Will and Testament — §18
Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 18 of 59.
Source (Persian)
ای احبّای الهی باید ولیّ امر اللّه در زمان حیات خویش من هو بعده را تعیین نماید تا بعد از صعودش اختلاف حاصل نگردد و شخص معیّن باید مظهر تقدیس و تنزیه و تقوای الهی و علم و فضل و کمال باشد لهذا اگر ولد بکر ولیّ امر اللّه مظهر الولد سرّ ابیه نباشد یعنی از عنصر روحانی او نه و شرف اعراق با حسن اخلاق مجتمع نیست باید غصن دیگر را انتخاب نماید
Shoghi Effendi Translation
O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the Guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own lifetime him that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first-born of the Guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words “The child is the secret essence of its sire”, that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he (the Guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch to succeed him.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: My lovefire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §597: heartskitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: the New Belovedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: love fortablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: I longtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §24: seek thine own
This form usually rendered as “god”, “divine”, “god’s” (277 occurrences)
SE expanded to “of the Lord”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: GodheadgleaningsGWB §204: her Godkitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: divinely-appointedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: of Thy Divinitythe-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §23: is of Godepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: God isgleaningsGWB §493: divinely revealed
SE expanded to “It is incumbent”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: incumbent upongleaningsGWB §334: quickenedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: awakenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the wildernessthe-hidden-wordsHW §109: With the handswill-and-testamentW&T §17: watchfulepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: behoovethgleaningsGWB §564: should
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: Thy loved onesgleaningsGWB §634: of thy Lordkitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: endowedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §37: his Lordwill-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Saintsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: who are enduedgleaningsGWB §306: His chosen oneskitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: continuous
SE expanded to “of the Cause”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: State officialsgleaningsGWB §305: the thingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: the commandmentsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: upon Thy biddingtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: commandswill-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Causeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: that whichgleaningsGWB §319: of God
SE rendered باید (báyd), ولیّ (wlíl), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), زمان (zmán), حیات (ḥíát), خویش (khúysh), بعده (bʿdh), تعیین (tʿíyn) as “It is incumbent, the Guardian, of the Cause, of God, own lifetime, his successor, to appoint”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: abashedfire-tabletFire §19: eternal lifegleaningsGWB §724: Our lifekitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: “life,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: the Fountain of all lifetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: quickened my soultablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: of lovewill-and-testamentW&T §2: Salutation
SE rendered ولیّ (wlíl), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), زمان (zmán), حیات (ḥíát), خویش (khúysh), بعده (bʿdh), تعیین (tʿíyn), نماید (nmáyd) as “the Guardian, of the Cause, of God, own lifetime, his successor, to appoint”
This form usually rendered as “after”, “when”, “remoteness” (326 occurrences)
after 53% when 11% remoteness 11% then 5% notwithstanding 4% upon 4% subsequent 4% future 4% since 3% subsequently 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: appointedgleaningsGWB §609: His eyeskitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: watersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: their eyestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyestablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: those of all creationthe-hidden-wordsHW §102: have madewill-and-testamentW&T §18: is appointed
SE expanded to “to succeed him”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: appointedgleaningsGWB §438: will cease to exertkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: iskitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: encompassedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §659: we beseech Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §151: madewill-and-testamentW&T §6: advancedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: thou mayest turn
SE rendered بعده (bʿdh), تعیین (tʿíyn), نماید (nmáyd), از (iz), صعودش (ṣʿúdsh), اختلاف (ikhtláf), حاصل (ḥáṣl), نگردد (ngrdd), شخص (shkhṣ) as “his successor, to appoint, of, his passing, differences, may not arise, He that”
23 occurrences in corpus
This form usually rendered as “passing” (1 occurrences)
discord 22% differences 17% difference 13% strife 13% contention 9% dissension 9% dissensions 4% divergencies 4% diversities 4% differed 4%
SE rendered از (iz), صعودش (ṣʿúdsh), اختلاف (ikhtláf), حاصل (ḥáṣl), نگردد (ngrdd), شخص (shkhṣ), معیّن (mʿíʿn), باید (báyd), مظهر (mẓhr) as “of, his passing, differences, may not arise, He that, is appointed, must, manifest”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: acquisitiongleaningsGWB §603: your object is attainedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: failedthe-hidden-wordsHW §159: earn a livelihoodepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: having obtainedgleaningsGWB §356: foundkitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: is attainedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: attained
SE expanded to “may not arise”
manifestation 63% revealer 18% who 5% manifest 4% dayspring 3% supreme 3% revelation 3% revealest 1% symbol 1% exponent 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §152: revealfire-tabletFire §38: prevailgleaningsGWB §612: its subsequent Revelationkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstratingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: outward behaviourprayers-and-meditationsP&M §408: to shinetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assisttablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation
SE rendered نگردد (ngrdd), شخص (shkhṣ), معیّن (mʿíʿn), باید (báyd), مظهر (mẓhr), تقدیس (tqdís), تنزیه (tnzíh), تقوای (tqúáy), الهی (al-hí), علم (ʿlm) as “may not arise, He that, is appointed, must, manifest, purity, the fear of God, God, knowledge”
