Will and Testament — §39

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 39 of 59.

Source (Persian)

و آن اعضا در محلّی اجتماع کنند و در آنچه اختلاف واقع یا مسائل مبهمه و یا مسائل غیر منصوصه مذاکره نمایند و هر چه تقرّر یابد همان مانند نصّ است و چون بیت عدل واضع قوانین غیر منصوصه از معاملاتست ناسخ آن مسائل نیز تواند بود یعنی بیت عدل الیوم در مسئله‌ئی قانونی نهد و معمول گردد ولی بعد از صد سال حال عمومی تغییر کلّی حاصل نماید اختلاف ازمان حصول یابد بیت عدل ثانی تواند آن مسئلۀ قانونیّه را تبدیل بحسب اقتضای زمان نماید زیرا نصّ صریح الهی نیست واضع بیت عدل ناسخ نیز بیت عدل

Shoghi Effendi Translation

It is incumbent upon these members (of the Universal House of Justice) to gather in a certain place and deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book. Whatsoever they decide hath the same effect as the Text itself. And inasmuch as this House of Justice hath power to enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law formeth no part of the Divine Explicit Text. The House of Justice is both the initiator and the abrogator of its own laws.

Translation Notes

اعضا

iʿḍá ʿ-ḍ-w → “members”

literal: member; members; limb

members 80% limb 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: the rest gleaningsGWB §527: rest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: my limbs will-and-testamentW&T §38: those of England epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: limb of My body prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: body will-and-testamentW&T §25: any epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: member

محلّی

mḥllí ḥ-l-l → “certain place”

literal: place

certain 40% abode 20% points 20% home 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: “Lawful is it gleaningsGWB §573: allowed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: object prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: a place the-hidden-wordsHW §78: Whither will-and-testamentW&T §39: a certain place epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: in one quarter gleaningsGWB §158: decree as lawful

اجتماع

ijtmáʿ j-m-ʿ → “gather”

literal: all; all, entire; group

gathering 25% combination 25% gather 25% together 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: every gleaningsGWB §683: all-embracing kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: these verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §267: to be leagued—as the-hidden-wordsHW §57: accord with will-and-testamentW&T §17: congregation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: gather together

کنند

knnd krdn → “hath” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do/make

This form usually rendered as “would”, “appreciate”, “witnessed” (39 occurrences)

would 20% appreciate 10% witnessed 10% vainly 10% toward 10% should 10% uttered 10% give 10% indulge 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: be not gleaningsGWB §361: Doth not kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: renounce him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: exaltest the-hidden-wordsHW §93: Would ye but sanctify will-and-testamentW&T §5: sowed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: stocks

مسائل

msáʾl s-ʾ-l → “questions” Distinctive

literal: question

This form usually rendered as “truths”, “intricacies”, “problems” (7 occurrences)

truths 17% intricacies 17% problems 17% wisdom 17% questions 17% questionings 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I implore gleaningsGWB §629: I entreat Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: ponder prayers-and-meditationsP&M §657: hath sought epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: I implore Thee gleaningsGWB §518: Ye will most certainly be called upon to answer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §100: seeker prayers-and-meditationsP&M §835: we beseech Thee

مبهمه

mbhmh b-h-m → “obscure”

literal: obscure

1 occurrence in corpus

will-and-testamentW&T §39: obscure

منصوصه

mnṣúṣh n-ṣ-ṣ → “expressly recorded”

literal: text; text, explicit statement; texted

expressly 60% explicitly 20% holy 20%

gleaningsGWB §525: counsel kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: explicitly stated will-and-testamentW&T §53: texts gleaningsGWB §364: explicit text kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the text will-and-testamentW&T §11: in accordance with kitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: the explicit text will-and-testamentW&T §8: According to the direct and sacred command

مذاکره

mdhákrh dh-k-r → “remembrance” Distinctive

literal: remembrance

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

remembrance 24% praise 17% mention 15% mentioned 11% remember 7% make 7% recorded 6% recount 5% remembering 5% describe 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: We exhort gleaningsGWB §654: through remembrance of Thee kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: mentioning kitab-i-iqanKIQ §256: to whom we have referred prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: to praise Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mention the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

