This parallel text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas presents the Authorized Translation by Shoghi Effendi et al. (ca. 1950-1992) and the first English translation by Anton Haddad (ca. 1901). It complements the Kitáb-i-Aqdas Multilinear Translation Project, which presents a verse-by-verse table of the Authorized English translation, the Authorized Arabic (in .gif format), a provisional transliteration, and translations by Anton Haddad, Earl Elder, and Jonah Winters.
The Authorized English translation is quite distinct in content and style from the latter three, all of which are relatively similar literalistic translations. As the table format of the Multilinear Translation Project is a philological examination which does not allow for smooth reading, one of the provisional translations has been selected for this parallel reading. Since the Elder translation suffers from a limited understanding of the Bahá'í Faith and the Winters rendering is intentionally literalistic, the fairly reliable Haddad version was chosen.
It will be noted that the paragraph breaks in these two texts usually do not coincide. Like most Arabic writings, the original Aqdas was revealed without this segmentation--paragraph breaks were supplied by the translators. For paralleling purposes, it was necessary to include section breaks in this version. The sections were split according to the Authorized translation, with three verses per section. Where this splits the Haddad translation in the middle of a paragraph, the annotation "[no break]" is inserted. The Haddad translation also lacks the verse numbers inserted in the Authorized edition. Footnotes to the Haddad translation are in the body of the text in the original. Short parenthetical comments are left there; longer ones have been moved to the end of the table cell, and are indicated by smaller font. The Haddad translation may contain typographical errors or ommissions, introduced either through its long history of manuscript transmission or by being hand-entered for this online edition. This version still needs to be checked against other manuscripts. (Note to webdesigners: anchors have been entered for each verse in case you desire to link.)
It must be emphasized that both the Multilinear Translation and this parallel version are offered only as textual study tools. The complete Authorized Translation, with its extensive annotation, must be consulted as the central source for studying the teachings of the Aqdas.
THE KITÁB-I-AQDASTHE MOST HOLY BOOK
(Bahá'í World Centre, 1992) Translated by Shoghi Effendi et al. |
KITAB-EL-AKDAS
Translated by Anton Haddad |
| IN THE NAME OF HIM WHO IS THE SUPREME RULER OVER
ALL THAT
HATH BEEN AND ALL THAT IS TO BE
| IN HIS NAME, THE RULER OVER WHAT
WAS AND IS. Verily the first thing which God hath ordained unto the servants is the knowledge of the dawning place of His command, which was the station of Himself, in the world of command and creation (that is, the knowledge of Bahá, who is the manifestation of God in the world). Whosoever attaineth there unto hath attained unto all good; and he who is deprived thereof is indeed of the people of error - even though he bringeth all good actions. And when this most glorious station and this most lofty horizon hath been attained, it behooveth every one to follow that whereunto he is commanded on the part of the supreme object, because these two things are inseparable: one of them will not be accepted without the other. This is what the dayspring of inspiration hath decreed. Verily those who are given vision from God will regard. the ordinances of God as the greatest means to the order of the world and the preservation of the nations - and those who are careless, are of the vile and worthless. Verily we have commanded you to restrain the desires of passion and lust, and not violate that which was written by the supreme pen; for it is indeed the spirit of life to whomsoever is in the realm of creation - The seas of wisdom (inspired utterances) and beyan have moved, because the breath of the merciful hath breathed. Avail yourselves of this (opportunity) Oh people of intelligence! Verily those who have violated the covenant of God in His commandments, and turned backwards, (become backsliders) are of the people of error before God the independent, the exalted. O people of the earth! Know that My commandments are assuredly the lamps of My grace amongst My servants, and the keys of My mercy for the creatures. Thus hath the matter been revealed from the heaven of the primal will of your Lord, the ruler of all religions. Should any one come in contact with the delight of beyan - which has come from the mouth of the will of the merciful - he would expend all that possesseth even should it be all the treasures of the earth for the sake of establishing one command of His commandments, that shine from the horizon of grace and goodness. |
4Say: From My laws the sweet-smelling savour of My garment can be smelled, and by their aid the standards of Victory will be planted upon the highest peaks. The Tongue of My power hath, from the heaven of My omnipotent glory, addressed to My creation these words: "Observe My commandments, for the love of My beauty." Happy is the lover that hath inhaled the divine fragrance of his Best-Beloved from these words, laden with the perfume of a grace which no tongue can describe. By My life! He who hath drunk the choice wine of fairness from the hands of My bountiful favour will circle around My commandments that shine above the Dayspring of My creation.
|
[no break] Say! From My ordinances emanateth the scent of My garment, and by
them the standards of victory will be hoisted on the tops of mountains and hills. The tongue of My
might, in the realm of My greatness hath addressed My creatures saying: "Follow My ordinances
for the love of My perfection. Blessed is a lover who findeth the scent of the beloved from this
word wherefrom emanateth the fragrances of grace, in such wise that to describe them is beyond
the power of mind.
