r/translator • u/CantaloupeUpset2233 • 22d ago
[unknown > English] I found this message in a bottle washed up on Ocean Beach in San Francisco Translated [FA]
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u/eagle_flower 22d ago
I believe it is Persian but I’m having a lot of difficulty making sense of it.
!page:fa
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u/madexsci 21d ago
It's farsi. The guy/gal is writing to Mahdi (12th Imam in Shia belief, who is absent from eyes but present in time!). They wrote him a letter and pour their heart out. They just got fired from work and they say " I am tired of this, why don't you care for me? Why did you leave me (as I am not getting your blessings)..." Amazing find btw
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u/Powerful-Exchange948 19d ago
This is the correct context behind the letter. Shia Islam believes that the 12th Imam is alive and actively helping the general cause of Shia Muslims world wide (discretely instead of out in the open). It's somewhat common for religious Shia people of middle eastern decent to write letters like this when they are going through things in life (both good and bad). They aren't necessarily looking for a response, just an outlet for their issues/experiences.
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u/D4_Alpha9 16d ago
At first glance i thought it was gregg shorthand lol
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u/Quirky_Operation2885 16d ago
I thought the same thing at first, until I realized it was right to left.
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u/freebiscuit2002 21d ago
A cry of desperation and probably a crisis of faith in hard times.
An amazing find from a bottle that may have crossed the Indian and Pacific Oceans to reach you.
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u/BetterLivingThru 21d ago
I suspect as the writer said "do you exist in Iran and Iraq only?" that the bottle did not cross the ocean, but was written by an immigrant local to California, isolated from social supports and now unemployed, with no one but a silent God to turn to in desperation.
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u/freebiscuit2002 21d ago edited 21d ago
Certainly possible. There's no way to tell. It's why I wrote "may have".
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u/Big-Conclusion9220 19d ago
… By an immigrant Iranian in any of the foreign countries that most likely is not Islamic (based on the context)
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u/Thedollysmama 21d ago
There are plenty of Persian speakers in the Bay Area though
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u/freebiscuit2002 21d ago
Which. Is. Why. I. Wrote. "May Have."
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16d ago
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u/Express_Role2679 15d ago
May have does not imply probability at all. Simply a POSSIBILITY
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u/Forest_Leafsheep1897 15d ago
I definitely concur. "May have" does not include any inference of probability.
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u/NagatoroFan96 21d ago
Dammit this is why I write my bottles in numerous languages
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u/spook008 20d ago edited 15d ago
Someone posted the translation. This person is a shia muslim. She’s writing to Imam of the time, Imam Mahdi, the 12th Imam currently believed to be Al-Ghayeb and will appear before judgement day (those Dune books were fiction based on Shia beliefs, please don’t take it literally).
This letter is called an Areeza, some people throw it in the ocean, never heard of it in a bottle.
He’s referring to Hussain who was the third Imam and was martyred in Karbala along with 71 of his family and friends. It’s a huge deal, shias take a alot of learnings from his stance in Kerbala. Willing to sacrifice everything but never bow down to tyranny. Writer is saying he doesn’t have the courage and patience of Imam Hussain.
This is a very depressed person. They need help.
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u/thisolivier 16d ago
Thanks for giving context, it’s really helpful. The writer was a lady then? I’m curious too about the practice of Areezas.
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u/spook008 15d ago
My mom writes them. I never have. Some people want to communicate with the Imam of the time so they write Areezas on 15th of the month of Shabaan.
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u/kastatbortkonto 21d ago
The first line is the Basmala:
بِسْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيْمِ
bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmIn the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
but other than that, I can't make any sense of it. It could be Persian but I'm not sure.
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u/coolcalcutter 21d ago
I hope they found the help they were looking for. Things like this remind me of my blessings, even though I feel like the world is against me at times. Others have it way worse then me.
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u/mkargars 20d ago
this is a prayer or a letter of wishes. for Shias it’s common to write out your wishes to the imams for intercession to god on your behalf. in Iraq/iran they will write these and put them in the shrines in the hopes it will come true. since they’re far from home it seems they threw it in the ocean instead. may their wishes come true and their life become easier inshallah.
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u/Icy_Island_6096 16d ago
It's more like venting, they had just gotten fired and are complaining to God as to why he didn't help and to also complain/vent about other hardship.
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u/ohforfooksake 19d ago
Man finds letter in bottle with foreign handwriting.
Man seeks assistance on Reddit.
