Gleanings — §161

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 161 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

وإنّها لو تطلع بغتةً في وسط السّمآء یضرّ حرارتها الأشیآء کذلک فانظر في شمس المعاني لتکون من المطّلعین فإنّها لو تستشرق في أوّل فجر الظّهور بأنوار الّتي قدّر الله لها لیحترق أرض العرفان من قلوب العباد لأنّهم لن یقدرنّ أن یحملنّها أو یستعکسنّ منها بل یضطربنّ منها ویکوننّ من المعدومین

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Were it, all of a sudden, to manifest the energies latent within it, it would, no doubt, cause injury to all created things.… In like manner, if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the earliest stages of its manifestation, the full measure of the potencies which the providence of the Almighty hath bestowed upon it, the earth of human understanding would waste away and be consumed; for men’s hearts would neither sustain the intensity of its revelation, nor be able to mirror forth the radiance of its light. Dismayed and overpowered, they would cease to exist.

Translation Notes

وإنّها

wʾinnhá ʾ-n-n → “thee”

literal: that; indeed/verily; indeed

thee 21% verily 14% thou 14% now 7% moment 7% admit 7% recognize 7% “there 7% “verily 7% such 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §2: to recognize that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §430: I will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §2: to admit that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: Since Thou hast will-and-testamentW&T §36: I call upon Thee gleaningsGWB §2: Thee

لو

lú l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

تطلع

tṭlʿ ṭ-l-ʿ → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: rising-place; dawning-place; countenance

This form usually rendered as “riseth”, “discover”, “mayest” (11 occurrences)

riseth 20% discover 10% mayest 10% made 10% reveal 10% shine 10% realize 10% thou 10% haply 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the source fire-tabletFire §12: Revealer gleaningsGWB §160: it appeareth above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: Countenance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: shedding Thy radiance tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §17: May know the-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance will-and-testamentW&T §5: the angelic company

بغتةً

bghthan b-gh-t → “all”

literal: suddenly; suddenly, unexpectedly

all 25% come 25% sudden 25% unheralded 25%

gleaningsGWB §161: all of a sudden the-hidden-wordsHW §32: unheralded gleaningsGWB §228: is come the-hidden-wordsHW §152: of a sudden

وسط

wsṭ w-s-ṭ

literal: middle; middle, midst

SE rendered وإنّها (wʾinnhá), لو (lú), تطلع (tṭlʿ), بغتةً (bghthan), وسط (wsṭ), السّمآء (as-smáʾ), یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ) as “Were it, if, reveal, all of a sudden, cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…”

zenith 40% meridian 20% midmost 20% middle 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: meridian gleaningsGWB §469: to induce thee to intercede kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: our all.”the-hidden-wordsHW §63: to the zenith epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: the midmost gleaningsGWB §123: a Manifestation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: the zenith epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: middle

السّمآء

as-smáʾ s-m-w

literal: heaven

SE rendered وإنّها (wʾinnhá), لو (lú), تطلع (tṭlʿ), بغتةً (bghthan), وسط (wsṭ), السّمآء (as-smáʾ), یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), کذلک (kdhlk) as “Were it, if, reveal, all of a sudden, cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…, In like manner”

heaven 76% heavens 14% “heaven 4% “heaven” 2% visible 1% heavenly 1% tablet 0% exaltation 0% ascended 0% creation 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: of His Name fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §97: the realms above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §73: the invisible prayers-and-meditationsP&M §513: most excellent titles tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §44: My heaven

یضرّ

yḍrr ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm

This form usually rendered as “cause”, “may” (2 occurrences)

cause 50% may 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: to harm Thee gleaningsGWB §441: distress kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: injury prayers-and-meditationsP&M §675: or harm tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficulties will-and-testamentW&T §35: troubles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: to harm them that Thou didst trust gleaningsGWB §594: blind

حرارتها

ḥrárthá ḥ-r-r → “heat” Distinctive

literal: heat

This form usually rendered as “warmth”, “energies” (2 occurrences)

warmth 50% energies 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: describe them fire-tabletFire §7: warmth gleaningsGWB §588: silken Vesture kitab-i-iqanKIQ §207: describe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: silk the-hidden-wordsHW §135: righteous will-and-testamentW&T §38: to write epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the heat

الأشیآء

ash-shíáʾ sh-y-ʾ → “to all created things.…”

literal: thing; things

SE expanded to “to all created things.…”

all 47% things 23% created 18% creation 4% entire 4% things.” 2% thing 2% perishable 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: all things gleaningsGWB §479: whom He will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: willeth.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §626: Thou hast desired tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §9: that is epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §99: He willeth

کذلک

kdhlk dh-l-k → “thus”

literal: thus

thus 72% such 16% like 4% other 4% wise 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: for this purpose gleaningsGWB §182: To this kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: “Such prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: mine abasement the-hidden-wordsHW §3: By its aid will-and-testamentW&T §34: with this epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: that gleaningsGWB §161: In like manner

فانظر

fánẓr n-ẓ-r

literal: look; looking

SE rendered یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), کذلک (kdhlk), فانظر (fánẓr), شمس (shms), المعاني (al-mʿání) as “cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…, In like manner, the Sun, of Truth”

consider 16% gaze 16% look 16% contemplate 11% behold 11% eyes 11% “look 5% “witness 5% ponder 5% set 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: considering fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §190: turneth His eyes kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: to turn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: for the sake of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §306: fixing their eyes tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: resplendent Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §93: recall