sanctity 50% holiness 12% exalted 8% sanctified 8% self 4% glory 4% purge 4% praise 4% acknowledge 4% purging 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: the Holy SpiritgleaningsGWB §557: praisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: celestialprayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: of Thy Divinetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concoursethe-hidden-wordsHW §120: pureepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: holygleaningsGWB §651: His Presence
purity 33% description 8% sanctified 8% indivisible 8% shall 8% detachment 8% ye 8% holy 8% detached 8%
SE expanded to “fear of God”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: most piousfire-tabletFire §21: of puritygleaningsGWB §227: spotless chastitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: aboutprayers-and-meditationsP&M §484: “Fearthe-hidden-wordsHW §1: of spiritwill-and-testamentW&T §1: protectedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: the God-fearing
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: unmistakable, and is knownfire-tabletFire §49: all the worldsgleaningsGWB §227: instructethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: sageprayers-and-meditationsP&M §305: Thy wisdomtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worldstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught theethe-hidden-wordsHW §144: peoples
utmost 47% absolute 11% great 5% greatly 5% outward 5% ardent 5% excellence 5% sore 5% fulness 5% perfection 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: the utmostgleaningsGWB §707: the excellence and perfectionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: absolutethe-hidden-wordsHW §152: fullwill-and-testamentW&T §18: learningepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: to outward seeminggleaningsGWB §118: ardentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §47: the plenitude
This form usually rendered as “may”, “self”, “dwelling” (49 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: RejoicestgleaningsGWB §305: innermost realitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: the divine mysteriesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: and the mysteriestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: have concealedthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: the inner mysterieswill-and-testamentW&T §18: the secret essenceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: will rejoice
This form usually rendered as “sire”” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: fathersgleaningsGWB §585: of your sireskitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: our fatherstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of thy fatherswill-and-testamentW&T §18: of its sire”epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: FathergleaningsGWB §293: your fathersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: father of
This form usually rendered as “who”, “meant”, “meaneth” (23 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: through the gracegleaningsGWB §672: of unfading splendorkitab-i-ahdAhd §2: attentionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: offerthe-hidden-wordsHW §129: trueepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: considerationgleaningsGWB §370: meaneth thatkitab-i-iqanKIQ §52: of divine guidance
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: breath of lifefire-tabletFire §30: the breezesgleaningsGWB §541: undisturbed peacekitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happinesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the eternal Spiritprayers-and-meditationsP&M §406: the sweet savorstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyedthe-hidden-wordsHW §17: with My spirit
end 16% forbidden 12% ended 12% infinite 12% highest 12% forbiddeth 8% most 8% utmost 8% last 8% unnumbered 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: endfire-tabletFire §11: lowest depthgleaningsGWB §458: ceasekitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically forbiddenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: forbidprayers-and-meditationsP&M §842: deep their contemplationtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §24: them that comprehendthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: deny
This form usually rendered as “honoured”, “excellence”, “hath” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: honoredgleaningsGWB §357: the glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: blessedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: and conferredtablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: honoured me with Thy footstepswill-and-testamentW&T §18: gloriousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: most sublimegleaningsGWB §641: His holy court
This form usually rendered as “lineage” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: good onesgleaningsGWB §579: kindly mannerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: profitprayers-and-meditationsP&M §546: graciousthe-hidden-wordsHW §2: kindlywill-and-testamentW&T §21: improveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the most excellent titlesgleaningsGWB §227: most comely
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: that peoplefire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §594: righteousnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: no oneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §818: of the worldtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §12: have created theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: of Thy virtues
This form usually rendered as “gathered”, “together”, “matched” (5 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: everygleaningsGWB §683: all-embracingkitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth upkitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: these versesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: have unitedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gatheredthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: every atomwill-and-testamentW&T §54: everyone
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: Most Great BranchgleaningsGWB §66: the immortal Branchkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the Aghṣánprayers-and-meditationsP&M §773: Thy Brancheswill-and-testamentW&T §16: Aghṣánepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: its branchesgleaningsGWB §235: have branched from My Treekitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the Most Mighty Branch
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: anotherkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: Once morewill-and-testamentW&T §54: another wayepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: the otherkitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: elseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: otherkitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: ofepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: hand
