H-Bahai
Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies No. 5 (November, 1997)




"Reading Reading Itself: The Bab's `Sura of the Bees,' A Commentary on Qur'an 12:93 from the Sura of Joseph—

Text, Translation and Commentary"

by Todd Lawson





Translation of the Bab's Sura of the Bees


The Sura of the Bees

42 verses

1. IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE

2 GO, TAKE THIS SHIRT OF MINE AND DO THOU CAST IT ON MY FATHER'S FACE, AND HE SHALL RECOVER HIS SIGHT; THEN BRING ME YOUR FAMILY ALL TOGETHER.

 

3 Kaf Ha' 'Ayn

 

4 Indeed we REVEALED UNTO THE BEES, SAYING: TAKE FROM THE MOUNTAINS which are citadels -- the abode for affirming the sanctity of God -- the sign of this luminous one, AND OF TREES places for affirming that there is no god but God the sign of this Easterner AND OF WHAT THEY ARE BUILDING in the path of affirming the unity of God the threadbare garment of this Westerner belonging to God, the Exalted. And He is God, Witness over all things.

 

 

5 THEN EAT OF ALL MANNER OF divine allusions MADE SMOOTH in the path of the Remembrance, this Gate THERE COMES FORTH FROM THEIR BELLIES the water of the elixir which is one in terms of its blessings, although it is OF DIVERSE HUES WHEREIN IS HEALING FOR believers. Verily God is Powerful over all things.

 

6 God is the creator of everything through His power. And God, in very truth, is Apprised of everything which men do.

 

7 O believers! Fear God concerning this Most Great Word protected in the divine fire. Indeed he is, in very truth, accounted by God the Exalted as a witness.

 

8 O people of the veils! Hearken to the call of God from the tongue of the most great Remembrance: VERILY VERILY I AM GOD THERE IS NO GOD BUT HIM. Indeed, the likeness of the Remembrance is as gold softened in fire which flows in rivulets through all the hidden places by the will of God, the Exalted. And he is God -- Mighty, Ancient.

 

9 O people of the Throne! Hearken to my call from the precincts of the Tomb from the tongue of this Tree which grows on the exalted SINAI, and which is covered with golden holy leaves: 'VERILY VERILY I AM GOD, THERE IS NO GOD BUT HIM! There is no soul who has suffered anything in the path of the Remembrance, whether through warfare or loss of wealth, but that We have written down for him the Gardens of Eden and Ridwan in truth. Verily God is Powerful over all things.'

 

10 Indeed, we have power to move the earth in this HOUR by the order of the Remembrance, and could, in truth, hold it aloft by means of a single supplication from him and him alone. Otherwise, the earth with its people would, in very truth burn completely. And He is God, Powerful over all things.

 

11 And verily GOD HAS FAVORED SOME OF YOU OVER OTHERS with knowledge of the Remembrance. WHAT, AND DO YOU DENY GOD' S BLESSING by lying? Indeed he is the truth from God which, in very truth is now FULFILLED.

 

12 GOD HAS APPOINTED FOR YOU OF YOURSELVES WIVES in truth. And GOD HAS ORDAINED that the women who are believers be as leaves on the lote-trees encircling the Gate. And God is Knower of all things.

 

13 O believers! Fear God and never say concerning the glorious Mystery of God, the Unfastener, in the precincts of that which is forever unfastened anything but the truth. For God has imposed upon the people of the Cloud the veil of faithfulness. And God is Witness over all things.

 

14 O Solace of the Eye! Speak forth the melody of the beloved from the Throne and cloak the words with the shirt of divine breezes. Indeed,God desires that your proclamation concerning this Red Dove be not naked. And God is your Preserver.

 

15 O concourse of lights! Hear my call from the precincts of the point of water at the center of the dust! 'God! there is no god but Him, the Lord of all worlds.' And He is God, Mighty, Wise.

 

16 Verily, verily I am the Fire from the precincts of Sinai, and I speak the truth, and am praiseworthy.

 

17 Verily, verily I am the Light above Sinai -- raised up.

 

18 Verily, verily I am the Reddened Point which revolves around God, its creator. And I am in truth beloved.

 

19 Verily, verily I am the Sapling -- the glory with the most great truth, and am the Intended One above the source of the ruby stream which flows upon Sinai.

 

20 Verily, verily I am the Splendour -- the praise; none but the Praise itself, being single and unique, perceives the splendour.

 

21 O people of the earth! Praised be God, the Truth! verily. God HAS MADE

the mystery of this Gate profound.