نمایند

nmáynd nmúdn → “will”

literal: do; to do; show

may 23% would 18% will 18% must 11% should 11% have 7% might 5% show 2% cleanse 2% thou 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: Concern yourselves gleaningsGWB §263: Wert thou to scan kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: We exhort kitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: must needs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: is not the-hidden-wordsHW §120: may not appear will-and-testamentW&T §54: they may epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §116: prevailed

هر

hr h-r → “every”

literal: every; each; every/each

every 56% anything 6% whatsoever 6% each 6% whosoever 6% although 6% both 6% whenever 6% one 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: anything gleaningsGWB §512: whatsoever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: Whenever epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: every kitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: Each kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: Although kitab-i-iqanKIQ §262: Both kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: whosoever

تقرّر

tqrrr q-r-r → “decide”

literal: abode; place; established

seat 20% established 14% acknowledged 11% habitation 10% hath 10% have 9% place 6% confess 6% ordained 6% spot 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: ordained gleaningsGWB §279: lasting kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: singled out kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: remain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: to recognize tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: hath been made the seat of the-hidden-wordsHW §44: be solaced will-and-testamentW&T §17: decide

یابد

yábd yáftn

literal: find; found; to find

SE rendered مذاکره (mdhákrh), نمایند (nmáynd), هر (hr), چه (chh), تقرّر (tqrrr), یابد (yábd), همان (hmán), مانند (mánnd), نصّ (nṣṣ), چون (chún), بیت (bít) as “deliberate, will, Whatsoever, decide, the same, as, Text, inasmuch as, House”

perceive 18% tasted 9% taste 9% undermine 9% secure 9% understand 9% carried 9% may 9% doth 9% decide 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: mayest inhale gleaningsGWB §334: hath deprived himself therefrom kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: inhaled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §252: was brought to a close prayers-and-meditationsP&M §666: they may find Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: turning away from will-and-testamentW&T §39: decide epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: they may find

بیت

bít b-y-t → “house”

literal: house; house/home; houses

house 75% home 6% habitation 6% hath 3% own 3% chamber 3% one 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: his house gleaningsGWB §545: such houses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §19: Fane will-and-testamentW&T §25: Houses epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: the home gleaningsGWB §611: the Frequented prayers-and-meditationsP&M §654: for the mansions will-and-testamentW&T §25: one

واضع

wáḍʿ w-ḍ-ʿ → “low” Distinctive

literal: lowly

This form usually rendered as “lay”, “hath”, “initiator” (4 occurrences)

lay 50% hath 25% initiator 25%

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 §247: ready to fall before the-hidden-wordsHW §41: humbleness will-and-testamentW&T §39: initiator epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: low gleaningsGWB §75: hath been appointed

قوانین

qúánín q-n-n → “laws”

literal: law; laws, rules

laws 75% ordinances 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §18: laws gleaningsGWB §694: the highest peaks will-and-testamentW&T §39: law will-and-testamentW&T §25: ordinances

معاملاتست

mʿámlátst ʿ-m-l → “transactions” Distinctive

literal: deed; deeds; work

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

deeds 30% works 16% act 10% doings 8% all 7% acts 7% work 6% have 6% do 6% deed 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: have acted gleaningsGWB §556: words kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: such a deed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §692: my action tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conforming the-hidden-wordsHW §39: Walk will-and-testamentW&T §39: enforceth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: all thine acts

ناسخ

náskh n-s-kh → “annulled” Distinctive

literal: abrogated; abrogation; abrogator

This form usually rendered as “abolish”, “hath”, “abrogator” (3 occurrences)

abolish 33% hath 33% abrogator 33%

gleaningsGWB §37: annulled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: the abrogation will-and-testamentW&T §39: hath power to repeal kitab-i-iqanKIQ §39: abolished will-and-testamentW&T §39: abrogator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: annulment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §236: abolish

