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Gleanings — §144

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 144 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

جهان ناپایدار شایستهٴ اینگونه رفتار است چه هرگاه که خداوند بیمانند پیمبری را بسوی مردمان فرستاد بگفتار و رفتاری که سزاوار آنروز بود نمودار شد خواست یزدان از پدیداری فرستادگان دو چیز بود نخستین رهانیدن مردمان از تیرگی نادانی و رهنمائی بروشنائی دانائی دویم آسایش ایشان و شناختن و دانستن راههای آن پیمبران چون پزشگانند که بپرورش گیتی و کسان آن پرداخته‌اند

Shoghi Effendi Translation

It is clear and evident, therefore, that any apparent variation in the intensity of their light is not inherent in the light itself, but should rather be attributed to the varying receptivity of an ever-changing world. Every Prophet Whom the Almighty and Peerless Creator hath purposed to send to the peoples of the earth hath been entrusted with a Message, and charged to act in a manner that would best meet the requirements of the age in which He appeared. God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.

Translation Notes

جهان
j-h-ʾ-n → “ever-changing world”

literal: world; universe

ناپایدار
p-ʾ-y

literal: stable; lasting; permanent (negated: unstable; transient); apparent; visible; manifest

شایستهٴ
sh-y-d

literal: fitting, suitable, worthy, appropriate; worthy; fitting; befitting; suitable

رفتار
r-f-t → “fled” Distinctive

literal: to go; to pass; to have gone

چه
ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

که
k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

بیمانند
m-ʾ-n → “remain”

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

پیمبری
p-y-ʾ-m → “Prophet”

literal: covenant; bond; pledge; testament; to measure; to traverse; to pass

را
r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

بسوی
s-w-y → “to the” Distinctive

literal: level; equal; straight; upon a throne; resting upon; toward; to; direction of; other than; besides; except

مردمان
m-r-d → “peoples”

literal: rebellion; mutiny; revolt

فرستاد
f-r-s → “send”

literal: to send; sent

بگفتار
g-f-t → “said” Distinctive

literal: utterance; speech; word; discourse

سزاوار
s-z-w → “beseemeth”

literal: worthy; fitting; deserving; appropriate; suitable

آنروز
r-w-z → “day” Distinctive

literal: day; today; that-day

بود
b-w-d → “is”

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

نمودار
n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to appear

شد
sh-d

literal: to become; to be

خواست
kh-w-ʾ-s-t → “purpose”

literal: to wish, to desire, to want, to ask, to request; wish, desire, will

یزدان
y-z-d → “Divine”

literal: God, the Almighty (Persian term); divine; of God; Godly

از
ʾ-z

literal: from

پدیداری
p-d-y-d → “sending”

literal: manifest; visible; apparent

دو
d-w → “twofold”

literal: two; run; running

چیز
ch-y-z

literal: thing; something

نخستین
n-kh-s → “first”

literal: first; foremost

رهانیدن
r-h-ʾ → “rescue” Distinctive

literal: to deliver; to save; to rescue

تیرگی
t-y-r-g → “darkness”

literal: darkness; obscurity; gloom

نادانی
d-ʾ-n → “ignorance”

literal: call; voice; proclamation

رهنمائی
r-h → “guide”

literal: path; way; ways, paths

بروشنائی
r-w-sh-n → “illumine” Distinctive

literal: bright; make bright, illuminate; bright, illuminated

دویم
d-w-m → “as long as” Distinctive

literal: always; continually; perpetually; constantly

آسایش
ʾ-s-y → “well-being”

literal: well-being, happiness, prosperity, tranquility, ease, comfort

ایشان
ʾ-y-sh → “Prophets”

literal: that; it (object pronoun with suffix)

شناختن
sh-n-kh

literal: to know, recognize, acquaint oneself with

راههای
r-ʾ-h → “show Thy way” Distinctive

literal: paths; ways; roads; methods

آن
ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

پیمبران
p-y-m-b-r

literal: prophet; prophets

چون
ch-w-n

literal: since; when; as

پزشگانند
p-z-sh-k

literal: physician; doctor

بپرورش
p-r-w-r → “We beg of Thee” Distinctive

literal: nourishment; education; upbringing; rearing; sustenance

گیتی
g-y-t-y

literal: world; earthly; terrestrial

کسان
k-s-ʾ-n

literal: alike; equal; similar

پرداخته‌اند
p-r-d → “established”

literal: veil; have devoted; occupy

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