Gleanings — §233

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 233 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

تلک مدینة فیها سطعت رائحة الوصال وانجذب بها المخلصون إلی مقرّ القرب والقدس والجمال طوبی لقاصد قصد وفاز و شرب رحیق اللّقآء من بحر عنایة ربّه العزیز الحمید

Shoghi Effendi Translation

It is the city in which the sweet savors of reunion have breathed, which have caused the sincere lovers of God to draw nigh unto Him, and to gain access to the Habitation of holiness and beauty. Happy is the wayfarer that directeth his steps towards this city, that gaineth admittance into it, and quaffeth the wine of reunion, through the outpouring grace of his Lord, the Gracious, the All-Praised.

Translation Notes

تلک

t-l-k → “It is” Distinctive

literal: those; that; those (feminine)

مدینة

m-d-n → “city”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

فیها

f-y → “in”

literal: in it; in them

سطعت

s-ṭ-ʿ → “glowing” Distinctive

literal: shining; radiant; splendid; emanating

رائحة

r-w-ḥ → “sweet savors” Distinctive

literal: banner; standard; flag; sign; banner, standard, flag, ensign

الوصال

w-ṣ-l → “of reunion”

literal: reunion; union; meeting; connection

وانجذب

j-dh-b → “to draw nigh”

literal: to be drawn; to be attracted

بها

b-h-w → “All-Glorious” Distinctive

literal: by it; by him; with it

المخلصون

kh-l-ṣ → “the sincere lovers”

literal: sincere; devoted; pure one

إلی

ʾ-l-y → “to”

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

مقرّ

q-r-r → “Habitation”

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

القرب

q-r-b → “nearness”

literal: place of sacrifice; altar

والقدس

q-d-s → “of holiness”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

والجمال

j-m-l → “and beauty”

literal: beauty; comeliness

طوبی

ṭ-w-b → “Happy”

literal: happiness; blessedness; felicity

لقاصد

q-ṣ-d → “purpose” Distinctive

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

وفاز

f-w-z → “attain”

literal: to attain; to gain; to succeed; to win

شرب

sh-r-b → “quaffeth” Distinctive

literal: to drink; to imbibe

رحیق

r-ḥ-q → “wine”

literal: wine; pure drink; choice beverage (metaphorical for divine knowledge and love)

اللّقآء

l-q-y → “Presence”

literal: opposite; facing; in front of; towards

من

m-n → “from”

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

بحر

b-ḥ-r → “ocean”

literal: sea; ocean

عنایة

ʿ-n-y

literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense

ربّه

r-b-b → “of his Lord”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

العزیز

ʿ-z-z → “the Gracious” Distinctive

literal: glory; might; honor; dignity; power; majesty

الحمید

ḥ-m-d → “the All-Praised”

literal: praise; to praise

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Kitáb-i-Íqán

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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 ¶

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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.

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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

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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

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160 ¶

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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 ¶