Key to Passages Translated by Shoghi Effendi

Key to Passages Translated by Shoghi Effendi

Passages Translated by Shoghi Effendi

A considerable number of passages from the Writings of the Báb were translated by Shoghi Effendi and quoted in his various works. Those included in this compilation are listed below.

“The substance wherewith God …” to “… nor the faithful discover.”
“I am one of the sustaining pillars…” to “… all that is good and seemly;”
“By My life! But for…” to “…the keys of hell on My left…”
“I am the Primal Point…” to “…Whose radiance can never fade.”
“In that same year…” to “…the station of thy sovereignty.”
“I swear by God!…” to “…hold thy breath from fear of God;”
“Alas! Alas! for the things which have touched Me!”
“I swear by the Most Great Lord!…” to “…all the chosen ones.…”
“Woe betide him…” to “… hands floweth good.”
“I swear by God! I seek…” to “…as much as a mustard seed.”
“In this mountain…” to “…what I have endured!”
“I swear by the truth of God!…” to “…carried into effect.”
“O concourse of kings and of…” to “…as a decree of God.”
“O King of Islám!…” to “…Paradise of His good-pleasure.”
“By God! If ye do well…” to “…all earthly dominion.”
“Vain indeed is your dominion…” to “…as have denied Him;”
“O concourse of kings! Deliver…” to “…the East and the West.”
“O concourse of divines! Fear God…” to “…the position ye occupied.”
“As to those who deny Him…” to “…the Mighty, the Wise.”
“Ere long will God wreak…” to “…a severe torment.”
“And when the appointed hour…” to “…that envelops Thy Revelation.”
“O concourse of Shí‘ihs!…” to “…decreed in the Mother Book.”
“Issue forth from your cities, O peoples of the West and aid God.…”
“Become as true brethren…” and “…one and indivisible religion.…”
“By My glory! I will make…” to “…heart of My throne;”
“Out of utter nothingness…” to “…no will but Thy Will.”
“O Thou Remnant of God!…” to “…the Protector, the Ancient of Days.”
“O people of the Qur’án!…” to “…a speck on a date-stone.”
“Fear ye God, O concourse of kings, …” to “… the whole of Paradise.”
“Should it be Our wish…” to “…the truth of Our Cause.”
“With each and every Prophet…” to “…that circle His mercy-seat.”
“Erelong We will,…” to “…dire and exemplary punishment.”
“O peoples of the earth!…” to “…potent over all things.”
“O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn! I recognize…” to “…have ever known Thee.”
“I am the Mystic Fane…” to “…the midst of the Burning Bush.”
“How veiled are ye, O My creatures,…” to “…refuse Him even a lamp!”
“The Bayán is from beginning…” to “…both His fire and His light.”
“a thousand perusals of the Bayán…” to “…God shall make manifest.”
“It is clear and evident…” to “…had no beginning and will have no end.”
“today the Bayán is…” to “…perfection will become apparent.”
“Gracious God!”
“seven powerful sovereigns…” to “…traces of their names.”
“The blame falleth upon their doctors…” to “…and attain unto salvation!”
“Consecrate Thou, O my God,…” to “…nor shall it return unto Me.”
“He—glorified be His mention…” to “…is nigh, ready to answer.”
“O congregation of the Bayán…” to “…is the Help in Peril, the Most High.”
“Is there any Remover of difficulties…” to “…abide by His bidding!”

Translations from the Writings of the Báb made by Shoghi Effendi, but not included in this compilation, may be found:

In God Passes By, Chapter II, Paragraphs beginning

“It should be noted, in this connection…”

“‘The Bayán,’ the Báb in that Book, referring to the Promised One…”

“And finally is this, His moving invocation to God…”

In The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

“The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh”, paragraphs beginning “In a communication addressed to the American believers…“ and “In the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá—…”.

“The Báb”, paragraph beginning “Dearly-beloved friends! So resounding a praise…”

“The Administrative Order,” paragraph beginning “The Báb himself…”.

In Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, paragraphs beginning

“O Shaykh! Thou hast heard the sweet melodies…”

“O Shaykh! I swear by God!…”

“In like manner behold what the Primal Point saith…” to “…Our Pen is ashamed to recount.”

“Apprehend now the cry of Him who is the Point…”

“In another connection He likewise saith: ‘Were He to appear at this very moment…’” to “In like manner, Siyyid Ibráhím…”

• 1. Tablets and Addresses

  • A Tablet Addressed to “Him Who Will Be Made Manifest”

    • 1

      This is the first letter of Thamarih which means “fruit.” Shoghi Effendi, in his writings, refers to the Báb as the Thamarih (fruit) of the Tree of God’s successive Revelations. (See Shoghi Effendi’s letter to the Bahá’ís of the East dated Naw-Rúz 110, page 5.)

