Kitab-i-Aqdas/Template

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1	بسمه الحاكم على ما كان وما يكون (1) ان اوّل ما كتب الله على العباد عرفان مشرق وحيه ومطلع امره الّذي كان مقام نفسه في عالم الامر والخلق من فاز به قد فاز بكلّ الخير والّذي منع انّه من اهل الضّلال ولو يأتي بكلّ الاعمال اذا فزتم بهذا المقام الاسنى والافق الاعلى ينبغي لكلّ نفس ان يتّبع ما امر به من لدى المقصود لانّهما معاً لا يقبل احدهما دون الاخر هذا ما حكم به مطلع الالهام (edit)	IN THE NAME OF HIM WHO IS THE SUPREME RULER OVER ALL THAT HATH BEEN AND ALL THAT IS TO BE 1 THE first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behooveth everyone who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration. (edit)	In the name of Him who is the Ruler (al-hakim) over what was and what will be. The first thing which God ordained (kataba) concerning His creatures (al-`ibad) is the knowledge of the Sunrise-place (mashriq) of His revelation and the Rising-place (matla') of His Cause (amrihi), who was the Station (maqam) of Himself in the world of command and creation. Whoever attains unto Him (faza bihi) attains unto all good, and whoever is deprived of Him is of the people of error (al-dalal), even though he performs all (good) works (al-a'mal). When you achieve this most brilliant station and {highest horizon/highest distant regions}, it behooves every soul to obey that which was commanded before the Desired, because these two things are conjoined. One of the two is not accepted without the other. This is that which was commanded by him, the rising place of inspiration. (edit)
2	(2) انّ الّذين اوتوا بصائر من الله يرون حدود الله السّبب الاعظم لنظم العالم وحفظ الامم والّذي غفل انّه من همج رعاع انّا امرناكم بكسر حدودات النّفس والهوى لا ما رقم من القلم الاعلى انّه لروح الحيوان لمن في الامكان قد ماجت بحور الحكمة والبيان بما هاجت نسمة الرّحمن اغتنموا يا اولي الالباب ان الّذين نكثوا عهد الله في اوامرهونكصوا على اعقابهم اولئك من اهل الضّلال لدى الغنيّ المتعال (edit)	They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth away from them is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily, have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created things. The seas of Divine wisdom and Divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High. (edit)	Those who have been given sight by God see the stipulations (al-hudud, bounds) of God, (which are) the greatest cause for the setting of the world in order and the preserving of the nations. Whoever is careless is of the rabble (hamaj) and the ruffians (ra'a). We have commanded you to break the bounds of the self and passion (al- hawa); not that which was written (ruqima) by the most High Pen (al-qalam al- a'la). It is the spirit of Life (ruh al-hayawan) for whoever is in the (realm of the) possible (al-imkan). The seas of wisdom and explanation have raged (majat) with that whereby the breeze of the Merciful (al-rahman) was violent (hajat). Seize the opportunity, O posessors of minds (ula'l-albab)! Those who broke the covenant of God (manifest) in His commands and turned back from the path of justice are of the people of error (al-dalal) before the Exalted Self-Sufficient One (al-ghani al-muta'al). (edit)
3	(3) يا ملأ الارض اعلموا انّ اوامري سرج عنايتي بين عبادي ومفاتيح رحمتي لبريّتي كذلك نزّل الامر من سمآء مشيّة ربّكم مالك الاديان لو يجد احد حلاوة البيان الّذي ظهر من فم مشيّة الرّحمن لينفق ما عنده ولو يكون خزآئن الأرض كلّها ليثبت امراً من اوامره المشرقة من افق العناية والالطاف (edit)	O ye peoples of the world! Know assuredly that My commandments are the lamps of My loving providence among My servants, and the keys of My mercy for My creatures. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of the Will of your Lord, the Lord of Revelation. Were any man to taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments, shining above the Dayspring of His bountiful care and loving-kindness. (edit)	O multitudes (mala') of the earth, know that My commands are the lamps of My providence among My creatures and the keys of My Mercy to My people (barriyati). Thus was the command sent down (nuzzila) from the heaven of the will of your Lord, the Possessor (malik) of religions. Were one to find the sweetness of the explanation which appeared from the mouth of the will of the Merciful, he would spend that which he has, even though it were the treasures of the whole earth, in order to establish one of His commands which arise from the horizon of providence and benefits (al-altaf). (edit)
4	(4) قل من حدودي يمرّ عرف قميصي وبها تنصب اعلام النّصر على القنن والاتلال قد تكلّم لسان قدرتي في جبروت عظمتي مخاطباً لبريّتي ان اعملوا حدودي حبّاً لجمالي طوبى لحبيب وجد عرف المحبوب من هذه الكلمة الّتي فاحت منها نفحات الفضل على شأن لا توصف بالاذكار لعمري من شرب رحيق الانصاف من ايادي الالطاف انّه يطوف حول اوامري المشرقة من افق الابداع (edit)	Say: From My laws the sweet-smelling savor 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 favor will circle around My commandments that shine above the Dayspring of My creation. (edit)	Say: From My stipulations there passes the sweet smell (`arf) of My gown and by them the standards of victory are erected on hillocks and hills. The tongue of My power (qudrati) has spoken in the might (jabarut) of My greatness, addressing My people, (saying), "Perform my stipulations out of love for My beauty (jamali)". Blessed is the lover who found the sweet smell of the beloved (coming) out of this word from which aromas of grace were diffused, that they be not described (only) by remembrances! I swear by My life (la `amri), whoever drinks of pure wine (rahiq) of equity from the hands of the benefits will make the circuit of My commands which arise from the horizon of new things (al-abda'). (edit)
5	(5) لا تحسبنّ انّا نزّلنا لكم الاحكام بل فتحنا ختم الرّحيق المختوم باصابع القدرة والاقتدار يشهد بذلك ما نزّل من قلم الوحي تفكّروا يا اولي الافكار (edit)	Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. To this beareth witness that which the Pen of Revelation hath revealed. Meditate upon this, O men of insight! (edit)	Do not reckon that We have sent down the commandments to you but rather We have opened the seal of the sealed pure wine by the fingers of power and might. What was sent down from the Pen of Revelation (al-wahy) bears witness to that. Think thereon, O possessors of thoughts. (edit)
6	(6) قد كتب عليكم الصّلوة تسع ركعات لله منزل الايات حين الزّوال وفي البكور والاصال وعفونا عدّة اخرى امراً في كتاب الله انّه لهو الامر المقتدر المختار واذا اردتم الصّلوة ولّوا وجوهكم شطري الاقدس المقام المقدّس الّذي جعله الله مطاف الملأ الاعلى ومقبل اهل مدآئن البقآء ومصدر الامر لمن في الارضين والسّموات وعند غروب شمس الحقيقة والتّبيان المقرّ الّذي قدّرناه لكم انّه لهو العزيز العلاّم (edit)	We have enjoined obligatory prayer upon you, with nine rak‘ahs, to be offered at noon and in the morning and the evening unto God, the Revealer of Verses. We have relieved you of a greater number, as a command in the Book of God. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the Omnipotent, the Unrestrained. When ye desire to perform this prayer, turn ye towards the Court of My Most Holy Presence, this Hallowed Spot that God hath made the Center round which circle the Concourse on high, and which He hath decreed to be the Point of Adoration for the denizens of the Cities of Eternity, and the Source of Command unto all that are in heaven and on earth; and when the Sun of Truth and Utterance shall set, turn your faces towards the Spot that We have ordained for you. He, verily, is Almighty and