نیز

níz n-w-z → “nineteen”

literal: nineteen

nineteen 33% made 33% tender 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: nineteen gleaningsGWB §549: made independent of will-and-testamentW&T §4: tender care

تواند

túánd túánstn → “can”

literal: can

can 50% power 25% will 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: could then claim gleaningsGWB §145: almighty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: could will-and-testamentW&T §39: power epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: you can gleaningsGWB §669: can never kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: can will-and-testamentW&T §9: I cannot

الیوم

al-yúm y-w-m → “today”

literal: day; days; today

day 88% today 3% one 2% every 2% now 2% days 1% each 1% yesterday 1% following 0% great 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: day and gleaningsGWB §627: in Thy Day kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: its prayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: Thy Day tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Day the-hidden-wordsHW §115: a passing day will-and-testamentW&T §47: daytime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: for the Great Day

مسئله‌ئی

msʾlh‌ʾí m-s-l → “theological” Distinctive

literal: question; issues

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

theological 14% subtleties 14% questions 14% matters 14% same 14% certain 14% law 14%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §90: theological will-and-testamentW&T §39: matters kitab-i-iqanKIQ §90: subtleties will-and-testamentW&T §39: questions will-and-testamentW&T §39: a certain will-and-testamentW&T §39: law will-and-testamentW&T §39: the same

نهد

nhd nhádn → “forbidden” Distinctive

literal: forbidding; forbid

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

forbidden 30% things 10% hath 10% appeared 10% eschew 10% forbid 10% betook 10% enacteth 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §45: the things forbidden him gleaningsGWB §142: no kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: appeared will-and-testamentW&T §24: be a epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: forbidden gleaningsGWB §672: hath crowned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: forbid will-and-testamentW&T §39: enacteth

ولی

wlí w-l-y → “and”

literal: friend; guardian; lord

SE rendered مسئله‌ئی (msʾlh‌ʾí), قانونی (qánúní), نهد (nhd), معمول (mʿmúl), گردد (grdd), ولی (wlí), از (iz), صد (ṣd), سال (sál), حال (ḥál), عمومی (ʿmúmí), تغییر (tghíyr) as “law, laws, enacteth, enforceth, and, of, hundred, years, circumstances, all, changed”

guardian 68% viceregent 11% friend 11% masters 5% lord 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §87: at the hands of gleaningsGWB §137: their chosen ones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: every discerning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: and my Ruler the-hidden-wordsHW §157: men will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Saints epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: His loved ones gleaningsGWB §471: and before His loved ones

صد

ṣd ṣ-d → “myriad”

literal: hundred

myriad 50% hundred 25% thousand 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: hundred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §62: a myriad will-and-testamentW&T §43: A thousand

سال

sál s-n-h → “years”

literal: year; years

years 82% two 9% seventy-year 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: yearly gleaningsGWB §44: for generations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: centuries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: the present year the-hidden-wordsHW §97: for long years will-and-testamentW&T §5: the breast epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §256: two years gleaningsGWB §176: In the year

حال

ḥál ḥ-w-l → “circumstances” Distinctive

literal: now; state

This form usually rendered as “now”, “present”, “therefore” (178 occurrences)

now 63% present 6% therefore 5% consider 4% today 4% reflect 4% yet 4% state 3% behold 3% condition 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §67: surround gleaningsGWB §391: conferred by the Creator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: how prayers-and-meditationsP&M §638: with me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: shall not waver tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §26: plight will-and-testamentW&T §30: untouched

عمومی

ʿmúmí ʿ-m-m → “all” Distinctive

literal: general, universal

This form usually rendered as “universal”, “supreme”, “common” (7 occurrences)

universal 67% supreme 17% common 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: all gleaningsGWB §719: with the ornament of the learned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: high prayers-and-meditationsP&M §648: Thine all-pervasive will-and-testamentW&T §17: Universal epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of the ocean kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: “Universal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: hath encompassed all things