By My life, he who drinketh the pure wine of fairness from the hands of favors is indeed
revolving around My commandments that shine from the horizon of creation. |
7Everything that is hath come to be through His irresistible decree. Whenever My laws appear like the sun in the heaven of Mine utterance, they must be faithfully obeyed by all, though My decree be such as to cause the heaven of every religion to be cleft asunder. He doeth what He pleaseth. He chooseth, and none may question His choice. Whatsoever He, the Well-Beloved, ordaineth, the same is, verily, beloved. To this He Who is the Lord of all creation beareth Me witness. Whoso hath inhaled the sweet fragrance of the All-Merciful, and recognized the Source of this utterance, will welcome with his own eyes the shafts of the enemy, that he may establish the truth of the laws of God amongst men. Well is it with him that hath turned thereunto, and apprehended the meaning of His decisive decree.
|
[no break] Everything has been established by His decisive command, and when
the sun of the ordinances shineth from the horizon of El Beyan it then will be the duty of
everyone to follow him, should it be in such a manner that causes the heavens of the hearts of all
religions to be rent. Verily He doeth what He pleaseth, and will not be questioned of that which
He desireth, and whatever is decreed by the beloved, by the life of the ruler of creation! is
indeed beloved. Verily he who findeth the scent of the merciful and knoweth the dayspring of this
Beyan, verily he will turn to receive in his heart the darts of affliction for the purpose of
establishing the ordinances amidst the creatures. Blessed is he who advanceth, and attaineth unto the perfections of the incontrovertible proof (This Book). We have fully expounded the laws of prayer in another paper (tablet). Blessed is he who doeth that whereunto he is commanded on the part of God, the ruler of persons. Prayer used for the burial of the dead as given by God, the revealer of signs, is six taxbeerat; - that is, to say the word, "Allah'ho'Akbar", (God is greater) six times; but he who knows how to read, must repeat over the revealed lines preceding the foregoing word - and he who does not, is excused. Verily He is the mighty, the pardoner! Hair, or that which is void of life, such as bone, would not nullify your prayers. Attire yourselves with the fur of sable in the same manner as ye use silkware and the fur of minever and aught else. Verily it was not forbidden in the Koran, but was misunderstood by the divines. He is the potent, the omniscient. * |
| *(This refers to the Shiites who believe that the wearing of garments containing the hair of animals, or which are made of their skins, or have buttons of bone or ivory would be conducive to the nullification of their prayers; believing that the same was prohibited in the Koran.) |
10We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. He hath exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age, as a bounty from His Presence, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous. God hath granted you leave to prostrate yourselves on any surface that is clean, for We have removed in this regard the limitation that had been laid down in the Book; God, indeed, hath knowledge of that whereof ye know naught. Let him that findeth no water for ablution repeat five times the words "In the Name of God, the Most Pure, the Most Pure", and then proceed to his devotions. Such is the command of the Lord of all worlds. In regions where the days and nights grow long, let times of prayer be gauged by clocks and other instruments that mark the passage of the hours. He, verily, is the Expounder, the Wise.
|
Prayer and fasting are incumbent upon you after maturity - as a command on
the part of your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers. The sick, the aged and the infirm are
excused, as a favor on His part. Verily He is the pardoner, the bounteous!
God hath permitted you to worship upon any clean thing, and the law concerning this as ordained
in the book (Koran) is hereby cancelled. Verily, God knoweth, but ye know not! |
13God hath exempted women who are in their courses from obligatory prayer and fasting. Let them, instead, after performance of their ablutions, give praise unto God, repeating ninety-five times between the noon of one day and the next "Glorified be God, the Lord of Splendour and Beauty". Thus hath it been decreed in the Book, if ye be of them that comprehend.