  • A Second Tablet Addressed to “Him Who Will Be Made Manifest”

    • 1

      In one of His Tablets ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá explains that some were misled by this statement and thought that the school referred to was a physical school for the training of unlettered children, whereas it referred to a spiritual school sanctified from the limits of the contingent world. Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas also refers to this Epistle of the Báb in the following words:

      O Thou Supreme Pen! Move over the Tablet by the leave of Thy Lord, the Creator of the heavens. Call Thou then to mind the day when the Fountainhead of divine unity sought to attend the school which is sanctified of all save God, that perchance the righteous might become acquainted, to the extent of a needle’s eye, with that which is concealed behind the veil of the inner mysteries of Thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

      Say, We, in truth, entered the school of inner meaning and exposition at a time when the minds of all that dwell on earth were wrapt in heedlessness. We beheld what the Merciful Lord had revealed, accepted the gift He [the Báb] had offered Me of the verses of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, and hearkened to that to which He had attested in the Tablet. We, verily, are the Witness. We responded to His call at Our Own behest, and We are, in truth, the Ordainer.

      O people of the Bayán! We entered the School of God when ye were slumbering on your couches, and perused the Tablet when ye were fast asleep. By the righteousness of God, the True One, We had read it before it was revealed, and ye were utterly unaware. Indeed Our knowledge had encompassed the Book when ye were yet unborn.

      These utterances are revealed according to your measure, not to God’s, and unto this beareth witness that which is enshrined in the knowledge of God, did ye but know. Unto this testifieth He Who is the Mouthpiece of God, could ye but understand. By the righteousness of God! Were We to lift the veil ye would swoon away. Take heed lest ye dispute with Him and His Cause. He hath indeed appeared in such wise as to encompass all things, whether of the past or of the future. Were We to speak forth at this time in the language of the dwellers of the Kingdom, We would say that God raised up this School ere the earth and the heavens were brought into being, and We entered it before the letters “B” and “E” were joined and knit together.

  • Extracts from an Epistle to Muḥammad Sháh

    • 1

      1260 A.H. (1844 A.D.).

    • 2

      Qur’án 8:44.

  • Extracts from Another Epistle to Muḥammad Sháh

    • 1

      The numerical value of the letters of the word Ḥín is 68. The year 1268 A.H. (1851–1852 A.D.) is the year preceding the birth of the Bahá’í Revelation.

  • Extracts from a Further Epistle to Muḥammad Sháh

    • 1

      The Ka‘bih in Mecca.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 4:119.

  • Address to a Muslim Divine

    • 1

      Qur’án 13.

• 2. Excerpts from the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’

  • “All praise be to God Who hath, through the …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 3:182.

  • “Be thou content with the commandment of God, the …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 19:41.

  • “Verily We made the revelation of verses to be a testimony …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 17:90.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 2:285.

  • “As to those who deny Him Who is the Sublime Gate of …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 3:50.

  • “Unto every people We have sent down the Book in …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 14:4.

  • “Do men imagine that We are far distant from the people …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 68:42.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 7:63, 69.

  • “Glorified is He besides Whom there is none other God. …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 36:68.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 65:7; 94:5.

  • “O ye servants of God! Verily, be not grieved if a thing ye …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 8:45.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 2:204.

    • 3

      cf. Qur’án 4:51.

  • “O peoples of the East and the West! Be ye fearful of God …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 12:20.

  • “O Qurratu’l-‘Ayn! We have, verily, dilated Thine …”

    • 1

      In these passages of the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’ the name Qurratu’l-‘Ayn (Solace of the Eyes) refers to the Báb Himself.

  • “The angels and the spirits, arrayed rank upon rank, …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 78:38.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 11:83.

    • 3

      cf. Qur’án 24:21.

    • 4

      cf. Qur’án 83:25–26.

    • 5

      Qur’án 52:6.

  • “Are ye wickedly scheming, according to your selfish …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 29:40.

  • “Issue forth from your cities, O peoples of the West and …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 2:206.

  • “O ye peoples of the earth! Hearken unto My call, ringing …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 2:163–164.

  • “The Lord hath, in truth, inspired Me: Verily, verily, I am …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 17:88.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 74:35–37.

  • “O peoples of the earth! By the righteousness of God, this …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 21:40.

  • “Verily such as ridicule the wondrous, divine Verses …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 2:14.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 4:149.

    • 3

      cf. Qur’án 9:32.

    • 4

      cf. Qur’án 4:169.

    • 5

      Qur’án 5:77.

  • “O peoples of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 5:15–18.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 5:22.

    • 3

      cf. Qur’án 5:71.

  • “O people of the earth! To attain the ultimate retreat in …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 2:32; 38:74–78.