المعاني

al-mʿání ʿ-n-y → “loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: meaning; meanings

This form usually rendered as “meaning”, “inner”, “divine” (56 occurrences)

meaning 21% inner 14% divine 11% mysteries 11% ma’ani 7% glory 7% knowledge 7% truths 7% hidden 7% spirit 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: the grace fire-tabletFire §26: grace gleaningsGWB §188: of glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: by ‘asking’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: to the-hidden-wordsHW §160: by the grace will-and-testamentW&T §6: in the aforementioned manner

ویکوننّ

wíkúnnn k-w-n → “they would cease”

literal: be; to be

SE expanded to “they would cease”

all 25% would 25% numbered 25% holdeth 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: is worth fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §48: is by reason of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: that ye may prayers-and-meditationsP&M §548: Thou art He tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

تستشرق

tstshrq sh-r-q → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: shining; east; shine

This form usually rendered as “within” (2 occurrences)

dayspring 24% hath 12% shineth 12% shining 10% shone 9% dawning-place 8% radiance 7% east 7% daysprings 6% shine 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: the Dawning-Place fire-tabletFire §18: the emblems gleaningsGWB §289: the Source kitab-i-iqanKIQ §147: to rise prayers-and-meditationsP&M §145: the revelation tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: beamed the-hidden-wordsHW §42: shine upon thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: beameth

أوّل

ʾawwl ʾ-w-l → “first”

literal: first; firstness; beginning

first 50% beginning 13% early 13% foundation 3% inception 3% firstly 3% nine 3% earliest 3% greatest 3% ever 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: Firstly gleaningsGWB §702: ere he kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thine own Firstness the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §58: falsely interpret epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: From the inception gleaningsGWB §364: First Leader

فجر

fjr f-j-r

literal: dawn

SE rendered فإنّها (fʾinnhá), لو (lú), تستشرق (tstshrq), أوّل (ʾawwl), فجر (fjr), الظّهور (aẓ-ẓhúr), بأنوار (bʾanúár), قدّر (qddr), الله (al-lh) as “were, manifest, at the earliest stages, its manifestation, hath bestowed, the providence of the Almighty”

dayspring 38% morning 13% dawn 13% daybreak 6% dawning-light 6% break 6% dawning-place 6% daystar 6% dawning 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: impious gleaningsGWB §67: the workers of iniquity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: wicked,—they prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: wicked doers epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: impious who murdered and pillaged gleaningsGWB §27: morning kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: break prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: have burst forth

الظّهور

aẓ-ẓhúr ẓ-h-r → “its manifestation”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

revelation 63% manifestation 15% dispensation 8% advent 3% appearance 3% coming 2% manifestations 2% most 1% hath 1% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: proclaiming fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §49: the manifestations thereof kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: letter prayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: and the Manifestation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

بأنوار

bʾanúár n-w-r

literal: light; lights; luminous

SE rendered تستشرق (tstshrq), أوّل (ʾawwl), فجر (fjr), الظّهور (aẓ-ẓhúr), بأنوار (bʾanúár), قدّر (qddr), الله (al-lh), لیحترق (líḥtrq) as “manifest, at the earliest stages, its manifestation, hath bestowed, the providence of the Almighty, consumed”

light 40% splendors 25% lights 15% brightness 6% effulgence 3% radiance 3% luminaries 3% dawning 2% effulgent 2% splendor 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: resplendent fire-tabletFire §9: the brightness gleaningsGWB §440: the effulgence kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: shining and resplendent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: illumined and inspired prayers-and-meditationsP&M §733: the effulgent light tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: exalted and glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §13: of My light

قدّر

qddr q-d-r → “hath bestowed” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “power”, “ordained”, “ordain” (182 occurrences)

power 23% ordained 18% ordain 17% hath 12% might 8% decreed 6% had 5% do 5% value 4% measure 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: its value fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §264: is able kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: measure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §4: Ponder for a moment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: through the power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

لیحترق

líḥtrq ḥ-r-q → “consumed” Distinctive

literal: burn; burned; burning

This form usually rendered as “may”, “all”, “burnt” (8 occurrences)

may 33% all 17% burnt 17% would 17% hath 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: were melted gleaningsGWB §651: The fire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §832: hath consumed me will-and-testamentW&T §51: the flame epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: were consumed gleaningsGWB §667: Burn away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: consumeth

أرض

ʾarḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; earth, land

earth 68% land 14% world 7% soil 2% city 2% holy 1% upon 1% peoples 1% all 1% mankind 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: country gleaningsGWB §713: lands kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: this earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and the earth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: My earth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: the land gleaningsGWB §541: mankind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: on

العرفان

al-ʿrfán ʿ-r-f → “of human understanding”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

SE expanded to “of human understanding”

knowledge 34% understanding 26% recognition 8% recognize 8% comprehension 7% know 6% recognizing 4% insight 3% wisdom 2% visualize 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: have known gleaningsGWB §219: faithful kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: Knowledge,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §153: hath set up tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §99: HAVE A NAME epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: acknowledging the

العباد

al-ʿbád ʿ-b-d

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE rendered لیحترق (líḥtrq), أرض (ʾarḍ), العرفان (al-ʿrfán), قلوب (qlúb), العباد (al-ʿbád), لأنّهم (lʾannhm), یقدرنّ (yqdrnn), یحملنّها (yḥmlnnhá) as “consumed, the earth, of human understanding, men’s hearts, for, sustain, the intensity of its revelation”