Omniscient. (edit)	Worship (al-salat) has been ordained for you - nine prostrations (raka'at) to God Who has sent down the verses; when noon is past (al-zawal), in the morning (al- bukur) and in the late afternoon (al-asal). We have exempted (`afawna) (you) from the other number on account of a command in the Book of God. Indeed He is the Powerful, the Choosing, the Commanding One. Whenever you desire to worship, turn your face towards My most holy direction (shatri), the Holy Station which God made the place of circumambulation for the angels (al-mala' al-a'la), and the direction for worship of the people of the cities of continuing eternity, and the source of command to all who are on the earths and in the heavens, and at the setting of the Sun of Reality and clear Explanation, the Resting-place (al-maqarr) which we have decreed for you. He is the Knower, the Strong One. (edit)
7	(7) كلّ شيء تحقّق بامره المبرم اذا اشرقت من افق البيان شمس الاحكام لكلّ ان يتّبعوها ولو بامر تنفطر عنه سموات افئدة الاديان انّه يفعل ما يشآء ولا يسئل عمّا شآء وما حكم به المحبوب انّه لمحبوب ومالك الاختراع ان الّذي وجد عرف الرّحمن وعرف مطلع هذا البيان انّه يستقبل بعينيه السّهام لاثبات الاحكام بين الانام طوبى لمن اقبل وفاز بفصل الخطاب (edit)	Everything 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. (edit)	Everything is realized by His confirmed command whenever the Sun of commandments rises from the horizon of Explanation (al-bayan) that all may follow them even if by a command by which are cleft asunder the heavens of the hearts of religions. [Note 2] He does what He wills and He is not questioned about what He willed and what the Beloved One rules. He is, indeed, Beloved and the Possessor of Invention. Whoever finds the sweet smell (`arf) of the Merciful and of the Rising- place of this Explanation will meet with his eyes the arrows for establishing the commandments among mankind. Blessed is the one who came and attained unto the message of the discourse! (edit)
8	(8) قد فصّلنا الصّلوة في ورقة اخرى طوبى لمن عمل بما امر به من لدن مالك الرّقاب قد نزّلت في صلوة الميّت ستّ تكبيرات من الله منزل الايات والّذي عنده علم القرآئة له ان يقرء ما نزّل قبلها والاّ عفا الله عنه انّه لهو العزيز الغفّار (edit)	We have set forth the details of obligatory prayer in another Tablet. Blessed is he who observeth that whereunto he hath been bidden by Him Who ruleth over all mankind. In the Prayer for the Dead six specific passages have been sent down by God, the Revealer of Verses. Let one who is able to read recite that which hath been revealed to precede these passages; and as for him who is unable, God hath relieved him of this requirement. He, of a truth, is the Mighty, the Pardoner. (edit)	We have analysed worship at length in another paper. Blessed is the one who did as commanded by the Possessor of persons (al-riqab)! In worship for the dead the saying of six takbiras has been sent down (as a commandment) [Note 3] from God who sends down the verses. (5)Whoever knows how to read must read what has been sent down beforehand, and if he does not God has forgiven him. He is indeed the Forgiving, the mighty One. (edit)
9	(9) لا يبطل الشّعر صلوتكم ولا ما منع عن الرّوح مثل العظام وغيرها البسوا السّمّور كما تلبسون الخزّ والسّنجاب وما دونهما انّه ما نهي في الفرقان ولكن اشتبه على العلمآء انّه لهو العزيز العلاّم (edit)	Hair doth not invalidate your prayer, nor aught from which the spirit hath departed, such as bones and the like. Ye are free to wear the fur of the sable as ye would that of the beaver, the squirrel, and other animals; the prohibition of its use hath stemmed, not from the Qur’án, but from the misconceptions of the divines. He, verily, is the All-Glorious, the All-Knowing. (edit)	Hair does not make void your worship, nor does that which has been deprived of spirit, such, for example, as bones and other things. [Note 4] Wear sable (sammur) just as you wear silk and squirrel-skin and other things. Indeed, this was not forbidden in the Furqan (i.e. the Qur'an), but the learned ones were uncertain about it. Indeed He is the Knower, the Mighty One. (edit)
