Endnotes
NOTE ON THE TRANSLATION
Wherever possible, translations made by Shoghi Effendi
have been incorporated in the present volume.
These passages account for approximately one third of the text. The committees and individuals appointed to
prepare the translations faced the challenge of rendering the balance of the
Text in a manner at once faithful to the meaning of the original and consistent
with the exalted English style established by the Guardian for the translation
of Bahá'u'lláh's matchless utterance.
In the translation of the Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán the translators
benefited from consulting the earlier, pioneering translation of the English
orientalist E. G. Browne as it appeared in ‘Abdu'l-Bahá's A Traveller's
Narrative, first published by Cambridge University Press in 1891.
KEY TO PASSAGES TRANSLATED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI
ESW Bahá'u'lláh. Epistle
to the Son of the Wolf.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1988.
GPB Shoghi
Effendi. God Passes By.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1974.
GWB Bahá'u'lláh. Gleanings
from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1976.
KI Bahá'u'lláh. The
Kitáb-i-Íqán. Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1994.
HW Bahá'u'lláh. The Hidden Words.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1994. (PHW are from the Persian
Hidden Words.)
PDC Shoghi
Effendi. The Promised Day Is Come.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, rev. ed., 1996.
WOB Shoghi
Effendi. The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh:
Selected Letters.
Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1991.
PARAGRAPH PASSAGE SOURCE
Súriy-i-Haykal
6-7 "While engulfed
in tribulations … of them that perceive."
GPB 101-102
8 "The day is
approaching when God … the Self-Subsisting."
WOB 109-110
34 "Erelong shall God
draw forth … how vehement is His might"
WOB 110
42 "Beware lest ye
shed the blood … if ye do but understand."
ESW 25
44 "Naught is seen in
My temple … could be seen but God." WOB
109
47 "the fertilizing
winds … whether seen or unseen!" WOB 169, PDC ¶112
50 "The Holy Spirit
Itself … of them that comprehend" WOB
109
66 "Within the
treasury of Our Wisdom … the All-Wise."
WOB
109
75 "It is in Our power,
should We wish it, to enable … future ages."
WOB 107
88 "Great is the
blessedness … the Almighty, the
All-Wise." PDC ¶271
89 "O ye the
dawning-places … and unto others." PDC ¶208
89 "Ye are even as a
spring … it fruits, will be corrupted."
PDC ¶208
96 "Had the Primal
Point … with each other in My Days." WOB
138
Pope Pius IX (Lawḥ-i-Páp)
102 "O Pope!… the Almighty, the Unrestrained." PDC
¶71
102 "He, verily, hath again come … hath been illumined." PDC
¶71
203 "Dwellest thou in palaces … towards the Kingdom." PDC
¶71
105 "Arise in the name of thy Lord …peoples of all faiths." PDC
¶71
106 "Call thou to remembrance … away from His light." PDC
¶72
108 "Consider those who opposed … disputed with Him." PDC
¶72
108 "None save a very
few … eventide and at dawn." PDC
¶72
109 "Read ye the
Evangel … concourse of learned men!" PDC
¶256
111 "The fragrances
of the … fast hold of guidance." PDC
¶256
112 "The Word which
the Son … of the righteous!" PDC
¶73
113 "This is the day
… Kingdom is fulfilled!" PDC ¶73
114 "My body longeth
… from its transgressions." PDC
¶73
115 "The people of
the Qur'án … clouds wept over Us." PDC ¶247
116 "And if they cast
… the Gracious, the All-Powerful!" WOB 108
118 "O Supreme Pontiff …
the book of creation." PDC
¶74
120 "Should the
inebriation … Revealer of all power." PDC
¶74
126 "Verily, the day of ingathering
… the All-Compelling." PDC ¶74
127 "Say: O concourse of Christians … turn ye unto Him." PDC ¶261
127 "The Beloved One … heedless of
My Revelation" PDC
¶261
128 "O people of the Gospel! … everlasting
life." PDC
¶261
129 "We behold you … Direct
yourselves towards Him." PDC ¶261
129 "Verily, He said … quickeners of
mankind." PDC
¶261
Napoleon III (Lawḥ-i-Napulyún II)
131-5 "O King of Paris! …
near access to God to flow." ESW 46-49
136-9 "Say: O concourse
of monks ... wrapped in a thick veil!" ESW 49-52
140 "More grievous ...
kingdoms of earth and heaven." ESW
52
141 "Upon Our arrival
... token of God's grace." GPB 206
142-43 "As My tribulations multiplied ... poor
and the desolate." ESW 52-53
143 "Abandon thy
palaces ... them that turn unto Him." PDC
¶70
143 "Shouldst thou
desire … All-Knowing, the All-Wise." PDC ¶70
144 "Arise thou ...
