Gleanings — §247

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 247 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ثمّ اذكر یا عبد ما رأیت في المدینة حین ورودك لیبقی ذكرها في الأرض ویكون ذكری للمؤمنین فلمّا وردنا المدینة وجدنا رؤسائها كالأطفال الّذین یجتمعون علی الطّین لیلعبوا به وما وجدنا منهم من بالغ لنعلّمه ما علّمني الله ونلقي علیه من كلمات حكمة منیع ولذا بكینا علیهم بعیون السّرّ لارتكابهم بما نهوا عنه وإغفالهم عمّا خلقوا له وهذا ما أشهدناه في المدینة وأثبتناه في الكتاب لیكون تذكرة لهم وذكری للآخرین

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Narrate, O Servant, the things Thou didst behold at the time of Thine arrival in the City, that Thy testimony may endure amongst men, and serve as a warning unto them that believe. We found, upon Our arrival in the City, its governors and elders as children gathered about and disporting themselves with clay. We perceived no one sufficiently mature to acquire from Us the truths which God hath taught Us, nor ripe for Our wondrous words of wisdom. Our inner eye wept sore over them, and over their transgressions and their total disregard of the thing for which they were created. This is what We observed in that City, and which We have chosen to note down in Our Book, that it may serve as a warning unto them, and unto the rest of mankind.

Translation Notes

اذكر

idhkr dh-k-r → “remembrance” Distinctive

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

This form usually rendered as “call”, “relate”, “mention” (12 occurrences)

call 38% relate 13% mention 13% narrate 13% tell 13% recount 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy mention gleaningsGWB §247: a warning kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: referred to here prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: and the Object tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §5: name thy name

عبد

ʿbd ʿ-b-d → “servant”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servant 82% one 8% god 3% man’s 3% servant” 3% servant’s 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: cloisters fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §153: of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: mortals prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: Thy servant tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §12: trusted servants

رأیت

rʾayt r-ʾ-y → “thou didst”

literal: see; mirror; to see

found 25% flash 25% thou 25% perceived 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: We behold fire-tabletFire §28: Canst Thou see gleaningsGWB §86: Will ye not recognize kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: “What thinkest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §764: me to gaze on will-and-testamentW&T §32: seest me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: found fire-tabletFire §14: Thou seest

المدینة

al-mdính m-d-n → “city”

literal: city; cities

city 82% cities 5% great 4% habitation 4% persian 2% word 2% tabernacle 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: the citadels gleaningsGWB §247: in the City prayers-and-meditationsP&M §844: the Tabernacle epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: the City gleaningsGWB §558: that City prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: the habitation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: unto the cities gleaningsGWB §73: of the city

حین

ḥín ḥ-y-n → “time”

literal: time; time/moment

moment 40% hour 14% time 12% day 7% when 7% continually 7% while 5% times 5% soon 2% late 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: very moment gleaningsGWB §295: in the Day kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: season prayers-and-meditationsP&M §649: at a time the-hidden-wordsHW §154: now epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: late gleaningsGWB §537: continually prayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: this very moment

ورودك

wrúdk w-r-d → “of thine arrival”

literal: arrive

SE expanded to “of Thine arrival”

hath 24% have 21% befell 15% befallen 9% arrival 8% inflicted 8% attain 5% enter 4% entered 3% there 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: hath been gleaningsGWB §163: to persecute me kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: have come to pass prayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: have reached will-and-testamentW&T §5: dealt a epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: came gleaningsGWB §684: life-vein kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: entered into

لیبقی

líbqí b-q-y → “may endure”

literal: remaining; remain

remain 22% endureth 11% may 11% perish 11% will 11% shall 11% must 11% naught 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: remaining fire-tabletFire §30: hidden gleaningsGWB §566: throughout the eternity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Remnant of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §176: of Thine eternity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remained the-hidden-wordsHW §152: gone epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: liveth in God

