Concurrent with the period when these first illuminating
letters on such major subjects were streaming from the pen of Shoghi Effendi,
he undertook the translation of two books. In a letter written on 4 July 1930
Shoghi Effendi says "I feel exceedingly tired after a strenuous year of
work, particularly as I have managed to add to my labours the translation of
the Íqán, which I have already sent to America." This was the first of his
major translations, Bahá'u'lláh's great exposition on the station and role of
the Manifestations of God, more particularly in the light of Islamic teachings
and prophecies, known as the Kitáb-i-Íqán of Book of Certitude. It was an
invaluable adjunct to the western Bahá'ís in their study of the Faith they had
embraced and infinitely enriched their understanding of Divine Revelation.
During that same year [1929-1930] the Guardian began work on
the second book published during this period, a work that was neither a
translation of Bahá'u'lláh's words nor one of Shoghi Effendi's general letters,
but which must be considered a literary masterpiece and one of his most
priceless gifts for all time. This was the translation of the first part of the
narrative compiled by a contemporary follower of both the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh
known as Nabil, which was published in 1932 under the title The Dawn-Breakers.
- Hand of the Cause Ruhiyyih Khanum (‘The Priceless Pearl’)
