Gleanings — §255

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 255 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

فاعلموا بأنّ البلایا والمحن لم یزل كانت موكلة لأصفیآء الله واحبّائه ثمّ لعباده المنقطعین الّذین لا تلهیهم التّجارة ولا بیع عن ذكر الله ولا یسبقونه بالقول وهم بأمره لمن العاملین كذلك جرت سنّة الله من قبل ویجری من بعد فطوبی للصّابرین الّذین یصبرون في البأسآء والضّرّآء ولن یجزعوا من شیء وكانوا علی مناهج الصّبر لمن السّالكین....

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Know ye that trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen Ones of God and His beloved, and such of His servants as are detached from all else but Him, they whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of the Almighty, they that speak not till He hath spoken, and act according to His commandment. Such is God’s method carried into effect of old, and such will it remain in the future. Blessed are the steadfastly enduring, they that are patient under ills and hardships, who lament not over anything that befalleth them, and who tread the path of resignation.…

Translation Notes

فاعلموا

fáʿlmúá ʿ-l-m → “know”

literal: knowledge

know 75% ye 13% walk 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: signs fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §706: all created things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §97: of Qur’ánic 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 §144: peoples

البلایا

al-bláyá b-l-w → “trials and tribulations”

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

SE expanded to “trials and tribulations”

tribulations 38% tribulation 15% adversities 12% trials 6% afflictions 6% every 6% manifold 6% woes 6% all 3% ills 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: the tribulations I suffer fire-tabletFire §39: calamity gleaningsGWB §410: a fresh tribulation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: sore tried prayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: and the woes I suffer the-hidden-wordsHW §49: My trials will-and-testamentW&T §35: my distress epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: perpetually afflicted

والمحن

wálmḥn m-ḥ-n

literal: trial

SE rendered فاعلموا (fáʿlmúá), البلایا (al-bláyá), والمحن (wálmḥn), یزل (yzl), موكلة (múklh), لأصفیآء (lʾaṣfíáʾ) as “Know, trials and tribulations, lot, chosen Ones”

troubles 25% ills 25% most 25% trials 25%

gleaningsGWB §215: hath proved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: test prayers-and-meditationsP&M §38: of tests the-hidden-wordsHW §147: toil will-and-testamentW&T §35: the most grievous ordeal gleaningsGWB §24: proved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: tried prayers-and-meditationsP&M §210: by the tests

یزل

yzl z-w-l

literal: cease; to cease; decline

SE rendered فاعلموا (fáʿlmúá), البلایا (al-bláyá), والمحن (wálmḥn), یزل (yzl), موكلة (múklh), لأصفیآء (lʾaṣfíáʾ), الله (al-lh), واحبّائه (wáḥbbáʾh) as “Know, trials and tribulations, lot, chosen Ones, God, beloved”

hath 25% everlasting 13% time 13% ever 13% will 13% have 13% everlastingly 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: From time immemorial gleaningsGWB §649: time kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: Eternal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: of its transience the-hidden-wordsHW §113: perisheth will-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §266: eventide gleaningsGWB §387: throughout eternity

موكلة

múklh w-k-l → “ministers” Distinctive

literal: trust; agents; rely upon

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

ministers 23% put 19% trust 15% have 12% reliance 8% trusting 8% placed 4% lot 4% placeth 4% let 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: reliance upon Him gleaningsGWB §551: put his trust in God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §392: In Thee have tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: Rely the-hidden-wordsHW §9: to put thy trust epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: to put his reliance gleaningsGWB §489: and put their confidence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §578: I have placed my

لأصفیآء

lʾaṣfíáʾ ṣ-f-w → “chosen ones”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones

chosen 69% every 8% saints 8% ones 8% all 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: chosen ones fire-tabletFire §27: and gleaningsGWB §126: exalted Attributes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: pure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §54: chosen me the-hidden-wordsHW §100: crystal pure will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: chosen

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “god”

literal: God; god

god 67% divine 18% god’s 4% lord 4% divinity 3% holy 1% other 1% mystic 1% heavenly 1% godhead 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: grace gleaningsGWB §191: God’s kitab-i-iqanKIQ §36: Truth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: O my God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Divinity gleaningsGWB §10: His

واحبّائه

wáḥbbáʾh ḥ-b-b → “beloved”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

loved 41% beloved 26% ye 15% love 6% followers 3% friends 3% such 3% steadfast 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: wish fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §666: wish and desire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: the lust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: that lover tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: I long tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §67: loving Me