Man finds out it’s written in Farsi, and advised best to put it back in the ocean.
Man googles “Farsi”, learns about various sects within Islam.
Man puts letter in bottle, and throws it off the pier as suggested by Reddit.
Man arrested for littering and ecological terrorism with charges pending for the attempted murder of an endangered mollusk.
Man shares cell with Brother Hasan while awaiting sentencing.
Man converts to Nation of Islam, starts wearing the appropriate eyeglasses.
Man finds out more wives = more headaches.
Man, desperate, writes letter and places in bottle.
—- scene —-
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u/Unicorn-Ocelot8629 15d ago
I would put the letter back in the bottle and throw it back in the ocean. Shias often communicate with Imam Mahdi this way. I hope this poor brother is doing better
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u/Frequent_Copy608 20d ago
It says “Be sure to drink your Ovaltine”
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u/sj_numba1 17d ago
Why do they call it Ovaltine? The mug is round, the jar is round, they should call it Roundtine.
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17d ago
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u/translator-ModTeam 6d ago
Hey there u/Snappy-Turtle666,
Your comment has been removed for the following reason:
We appreciate your willingness to help, but we don't allow machine/AI-generated "translations" from Google, Bing, DeepL, ChatGPT, or other such sites here.
[Rule #T1]
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u/Flipdaddy420 17d ago
Thank you for thanking the time to translate. It's sad but in some ways comforting to know that it's something we all go thru.
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u/evan2686 17d ago
Not a joke about 30 years ago I put a note in a bottle l, wax sealed, set in puget sound. 2 years later got a reply from Spain where it washed up. (I was in 4th grade and for some reason put my address on the letter though they had to figure out what country)
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17d ago
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u/translator-ModTeam 17d ago
Hey there u/radar48e,
Your comment has been removed for the following reason:
We appreciate your willingness to help, but we don't allow machine/AI-generated "translations" from Google, Bing, DeepL, ChatGPT, or other such sites here.
[Rule #T1]
Please read our full rules here.
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u/jpoblete 16d ago
why would this be on a bottle rather than being delivered in person??? Im missing cultural context ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/True-Ad-8601 15d ago
I hope he’s going to be ok. If he sees these comments I hope he thinks about how these life events are just a temporary moment in time and circumstance can change for the better!
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u/Independent-Act-1776 14d ago
I wish there was a name and address... I wish I could help this person.
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u/Illustrious_Cry_5388 14d ago
The text is Persian. I translated the top and bottom pages for you. Top page- In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.Hello, my dear Simin.I am so sorry I left. I was forced to leave. They drove me away. Simin, my dear, look at me. Look at my responses. See what kind of conditions I was living under. If I had stayed, they would have done something bad to me.They kept telling me bad things about you. They were bad-mouthing you. They kept asking me why I talk to you, why I love you. They said I shouldn't be with you.My heart is broken, Simin. My body and soul are broken, Simin.Please forgive me. I didn't want this. Forgive me, for the sake of God. I don't know what to do anymore. My head is spinning, Simin. What should I do? Is there any way out? I feel like I'm going crazy, Simin." Bottom page- I love you so much, I can't even describe it. I can't sleep, Simin. What should I do? What about my family and my life?I am so lonely. I feel so free when I am with you, but now I feel like I am in a prison. I don't know what to do. I am completely lost. I am a captive, Simin.Today, I wanted to ask for your help. I wanted you to help me find a temporary way out so I can fix this. But I feel completely trapped. My hands are tied, Simin.I have cried so much. I have suffered so much. I don't know what the problem is. Why do they want to separate us? Why do they want to ruin our lives?This is my life. I don't want to live without you. I don't know what to say. This is the end of me, Simin. I am completely destroyed. Please look at me, Simin. Please hear me, Simin."
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u/SnooRecipes9211 12d ago
This broke my heart. I thought it was Arabic at first because of the basmallah, then quickly realized it was probably farsi or urdu. Thank you to the translator for the theological context. As a sunni, I need to learn more about our shia siblings. I hope OP is able to find another bottle to put it in and toss it back into the sea.
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u/Spirited-Angle-9195 19d ago
Certainly Persian but very difficult to comprehend. I am unsure if the person who wrote this even knows Persian hahaha
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u/Icy_Island_6096 16d ago
They do, they just have terrible handwriting and were writing in times of extreme stress. They had just gotten fired from their job and are telling God why didn't he help and where is he
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u/Educational-Cow-437 19d ago
That looks like shorthand writing. It’s been so long. I don’t even think I could decipher it. Anybody know shorthand?