Lord of strength and of might." ESW
53
145 "Adorn the body ...
peoples of the earth." ESW 53-54
146 "Doth it behove you
... shining and resplendent Seat." ESW 54
147 "Shed not the blood
... abode of the transgressors!" ESW 54
148 "God hath
prescribed ... influence his hearers." GWB CLVIII
149 "Deal not
treacherously … the Most Generous." ESW
54-55
150-51 "O people of Bahá …
created of a sorry germ." ESW
55
152 "Regard ye the
world … such as create dissension." ESW 55-56
154 "He Who is your Lord … among God's
blessed ones." GWB CVII
156 "Meditate on the
world … this sublime Vision." ESW
56
Czar Alexander II (Lawḥ-i-Malik-i-Rús)
158 "O Czar of Russia … barter away this sublime station." PDC ¶75
159-60 "Beware
lest thy sovereignty … sword of the oppressor." PDC ¶75-76
162-3 "Again
I say … the Mighty, the Glorified." PDC
¶77-78
164 "Some
lamented … Evangel were adorned." PDC
¶78
170 "Blessed
be the king … the All-Powerful, the Almighty." PDC ¶78
Queen Victoria (Lawh-i-Malikih)
171-3 "O Queen in London … the Ruler, the All-Wise." PDC
¶79-81
173 "And if any one of them … of the blissful." ESW 61-62
174-6 "O ye the elected … all
else naught but error." GWB
CXX
176-7 "Each time that
Most Mighty … what I say." ESW
63-64
178-82 "O ye rulers … naught but
manifest justice." GWB
CXIX
185 "Turn thou unto
God … heavens and of the earth." PDC
¶82
Násiri'd-Dín Sháh (Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán)
192-95 "O
King! I was but a man … derived from
the Name of God!" PDC ¶97-99
217 "A just king is the shadow … that hath surpassed the worlds." PDC ¶182
221 "Would
that the world-adorning wish ... for Me or against Me." PDC ¶110
225 "O ye
that are foolish ... the paths of perdition." PHW
#24
226 "O ye
seeming fair ... immeasurable is the difference!" PHW
#25
227 "O
essence of desire! ... unto the hosts of holiness." PHW
#28
228 "O
bondslave of the world! ... returned whence it came." PHW #30
230 "O
King of the age! ... a sufficient witness unto Me." PDC ¶100
231 "The
religious doctors ... and unto them shall it return." KI 247-48
231 "When
the Standard of Truth ... shall curse it." KI
238
232 "Those
doctors who have indeed drunk of the cup of renunciation" GPB 143
242 "Each
nation hath plotted darkly ... invalidate the truth." KI
5
242 "No
Messenger cometh unto them but they laugh Him to scorn." KI 5
244 "But
if their opposition be grievous ... a ladder into heaven" KI
109-10
249 "O
would that thou wouldst ... knowledge of the Book." PDC ¶101
249 "But
for the repudiation ... no God is there but He!" PDC ¶101
258 "By
Him Who is the Truth! ... lighteth earth and heaven." ESW
17
265 "I
have seen, O Sháh ... nor ear heard." PDC
¶102
265-6 "How
numerous the tribulations ... in the path of My Lord!" PDC ¶102
267 "According
to what they say ... metropolis of the owl" GPB 186
268 "By
God! Though weariness ... such as
commune with Him." PDC ¶102
273 "But
for the tribulations ... the Lord of the worlds." ESW 94
276 "Thus
have We built the Temple ... Be and it is." PDC
¶113
Súriy-i-Ra'ís
1 "Hearken, O chief
… the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting." WOB 178
2 "Thou hast, O Chief, committed that ... evident loss!" WOB
178
5 "The day is approaching … in sore distress." PDC ¶152
11 "the loved ones of God ... on the first night without
food." GPB 179
12 "The
people surrounded the house ... wept over Us" GPB
179
12 "We perceived that the weeping ... such as ponder." GPB 179-180
13 "unheard of in bygone centuries ... the power of His might" GPB
180
13 "King and Beloved of Martyrs" GPB
136-137
14 "Say: This Youth
hath departed ... the power of truth" GPB
181
18 "Had Muḥammad ... privileged to behold Thy face!" WOB
105-106
21 "Ere long will God ... the Almighty, the Beneficent" PDC ¶185
Lawḥ-i-Ra'ís
6 "From the foundation of
the world ... nor heard of." GPB
187
7 "Soon will He seize you ... none to help or succour you." PDC
¶153
9 "Several times calamities ... the Pen of My command." PDC ¶153
25-26 "There is a matter ... may be made known unto you." PDC
¶111
Lawḥ-i-Fu'ád
13 "Soon will We dismiss ... the All-Compelling." PDC ¶156
Súriy-i-Mulúk
2
"O kings of the earth! … the All-Powerful, the All-Wise." PDC
¶41
2-3 "Fear
God, O concourse … and be not of the heedless." PDC ¶41
4 "My
face hath come forth … could ye but know it." PDC ¶41
6 "Arise,
then, … may be revealed unto you." PDC
¶41
[*] Mírzá Yaḥyá.
