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Will and Testament — §38

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 38 of 59.

Source (Persian)

ای یاران عزیز الآن من در خطری عظیمم و امید ساعتی از حیات مفقود و ناچار بتحریر این ورقه پرداختم حفظاً لأمر اللّه و صیانةً لدینه و حفظاً لکلمته و صوناً لتعالیمه این نفس مظلوم قسم بجمال قدم با نفسی ملال نداشته و ندارم و کدری در دل نگرفتم و کلمه‌ئی جز ذکر خیر نخواهم ولکن تکلیف شدید دارم و ناچار و مجبورم که حفظ و صون و وقایۀ امر اللّه نمایم لهذا در نهایت تحسّر و اسف وصیّت مینمایم که امر اللّه را محافظه نمائید و شریعت اللّه را صیانت کنید و از اختلاف نهایت استیحاش بفرمائید اساس عقائد اهل بها روحی لهم الفدآء حضرت ربّ اعلی مظهر وحدانیّت و فردانیّت الهیّه و مبشّر جمال قدم حضرت جمال ابهی روحی لأحبّائه الثّابتین فدا مظهر کلّیّۀ الهیّه و مطلع حقیقت مقدّسۀ ربّانیّه و مادون کلّ عباد له و کلّ بأمره یعملون مرجع کل کتاب اقدس و هر مسئلۀ غیر منصوصه راجع ببیت عدل عمومی ببیت عدل آنچه بالاتّفاق و یا باکثریّت آرا تحقّق یابد همان حقّ و مراد اللّه است من تجاوز عنه فهو ممّن احبّ الشّقاق و اظهر النّفاق و اعرض عن ربّ المیثاق ولی مراد بیت العدل عمومیست که از طرف جمیع بلاد انتخاب شود یعنی شرق و غرب احبّا که موجودند بقاعدۀ انتخاب مصطلحۀ در بلاد غرب نظیر انگلیس اعضائی انتخاب نمایند

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O dearly beloved friends! I am now in very great danger and the hope of even an hour’s life is lost to me. I am thus constrained to write these lines for the protection of the Cause of God, the preservation of His Law, the safeguarding of His Word and the safety of His Teachings. By the Ancient Beauty! This wronged one hath in no wise borne nor doth he bear a grudge against anyone; towards none doth he entertain any ill-feeling and uttereth no word save for the good of the world. My supreme obligation, however, of necessity prompteth me to guard and preserve the Cause of God. Thus, with the greatest regret, I counsel you saying: Guard ye the Cause of God, protect His Law and have the utmost fear of discord. This is the foundation of the belief of the people of Bahá (may my life be offered up for them): “His Holiness the Exalted One (the Báb) is the Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God and the Forerunner of the Ancient Beauty. His Holiness the Abhá Beauty (may my life be a sacrifice for His steadfast friends) is the Supreme Manifestation of God and the Dayspring of His Most Divine Essence. All others are servants unto Him and do His bidding.” Unto the Most Holy Book everyone must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant. By this House is meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be elected from all countries, that is, from those parts in the East and West where the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary elections in Western countries such as those of England.

Translation Notes

عزیز
ʿzíz ʿ-z-z

literal: mighty; glory; might

SE rendered یاران (yárán), عزیز (ʿzíz), الآن (an-n), خطری (khṭrí), عظیمم (ʿẓímm), امید (imíd) as “dearly beloved friends, now, very great danger, the hope”

عظیمم
ʿẓímm ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE rendered یاران (yárán), عزیز (ʿzíz), الآن (an-n), خطری (khṭrí), عظیمم (ʿẓímm), امید (imíd), ساعتی (sáʿtí), از (iz), حیات (ḥíát), مفقود (mfqúd) as “dearly beloved friends, now, very great danger, the hope, of even an hour’s, of, life, lost”