الأرض

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ

literal: earth; earth/land; land

SE rendered حین (ḥín), ورودك (wrúdk), لیبقی (líbqí), ذكرها (dhkrhá), الأرض (ar-rḍ), ویكون (wíkún), ذكری (dhkrí), للمؤمنین (llmʾmnín), فلمّا (flmmá) as “the time, of Thine arrival, may endure, testimony, serve as, a warning, unto them that believe, We found”

earth 72% land 12% world 6% whole 2% men 2% all 2% heaven 2% upon 1% desolate 1% plain 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of the fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §638: the peoples of the earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §28: and on earth the-hidden-wordsHW §98: realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: in the land fire-tabletFire §3: on gleaningsGWB §234: land of the heart’s desire

ویكون

wíkún k-w-n → “thou” Distinctive

literal: be; was; to be

This form usually rendered as “will”, “future”, “may” (69 occurrences)

will 32% future 16% may 11% should 11% had 5% serve 5% entirely 5% could 5% filled 5% future.” 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: be fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §189: been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: worldly and impeding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: such be tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

للمؤمنین

llmʾmnín ʾ-m-n → “unto them that believe” Distinctive

literal: faith; believer; believe

This form usually rendered as “faithful”, “believed”, “truly” (4 occurrences)

SE expanded to “unto them that believe”

faithful 50% believed 25% truly 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: trust gleaningsGWB §285: believed kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: trustees kitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: have believed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §401: they have believed will-and-testamentW&T §28: loyalty epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: representatives of the people gleaningsGWB §151: of faith

فلمّا

flmmá l-m-m → “sooner”

literal: when

sooner 33% found 33% when 33%

gleaningsGWB §247: We found kitab-i-iqanKIQ §159: when gleaningsGWB §182: No sooner

وجدنا

wjdná w-j-d

literal: existence; find; existent

SE rendered للمؤمنین (llmʾmnín), فلمّا (flmmá), وردنا (wrdná), المدینة (al-mdính), وجدنا (wjdná), رؤسائها (rʾsáʾhá), كالأطفال (kálʾaṭfál), الّذین (adh-dhín), یجتمعون (yjtmʿún) as “unto them that believe, We found, upon Our arrival, in the City, its governors and elders, as children, gathered about”

found 50% perceive 25% inhale 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: hath recognized fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §706: attain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §210: Notwithstanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §498: can feel tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: they found the-hidden-wordsHW §11: that thou mayest find Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: are to be found

رؤسائها

rʾsáʾhá r-ʾ-s → “leadership” Distinctive

literal: leadership

This form usually rendered as “governors” (1 occurrences)

leadership 26% heads 16% chief 11% leaders 11% who 11% mine 5% after 5% governors 5% all 5% rank 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: chief jailer gleaningsGWB §247: its governors and elders kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: leaders tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: heaven will-and-testamentW&T §25: head epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: the leaders gleaningsGWB §202: after worldly leadership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: chief

كالأطفال

kálʾaṭfál ṭ-f-l → “as children”

literal: child; children; childhood

children 33% child 33% childhood 17% babe 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: childhood gleaningsGWB §247: as children kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: Babe epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: children kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: Child

یجتمعون

yjtmʿún j-m-ʿ → “gathered about”

literal: all; all, entire; group

all 76% every 7% whole 3% gather 3% number 2% each 2% gathered 2% have 2% one 1% great 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: mosque gleaningsGWB §520: lay up kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: these verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: with one consent tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gathered the-hidden-wordsHW §96: ever will-and-testamentW&T §32: flock

الطّین

aṭ-ṭín ṭ-y-n → “clay”

literal: clay; clay, mud, mire

clay 50% mire 25% besmirched 13% smirched 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: are besmirched with mire gleaningsGWB §405: smirched and mired epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: the mire gleaningsGWB §247: clay

