Legal terms in the translations of Shoghi Effendi and in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Abstract

This presentation is in two halves. In the first half, the words which Shoghi Effendi renders as "law" or "laws" in his translations of the Baha'i scriptures are examined. The following terms are found: Sharí'ah or Sharí'at (plural shará'i') or Shar'; Hukm (plural ahkám); Námús (plural nawámís); Qánún (plural qawánín); Asl (plural usúl); Amr (plural awámir); Hadd (plural hudúd); Sunnah (plural sunan); and Fard (plural furúd). In the second half, these nine Arabic terms are taken and the use of them in the Aqdas is examined, in particular, the way that they are translated in the official translation.