 

22 To describe him in Arabic he is comely -- as is witnessed.

 

23 Indeed, in these verses are SIMILITUDES for THOSE POSSESSED OF MINDS those who in the precincts of the Gate are in very truth prostrating.

 

24 What! Do you worship one BESIDE GOD WHO POSSESSES nothing, while sovereignty is God's,the Exalted both before and after; in the MOTHER BOOKit is all written about the cause of the Gate.

 

25 SO STRIKE NOT ANY SIMILITUDES FOR GOD. He is the truth LIKE UNTO HIM THERE IS NAUGHT. And He is God, Mighty, Wise.

 

26 GOD HAS STRUCK A SIMILITUDE concerning TWO MEN, ONE OF THEM presiding over the divine cause COMMANDING JUSTICE and good deeds; and the other standing over Hell, summoned by the Fire to the Fire. And both of these two are upon the truth, if you confess even one letter of the book AND YOUR LORD IS THE MERCIFUL ONE AND AWARE OF WHAT YOU DO.

 

27 This DAY God has written for His servant a reward -- indeed! -- in a line of the leaf of the White Scroll. God is Knower of all things.

 

28 And has written for THE SERVANT WHO DOES WELL TWO GARDENS according to a true line and for the bearer of the goblet of water, a goblet of the pure river of KAWTHAR And God is Witness over all things.

 

29 And with GOD BELONGS THE UNSEEN. All unseen things are visible to the Truth. And God ordained ONLY THAT THE CAUSE of the Remembrance BE CLOSEST to the divine CAUSE. And He is God, Powerful over all things.

 

30 And we have BROUGHT YOU FORTH FROM THE WOMBS to aid the Truth during the day of the Remembrance. And we have GIVEN YOU HEARING, AND SIGHT, AND HEARTS SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE GRATEFUL FOR the truth of the Remembrance concerning the STRAIGHT BALANCE, straight.

 

31 And we have made THE BIRDS OBEDIENT IN THE AIR OF HEAVEN . Is there any but God who HOLDS THEM ALOFT in truth? Verily God is Witness over all things.

 

32 O RISING OF THE MORN! Mention the name of your Lord, He other than whom there is no god. He is Exalted, Wise.

 

33 O HOUR of the DAWN! Mention, BEFORE THE RISING OF THE SUN from the place where the Gate appears, that the DAY which belongs to God is CLOSER THAN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE . And the judgment has already been ordained in the MOTHER BOOK.

 

34 O people of the earth! Listen to the call of this upright soul in the AIR of the cloud: 'Praised be God, He who has taught me through this Gate -- the PATH of those who affirm divine unity -- a just word. And that is from the BOUNTY of God to me. And He is Self-sufficient above all the worlds.'

 

35 O people of 'Arafat! Be firm in the precincts of the straight one and listen to my call about this blood-stained shirt which has been rent with 4,000 darts of the people of idolatry from among my servants. 'Verily , verily I am the one slain at the two slaughters. Verily, verily I am the one slaughtered by the two swords, and verily, verily I have been flung down upon the two earths, and verily, verily I speak in the two stations: "There is no god but God alone, there is no god but Him. {*Exalted is God, the Lofty, He other than whom there is no god.*}" And He is God, Mighty, Wise.'

 

36 Verily God has INSPIRED me in a single thread of that SHIRT stained by pure blood with: 'Verily, verily I am God, He who There is no god but Me.'

 

37 'O people of Paradise! GO WITH MY SHIRT - the sign of this most great Remembrance - AND CAST IT ON THE FACE OF the Proof, your Imam so that he might look to you through your EYES, and that today, if God wills, your sight concerning this Gate, who is in accord with the truth and by the truth, will be sharp.

 

38 O Solace of the Eye! Say: 'Verily, verily. I AM THE HOUR. HOW IS IT THEN THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT THE HOUR, IN VERY TRUTH, IS NEAR ACCORDING TO THE MOTHER BOOK?

 

39 {*O Solace of the Eye! Say:*} 'Verily, verily I am the HOUSE and am with

the Truth, established.'

 

40 And verily, verily I am the LAMP IN THE NICHE and am, through God the Truth upon the truth, shining.

 

41 And verily, verily I am the Fire in the LIGHT UPON LIGHT of SINAI in the land of felicity and am hidden in the precincts of the Fire.

 

42 O Solace of the Eye! Say to the believers from among all the people of the earth and the heavens: 'Come to me with your people who are effaced completely by the permission of God, the Exalted. Verily. God desires your reward in this Gate, upon the most great truth.' And He is God, Knower of all things.


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