لیلعبوا

lílʿbúá l-ʿ-b → “and disporting themselves”

literal: play; play/sport; player

SE expanded to “and disporting themselves”

disporting 40% play 20% disportest 10% playing 10% pastimes 10% have 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: disportest gleaningsGWB §503: play prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: have jested epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: playing gleaningsGWB §78: are disporting themselves gleaningsGWB §506: with your pastimes and gleaningsGWB §82: disporting themselves gleaningsGWB §612: as a play and

منهم

mnhm m-n

literal: from; who; from/of

SE rendered الطّین (aṭ-ṭín), لیلعبوا (lílʿbúá), وجدنا (wjdná), منهم (mnhm), بالغ (bálgh), لنعلّمه (lnʿllmh), علّمني (ʿllmní) as “clay, and disporting themselves, sufficiently mature, to acquire, hath taught”

others 80% some 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: by fire-tabletFire §45: with hate gleaningsGWB §454: your kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: these prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: all the dwellers will-and-testamentW&T §29: my epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: amongst you

بالغ

bálgh b-l-gh → “teach” Distinctive

literal: reach; reached; attainment

This form usually rendered as “sufficiently”, “exhortation” (2 occurrences)

sufficiently 50% exhortation 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: a sum fire-tabletFire §11: reached gleaningsGWB §135: culminated kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: consummate kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: liberal effusion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §850: strayed so far from Thee will-and-testamentW&T §55: endeavour proclaim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: attained

لنعلّمه

lnʿllmh ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: knowledge

acquire 33% reveal 33% know 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: familiar fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §398: know it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: he prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: have realized tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §99: TO BE WISE

ونلقي

wnlqí l-q-y

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

SE rendered بالغ (bálgh), لنعلّمه (lnʿllmh), علّمني (ʿllmní), الله (al-lh), ونلقي (wnlqí), علیه (ʿlíh), كلمات (klmát), حكمة (ḥkmh), منیع (mníʿ), ولذا (wldhá) as “sufficiently mature, to acquire, hath taught, God, words, wisdom, nor ripe for, which”

send 40% entrusted 20% reveal 20% bestow 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: delivered fire-tabletFire §33: to the Divine Presence gleaningsGWB §22: to attain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: of the “Divine Presence”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: who forsook tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: the Kingdom of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §97: of Him will-and-testamentW&T §41: sowing the seeds

علیهم

ʿlíhm ʿ-l-y → “over them” Distinctive

literal: upon; on

This form usually rendered as “rest”, “wronged”, “upon” (8 occurrences)

rest 20% wronged 20% upon 20% unto 20% fall 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: upon us gleaningsGWB §532: to your aid kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: glorified is He prayers-and-meditationsP&M §225: their the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: in gleaningsGWB §217: Thy tribulation

منیع

mníʿ m-n-ʿ → “hinder” Distinctive

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

This form usually rendered as “most”, “transcendent”, “exalted” (33 occurrences)

most 23% transcendent 18% exalted 14% sublime 9% inaccessible 9% mighty 9% all-highest 5% ripe 5% verily 5% glorious 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: prevented gleaningsGWB §23: shut out kitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: withhold the hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: kept tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §67: shall be hindered will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: could deter

بكینا

bkíná b-k-y → “wept”

literal: wept

weep 33% weepeth 22% wept 11% heavens 6% have 6% wouldst 6% didst 6% bitter 6% shed 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: weep gleaningsGWB §453: heavens wept prayers-and-meditationsP&M §422: to weep tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: shed tears epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: weepeth gleaningsGWB §154: wept prayers-and-meditationsP&M §350: my bitter wailing gleaningsGWB §490: have wept

بعیون

bʿíwn ʿ-y-n → “our inner eye”

literal: eye; eyes

SE expanded to “Our inner eye”

eyes 52% eye 13% springs 13% inner 4% witnessed 4% waters 4% all 4% revelation 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: appoint gleaningsGWB §101: distinct kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: same prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: with Thine own eye tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: those of all creation the-hidden-wordsHW §3: through the eyes will-and-testamentW&T §33: with Thine eye

