Bahá’í World/Volume 34/New Translations of Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings
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New Translations
of Bahé’u’lléh’s Writings
“The A/I—Knowz'ng Physician hath Hisfiager on the pulse of manhind. He perceiveth the disease, andprescriheth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own prohlem, and every soul its particular aspiratimz. The remedy the world needeth in its present—day aflictz'am can never he the same as that which a suhseqamt age may require. ”'
ahé’u’lléh’s writings elucidate virtually every aspect ofexistence, B including subjects as varied as science, philosophy, laws of
human conduct, the spiritual nature of existence, and the future of humanity. These divinely inspired writings are the founda— tion of the Bahei’l’ Faith, but their intended application is universal. Bahé’u’lléh wrote not to a select group of followers, but to the whole of humanity. The texts are the charter for a new world, and no soul is beyond the rejuvenating influence of Bahé’u’lléh’s revelation.
In 2006, a volume of newly translated writings by Bahé’u’lléh, entitled The Yahemac/e of Unity, was published in English. This latest volume from World Centre Publications contains five letters or “Tablets” written by Bahé’u’lléh to individuals of Zoroastrian background during the 18705 and 18803. The volume provides important new insights into the fundamental Bahé’l’ principles of the unity of religion and the relativity of religious truth.
The two Tablets comprising the centerpiece of the volume were both revealed in answer to questions posed to Bahé’u’lléh by Ménikfif Séhib, an ambassador of Parsee background who became
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90 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD 2005—2006
well—known for his diplomatic and humanitarian work on behalf of the Persian Zoroastrian community. Ménikfii’ Séhib, who had met Bahé’u’lléh in person and who was both a friend and admirer, posed a series of nine questions to Bahé’u’lléh covering topics as wide—rang— ing as the nature of the relationship between God and creation, the apparently irreconcilable differences between the religions of the world, and the role of reason in the formulation of religious law.
“I am the royal Falcon 0n the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the draopz'ng wings afevery broken bird and start it on its flight. ”
—BAHA‘U‘LLAH, TABLET '1‘0 MANIKQLII’ $143113
The translation of the volume was prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice on the basis of authentic manuscripts held in the International Bahé’l' Archives. It is the result of the combined efforts of a number of translators and follows the style established by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahé’f Faith and its authorized interpreter from 1921 until his death in 1957. Readers familiar with the writings of Bahé’u’lléh will recognize several well-known passages translated by Shoghi Effendi and appearing for the first time in their original setting, including the popular quotation “Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.”
At the time of The Takemadg 0f Unity’s publication, Steven Phelps, a translator working in the Research Department, com- mented:
The nominal thread that unites these five Tablets is that they were all revealed over a century ago to individuals of Zoroastrian back— ground. However, too much of a focus on this angle might make the volume seem backward looking and irrelevant when in fact its message is very much for the here and now. While restating some of the central tenets of the Faith, such as the organic unity of the human race, the progressive character of divine revelation, and the world—embracing nature of Bahé’u’lléh’s prophetic claim, the volume also opens new Vistas to the Bahé’i’ teachings With its
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NEW TRANSLATIONS 91
discussion of the boundary between the absolute and the relative in religious truth. Pgrhaps most importantly of all, the volume speaks eloquently to the urgent need for religion to reclaim its place as a world—unifying, world-transforming force.
NOTES
' Bahé’u’lléh, T/ye 722/767'7111616 of Unity (Haifa: World Centre Publications, 2006), section 1.4.
T hey that are endued with sincerity andfiithfilness should associate with all the peoples and hindreds
of the earth with joy and radiance,
inasmuch as consorting with people hath promatgd am will continue