10	(10) قد فرض عليكم الصّلوة والصّوم من اوّل البلوغ امراً من لدى الله ربّكم وربّ ابآئكم الاوّلين من كان في نفسه ضعف من المرض او الهرم عفا الله عنه فضلاً من عنده انّه لهو الغفور الكريم قد اذن الله لكم السّجود على كلّ شيء طاهر ورفعنا عنه حكم الحدّ في الكتاب انّ الله يعلم وانتم لا تعلمون من لم يجد المآء يذكر خمس مرّات بسم الله الاطهر الاطهر ثمّ يشرع في العمل هذا ما حكم به مولى العالمين والبلدان الّتي طالت فيها اللّيالي والايّام فليصلّوا بالسّاعات والمشاخص الّتي منها تحدّدت الاوقات انّه لهو المبيّن الحكيم (edit)	We 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. (edit)	Worship and Fasting are obligatory to you on your coming to maturity [Note 1] a command from God, your Lord and the Lord of your early fathers. Whoever is weak from illness or advanced age, God exempts him because of a Grace on His part. He is the Generous One, the Forgiver. God permits you to prostrate yourselves on everything pure, and we have taken away the ruling stipulated in the Book.[Note 2] God knows and you do not. Whoever does not find water, let him repeat five times, "bi-sm-illah, al- athar, al-athar" (In the name of God, the Purest, the Purest,) and then begin worship. This is what the Master of the worlds commanded. In those lands where nights and days are long they may perform worship by (using) clocks and objects which determine the times. He is the Wise One, the Explainer. (edit)
11	(11) قد عفونا عنكم صلوة الآيات اذا ظهرت اذكروا الله بالعظمة والاقتدار انّه هو السّميع البصير قولوا العظمة لله ربّ ما يرى وما لا يرى ربّ العالمين (edit)	We have absolved you from the requirement of performing the Prayer of the Signs. On the appearance of fearful natural events call ye to mind the might and majesty of your Lord, He Who heareth and seeth all, and say “Dominion is God’s, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of creation.” (edit)	We have exempted you from worship (on the occasion) of wonders. [Note 3] Whenever they appear, make mention of God with greatness and power. He is the Hearing One, the Seeing One. Say: "al-'azama lillah, rabb ma yura wa wa ma la yura, rabb al-'alamin" (Greatness belongs to God, the Lord of what is seen and what is unseen, the Lord of the worlds). (edit)
12	(12) كتب عليكم الصّلوة فرادى قد رفع حكم الجماعة الاّ في صلوة الميّت انّه لهو الامر الحكيم (edit)	It hath been ordained that obligatory prayer is to be performed by each of you individually. Save in the Prayer for the Dead, the practice of congregational prayer hath been annulled. He, of a truth, is the Ordainer, the All-Wise. (edit)	(6) Worship as individuals has been ordained for you; the commandment regarding group worship is remitted (rufi'a), except in worship for the dead. [Note 4] He is the Wise One, the Commanding One. (edit)
13	(13) قد عفا الله عن النّسآء حين ما يجدن الدّم الصّوم والصّلوة ولهنّ ان يتوضّأن ويسبّحن خمساً وتسعين مرّة من زوال إلى زوال سبحان الله ذي الطّلعة والجمال هذا ما قدّر في الكتاب ان انتم من العالمين (edit)	God 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 Splendor and Beauty.” Thus hath it been decreed in the Book, if ye be of them that comprehend. (edit)	God has exempted women from worship and fasting; whenever they find blood (in menstruating). They have to perform ablutions and praise God ninety-five times from afternoon to afternoon, saying "subhan Allah dhi al-tal'a wa l-jamal" (Praise be to God, the possessor of Countenance and Beauty). This is what we decreed in the Book, [Note 1] if you be of the knowing ones. (edit)