پرداختم
prdákhtm prdákhtn

literal: engage; engage in, indulge; engaged

SE rendered مفقود (mfqúd), ناچار (náchár), بتحریر (btḥrír), ورقه (wrqh), پرداختم (prdákhtm), حفظاً (ḥfẓáan), لأمر (lʾamr), اللّه (al-lh), صیانةً (ṣíánhan) as “lost, thus constrained, to write, lines, for the protection, of the Cause, of God, the preservation”

indulge 17% occupied 17% engaged 17% am 17% hide 17% engage 17%
صیانةً
ṣíánhan ṣ-y-n → “preservation”

literal: preservation

1 occurrence in corpus

نفس
nfs n-f-s

literal: self; soul; souls

SE rendered لکلمته (lklmth), صوناً (ṣúnáan), لتعالیمه (ltʿálímh), نفس (nfs), مظلوم (mẓlúm), قسم (qsm) as “of His Word, the safety, of His Teachings, By the Ancient Beauty”

own 19% self 19% soul 17% himself 16% evil 8% corrupt 5% one 5% souls 4% breath 4% man 3%
مظلوم
mẓlúm ẓ-l-m

literal: wronged

SE rendered صوناً (ṣúnáan), لتعالیمه (ltʿálímh), نفس (nfs), مظلوم (mẓlúm), قسم (qsm), بجمال (bjmál), قدم (qdm), نفسی (nfsí), ملال (mlál) as “the safety, of His Teachings, By the Ancient Beauty, a grudge”

wronged 89% whom 3% oppressed 2% victim 1% one 1% downtrodden 1% who 1% men 1% sore 1% sorely 1%
قدم
qdm q-d-m

literal: ancient; eternity; step

SE rendered لتعالیمه (ltʿálímh), نفس (nfs), مظلوم (mẓlúm), قسم (qsm), بجمال (bjmál), قدم (qdm), نفسی (nfsí), ملال (mlál), نداشته (ndáshth), ندارم (ndárm) as “of His Teachings, By the Ancient Beauty, a grudge, hath in no wise, doth he bear”

ancient 50% eternity 11% everlasting 9% who 7% step 6% eternal 5% feet 5% steps 2% entered 2% advance 2%
دل
dl dl

literal: heart

SE rendered ملال (mlál), نداشته (ndáshth), ندارم (ndárm), کدری (kdrí), دل (dl), نگرفتم (ngrftm), کلمه‌ئی (klmh‌ʾí), جز (jz), ذکر (dhkr), خیر (khír) as “a grudge, hath in no wise, doth he bear, ill-feeling, borne, no word, save, for the good”

heart 38% soul 19% affections 19% hearts 14% cling 5% joyously 5%
ذکر
dhkr dh-k-r

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

SE rendered کدری (kdrí), دل (dl), نگرفتم (ngrftm), کلمه‌ئی (klmh‌ʾí), جز (jz), ذکر (dhkr), خیر (khír), نخواهم (nkhúáhm), ولکن (wlkn), تکلیف (tklíf) as “ill-feeling, borne, no word, save, for the good, however, My supreme obligation”

نخواهم
nkhúáhm khúástn

literal: will; want; to want/will

SE rendered نگرفتم (ngrftm), کلمه‌ئی (klmh‌ʾí), جز (jz), ذکر (dhkr), خیر (khír), نخواهم (nkhúáhm), ولکن (wlkn), تکلیف (tklíf), شدید (shdíd), دارم (dárm) as “borne, no word, save, for the good, however, My supreme obligation, have”

will 53% shall 12% purpose 9% would 7% can 5% should 3% wouldst 3% could 3% refuse 2% endure 2%
شدید
shdíd shdn

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered جز (jz), ذکر (dhkr), خیر (khír), نخواهم (nkhúáhm), ولکن (wlkn), تکلیف (tklíf), شدید (shdíd), دارم (dárm), ناچار (náchár), مجبورم (mjbúrm), حفظ (ḥfẓ) as “save, for the good, however, My supreme obligation, have, of necessity prompteth, to guard”

severe 20% ye 20% grievous 20% stern 20% supreme 20%
وقایۀ
wqáyۀ w-q-y

literal: fear; piety; to fear

SE rendered مجبورم (mjbúrm), حفظ (ḥfẓ), صون (ṣún), وقایۀ (wqáyۀ), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), نمایم (nmáym), لهذا (lhdhá), نهایت (nháyt) as “of necessity prompteth, to guard, preserve, the Cause, of God, Thus, the greatest”

