Gleanings — §196

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 196 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

قل إنّ دلیله نفسه ثمّ ظهوره ومن یعجز عن عرفانهما جعل الدّلیل له آیاته وهذا من فضله علی العالمین واودع في كلّ نفس ما یعرف به آثار الله ومن دون ذلك لن یتمّ حجّته علی عباده إن أنتم في أمره لمن المتفكرین إنّه لا یظلم نفسًا ولا یأمر العباد فوق طاقتهم وإنّه لهو الرّحمن الرّحیم

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Next to this testimony is His Revelation. For whoso faileth to recognize either the one or the other He hath established the words He hath revealed as proof of His reality and truth. This is, verily, an evidence of His tender mercy unto men. He hath endowed every soul with the capacity to recognize the signs of God. How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled His testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their hearts. He will never deal unjustly with anyone, neither will He task a soul beyond its power.

Translation Notes

قل

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

إن

ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

دلیله

d-l-l → “testimony”

literal: to argue; to demonstrate; proof

ثمّ

th-m-m → “then”

literal: then; thereafter; next; moreover

ظهوره

ẓ-h-r → “is His Revelation”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

ومن

m-n → “For whoso” Distinctive

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

یعجز

ʿ-j-z → “faileth”

literal: to be unable; to fail; to be exhausted; impotence; أعجاز (roots of trees/extremities) is Pattern II plural, distinct from ‘inability’ forms

عن

ʿ-n → “to”

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

عرفانهما

ʿ-r-f → “recognize”

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

جعل

j-ʿ-l → “hath established” Distinctive

literal: to make; to cause; to render; to appoint

آیاته

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: verse; sign; miracle; testimony; token

وهذا

h-dh-ʾ → “This is, verily, an evidence”

literal: this; that

فضله

f-ḍ-l → “tender mercy” Distinctive

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

علی

ʿ-l-w → “unto”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

العالمین

ʿ-l-m → “men” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

واودع

w-d-ʿ → “entrusted” Distinctive

literal: deposit, trust, pledge

في

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

كلّ

k-l-l → “every”

literal: for us; to us

نفس

n-f-s → “soul”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

literal: what; which; that which; relative pronoun; interrogative

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

آثار

ʾ-th-r → “signs”

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

الله

ʾ-l-h → “of God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

دون

d-w-n → “except Thee” Distinctive

literal: below; lower than; beneath

ذلك

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

لن

l-n → “neither”

literal: will not (negation of future)

یتمّ

t-m-m → “fulfilled”

literal: most complete; to complete; perfect; fullness

حجّته

ḥ-j-j → “His testimony”

literal: path, way; clear path

عباده

ʿ-b-d → “men”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

أنتم

literal: you

أمره

ʾ-m-r → “His Cause”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

المتفكرین

f-k-r → “that ponder”

literal: thoughts; ideas; fancies; opinions; to think; to reflect; to contemplate

إنّه

ʾ-n-n → “He”

literal: I, verily; behold I

لا

literal: no; not; negation particle

یظلم

ẓ-l-m → “deal unjustly”

literal: wronged; injustice; darkness

ولا

w-l-y → “Lord” Distinctive

literal: no; not; negation particle

فوق

f-w-q → “beyond”

literal: above; over; beyond

طاقتهم

ṭ-w-q → “who can abide” Distinctive

literal: strength; ability; capacity; power

وإنّه

h-w → “He”

literal: for them both; to both of them (dual pronoun)

الرّحمن

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

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