14	(14) ولكم ولهنّ في الاسفار اذا نزلتم واسترحتم المقام الامن مكان كلّ صلوة سجدة واحدة واذكروا فيها سبحان الله ذي العظمة والاجلال والموهبة والافضال والّذي عجز يقول سبحان الله انّه يكفيه بالحقّ انّه لهو الكافي الباقي الغفور الرّحيم وبعد اتمام السّجود لكم ولهنّ ان تقعدوا على هيكل التّوحيد وتقولوا ثماني عشرة مرّة سبحان الله ذي الملك والملكوت كذلك يبيّن الله سبل الحقّ والهدى وانّها انتهت إلى سبيل واحد وهو هذا الصّراط المستقيم اشكروا الله بهذا الفضل العظيم احمدوا الله بهذه الموهبة الّتي احاطت السّموات والارضين اذكروا الله بهذه الرّحمة الّتي سبقت العالمين (edit)	When traveling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye—men and women alike—a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer, and while prostrating say “Glorified be God, the Lord of Might and Majesty, of Grace and Bounty.” Whoso is unable to do this, let him say only “Glorified be God”; this shall assuredly suffice him. He is, of a truth, the all-sufficing, the ever-abiding, the forgiving, compassionate God. Upon completing your prostrations, seat yourselves cross-legged—men and women alike—and eighteen times repeat “Glorified be God, the Lord of the kingdoms of earth and heaven.” Thus doth the Lord make plain the ways of truth and guidance, ways that lead to one way, which is this Straight Path. Render thanks unto God for this most gracious favor; offer praise unto Him for this bounty that hath encompassed the heavens and the earth; extol Him for this mercy that hath pervaded all creation. (edit)	And for you men and women, if, on journeys you stop and rest in a safe location, (there is required) in place of the whole ritual of worship (only) one prostration and the saying of the words, "subhan Allah dhi al-azama wa'l-ijlal wa'l-mawhiba wa'l-afdal" (Praise be to God, the Possessor of Greatness and Majesty, the Free Gift and the Graces) Whoever is unable (to do this) will say, "subhan Allah" (Praise be to God). Thus is the duty sufficiently performed. He is the Satisfying, the Continuing, the Forgiving, the Merciful One. After completing the prostration, you and the women are to sit at the temple of Unity (haykal al-tawhid) [Note 2] and say eighteen times, "subhan Allah dhi al-mulk wa'l- malakut" (Praise be to God, the Possessor of the kingdoms of this world and the next). Thus God explains the ways of Reality and Guidance. They end, indeed, in one way which is the Straight Path (al-sirat al-mustaqim). Give thanks to God for this great Grace. Praise God for this free gift which encompassed the heavens and the earths. Remember God for this mercy which preceded the worlds. (edit)
15	(15) قل قد جعل الله مفتاح الكنز حبّي المكنون لو انتم تعرفون لولا المفتاح لكان مكنوناً في ازل الازال لو انتم توقنون قل هذا لمطلع الوحي ومشرق الاشراق الّذي به اشرقت الافاق لو انتم تعلمون انّ هذا لهو القضآء المثبت وبه ثبت كلّ قضآء محتوم (edit)	Say: God hath made My hidden love the key to the Treasure; would that ye might perceive it! But for the key, the Treasure would to all eternity have remained concealed; would that ye might believe it! Say: This is the Source of Revelation, the Dawning-place of Splendor, Whose brightness hath illumined the horizons of the world. Would that ye might understand! This is, verily, that fixed Decree through which every irrevocable decree hath been established. (edit)	Say: God has made my hidden love the key of the treasure, if you would only perceive. Were it not for the key, it would be hidden for the eternity of past eternities, if you were only certain. Say: This is the Rising-place of Revelation and the Sunrise-place of the Brilliance by which the horizons became light, if you only knew. This is the established decision (al-qada') By it every settled decision is established. (edit)