fear 57% let 7% righteousness 7% piety 5% lay 5% virtue 5% “fear 5% walk 4% god-fearing 2% most 2%
نمایم
nmáym nmúdn

literal: do; to do; show

SE rendered حفظ (ḥfẓ), صون (ṣún), وقایۀ (wqáyۀ), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), نمایم (nmáym), لهذا (lhdhá), نهایت (nháyt), تحسّر (tḥssr) as “to guard, preserve, the Cause, of God, Thus, the greatest, regret”

will 40% shall 20% beseech 10% reveal 10% relate 10% can 10%
اسف
isf ʾ-s-f

literal: regret; sorrow

SE rendered لهذا (lhdhá), نهایت (nháyt), تحسّر (tḥssr), اسف (isf), وصیّت (wṣíṣt), مینمایم (mínmáym), امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh) as “Thus, the greatest, regret, I counsel you saying, Guard ye the Cause, of God”

2 occurrences in corpus

شریعت
shríʿt sh-r-ʿ

literal: law; law, religious law

SE rendered امر (imr), اللّه (al-lh), محافظه (mḥáfẓh), نمائید (nmáʾíd), شریعت (shríʿt), اللّه (al-lh), صیانت (ṣíánt), کنید (kníd), از (iz) as “Guard ye the Cause, of God, protect His Law, of”

کنید
kníd krdn

literal: do; to do; do/make

SE rendered شریعت (shríʿt), اللّه (al-lh), صیانت (ṣíánt), کنید (kníd), از (iz), اختلاف (ikhtláf), نهایت (nháyt), استیحاش (istíḥásh) as “of, discord, the utmost, fear”

do 18% ye 18% taste 9% impart 9% know 9% thou 9% would 9% yourselves 9% cast 9%
بفرمائید
bfrmáʾíd frmúdn

literal: say; command; says

SE rendered از (iz), اختلاف (ikhtláf), نهایت (nháyt), استیحاش (istíḥásh), بفرمائید (bfrmáʾíd), اساس (isás), عقائد (ʿqáʾd), اهل (ihl), روحی (rúḥí) as “of, discord, the utmost, fear, the foundation, of the belief, of the people, (may my life”

heart 33% towards 33% have 33%
عقائد
ʿqáʾd ʿ-q-d → “of the belief” Distinctive

literal: belief; beliefs; beliefs/doctrines

This form usually rendered as “beliefs”, “every”, “such” (5 occurrences)

SE expanded to “of the belief”

beliefs 40% every 20% such 20% belief 20%
ابهی

literal: glory; most glorious; most-glorious

SE rendered مبشّر (mbshshr), جمال (jmál), قدم (qdm), حضرت (ḥḍrt), جمال (jmál), ابهی (ibhí), روحی (rúḥí), لأحبّائه (lʾaḥbbáʾh), الثّابتین (ath-thábtín), فدا (fdá) as “the Forerunner, the Abhá Beauty, His Holiness, (may my life, for His steadfast friends), be a sacrifice”

الثّابتین
ath-thábtín th-b-t

literal: established; establish; affirmation

SE rendered حضرت (ḥḍrt), جمال (jmál), ابهی (ibhí), روحی (rúḥí), لأحبّائه (lʾaḥbbáʾh), الثّابتین (ath-thábtín), فدا (fdá), مظهر (mẓhr), کلّیّۀ (kllílۀ), الهیّه (al-híhh), مطلع (mṭlʿ) as “His Holiness, the Abhá Beauty, (may my life, for His steadfast friends), be a sacrifice, the Supreme Manifestation, all, of God, the Dayspring”

steadfast 67% cleave 33%
مقدّسۀ
mqddsۀ q-d-s

literal: holiness; holy; sanctified

SE rendered کلّیّۀ (kllílۀ), الهیّه (al-híhh), مطلع (mṭlʿ), حقیقت (ḥqíqt), مقدّسۀ (mqddsۀ), ربّانیّه (rbbánính), مادون (mádún), عباد (ʿbád) as “all, of God, the Dayspring, of His Most Divine, Essence, All others, are servants”