[†] The Báb.
[‡] Peter.
[§] The Sulṭán of Turkey.
[**] ‘Akká.
[††] Mecca.
[‡‡] The Súriy-i-Mulúk.
[§§] The Sulṭán of Turkey.
[***] Muḥammad.
[†††] Ṭihrán.
[‡‡‡] Baghdád.
[§§§] Mecca.
[****] Adrianople.
[††††] Muḥammad Sháh.
[‡‡‡‡] Anís.
[§§§§] Adrianople.
[*****] Mírzá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Naráqí.
[†††††] ‘Álí Páshá.
[‡‡‡‡‡] Sulṭán ‘Abdu'l-‘Azíz.
[§§§§§] The Báb.
[******] Jesus.
[††††††] Sulṭán ‘Abdu'l-‘Azíz.
[‡‡‡‡‡‡] Adrianople.
[§§§§§§] The Báb.
[*******] Imám Ḥusayn.
[†††††††] The Muslims.
[‡‡‡‡‡‡‡] Náṣiri'd-Dín Sháh.
[§§§§§§§] Baghdád.
[1] cf. Qur'án 2:30-34; 38:71-75.
[2] Ustád
Muḥammad-‘Alíy-i-Salmání. See God Passes By, pp. 166-168, for an account of the events
referred to by Bahá'u'lláh in this and following paragraphs.
[3] The word Haykal (Temple)
is composed in Arabic of the four letters Há', Yá', Káf and
Lám (HYKL). Its first letter is
taken to symbolize the word Huvíyyah (Essence of Divinity); its second
letter the word Qadír (Almighty), of which Yá' is the third
letter; its third letter the word Karím (All-Bountiful); and its fourth
letter the word Faḍl (Grace), of which Lám is the third
letter.
[4] cf. Qur'án 21:30; 24:45; 25:54.
[5] That is, the letter "E". In all such instances in the Writings where the letters "B" and "E"
are mentioned, the Arabic letters are Káf and Nún, the two
consonants of the Arabic word Kun, which is the imperative meaning "Be".
[6] "The tree beyond which there is no
passing", a reference to the station of the Manifestation of God.
[7] These are examples of the
types of questions put to the Báb. According to the teachings of Shí‘ite Islám, leadership of the
Islamic community belonged of right, after the passing of the Prophet
Muḥammad, to a line of twelve successors, descendants of His daughter Fáṭimih, known as
"Imáms". This line being eventually severed through the
"occultation" of the last Imám, communication
with the latter was for a time maintained through a succession of four
intermediaries known as "Gates".
[8] One of a trio of Arabian
goddesses whose worship was abolished by the Prophet Muḥammad.
[9] A small rock situated
low in the eastern corner of the
Kaaba.
[10] cf. Matthew 5:29; Mark 9:47.
[11] This is Bahá'u'lláh's second Tablet
addressed to the French Emperor. An
earlier Tablet was revealed in Adrianople.
[12] The Crimean War
(1853-1856).
[13] Within the year Napoleon III was
defeated at the Battle of Sedan (1870) and sent into exile.
[14] cf. Qur'án 77:20; 32:8.
[15] The two Most Great Festivals are the
Festival of Riḍván, during which Bahá'u'lláh first proclaimed His
Mission, and the Declaration of the Báb.
The "twin days" refer to the Birthdays of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. cf. Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶110.
[16] cf. Qur'án 17:78.
[17] Mírzá Buzurg Khán,
the Persian Consul-General in Baghdád.
[18] The Mu'taminu'l-Mulk,
Mírzá Sa‘íd Khán-i-Anṣárí, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
[19] Bahá'u'lláh here
refers to His and His companions' application for Ottoman citizenship.
[20] Áqá Siyyid
Muḥammad-i-Ṭabáṭabá'íy-i-Isfáhání, known as "Mujáhid".