16	(16) يا قلم الاعلى قل يا ملأ الانشآء قد كتبنا عليكم الصّيام ايّاماً معدودات وجعلنا النّيروز عيداً لكم بعد اكمالها كذلك اضآئت شمس البيان من افق الكتاب من لدن مالك المبدء والمآب واجعلوا الايّام الزّآئدة عن الشّهور قبل شهر الصّيام انّا جعلناها مظاهر الهآء بين اللّيالي والايّام لذا ما تحدّدت بحدود السّنة والشّهور ينبغي لاهل البهاء ان يطعموا فيها انفسهم وذوي القربى ثمّ الفقرآء والمساكين ويهلّلنّ ويكبّرنّ ويسبّحنّ ويمجّدنّ ربّهم بالفرح والانبساط واذا تمّت ايّام الاعطآء قبل الامساك فليدخلنّ في الصّيام كذلك حكم مولى الانام ليس على المسافر والمريض والحامل والمرضع من حرج عفا الله عنهم فضلاً من عنده انّه لهو العزيز الوهّاب (edit)	O 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-Rúz as a feast. Thus hath the Daystar 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 Há, and thus they have not been bounded by the limits of the year and its months. It behooveth 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 traveler, 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. (edit)	O Pen of the Most High, say: O multitudes of creation (al-insha'), we have ordained the Fast for you, certain limited days. After the completion of them we have made al-Nayruz (Nawruz) a feast for you. [Note 3] Thus has the Sun of Explanation shone from the horizon of the Book from before the presence of the Possessor of the Place of Beginning and Return. And place prior to the month of fasting the (intercalary) days which are in excess of the months. [Note 1] We have, indeed, made them manifestations of al-ha' [Note 2] among the nights and days. Therefore these five days are not included in the year and the months. It is fitting, then, that in them the People of Baha' (Splendour) feed themselves and their relatives, then the poor and poverty-stricken. They must exalt, magnify, praise, and glorify their Lord with joy and gladness. And whenever the days of giving [Note 3] are completed, before the refraining (from food) let them enter upon the fast. So has the Master of Mankind (mawla al- anam) commanded. This does not cause difficulty for the one who is on a journey, for the ill, for the pregnant woman, or the one who is nursing. God has exempted them as a Grace on His part. He is the Mighty One, the Free Giver. (edit)
17	(17) هذه حدود الله الّتي رقمت من القلم الاعلى في الزّبر والالواح تمسّكوا باوامر الله واحكامه ولا تكونوا من الّذين اخذوا اصول انفسهم ونبذوا اصول الله ورآئهم بما اتّبعوا الظّنون والاوهام كفّوا انفسكم عن الاكل والشّرب من الطّلوع إلى الافول ايّاكم ان يمنعكم الهوى عن هذا الفضل الّذي قدّر في الكتاب (edit)	These are the ordinances of God that have been set down in the Books and Tablets by His Most Exalted Pen. Hold ye fast unto His statutes and commandments, and be not of those who, following their idle fancies and vain imaginings, have clung to the standards fixed by their own selves, and cast behind their backs the standards laid down by God. Abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book. (edit)	These are the stipulations of God which were written by the Most High Pen in the books and tablets. Hold fast to the orders and commandments of God. Be not of those who have held to their own principles (usul) and have cast behind them the principles of God in following their opinions and illusions. Restrain yourselves from eating and drinking from the rising (of the sun) until its setting. Beware lest passion hinder you from obtaining this grace which has been decreed to you in the Book. (edit)
