Translations of Surahs of the
Qayyūm al-asmā'
of Sayyid `Alī Muhammad Shirazi, the Bāb (1819-1850).
by
Stephen N. Lambden
Under Revision and Completion 1980s-2021 - Complete, sometimes annotated translations of the first twenty + Surahs and more besides can be accessed below, In some mss. of the QA Surah titles differ from those listed below.
Last partially revised and updated 11-03-2021.
Joseph and Zuleikha
On this page and the associated links will be found manuscript texts, introductions to and translations of (ultimately all of) the Surahs (chapters) of the around 300-400 page Arabic Qayyum al-asma' (lit. "The Self-Subsisting Loci of the the Divine Names" = QA.) of Sayyid `Ali Muhammad Shirazi, the Bab (1819-1850 CE). According to Babi-Baha'i primary sources and traditions this work was commenced or gradually communicated over a forty day period from the evening of May 22nd 1844 / 1260 AH when the Bab met with his first major disciple in his home in Shiraz, the Persian born first of the Hurufat al-Hayy ("Letters of the Living"), Mulla Muhammad Husayn Bushru'i (c.1813-1849). The translations linked below were made after consultation of a variety of mss. some dating back to the earliest years of the six year mission of the Bab (1844-1850). It goes without saying that these translations, largely complsted from the 1980s until 2020 remain provisional or beta versions under constant revision and correction. Academic Beta draft translations largely based on QA ms. INBMC III have now been completed for QA Surahs I-XXII + XXVIII, XXIX and several others (1-22+28-9 etc.), By autumn/ September 2021 the first thirty QA surahs and several beyond this should have been completed.
Towards a Critical edition and Translation of the Qayyum al-asma' of the Bab
QA. I
The Sūrat al-mulk : Introduction
سورة الملك
Sūrat al-mulk (The Surah of the Dominion).
QA. II
[2]
سورة العلماء
Sūrat al-`ulama (The Surah of the `Ulama').
QA. III
[3]
سورة الايمان
Sūrat al-īmān (The Surah of Security).
QA. IV
[4]
سورة المدينة
Sūrat al-madīna (The Surah of the City).
QA. V
[5]
سورة يوسف
Sūrat Yūsuf (The Surah of Joseph).
QA VI
[6]
سورة الشهادة
Sūrat al-shahāda (The Surah of the Testimony).
QA VII
[7]
سورة الزيارة
The Sūrat al-ziyāra (The Surah of the Visitation).
QA VIII
[8]
سورة التوحيد
Surat al-Tawhid (The Surah of the Divine Unity).
QA IX
[9]
سورة السر
Sūrat al-sirr (The Surah of the Mystery).
QA X [IX]
[10 [9]
سورة العماء
Sūrat al-`amā' (The Surah of the Theophanic Cloud).
QA XI
[11]
سورة السطر
Sūrat al-Satr (The Surah of the [Alphabetical] Script).
QA XII
[12]
سورة العاشوراء
Sūrat al-`Ashura' (The Surah of `Ashura').
QA XIII
[13]
سورة الفردوس
Sūrat al-Firdaws (The Surah of Paradise).
QA XIV
[14]
سورة القدس
Sūrat al-Quds (The Surah of Holiness).
QA XV
[15]
سورة المشية
Sūrat al-Mashiyya (The Surah of the Divine Will).
QA XVI
[16]
سورة العرش
Sūrat al-`Arsh (The Surah of the Throne).
QA XVII
[17]
سورة الباب
Sūrat al-Bab (The Surah of the Gate).
QA XVIII
[18]
سورة الصراط
Sūrat al-sirat (The Surah of the Straight Path).
QA XIX
[19]
سورة السيناء
Sūrat al-Sina' (The Surah of Sinai).
QA XX
[20]
سورة النور
Sūrat al-Nur (The Surah of Light).
QA XXI
[21]
سورة البحر
Sūrat al-Bahr (The Surah of the Ocean).
QA XXII
[22]
سورة الماء
Sūrat al-Ma' (The Surah of the Watery Expanse).
QA XXIII
[23]
سورة العصر
Sūrat al-`Asr (The Surah of the Forenoon).
QA XXIV
[24]
سورة القدر
Sūrat al-Qadar (The Surah of the Destiny).
QA XXV
[25]
سورة الخاتم
Sūrat al-Khatam (The Surah of the Seal).
QA XXVI
[26]
Introduction
سورة الحل
[الحد]
Sūrat al-Hall [Hadd].
(The Surah of the Lawful [Foreordained Limit]).
QA XXVII
[27]
Introduction
سورة الابواب
Sūrat a-Abwab (The Surah of the Gates).
QA XXVIII
[28]
Introduction
سورة القرابة
Sūrat al-Qaraba (The Surah of the Kinsfolk).
QA XXIX
[29]
سورة الحورية
Sūrat al-ḥuriyya (The Surah of the Maiden-Houri).
QA XXX
[30]
Introduction
سورة التبليغ
Sūrat al-Tabligh (The Surah of the Instruction).
