملک (mlk) as “earthly, and, the, of, earth, that, cause, in”

دون
dún d-w-n → “and”

literal: without

SE rendered اشجار (ishjár), الوان (al-wán), فواکه (fúákh), معادن (mʿádn), دون (dún), از (iz), آنچه (ánchh), عالم (ʿálm), ملک (mlk), مشهود (mshhúd) as “earthly, and, the, of, earth, that, cause, in, world”

without 30% except 20% none 10% otherwise 10% else 5% all 5% though 5% unless 5% depart 5% refuse 5%
ملک
mlk m-l-k → “in”

literal: kingdom; king

SE rendered معادن (mʿádn), دون (dún), از (iz), آنچه (ánchh), عالم (ʿálm), ملک (mlk), مشهود (mshhúd), امر (imr), معبود (mʿbúd), حقيقی (ḥqíqí) as “of, and, earth, that, cause, in, world, trees, divine, the”

اعانت
iʿánt ʿ-w-n → “the”

literal: helper; help; assistance

SE rendered امر (imr), معبود (mʿbúd), حقيقی (ḥqíqí), اعانت (iʿánt), اوست، (iwst،), همچنين (hmchnín), اشجار (ishjár), توحيد (túḥíd) as “trees, divine, the, of, fruits, detachment”

همچنين
hmchnín hmchnín

literal: likewise; likewise, similarly; similarly, likewise

SE rendered معبود (mʿbúd), حقيقی (ḥqíqí), اعانت (iʿánt), اوست، (iwst،), همچنين (hmchnín), اشجار (ishjár), توحيد (túḥíd), اثمار (ithmár), تفريد (tfríd) as “divine, the, of, fruits, detachment, His”

تفريد
tfríd f-r-d → “the”

literal: oneness; singleness

SE rendered اشجار (ishjár), توحيد (túḥíd), اثمار (ithmár), تفريد (tfríd), اوراق (iwráq), تجريد (tjríd), گل (gl), های (háy), علم (ʿlm) as “fruits, detachment, His, the, and, certitude, blossoms, myrtles”

اوراق
iwráq w-r-q → “and”

literal: leaf; leaves

SE rendered اشجار (ishjár), توحيد (túḥíd), اثمار (ithmár), تفريد (tfríd), اوراق (iwráq), تجريد (tjríd), گل (gl), های (háy), علم (ʿlm), ايقان (iyqán) as “fruits, detachment, His, the, and, certitude, blossoms, myrtles, wisdom”

حکمت
ḥkmt ḥ-k-m → “to”

literal: wisdom

SE rendered گل (gl), های (háy), علم (ʿlm), ايقان (iyqán), رياحين (ríáḥín), حکمت (ḥkmt), بيان (bíán), از (iz), عنايت (ʿnáyt), تربيت (trbít), شمس (shms) as “blossoms, the, myrtles, wisdom, utterance, to, exist, made, be, rise”

انهار
inhár n-h-r → “the”

literal: rivers; river

SE rendered شموس، (shmús،), عالم (ʿálm), جديد (jdíd), می (mí), انهار (inhár), حَيَوان (ḥayawán), جاری (járí), می (mí), گردد (grdd), ابحر (ibḥr) as “the, clouds, of, all, breeze, bloweth, created, that”

streams 33% rivers 22% waters 22% river 11% crystal 11%
آيد
áyd ʾ-y-d → “and”

literal: support; come; strengthen

SE rendered گردد (grdd), ابحر (ibḥr), احسان (iḥsán), موج (múj), می (mí), آيد (áyd), سحاب (sḥáb), فضل (fḍl), مرتفع (mrtfʿ), می (mí), نسمات (nsmát) as “created, that, warmth, God, which, and, fires, kindle, love”

may 33% assist 33% aid 10% all-merciful 5% will 5% “seal.” 5% how 5% step 5%
فضل
fḍl f-ḍ-l

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

SE rendered احسان (iḥsán), موج (múj), می (mí), آيد (áyd), سحاب (sḥáb), فضل (fḍl), مرتفع (mrtfʿ), می (mí), نسمات (nsmát), جود (júd), بر (br) as “warmth, God, which, and, fires, kindle, love, of”

جود
júd j-w-d → “of”

literal: generosity; bounty; generosity, bounty

SE rendered سحاب (sḥáb), فضل (fḍl), مرتفع (mrtfʿ), می (mí), نسمات (nsmát), جود (júd), بر (br), هياکل (híákl), موجودات (mújúdát), می (mí), وزد (wzd), از (iz) as “fires, kindle, the, love, of, to, fiercely, heart, It”

ارکان
irkán r-k-n → “the”

literal: pillar; pillars

SE rendered حرارت (ḥrárt), محبّت (mḥbbt), الهی (al-hí), ارکان (irkán), عالم (ʿálm), احداث (iḥdáth), می (mí), از (iz), عنايت (ʿnáyt) as “bodies, into, the, dead, visible, but, is, sign”

foundations 44% pillars 19% limbs 13% member 6% members 6% every 6% whole 6%
اجساد
ijsád j-s-d → “a”

literal: body; bodies

SE rendered روح (rúḥ), حيوان (ḥíwán), باقيه (báqíh), بر (br), اجساد (ijsád), مردگان (mrdgán), فانيه (fáníh), مبذول (mbdhúl), می (mí), گردد (grdd) as “Which, never, can, have, a, peer, or, rival, Through”

bodies 60% every 10% heart 10% body 10% carrion 10%
مبذول
mbdhúl b-dh-l → “or”

literal: bestowed; expended; granted

SE rendered باقيه (báqíh), بر (br), اجساد (ijsád), مردگان (mrdgán), فانيه (fáníh), مبذول (mbdhúl), می (mí), گردد (grdd), الحقيقه (al-ḥqíqh) as “can, have, a, peer, or, rival, Through, all”

confer 27% exert 9% bend 9% have 9% conferring 9% breathed 9% shed 9% fall 9% showered 9%
ندّی
nddí n-d-d → “peer” Distinctive

literal: peer; rival

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

peer 50% equal 25% rival 25%
نمی
nmí n-h-y → “his”

literal: end; utmost; ended

SE rendered شبهی (shbhí), مثلی (mthlí), ندّی (nddí), ملاحظه (mláḥẓh), نمی (nmí), وجود (wjúd), قائمند (qáʾmnd) as “have, and, the, of, His, From, all”

Source: Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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729 ¶

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16 ¶

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858 ¶

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17 ¶

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5 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