|
Women, during the period of menstruation are excused by God from praying and
fasting, but they have to bathe themselves and praise God ninety-five times from noon to noon,
saying:-"Glory be to God, the Lord of Beauty and Perfection." (Subhan Allah Thil-Talat-
Weljamel.) Thus hath the matter been decreed in the book, were ye of those who know. While travelling, it is incumbent upon men and women on arriving at a place of safety for rest, to substitute one prostration for each form of prayer and say "Praise be to God, the owner of greatness, glory, bounty and grace. (Subhan Allah Thil Athamat Walijlall Wal Mowhabat Afthal). And he who cannot manage more, it sufficeth him to say: "Glory be to God" (Subhan Allah). Verily He is the sufficient, the everlasting, the pardoner, the clement! On the completion of your worship you must sit down on the temple of unity (sit on the floor with the feet under the body) and say "Glory be to God - the possessor of the kingdom and the realm of creation." (Subhan Allah Thil Mullwal Malacoot) Thus hath God expounded unto you the paths of truth and guidance which have eventually terminated in one path, and it is this which is the "Right path". Give thanks to God for this great bounty! Praise God for this gift which encompasseth the heavens and earth! And celebrate the name of God for this mercy which *proceeded* the worlds! Say: God hath made His hidden love as a key to the treasure if ye are to know, and were it not for the key, it would remain hidden for eternities of eternities, were ye to believe. Say: This is indeed the dayspring of revelation and the dawning place of effulgence were ye to know! Verily this is the irreversible decree, whereby every decisive fate is established. |
16O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Ruz as a feast. Thus hath the Day-Star of Utterance shone forth above the horizon of the Book as decreed by Him Who is the Lord of the beginning and the end. Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting. We have ordained that these, amid all nights and days, shall be the manifestations of the letter Ha, and thus they have not been bounded by the limits of the year and its months. It behoveth the people of Bahá, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name; and when they end --these days of giving that precede the season of restraint--let them enter upon the Fast. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind. The traveller, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the Fast; they have been exempted by God as a token of His grace. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Generous.
|
[no break] O supreme pen! Say - O concourse of creation! We have ordained
unto you the fast during a limited number of days, and we have appointed the Nayrooz as a
festival after the completion thereof. Thus doth the sun of revelation shine forth from the
horizons of the book on the part of the Lord of origin and return. (Beginning and end) Place the
days which are in excess over the months, (that is, the days required to bring the
Bahá'i year 361 [19 times 19] days, into correspondence with the solar year)
before the month of fasting. Verily we have made them types of the letter Ha (value is five)
chosen from the nights and days. Therefore they are not included in the months of the year.
During these five days it is incumbent on the people of Bahá to feast themselves and their
relatives, then the poor and the needy, and to praise, magnify and glorify and thank their Lord
with joy and gladness - and when the days of giving which precede the days of abstinence are
ended; then let them enter upon the fast - thus ordaineth the Lord of men. There is no obligation (to fast) upon the traveller, upon the sick, upon the pregnant woman, nor upon her who giveth suck - these hath God excused a favor on His part. Verily He is the mighty, the bountiful! These are the ordinances of God which have been written by the supreme pen in the books and the tablets.
Hold firmly to the commands of God and His ordinances, and be not of those who adopt their own
principles and fling God's principles behind them, because they follow imagination and
fancies. |
19Ye have been forbidden to commit murder or adultery, or to engage in backbiting or calumny; shun ye, then, what hath been prohibited in the holy Books and Tablets.
|
Murder, adultery, slandering, backbiting and calumniating, are strictly
prohibited - shun that whereof ye are forbidden in the books and
tablets. The laws of inheritance are laid down as follows, and are divided after the types of the letter Za (the seventh letter of the Abjad quotation). i.e. Into seven divisions:-
(1) The offspring's share is ordained unto him from the book
Tha (which is the ninth letter of Abjad quotation) according to the
numerical value of the word, Makt (which equals 540) N.B. (The division of
inheritance runs from the letter nine on the Abjad quotation, which is Tha
to the third letter, which is Jeem - but as nine is the numerical value of
Bahá, the Manifestation, commenced from the letter Tha, which is
equivalent to nine).
(2) The husband's or wife's share is ordained from the book of Ha;
according to the value of Tha and Sa (which equals 480).
(3) The father's share is ordained from the book of Za according to the
value of Tha and Kaf (which equals 420).
(4) The mother's share is ordained from the book of Waw, according to the
numerical value of the word Rafua (which equals 360).
(5) The brother's share is ordained from the book of Hah, according to the
value of Sheen, (which is 300).
(6) The sister's share is ordained from the book Dal, according to the value
of Rar, and Mim (240).