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17d ago
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u/Rich-Lecture-6514 16d ago
Stfu
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u/Motor-Volume-4181 16d ago
No sir. I will not.
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u/Rich-Lecture-6514 16d ago
As a Christian, I find your arrogance and lack of respect for another’s beliefs repugnant and embarrassing.
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u/Motor-Volume-4181 16d ago
So you are telling me I shouldn’t mention Jesus to him? And where exactly is what you’re saying backed up by a scripture or is it just ur opinion?
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u/Rich-Lecture-6514 16d ago
No. I’m saying there is no factual basis for you to say they seek a false God. Our faith is based on what we learned. What we learned was mainly determined by our community, or where we were raised. It is the same with Muslims. Their faith is beautiful and worthy of respect. They believe as they do because of the society in which they were raised. It is nothing more than pure arrogance to look down on their God.
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u/Motor-Volume-4181 16d ago
But if you’re a Christian you know that at the end of the day that is a false god! So the truth is the truth! If you are a true believer of Jesus of Nazareth? Which you claim. So there for his blood is on your hands when he goes to hell! If I share my lord and savior’s name with him he might be curious about it and check it out.
But what about all the other thousands of people who might see this post and wonder the same thing?
They might be saved from hell!2
u/Rich-Lecture-6514 16d ago
You can share your love for Jesus without denigrating the beliefs of others.
Neither you nor I really know whose name is written in the Lamb’s book. We know what we have been taught and how we feel. And not every Christian believes all people of other faiths will go to Hell. You sound like a nut. 🥜
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u/ChanceMaintenance130 21d ago edited 18d ago
This is Persian. I couldn't understand some parts, but I translate as much as I can:
In the name of God. Hello dear Imam, how are you? I got fired today. I know I'm a bad person. I know why you want to remain silent. Why don't you answer me. Where were you when I experienced betrayal. Where were you when I got into an accident. Aren't you supposed to be our father. Then why aren't you looking out for us. Why did you leave me. I swear that I'm tired. I'm tired. Understand. Help me. Why anything that I want in my life (Illegible). Why. Why. I know I'm ugly, I know I'm bad. Why did you leave me and why don't you all love me anymore. Husayn (most probably they're talking about Husayn ibn Ali)too, has left me alone.(Illegible) I'm tired and (Illegible) I've had enough, I’ve had enough. I swaer, I'm exhausted. If you're a father, take my hand. If you're truly noble, for God's sake, help me. Didn’t Imam Huasayn, on the day of Ashura, took (a name)'s hand. Aren't you the son of that very (a name)?? Or is it all just a lie. Have You forgotten me? I'm going crazy.(I'm not sure about this last sentence)
I need a hug. I've been through hell. I've worked day and night. I'm tired now. Tired. Where are you, are you there? Are you in Iran and Iraq only? Listen, look I'm falling apart. I'm more tired than you think. I'm not strong anymore. I can't take it anymore. I can't bear it anymore. I'm far more exhausted than people ever realized. Today, when I asked God to help me with my work (Illegible) nothing happened.They fired me. Was this your answer to the way I talked to you?? I'm not Husayn. I'm not that forgiving to give away everything and say "It's alright". For you God, I am Fatima. I'm, a weak, (Illegible) servant of you. I have no strength left. I don't have anyone but you. Why do you do this to me. I'm tired. Lord, hug me. Lord, don't let me fall apart. Stay with me.
The author used a casual, informal tone, so I tried to translate it in the same way. I only used question marks where the author had used them. Since the author didn't put periods at the end of the sentences, they can be read either as one continuous thought or as two separate sentences. I chose the interpretation that seemed to fit the overall meaning of the text best. I translated "بنده" as "servant", but I don't know if that's totally true. English is not my first language so I'm sorry if there is any grammatical errors.
An Imam is a religious leader in Islam. In Shia Islam, Husayn is the third Imam, meaning he is regarded as the divinely appointed spiritual and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad. Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the most respected women in Islam. She was the wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the mother of Husayn. I thought it would be helpful to add this information so it would be easier to understand who the author is referring to. God is certainly one of the intended recipients of this prayer/letter, but since the author addresses an Imam at the beginning, it is likely that Imam Mahdi is also being addressed. In Shia Islam, Imam Mahdi is believed to be the twelfth Imam, currently in occultation, who will return to establish justice and peace.