[21] The second
Russo-Persian War of 1825-28.
[22] Qur'án 2:94; 62:6.
[23] cf. Persian Hidden
Words, nos. 24, 25, 28 and 30.
[24] Qur'án 49:6.
[25] Qur'án 5:59.
[26] A Tradition ascribed to the eleventh
Imám, Abú Muḥammad al-Ḥasan al-‘Askarí.
[27] Traditions ascribed to the sixth Imám,
Abú ‘Abdu'lláh Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣádiq.
[28] Shaykh
Murtaḍáy-i-Anṣárí, a prominent mujtahid.
[29] Qur'án 2:179.
[30] Qur'án 6:164; 17:15;
35:18; 39:7; 53:38.
[31] cf. Qur'án 3:40;
14:27; 22:18.
[32] cf. Qur'án 5:1.
[33] cf. Qur'án 5:64.
[34] Qur'án 40:5.
[35] Qur'án 36:30.
[36] Qur'án 8:30.
[37] Qur'án 6:35.
[38] cf. Matthew 24:35;
Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33.
[39] John 14:28.
[40] cf. John 14:16; 14:26;
15:26; 16:7.
[41] See, for example,
Qur'án 4:46; 5:13; 5:41; and 2:75, and the discussion in the Kitáb-i-Íqán, p.
84 ff.
[42] ‘Alí Ibn Ḥusayn,
known as "Zaynu'l-‘Ábidín", the second of the Imám Ḥusayn's sons, who
became the fourth Imám.
[43] The Kharijites, a
faction opposed to both the Imáms and the Umayyad state.
[44] Allusions to the
‘Abbásid and Umayyad dynasties, respectively.
[45] Qur'án 57:16.
[46] cf. Luke 19:21.
[47] cf. Qur'án 55:26.
[48] cf. Qur'án 12:31.
[49] This Tablet was revealed in Arabic in
honour of Ḥájí Muḥammad Ismá‘íl-i-Káshání, entitled Dhabíḥ
(Sacrifice) and Anís (Companion) by Bahá'u'lláh, and addresses ‘Álí Páshá,
the Ottoman Prime Minister, referred to here as Ra'ís (Chief or Ruler).
[50] Sulṭán ‘Abdu'l-‘Azíz lost both
his throne and his life in 1876. During
the subsequent war with Russia (1877-1878), Adrianople was occupied by the
enemy and the Turks experienced a violent bloodbath.
[51] Literally, "the Mount of Figs" and "the
Mount of Olives", cf. Qur'án 95:1.
[52] Chosroes II, the Sasanian monarch who
reigned in Persia during the lifetime of Muḥammad.
[53] Ḥájí Ja‘far-i-Tabrízí; he was
prevented in time from ending his life.
[54] Siyyid Ismá‘íl of Zavárih.
[55] This second Tablet of Bahá'u'lláh
addressing ‘Álí Páshá was revealed in Persian shortly after
Bahá'u'lláh's arrival and confinement in ‘Akká.
[56] For an account of this incident see God
Passes By, p. 182.
[57] A probable reference to the fire of
Hocapaşa, which destroyed a large part of the city of Constantinople in
1865.
[58] The Lawḥ-i-Fu'ád was addressed to Shaykh
Káẓim-i-Samandar of Qazvín, one of the apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. Its
subject, the former Ottoman statesman Fu'ád Páshá, died in France in
1869. The letter names Káf and Ẓá refer to the K and Ẓ of
Káẓim.
[59] cf. Qur'án 38:3.
[60] cf. Qur'án 13:13.
[61] cf. Qur'án 40:32.
[62] cf. Qur'án 38:12, 89:10.
[63] "heart" translates fu'ád, the given name of the Ottoman minister.
[64] Mírzá Mihdíy-i-Rashtí, a judge
in Constantinople and supporter of Mírzá Yaḥyá.
[65] John 14:28.
[66] John 16:13.
[67] John 1:13.
[68] The French Ambassador in
Constantinople.
[69] The Persian Ambassador in
Constantinople.
[70] Qur'án 51:55.
[71] Qur'án 49:6.
[72] Qur'án 12:53.
[73] Qur'án 15:88.
[74] cf. Qur'án 77:20; 32:8.
[75] Qur'án 40:28.
[76] Qur'án 4:94.
[77] Qur'án 6:52.
[78] Qur'án 6:44.
[79] The Persian Consul-General in Baghdád.
[80] Qur'án 20:55.
[81] Al-Muqanna‘ of Khurásán (eighth
century A.D.).
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