لعباده

lʿbádh ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 34% men 30% people 21% man 3% all 3% peoples 3% unto 2% who 2% serve 2% mankind 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: the faithful fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §173: children of men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: the souls prayers-and-meditationsP&M §462: appeared tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §3: of others will-and-testamentW&T §38: are servants

المنقطعین

al-mnqṭʿín q-ṭ-ʿ → “detached”

literal: detachment; detached; severed

detached 30% rid 10% emblems 10% renounced 10% have 10% among 10% forsake 10% severed 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: broke the grasp gleaningsGWB §356: that thou mayest detach kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: It prayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: forsake themselves tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: severed ones tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: They passed will-and-testamentW&T §11: decisive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: of detachment

الّذین

adh-dhín l-dh-y → “who” Distinctive

literal: those who; who

This form usually rendered as “doubters”, “dependents”, “generations” (13 occurrences)

doubters 17% dependents 17% generations 17% unto 17% such 17% who 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: doubters gleaningsGWB §242: Him Who kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: Who prayers-and-meditationsP&M §76: by them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: He Who gleaningsGWB §412: and caused kitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: those prayers-and-meditationsP&M §676: He

تلهیهم

tlhíhm l-h-w → “beguile”

literal: for-her; for-him; distract

beguile 33% celestial 33% realm 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: for him gleaningsGWB §255: beguile kitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: celestial tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: Realm on High gleaningsGWB §503: is

التّجارة

at-tjárh t-j-r → “reputation” Distinctive

literal: merchant; merchants

This form usually rendered as “merchant”, “merchandise”, “earthly” (4 occurrences)

merchant 33% merchandise 33% earthly 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: reputation gleaningsGWB §255: merchandise will-and-testamentW&T §1: earthly calling epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: merchant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: of

بیع

bíʿ b-y-ʿ → “trading”

literal: pledge allegiance; sale; pledge of allegiance

trading 50% traffic 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: the trading gleaningsGWB §105: plighted gleaningsGWB §255: traffic

ذكر

dhkr dh-k-r → “remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy praise gleaningsGWB §71: through thy words kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: His most great testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: what I have spoken tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: I may remember thee

یسبقونه

ysbqúnh s-b-q

literal: precede; preceded; precedence

SE rendered بیع (bíʿ), ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín) as “traffic, remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act”

hath 46% surpassed 16% preceded 14% have 5% encompasseth 5% excelled 3% committed 3% escaped 3% surpasseth 3% surpassing 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: surpassed gleaningsGWB §134: escaped them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: “His prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: hath overflowed the-hidden-wordsHW §52: Hasten epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: preceded gleaningsGWB §610: have excelled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: grasp

بالقول

bálqúl q-w-l

literal: say; saying

SE rendered بیع (bíʿ), ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín), كذلك (kdhlk) as “traffic, remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act, Such”

words 27% saith 22% through 10% word 10% utterance 7% saying 5% speech 5% theme 5% sayings 5% argument 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: is called gleaningsGWB §575: his speech kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: I made reply prayers-and-meditationsP&M §691: let him say tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: Verily tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: ‘Call out to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: And the-hidden-wordsHW §2: counsel

وهم

whm w-h-m

literal: fancy

SE rendered ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín), كذلك (kdhlk), جرت (jrt) as “remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act, Such, carried into effect”

fancy 33% idle 17% vain 17% imaginings 17% doubt 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: the idle fancies fire-tabletFire §24: idle imaginings gleaningsGWB §668: vain and empty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: idle and faulty conception prayers-and-meditationsP&M §750: of their fancies tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of delusion the-hidden-wordsHW §144: FANCY will-and-testamentW&T §34: suspicion

لمن

lmn m-n → “from”

literal: who

SE rendered یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín), كذلك (kdhlk), جرت (jrt), سنّة (snnh), الله (al-lh) as “His commandment, act, Such, carried into effect, method, God’s”

whosoever 23% above 16% all 16% who 10% such 10% man 6% whoso 6% unto 6% feet 3% without 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: who fire-tabletFire §45: with hate gleaningsGWB §86: whom are ye gazing kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: these prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: all the denizens will-and-testamentW&T §35: over epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the man

العاملین

al-ʿámlín ʿ-m-l → “act”

literal: deed; deeds; work

act 40% who 20% ordained 20% conforming 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: discharge gleaningsGWB §694: “Observe kitab-i-iqanKIQ §215: conditions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §141: of men’s doings tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conforming the-hidden-wordsHW §39: Walk will-and-testamentW&T §39: enforceth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: taught

