Gleanings — §143

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 143 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

پیدایش ایشان در جهان یکسان نه و هر یک برفتار و کردار جداگانه پدیدار و در میان خوردی و بزرگی نمودار ولی ایشان مانند ماه تابان است چنانچه او هر گاهی بنمایش جداگانه پدیدار با آنکه هیچ گاهی او را کاهش و نیستی نه پس دانسته شد که این نه بیشی و کمی است ولی

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The measure of the revelation of the Prophets of God in this world, however, must differ. Each and every one of them hath been the Bearer of a distinct Message, and hath been commissioned to reveal Himself through specific acts. It is for this reason that they appear to vary in their greatness. Their Revelation may be likened unto the light of the moon that sheddeth its radiance upon the earth. Though every time it appeareth, it revealeth a fresh measure of its brightness, yet its inherent splendor can never diminish, nor can its light suffer extinction.

Translation Notes

پیدایش

p-y-d → “measure of the revelation”

literal: manifest; visible; apparent

ایشان

ʾ-y-sh → “Prophets”

literal: that; it (object pronoun with suffix)

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

جهان

j-h-ʾ-n → “this world”

literal: world; universe

یکسان

y-k-s → “equalled”

literal: the same; uniform; equal; alike

نه

n-h-y

literal: end; ended; utmost

هر

h-r → “Each and every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

یک

y-k → “one”

literal: one; a single

برفتار

r-f-t → “fled” Distinctive

literal: slander; calumny; fabrication; false accusation

کردار

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to perform

جداگانه

j-d-ʾ → “distinct”

literal: new, novel, renewed; novelty, innovation

پدیدار

p-d-y-d

literal: manifest, apparent; appearing; manifest

میان

m-y-n

literal: between; among; amid; in the midst of

خوردی

kh-w-r-d

literal: smallness, littleness, minuteness; childhood

بزرگی

b-z-r-g → “greatness”

literal: great; large; important; grandeur

نمودار

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to appear

ولی

w-l-y

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

مانند

m-ʾ-n → “remain”

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

ماه

m-ʾ-h → “moon”

literal: moon; month

تابان

t-ʾ-b → “Orb”

literal: to repent; to turn back; to return

است

b-w-d

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

چنانچه

ch-n-n

literal: thus; in such manner; as

او

h-w-w → “it” Distinctive

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

گاهی

g-ʾ-h

literal: sometimes; at times; occasionally

با

b-ʾ-ʾ

literal: to; with; by

آنکه

ʾ-n

literal: that; indeed; that, to

هیچ

h-y-ch → “any”

literal: nothing; any; not a single

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

کاهش

k-h-sh

literal: decrease; diminution; reduction

نیستی

n-y-s-t → “is not” Distinctive

literal: to be; to exist

پس

p-s

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

دانسته

d-ʾ-n

literal: to know, deem, consider, suppose

شد

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

این

ʾ-y-n

literal: this; these

بیشی

b-y-sh

literal: increase; abundance; more; greater; excess

کمی

k-m

literal: as; like; just as; in the manner that; decrease; fewness; scarcity; little; failure; defeat; lack of success; misfortune

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