People of Bahá as Royalty

 "kings of the realm of My Kingdom...friends of My Soul in the realm of My Greatness"

A friend in my Baha'i community often recites this quote:

"Say, Lo! This is the Day of Grace! Come ye that I may make you kings of the realm of My Kingdom. If ye obey Me you will see that which We have promised you, and I will make you the friends of My Soul in the realm of My Greatness and the Companions of My Perfection in the heaven of My Might forever."

I had not remembered ever reading it in the Writings, but searching for it I found it in an old compilation of Baha'i translations into English, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 103, in Bahá’u’lláh's writings.

I was interested to find that in a new authorized translation of it, it reads:

"Say: This is the Day of Bounty! Bestir yourselves that I may make you monarchs in the realms of My Kingdom. If ye follow Me, ye shall behold that which ye were promised, and I will make you My companions in the dominion of My majesty and the intimates of My beauty in the heaven of My power forevermore." --Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 63

I found it in Baha'i Reference in the original Arabic:

قل هذا يوم الفضل تعالوا لأجعلكم ملوك ممالك ملكوتی ان اطعتمونی تروا ما وعدناكم به و اجعلكم مؤانسی نفسی فی جبروت عظمتی و معاشری جمالی فی سمآء اقتداری الی الأبد

I find the language of “kings/monarchs of/in the realm(s) of My Kingdom” to be an amazing invitation to rise to the heights of majesty in developing human potential. In Arabic transliterated it is mulúka mamáliki malikútí – a really awesome alliteration as well as play on different extrapolations of the 3-letter Arabic-root M-L-K!

“I will make you My companions in the dominion of My majesty” or “friends of My Soul in the realm of My greatness” in Arabic transliterated is aj‘alakum mú’ánisí nefsí fí jabarúti ‘aẓamatí.  (‘aẓamat, like the Baha'i month and of my middle name, is variously translated as 'grandeur,' 'greatness,' or 'majesty.') I’m struck by the language of “friends of My Soul,” which is just so lovely in the intimate communion it invites.  While the newer translation drops that language of “My Soul” to “My companions,” the word nefsí is typically translated “myself” or “my soul” and so—in my humble opinion—the older translation more literally preserves and conveys, although this summons to an intimate, mystical relationship is indeed instantiated in the new translation of the next phrase, of which—in my modest knowledge of Arabic—I believe is then more literal with “intimates of My beauty…” with mu’áshir (intimate companion/comrade) and jamálí (literally “My beauty”; “My perfection” is less literal although of-course still accurate).  

"kings of the realm of My Kingdom"--what majesty Bahá’u’lláh calls upon human beings to develop our true selves!

"friends of My Soul in the realm of My Greatness"--what intimate, mystical communion with God this invites!

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