كذلك

kdhlk dh-l-k → “such”

literal: thus

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: this gleaningsGWB §30: that most exalted Spot kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: Lám prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: I have, thereby the-hidden-wordsHW §160: In this wise will-and-testamentW&T §34: as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: that gleaningsGWB §721: other things

جرت

jrt j-r-y → “have”

literal: flowing; flow; to flow

carried 50% have 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: have flowed gleaningsGWB §255: carried into effect kitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: receiveth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: were showered tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §45: knoweth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: floweth gleaningsGWB §37: streaming kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: universally enforced

سنّة

snnh s-n-h → “years”

literal: year; years; year-old

years 59% year 22% many 4% centuries 4% aeons 4% “the 4% ere 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: years gleaningsGWB §320: many years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: for years prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: ere the present year the-hidden-wordsHW §97: for long years epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: year gleaningsGWB §176: twenty years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: a

فطوبی

fṭúbí ṭ-w-b → “blessed”

literal: blessedness; blessed; blessedness, happiness

blessed 39% happy 29% well 14% great 7% how 4% “blessed 2% rejoice 2% “great 2% “great 1% blessedness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Blessed gleaningsGWB §286: them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: of Blessedness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: Great is my blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: Happy gleaningsGWB §51: “Great is thy blessedness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: How great is the blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: Blessed

للصّابرین

llṣṣábrín ṣ-b-r → “patience” Distinctive

literal: patience; patient

This form usually rendered as “have”, “endure”, “steadfastly” (10 occurrences)

have 13% endure 13% steadfastly 13% tarry 13% steadfast 13% hesitate 13% all 13% negligent 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: forbearance fire-tabletFire §40: to bear and endure gleaningsGWB §408: steadfast in patience kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: their fortitude prayers-and-meditationsP&M §352: of Thy forbearance the-hidden-wordsHW §142: My long-suffering epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: patient gleaningsGWB §255: steadfastly enduring

البأسآء

al-bʾasáʾ b-ʾ-s → “ills”

literal: adversity

ills 40% have 20% adversity 20% troubles 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: Wretched gleaningsGWB §448: Wretched is prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: my troubles gleaningsGWB §509: ills and troubles prayers-and-meditationsP&M §505: violence gleaningsGWB §255: ills prayers-and-meditationsP&M §165: of adversity gleaningsGWB §629: have encompassed

والضّرّآء

wálḍḍrráʾ ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm; hardship

This form usually rendered as “hardships”, “distress”, “tribulation” (10 occurrences)

hardships 14% distress 14% tribulation 14% trouble 14% ills 14% adversity 14% tribulations 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: harm gleaningsGWB §501: no harm kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: in no wise damage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §409: adversity tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficulties will-and-testamentW&T §35: troubles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the blind gleaningsGWB §569: the tribulation

ولن

wln l-n → “not”

literal: will not

SE rendered یصبرون (yṣbrún), البأسآء (al-bʾasáʾ), والضّرّآء (wálḍḍrráʾ), ولن (wln), یجزعوا (yjzʿúá), شیء (shíʾ), وكانوا (wkánúá) as “patient, ills, hardships, not, lament, anything, and who”

2 occurrences in corpus

gleaningsGWB §66: neither

یجزعوا

yjzʿúá j-z-ʿ → “lament”

literal: be-impatient; dismay; to be impatient/distressed

lament 50% cast 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: fear fire-tabletFire §40: Lament gleaningsGWB §590: impatient kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: dismay prayers-and-meditationsP&M §539: alarm gleaningsGWB §352: cast away prayers-and-meditationsP&M §502: empowereth me to endure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: My lamentations

شیء

shíʾ sh-y-ʾ → “anything” Distinctive

literal: thing; things

This form usually rendered as “things”, “nothing”, “all” (188 occurrences)

things 47% nothing 12% all 8% whatsoever 7% anything 7% created 5% else 4% creation 3% thing 3% none 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy Will gleaningsGWB §605: whatever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §61: same prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: Thou willest 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

وكانوا

wkánúá k-w-n → “and who”

literal: be; was; to be

have 40% who 20% joined 10% occupy 10% represented 10% busied 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: all would fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §128: had surely made kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: like those prayers-and-meditationsP&M §388: the soul tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyself tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

مناهج

mnáhj n-h-j

literal: ways; paths; way

SE rendered ولن (wln), یجزعوا (yjzʿúá), شیء (shíʾ), وكانوا (wkánúá), مناهج (mnáhj), الصّبر (aṣ-ṣbr) as “not, lament, anything, and who, resignation.…”