hallowed 50% most 50%
یعملون
yʿmlún ʿ-m-l

literal: deed; deeds; work

SE rendered مادون (mádún), عباد (ʿbád), بأمره (bʾamrh), یعملون (yʿmlún), مرجع (mrjʿ), کتاب (ktáb) as “All others, are servants, Unto the Most Holy, Book”

doings 25% themselves 25% deal 25% do 25%
هر
hr h-r

literal: every; each; every/each

SE rendered مرجع (mrjʿ), کتاب (ktáb), اقدس (iqds), هر (hr), مسئلۀ (msʾlۀ), غیر (ghír), منصوصه (mnṣúṣh), راجع (rájʿ), ببیت (bbít), عدل (ʿdl) as “Unto the Most Holy, Book, is not, expressly recorded therein, must be referred, to the Universal House, of Justice”

مسئلۀ
msʾlۀ s-ʾ-l

literal: ask; question; problems

SE rendered مرجع (mrjʿ), کتاب (ktáb), اقدس (iqds), هر (hr), مسئلۀ (msʾlۀ), غیر (ghír), منصوصه (mnṣúṣh), راجع (rájʿ), ببیت (bbít), عدل (ʿdl) as “Unto the Most Holy, Book, is not, expressly recorded therein, must be referred, to the Universal House, of Justice”

beseech 31% pray 18% ask 13% implore 10% entreat 8% questioned 5% asked 5% question 5% beseecheth 3% turn 3%
غیر
ghír gh-y-r → “is not”

literal: other; other than

SE rendered مرجع (mrjʿ), کتاب (ktáb), اقدس (iqds), هر (hr), مسئلۀ (msʾlۀ), غیر (ghír), منصوصه (mnṣúṣh), راجع (rájʿ), ببیت (bbít), عدل (ʿdl), عمومی (ʿmúmí) as “Unto the Most Holy, Book, is not, expressly recorded therein, must be referred, to the Universal House, of Justice, Universal”

others 19% other 19% without 10% all 10% except 10% unseemly 9% another 7% different 5% any 5% infinite 5%
باکثریّت
bákthrírt k-th-r

literal: most; abundance; many

SE rendered ببیت (bbít), عدل (ʿdl), آنچه (ánchh), بالاتّفاق (báláttfáq), باکثریّت (bákthrírt), آرا (árá), تحقّق (tḥqqq), یابد (yábd), همان (hmán), حقّ (ḥqq) as “That which this body, he, unanimously, is verily the Truth, doth carry, them”

آرا
árá r-ʾ-y

literal: see; to see; mirror

SE rendered آنچه (ánchh), بالاتّفاق (báláttfáq), باکثریّت (bákthrírt), آرا (árá), تحقّق (tḥqqq), یابد (yábd), همان (hmán), حقّ (ḥqq), مراد (mrád) as “he, unanimously, is verily the Truth, doth carry, them, the Purpose”

thou 32% beholdest 11% have 11% perceived 8% seest 8% see 8% behold 5% ye 5% “we 5% mirror 5%
ولی
wlí w-l-y

literal: friend; guardian; lord

SE rendered النّفاق (an-nfáq), اعرض (iʿrḍ), ربّ (rbb), المیثاق (al-mítháq), ولی (wlí), مراد (mrád), بیت (bít), العدل (al-ʿdl), عمومیست (ʿmúmíst), از (iz) as “malice, turned away, the Lord, of the Covenant, meant that, this House, of Justice, from”

مصطلحۀ
mṣṭlḥۀ ṣ-l-ḥ

literal: reform; peace; reformer

SE rendered موجودند (mújúdnd), بقاعدۀ (bqáʿdۀ), انتخاب (intkháb), مصطلحۀ (mṣṭlḥۀ), بلاد (blád), غرب (ghrb), نظیر (nẓír), انگلیس (inglís), اعضائی (iʿḍáʾí) as “are to be found, after the manner, the customary elections, Western countries, such as, those of England”

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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729 ¶

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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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 ¶