  • “God, besides Whom there is none other true God, saith: …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 7:69; 12:40.

  • “The people, during the absence of the Báb, re-enacted …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 7:146; 20:90.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 7:186.

    • 3

      cf. Qur’án 4:1.

    • 4

      cf. Qur’án 10:50.

  • “Doth it seem strange to the people that We should have …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 10:16.

  • “O peoples of the earth! Verily the true God calleth …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 10:33.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 18:42.

  • “O Thou cherished Fruit of the heart! Give ear to the …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 11:120.

  • “Should it be Our wish, it is in Our power to compel, …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 6:10.

    • 2

      cf. Qur’án 3:172.

  • “God had, in truth, proposed Our Mission unto the …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 33:72.

  • “This Book which We have sent down is indeed abounding …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 6:93.

  • “This Remembrance is indeed the glorious Remnant of …”

    • 1

      cf. Qur’án 11:87.

• 3. Excerpts from the Persian Bayán

  • “It is better to guide one soul than to possess all …”

    • 1

      The Bayán is divided into váḥids and chapters, to which these numbers refer.

  • “Likewise consider the manifestation of the Point of the …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 8:47; 33:41; 62:10.

  • “There is no doubt that the Almighty hath sent down …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 29:50.

  • “At the time of the manifestation of Him Whom God …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 57:21.

  • “How veiled are ye, O My creatures, … who, without …”

    • 1

      In The Promised Day Is Come in the paragraph beginning “How veiled are ye, O My creatures…” Shoghi Effendi affirms that this passage was revealed by the Báb speaking with the voice of God.

  • “Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since …”

    • 1

      This is a reference to Quddús, “whom the Persian Bayán extolled as that fellow-pilgrim round whom mirrors to the number of eight Váḥids revolve.” (God Passes By, Chapter IV, paragraph beginning “The pillars of His infant Faith had…”).

  • “Know thou that in the Bayán purification is regarded as …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 8:2.

  • “The Bayán shall constitute God’s unerring balance till the …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 19:92.

  • “The substance of this chapter is this, that what is intended …”

    • 1

      22 May 1844.

• 4. Excerpts from the Dalá’il-i-Sab‘ih (The Seven Proofs)

  • “Ponder likewise the Dispensation of the Apostle of God …”

    • 1

      From the Declaration of Muḥammad; this occurred ten years before the Hijrah which marks the starting point of the Muslim calendar.

    • 2

      Qur’án 3:5.

  • “The recognition of Him Who is the Bearer of divine …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 68:51.

• 5. Excerpts from the Kitáb-i-Asmá’ (The Book of Names)

  • “O ye that are invested with the Bayán! Denounce …”

    • 1

      By “night” is meant the period between two divine Revelations when the Sun of Truth is not manifest among men. In the Persian Bayán, II, 7, the Báb says, “O people of the Bayán! Act not as the people of the Qur’án have acted, for if you do so the fruits of your night will come to naught.”

    • 2

      The Kitáb-i-Asmá’ is divided into váḥids and chapters, to which these numbers refer.

  • “On the Day of Resurrection when He Whom God will …”

    • 1

      By “night” is meant the period between two divine Revelations when the Sun of Truth is not manifest among men. In the Persian Bayán, II, 7, the Báb says, “O people of the Bayán! Act not as the people of the Qur’án have acted, for if you do so the fruits of your night will come to naught.”

  • “Verily God hath caused the people of the Bayán to be …”

    • 1

      By “night” is meant the period between two divine Revelations when the Sun of Truth is not manifest among men. In the Persian Bayán, II, 7, the Báb says, “O people of the Bayán! Act not as the people of the Qur’án have acted, for if you do so the fruits of your night will come to naught.”

  • “Since thou hast faithfully obeyed the true religion of God …”

    • 1

      He Who ariseth (God Passes By, Chapter IV, paragraph beginning “The Báb, acclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh as the ‘Essence of Essences’…”.

    • 2

      One Who is guided (God Passes By, Chapter IV, paragraph beginning “The Báb, acclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh as the ‘Essence of Essences’…”).

• 7. Prayers and Meditations

  • “Hallowed be the Lord in Whose hand is the …”

    • 1

      The original of this prayer for protection is written in the Báb’s own hand, in the form of a pentacle.

  • “Immeasurably glorified and exalted art Thou. How …”

    • 1

      Refers to the Báb’s birthday on the first day of the month of Muḥarram, 1235 A.H. (October 20, 1819).

  • “How can I praise Thee, O Lord, for the evidences of Thy …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 37:180–82.

  • “All majesty and glory, O my God, and all dominion and …”

    • 1

      Qur’án 6:103.

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Last modified: 10 February 2026 10:00 a.m. (GMT)