18	(18) قد كتب لمن دان بالله الدّيّان ان يغسل في كلّ يوم يديه ثمّ وجهه ويقعد مقبلاً الى الله ويذكر خمساً وتسعين مرّة الله ابهى كذلك حكم فاطر السّماء اذ استوى على اعراش الاسمآء بالعظمة والاقتدار كذلك توضّأوا للصّلوة امراً من الله الواحد المختار (edit)	It hath been ordained that every believer in God, the Lord of Judgment, shall, each day, having washed his hands and then his face, seat himself and, turning unto God, repeat “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninety-five times. Such was the decree of the Maker of the Heavens when, with majesty and power, He established Himself upon the thrones of His Names. Perform ye, likewise, ablutions for the Obligatory Prayer; this is the command of God, the Incomparable, the Unrestrained. (edit)	It has been ordained that whoever professes the religion of God, the Rewarder (al-dayyan), should wash his hands every day, then his face, and sit facing toward God [Note 1] and say ninety-five times, "Allahu abha" (God is most Splendid). So did the Former (fatir) of the heavenly command as He sits on the Thrones of the Names (al- asrna') with Greatness and Power. In like manner, perform ablutions before Worship because of a command from God, the Only One, the Choosing One. (edit)
19	(19) قد حرّم عليكم القتل والزّنا ثمّ الغيبة والافترآء اجتنبوا عمّا نهيتم عنه في الصّحآئف والالواح (edit)	Ye 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. (edit)	Murder and adultery are unlawful for you, also back-biting (al-ghayba) and calumniation (al-iftira'). Avoid what you have been forbidden in the Books and the Tablets. (edit)
20	(20) قد قسمنا المواريث على عدد الزّاء منها قدّر لذرّيّاتكم من كتاب الطّآء على عدد المقت وللازواج من كتاب الحآء على عدد التّآء والفآء وللابآء من كتاب الزّآء على عدد التّآء والكّاف وللامّهات من كتاب الواو على عدد الرّفيع وللاخوان من كتاب الهآء عدد الشّين وللاخوات من كتاب الدّال عدد الرّآء والميم وللمعلّمين من كتاب الجيم عدد القاف والفآء كذلك حكم مبشّري الّذي يذكرني في اللّيالي والاسحار انّا لمّا سمعنا ضجيج الذّرّيّات في الاصلاب زدنا ضعف ما لهم ونقصنا عن الاخرى انّه لهو المقتدر على ما يشآء يفعل بسلطانه كيف اراد (edit)	We have divided inheritance into seven categories: to the children, We have allotted nine parts comprising five hundred and forty shares; to the wife, eight parts comprising four hundred and eighty shares; to the father, seven parts comprising four hundred and twenty shares; to the mother, six parts comprising three hundred and sixty shares; to the brothers, five parts or three hundred shares; to the sisters, four parts or two hundred and forty shares; and to the teachers, three parts or one hundred and eighty shares. Such was the ordinance of My Forerunner, He Who extolleth My Name in the night season and at the break of day. When We heard the clamor of the children as yet unborn, We doubled their share and decreased those of the rest. He, of a truth, hath power to ordain whatsoever He desireth, and He doeth as He pleaseth by virtue of His sovereign might. (edit)	Inheritances We have divided according to the number al-za' (seven). Of them we have apportioned to your seed from the book al-ta' (nine), according to the number al-maqt (540); to husbands or wives from the book al-ha' (eight), according to the number of al-ta' and al-fa' (480); to fathers from the book al-za' (seven), according to the number of al-ta' and al-kaf (420); and to mothers from the book al-waw (Six), according to the number of al-rafi' (360); and to brothers from the book al-ha' (five), the number of al-shin (300); and to sisters from the book (9) al-dal (four), the number of al-ra' and al-mim (240); and to teachers from the book al-jim (three), the number of al-qaf and al-fa' (180). Thus commanded He who gave Good News of Me and who made mention of Me at nights and at daybreaks (al-ashar). [Note 2] Indeed when We heard the clamour of the offspring in the loins (al-aslab), We doubled their wealth and took away from others. [Note 1] He is the Powerful One over what He wills and He acts with His authority as He desires. (edit)

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