(7) The teacher's share is ordained from the book of Jeem, according to the
value of Kaf and Fah (which equals 180). Thus hath it been decided by my precursor (the Bab) who mentioned Me by night and day - but when we heard the outcry of the children while they were yet unborn, we have doubled their shares and reduced those of the others - Verily He is the powerful over what He pleaseth, and doeth what He willeth.* If anyone dies without heirs, the house of justice has the right to the property and it should be expended by the house, bring the trustees of the merciful - for the widows and orphans, and for any purpose that may result in the welfare of the commonwealth: that they may give thanks to their Lord, the precious, the pardoner. |
| *
(According to the laws of the Bab the share of the children was only 540,
but being doubled by the manifestation it became 1080. The additional 540
which was granted to them must consequently be subtracted from the
other six shares equally - that is ninety from each share - hence the seven
divisions run as follows:-
Law of the Bab Law of the Manifestation
Children 540 Children 1080
Husband and wife 480 Husband and wife 390
Father 420 Father 330
Mother 360 Mother 270
Brothers 300 Brothers 210
Sisters 240 Sisters 150
Teacher 180 Teacher 90
------- --- ------- ---
2520 2520
So every inheritance is divided into 2520 and should be distributed to the
heirs according to the foregoing law of the manifestation - the 2520 can
be regarded as either English pounds, dollars or
cents.) |
22Should the deceased leave offspring, but none of the other categories of heirs that have been specified in the Book, they shall receive two thirds of the inheritance and the remaining third shall revert to the House of Justice. Such is the command which hath been given, in majesty and glory, by Him Who is the All-Possessing, the Most High.
|
[no break] If one dies leaving children only, and no other relatives as limited in the book, they will have two thirds and the other third goes to the house of justice. Thus the independent, the exalted, with glory and greatness hath decreed! If one dies leaving no one to inherit his property, and he has other relatives, whether nephews or nieces, they will have the two thirds - otherwise the two thirds will, go to the uncles and aunts (fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters) after them to their sons and daughters; the other third goes to the house of justice, as a command in the book, on the part of God, the ruler of persons. If one dies without such relatives as mentioned in the book - by the supreme pen all his properties will go to the house to be expended for that whereof God hath commanded. Verily He is the giver, the bountiful! |
25We have assigned the residence and personal clothing of the deceased to the male, not female, offspring, nor to the other heirs. He, verily, is the Munificent, the All-Bountiful.
|
[Verse 25 missing from the Haddad translation] [no break] If one dies while his father still lives and he has children, the children will inherit what was allotted to their father in the book of God. Thus are ye commanded to divide amongst them, in accordance with pure justice. Thus hath the sea of words moved, and sent forth the pearls of ordinances, on the part of the king of man. If one dies leaving behind children under age, or incapable of managing their own affairs, their properties should be confided to a trustee, or the house of partnership, to invest or trade with the children attain their maturity. (If a trustee, he should be awarded in return for his services, a part of the acquired profits [sic--no closing parenthesis] -
|
28Division of the estate should take place only after the Huququ'llah hath been paid, any debts have been settled, the expenses of the funeral and burial defrayed, and such provision made that the deceased may be carried to his resting-place with dignity and honour. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is Lord of the beginning and the end.
|
[no break] first paying the portion that is God's right, then the debts owed
by the dead - if any: then the expenses necessary for the coffin, the tomb
and for the burial of the dead with honor and deference. Thus hath it been
decreed by the king of origin and return. Say Lo, this is the hidden
knowledge which will never change as it hath commenced by the letter Ta
- that indicates the number of the hidden name, the conspicuous, the
powerful, the inapproachable! What we have specially allotted to children is but a favor on the part of God that they may give thanks to their Lord, the merciful, the compassionate! These are the ordinances of God. Do not violate them by your lusts and desires, but follow that whereby ye are commanded by the dayspring of argument. The sincere will regard the ordinances of God us a water of life to the people of all religions and as a lamp of wisdom and victory to whomsoever is in the earth and heavens. It hath been ordained by God, that in every city a house of justice should be established, the members of which must be according to the number of Bahá, and if the number exceeds this, no matter. (probably nine or nineteen.) The members of the house must regard themselves as the trustees and representatives of God in the created world, and when they enter the house they must consider themselves as being in the presence of God, the supreme, the most exalted; as seeing Him who is unseen and strive to fulfill for the good of the public the trust placed in them for the sake of God, as though they were managing their own affairs, and choosing that which is best. Thus hath it been decreed by your Lord, the Mighty, the pardoner! Beware not to reject that which is ordained in this tablet. Fear God, O people of vision!
|