QA XXXI
[31]
Introduction
سورة العز
Sūrat al-`Izz (The Surah of the Divine Grandeur).
QA XXXII
[32]
سورة الحي
Sūrat al-hayy (The Surah of the Living One).
QA XXXIII
[33]
Introduction
سورة النصر
Sūrat al-Nasr (The Surah of Victory).
QA XXXIV
[34]
Introduction
سورة الاشارة
Sūrat al-Ishara (The Surah of the Intimation).
QA XXXV
[35]
Introduction
سورة العبودية
Sūrat al-`Ubudiyya (The Surah of Servitude).
QA XXXVI
[36]
Introduction
سورة العدل
Sūrat al-`Adl (The Surah of the Divine Justice).
QA XXXVII
[37]
Introduction
سورة التعبير
Sūrat al-Ta`bir (The Surah of the Interpretation).
QA XXXVIII
[38]
Introduction
سورة الفاطمة
(The Surah al-Fāṭima [bint Khuwaylid]).
QA XXXIX
[39]
Introduction
سورة الشكر
Sūrat al-Shukr (The Surah of Thankfulness).
QA XL
[40]
Introduction
سورة الانسان
Sūrat al-Insan (The Surah of Humankind).
QA XLI
[41]
Introduction
سورة الكتاب
Sūrat al-Kitab (The Surah of the Book).
QA XLII
[42]
Introduction
سورة العهد
Sūrat al-`Ahd (The Surah of the Covenant).
QA XLIII
[43]
Introduction
سورة الوحدة
Sūrat al-Wahda (The Surah of Oneness).
QA XLIV
[44]
سورة الروياء
Sūrat al-Ruya' (The Surah of the Vision [I]).
QA XLV
[45]
Introduction
سورة الروياء
Sūrat al-Ruya' (The Surah of the Vision [II]).
QA. XLVI
[46]
Introduction
Sūrat al-Huwa (The Surah of the Divine Ipseity).
QA XLVII
[47]
Introduction
سورة المرآت
Sūrat al-Mi'rat (The Surah of the Mirrors).
QA. XLVIII
[48]
Introduction
سورة الحجة
Sūrat al-Hujjat (The Surah of the Proof).
QA. XLIX
[49]
سورة الندأ
Sūrat al-Nidā' (The Surah of the Eschatological Call).
QA. L
[50]
Introduction
سورة الاحكام
Sūrat al-aḥkām (The Surah of the Decrees [I]).
QA. LI
[51]
Introduction
سورة الاحكام
Sūrat al-aḥkām (The Surah of the Decrees [II]).
QA. LII
[52]
Introduction
سورة الفضل
Sūrat al-Fadl (The Surah of the Divine Bounty).
QA. LIII
[53]
Introduction
سورة الصبر
Sūrat al-Sabr (The Surah of Patience).
QA. LIV
[54]
سورة الغلام
Sūrat al-Ghulam (The Surah of the Youth).
QA. LV
[55]
Introduction
سورة الركن
Sūrat al-Rukn (The Surah of Pillar).
QA. LVI
[56]
Introduction
سورة الامر
Sūrat al-Amr (The Surah of the Divine Command).
QA. LVII
[57]
Introduction
سورة الحسن
Sūrat al-Husn (The Surah of Excellence).
QA. LVIII
[58]
Introduction
سورة الاكسير
Sūrat al-Iksir (The Surah of the Elixir).
QA. LIX
[59]
Introduction
سورة الافئدة
Sūrat al-Af'ida (The Surah of the Inmost Hearts).
QA. LX
[60]
Introduction
سورة الذكر
Sūrat al-Dhikr (The Surah of the Remembrance).
QA. LXI
Introduction
سورة الحسين
Sūrat al-Husayn (The Surah of Husayn).
QA. LXII
Introduction
سورة الاولياء
Sūrat al-Awliya' (The Surah of the Intimates).
QA. LXIII
Introduction
سورة الرحمة
Sūrat al-Rahmat (The Surah of the Divine Mercy).
QA. LXIV
Introduction
سورة الحمد
Sūrat al-Hamd (The Surah of the Laudation).
QA. LXV
Introduction
سورة الغيب
Sūrat al-Ghayb (The Surah of the Occultation).
QA. LXVI
Introduction
سورة الاحدية
Sūrat al-Ahadiyya (The Surah of the Divine Oneness).
QA. LXVII
Introduction
سورة الانشاء
Sūrat al-Insha' (The Surah of Origination).
QA. LXVIII
Introduction
الوعيدسورة
Sūrat al-Wa`id (The Surah of the Promises).
QA. LXIX
Introduction
سورة التربيع
Sūrat al-Tarbi` (The Surah of Fourfold [Talisman]).
QA. LXX
Introduction
سورة القسط
Sūrat al-Qist (The Surah of the Just Balance).
QA. LXXI
Introduction
سورة القلم
Sūrat al-Qalam (The Surah of the Pen).
QA. LXXII
Introduction
سورة البصير
Sūrat al-Basir (The Surah of the Insightful One).
QA LXXIII
سورة الكهف
Sūrat al-Kahf (The Surah of the Cave).
