# Words of Wisdom: Wilmette Institute faculty notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Note by Robert Stockman:
> 
> One of the tablets we are focusing on is the
> Asl-i-Kullu'l-Khayr  or "Words of Wisdom" as it is usually translated into
> English.  What would be a more literal translation?  I ask this of those who
> know Arabic and Persian.
> 
> The tablet is relatively short; it may be found in *Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,*
> pages 155-157.  It is one of the most favorite tablets to read at Feasts and
> holy days because of its beautiful, short aphorisms.  What is the essence of
> wisdom? love? religion? detachment?  The tablet describes each of these and
> more.  "The source of all learning is the knowledge of God, exalted be His
> glory" is one of the quotations the Guardian chose to adorn one of the doors
> of the House of Worship in Wilmette.
> 
> There is nothing at all about this tablet in Taherzadeh's four volumes.  I
> believe it is completely undated; no one is sure when it was revealed.  It
> is generally thought to be an Akká period tablet, but I recently heard a
> talk where the speaker suggested the Words of Wisdom may actually be a
> Baghdad-period revelation!  This is the conclusion one would draw from its
> style, which is closer to the Hidden Words and the Seven and Four Valleys
> than anything else.  But, of course, Bahá'u'lláh can re-use a style any time
> in His revelation, and indeed he often returns to themes that were prominent
> in the earliest period of His ministry.  Hence the use of the tablet's style
> to date it is a shaky method, unless there is corroborating evidence.
> 
> I have also never seen any information about the recipient of the tablet.
> The lack of information about the tablet compounds the mystery that
> surrounds it.
> 
> Note by Iraj Ayman:
> 
> Here is the translation of the title "Asl-i-Kul'l Khayr": 
> asl is translated by Shoghi Effendi in the Gleanings as "the essence" or "the
> very root and essence"; kul means "all"; khayr means "good"; hence Shoghi Effendi has translated  kul'l khayr as "all good."
> 
> Therefore the translation of the title of this Tablet is the essence of all 
> good. However, the Guardian has translated that Tablet and named it "Words of 
> Wisdom" which better presents the content of that Tablet. He enclosed that 
> translation with His letter of May 6, 1023 to the National Spiritual
> Assembly in
> North America. This is what He has written in that letter:
> 
>  "P.S.  I enclose a copy of my translation of Bahá'u'lláh's Words of
> Wisdom, 
> which you will feel at liberty to circulate amongst the friends."
>          (Shoghi Effendi:  Bahá'í Administration, Page: 49)
>
> — *Words of Wisdom: Wilmette Institute faculty notes (Used by permission of the curator)*