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Qayyūm al-asmā' - Translations

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] 

Introduction

سورة العلماء

Sūrat al-`ulama (The Surah of the `Ulama').

 

QA. III

[3]

Introduction

سورة الايمان

Sūrat al-īmān  (The Surah of Security).

 

QA. IV

[4] 

Introduction

سورة المدينة

  Sūrat al-madīna  (The Surah of the City).

 QA. V

[5] 

Introduction

سورة  يوسف 

Sūrat  Yūsuf  (The Surah of Joseph).

QA VI

[6] 

Introduction

سورة  الشهادة 

Sūrat al-shahāda (The Surah of the Testimony).

QA VII

[7] 

Introduction

سورة الزيارة

The Sūrat al-ziyāra (The Surah of the Visitation).

QA VIII

[8] 

Introduction

سورة التوحيد

Surat al-Tawhid (The Surah of the Divine Unity).

QA IX

[9] 

Introduction

سورة السر

Sūrat al-sirr (The Surah of the Mystery).

QA X [IX]

[10 [9]

Introduction

 سورة العماء  

Sūrat al-`amā'  (The Surah of the Theophanic Cloud).

QA XI

[11]

Introduction

سورة السطر

Sūrat al-Satr (The Surah  of the [Alphabetical] Script). 

QA XII

[12] 

 Introduction

سورة العاشوراء

Sūrat al-`Ashura' (The Surah of `Ashura').

QA XIII

[13]

Introduction

 سورة الفردوس

Sūrat al-Firdaws (The Surah  of Paradise).

QA XIV

[14]

Introduction

سورة القدس 

Sūrat al-Quds (The Surah of Holiness).

QA XV

[15]

Introduction

سورة المشية

Sūrat al-Mashiyya (The Surah of the Divine Will).

QA XVI

[16]

Introduction

سورة العرش

Sūrat al-`Arsh (The Surah of the Throne).

QA XVII

[17]

Introduction

سورة الباب   

Sūrat al-Bab (The Surah of the Gate).

QA XVIII

[18]

 Introduction

سورة الصراط

Sūrat al-sirat (The Surah of the Straight Path).

QA XIX

[19]

Introduction

سورة السيناء

Sūrat al-Sina' (The Surah of Sinai).

 

QA XX

[20]

Introduction

سورة النور

Sūrat al-Nur (The Surah of Light).

 

 QA XXI

[21]

 Introduction

سورة البحر

Sūrat al-Bahr (The Surah of the Ocean).

 

QA XXII

[22]

Introduction

سورة الماء

Sūrat al-Ma' (The Surah of the Watery Expanse).

QA XXIII

[23]

Introduction

سورة العصر

Sūrat al-`Asr (The Surah of the Forenoon).

QA XXIV

[24]

Introduction

سورة القدر

Sūrat al-Qadar (The Surah of the Destiny). 

 QA XXV

[25]

Introduction

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]

Introduction

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]

Introduction

 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   

Sūrat al-Fāṭima 

(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]

Introduction

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

سورة الهو  

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]

 Introduction

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]

Introduction

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

Introduction

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

Introduction

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).

 QA. LXXXV

[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).

 QA. LXXXVIII

[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]

Introduction

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]

Introduction

 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]

 Introduction

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]

Introduction

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]

Introduction

سورة المؤمنين

Sūrat al-Mu'minin (The Surah of the Believers).