کلّی

kllí k-l-l → “all”

literal: all; all, every

utterly 22% wholly 17% all-embracing 11% universal 11% entirely 11% supreme 6% all-encompassing 6% abiding 6% great 6% all 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: them all gleaningsGWB §13: unto all kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: all people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: of every the-hidden-wordsHW §49: For will-and-testamentW&T §58: he epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: the whole gleaningsGWB §4: and every

حاصل

ḥáṣl ḥ-ṣ-l

literal: obtained; result; acquisition

SE rendered صد (ṣd), سال (sál), حال (ḥál), عمومی (ʿmúmí), تغییر (tghíyr), کلّی (kllí), حاصل (ḥáṣl), نماید (nmáyd), اختلاف (ikhtláf) as “hundred, years, circumstances, all, changed, profoundly, hath, altered”

attained 40% arise 20% having 10% achieved 10% impossible 10% attain 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: acquisition gleaningsGWB §356: found and recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §76: result the-hidden-wordsHW §159: earn a livelihood will-and-testamentW&T §18: arise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: attained gleaningsGWB §596: achieved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: the pursuit

زمان

zmán z-m-n → “time”

literal: time; time, era; time, age

days 20% time 20% day 20% age 12% whenever 8% countless 4% life 4% cycle 4% when 4% faith 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: earth gleaningsGWB §35: days gone by kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: his age prayers-and-meditationsP&M §852: things tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §45: a time the-hidden-wordsHW §153: now will-and-testamentW&T §18: own lifetime gleaningsGWB §149: ages

ثانی

thání th-n-y → “praise” Distinctive

literal: praise; second; praise, commendation

This form usually rendered as “second”, “secondarily”, “secondly” (16 occurrences)

second 53% secondarily 7% secondly 7% created 7% next 7% “secondary 7% latter 7% another 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: praise Thee gleaningsGWB §654: Thy praises kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §434: declare Thy virtues will-and-testamentW&T §39: another epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: celebrated her praise gleaningsGWB §321: created kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: Thereupon

مسئلۀ

msʾlۀ s-ʾ-l → “beseech” Distinctive

literal: ask; question; problems

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

beseech 31% pray 18% ask 13% implore 10% entreat 8% questioned 5% asked 5% question 5% beseecheth 3% turn 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: I turn suppliantly unto gleaningsGWB §397: let him ask kitab-i-iqanKIQ §286: matters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §192: entreat will-and-testamentW&T §38: all that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: “The year-old gleaningsGWB §244: Ye shall be asked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: for generations

تبدیل

tbdíl b-d-l → “alter” Distinctive

literal: change; transformation; exchange

This form usually rendered as “transformation”, “bartered”, “converted” (34 occurrences)

transformation 20% bartered 15% converted 10% barter 10% turned 10% unchanged 10% changed 10% tampered 5% repeal 5% become 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: to change it gleaningsGWB §264: repeal kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: Surrendering prayers-and-meditationsP&M §555: Thou turnest tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: forgot will-and-testamentW&T §34: fraudulently alter epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: make some change in it gleaningsGWB §125: was turned into

اقتضای

iqtḍáy q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

This form usually rendered as “according”, “requirements”, “would” (6 occurrences)

according 33% requirements 33% would 17% exigencies 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: and slew fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §162: of Thy inscrutable decree kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: destiny prayers-and-meditationsP&M §639: Having accomplished the-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordained will-and-testamentW&T §14: requirement

صریح

ṣríḥ ṣ-r-ḥ

literal: explicit; clear, explicit

SE rendered اقتضای (iqtḍáy), زمان (zmán), نماید (nmáyd), زیرا (zírá), نصّ (nṣṣ), صریح (ṣríḥ), الهی (al-hí), نیست (níst), واضع (wáḍʿ), بیت (bít), عدل (ʿdl), ناسخ (náskh) as “exigencies, time, hath, because, Explicit, Divine, no, initiator, House, Justice, abrogator”