السّرّ

as-srr s-r-r

literal: secret; secrets; secret, mystery

SE rendered منیع (mníʿ), ولذا (wldhá), بكینا (bkíná), علیهم (ʿlíhm), بعیون (bʿíwn), السّرّ (as-srr), لارتكابهم (lártkábhm), نهوا (nhúá), عنه (ʿnh), وإغفالهم (wʾighfálhm) as “nor ripe for, which, wept, over them, Our inner eye, their transgressions, their total disregard”

mystery 39% secret 19% secretly 10% privily 10% hidden 6% heads 3% innermost 3% am 3% inwardly 3% infinitesimal 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: satisfaction gleaningsGWB §726: gladness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: a couch prayers-and-meditationsP&M §516: Rejoice tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: of their hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §66: hidden will-and-testamentW&T §4: the Land of Mystery epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: by the mysteries

لارتكابهم

lártkábhm r-k-b → “committed” Distinctive

literal: commit; commit, perpetrate; to commit

This form usually rendered as “transgressions” (1 occurrences)

committed 21% perpetrated 17% commit 17% have 17% gave 7% ye 7% riding 3% followeth 3% transgressions 3% used 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: perpetrated gleaningsGWB §499: commit vile and contemptible kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: have wrought prayers-and-meditationsP&M §755: their evil doings tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §3: let the angelic spirits enter the-hidden-wordsHW §29: committeth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: gave full rein gleaningsGWB §300: have wittingly broken

نهوا

nhúá n-h-y

literal: end; ended; utmost

SE rendered بعیون (bʿíwn), السّرّ (as-srr), لارتكابهم (lártkábhm), نهوا (nhúá), عنه (ʿnh), وإغفالهم (wʾighfálhm), خلقوا (khlqúá) as “Our inner eye, their transgressions, their total disregard, they were created”

end 16% forbidden 12% ended 12% infinite 12% highest 12% forbiddeth 8% most 8% utmost 8% last 8% unnumbered 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: ended fire-tabletFire §29: of the gleaningsGWB §318: forbiddeth kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically forbidden kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: infinite prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: highest station tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §24: them that comprehend the-hidden-wordsHW §39: deny

عنه

ʿnh ʿ-n

literal: from; from, about; about

SE rendered بعیون (bʿíwn), السّرّ (as-srr), لارتكابهم (lártkábhm), نهوا (nhúá), عنه (ʿnh), وإغفالهم (wʾighfálhm), خلقوا (khlqúá), وهذا (whdhá) as “Our inner eye, their transgressions, their total disregard, they were created, This is”

beyond 14% well 14% fear 14% all 14% entering 14% behind 14% above 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: concerning gleaningsGWB §572: of all attachment to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: above epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: from gleaningsGWB §635: behind prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: from recognizing Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: to gleaningsGWB §532: fear of God

وإغفالهم

wʾighfálhm gh-f-l → “heedless” Distinctive

literal: heedless; heedlessness

This form usually rendered as “total” (1 occurrences)

heedless 26% heedlessness 16% waywardness 12% wayward 11% oblivious 10% unaware 7% have 6% negligence 5% forgetful 4% strayed 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: one gleaningsGWB §362: ignoring kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: “deprivation,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: be oblivious the-hidden-wordsHW §122: neglected epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: for my waywardness gleaningsGWB §296: in a far-gone error

خلقوا

khlqúá kh-l-q → “they were created”

literal: creation; create; created

SE expanded to “they were created”

created 60% creation 20% have 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: creation fire-tabletFire §40: wert created gleaningsGWB §171: man kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: creation no end prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: the creation tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §69: why epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: that people

وهذا

whdhá h-dh-ʾ → “this is”

literal: this; this (masculine); this (feminine)

SE rendered وإغفالهم (wʾighfálhm), خلقوا (khlqúá), وهذا (whdhá), أشهدناه (ʾashhdnáh), المدینة (al-mdính), وأثبتناه (wʾathbtnáh) as “their total disregard, they were created, This is, observed, City, have chosen to note”