QA. LXXIV
Introduction
سورة الخليل
Sūrat al-Khalil (The Surah of the Friend [of God]).
QA. LXXV
Introduction
سورة الشمس
Sūrat al-Shams (The Surah of the Sun).
QA LXXVI
سورة الورقة
Sūrat al-Waraqa (The Surah of te Leaf).
QA. LXXVII
Introduction
سورة السلام
Sūrat al-Salam (The Surah of Peacefulness).
QA. LXXVIII
Introduction
سورة الظهور
Sūrat al-Zuhur (The Surah of the Theophanic Dispendation).
QA. LXXIX
Introduction
سورة الكلمة
Sūrat al-Kalimat (The Surah of the Word).
QA. LXXX
[80]
Introduction
سورة الزوال
Sūrat al-Zawal (The Surah of the Declining Sun).
QA. LXXXI
[81]
Introduction
سورة الكاف
Sūrat al-Kaf (The Surah of the [letter] K ).
QA. LXXXII
[82]
Introduction
سورة الاعظم
Sūrat al-A`zam (The Surah of the Most Great).
QA. LXXXIII
[83]
Introduction
سورة الباء
Sūrat al-Ba' (The Surah of the [Letter] B).
QA. LXXXIV
[84]
Introduction
سورة الاسم
Sūrat al-Ism (The Surah of the Name).
[85]
Introduction
سورة الحق
Sūrat al-Haqq (The Surah of the Ultimate Reality).
QA. LXXXVI
[86]
Introduction
سورة السطر
or
سورة الطير
Sūrat al-Satr (The Surah of the [Alphabetical] Line)
Sūrat al-Tayr (The Surah of the Bird).
QA. LXXXVII
[87]
Introduction
سورة الانبياء
Sūrat al-Anbiya' (The Surah of the Prophets).
[88]
Introduction
سورة الابداع
Sūrat al-Ibda' (The Surah of the Cosmic Genesis).
QA. LXXXIX
[89]
Introduction
سورة الانسان
Sūrat al-Insan (The Surah of Humanity [II]).
QA XC
[90]
سورة التثليث
Sūrat al-Tathlith (The Surah of the One Threefold [Triangular Talisman]).
or
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Eschatological Killing).
سورة القتال
QA XCI
[91]
سورة التربيع
Sūrat al-Tarbi` (The Surah of the One Fourfold [Quadratic Talisman]).
or
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Eschatological Killing II).
QA XCII
[92]
Introduction
سورة المجلل
Sūrat al-Mujalla (The Surah of the Glorified).
or
الاشهاد سورة
Sūrat al-Irshad (The Surah of the Testimonial).
QA XCIII
[93]
سورة المجلل
Sūrat al-Mujallal (The Surah of the Transfigured)
or
سورة النحل
Sūrat al-Nahl (The Surah of the Bee[s]).
QA XCIV
[94]
Introduction
سورة التربيع
Sūrat al-Tarbi` (The Surah of the One Fourfold [Quadratic Talisman II]).
QA XCV
[95]
Introduction
سورة التثليث
Sūrat al-Tathlith (The Surah of the One Threefold [Triangular [Talisman II]).
QA XCVI
[96]
Introduction
سورة القتال
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Fighting in Battle [II]).
QA XCVII
[97]
Introduction
سورة القتال
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Fighting in Battle [III]).
QA XCVIII
[98]
Introduction
سورة الجهاد
Sūrat al-Jihad (The Surah of the Jihad [I]).
QA XCIX
[99]
Introduction
سورة الجهاد
Sūrat al-Jihad (The Surah of the Jihad [II]).
QA C
[100]
Introduction
سورة الجهاد
Sūrat al-Jihad (The Surah of the Jihad [III]).
QA CI
[101]
Introduction
سورة الجهاد
Sūrat al-Jihad (The Surah of the Jihad [IV]).
QA CII
[102]
Introduction
سورة القتال
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Fighting in Battle [III]).
QA CIII
[103]
Introduction
سورة القتال
Sūrat al-Qital (The Surah of the Fighting in Battle [IV]).
QA CIV
[104]
Introduction
سورة الاحكام
Sūrat al-Ahkam (The Surah of the Legal Judgements [III]).
QA CV
[105]
Introduction
سورة الاحكام
Sūrat al-Ahkam (The Surah of the Legal Judgements [IV]).
QA CVI
[106]
Introduction
سورة الجمعة
Sūrat al-Jum`a (The Surah of the [Friday] Gathering).
QA CVII
[107]
Introduction
سورة النكاح
Sūrat al-Nikah (The Surah of Women).
QA CVIII
[108]
Introduction
سورة الذكر
Sūrat al-Dhikr (The Surah of the Remembrance).
QA CIX
[109]
سورة العبد
Sūrat al-`Abd (The Surah of the Servant).
QA CX
[110]
Introduction
سورة السابقين
Sūrat al-Sabiqin (The Surah of the Forerunners).
QA CXI
[111]
سورة المؤمنين
Sūrat al-Mu'minin (The Surah of the Believers).
