Gleanings — §259

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 259 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

أن یا قلم القِدم واذکر للأُمم ما ظهر في العراق إذ جآء رسول من معشر العلمآء وحضر تلقآء الوجه وسأل من العلوم أجبناه بعلم من لدنّا إنّ ربّك لعلّام الغیوب قال نشهد عندك من العلوم ما لا أحاطه أحد إنّه لا یكفي المقام الّذي ینسبونه النّاس إلیك فأتنا بما یعجز عن الاتیان بمثله من علی الأرض كلّها کذلك قضي الأمر في محضر ربّك العزیز الودود

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Tell out to the nations, O Pen of the Ancient of Days, the things that have happened in ‘Iráq. Tell them of the messenger whom the congregation of the divines of that land had delegated to meet Us, who, when attaining Our presence, questioned Us concerning certain sciences, and whom We answered by virtue of the knowledge We inherently possess. Thy Lord is, verily, the Knower of things unseen. “We testify,” said he, “that the knowledge Thou dost possess is such as none can rival. Such a knowledge, however, is insufficient to vindicate the exalted station which the people ascribe to Thee. Produce, if Thou speakest the truth, what the combined forces of the peoples of the earth are powerless to produce.” Thus was it irrevocably decreed in the court of the presence of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Loving.

Translation Notes

قلم

qlm q-l-m → “pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §148: Sublime Pen gleaningsGWB §387: His Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Pen of Power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: of Thy will-and-testamentW&T §13: clime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: with the pen gleaningsGWB §493: Pen of Revelation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine own exalted pen

القِدم

al-qidm q-d-m → “ancient of days”

literal: ancient; step; eternity

SE expanded to “Ancient of Days”

ancient 47% eternity 13% step 9% feet 7% everlasting 7% eternal 5% ever-abiding 4% steps 4% who 2% stepped 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: by the footsteps fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §537: by kitab-i-iqanKIQ §239: immortality prayers-and-meditationsP&M §670: the footsteps tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: by His presence the-hidden-wordsHW §26: on his way will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

واذکر

wádhkr dh-k-r → “tell out” Distinctive

literal: mention; 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 §60: reported gleaningsGWB §251: awakened kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: His most great testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §363: in remembrance of Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

للأُمم

llʾumm ʾ-m-m → “nations”

literal: nations

nations 42% peoples 30% kindreds 6% all 6% adoring 3% human 3% generations 3% such 3% among 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: of the nations fire-tabletFire §13: the peoples gleaningsGWB §182: the Mother kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: the peoples and kindreds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §4: nation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §758: mothers the-hidden-wordsHW §104: mother’s epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: Mother

ظهر

ẓhr ẓ-h-r → “have happened” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “appeared”, “manifested” (105 occurrences)

hath 42% appeared 17% manifested 9% revealed 9% made 8% have 4% fulfilled 4% uncovered 4% perpetrated 2% back 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: uttered fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §196: is His Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §123: unveil prayers-and-meditationsP&M §750: their Begetter tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

العراق

al-ʿráq ʿ-r-q → “veins”

literal: vein; veins

veins 33% vein 17% every 17% arabian 17% lineage 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: vein fire-tabletFire §50: veins prayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: my veins tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: Arabian will-and-testamentW&T §18: lineage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: every pulsating vein

جآء

jáʾ j-y-ʾ

literal: come; came; to come

SE rendered للأُمم (llʾumm), ظهر (ẓhr), العراق (al-ʿráq), جآء (jáʾ), رسول (rsúl), معشر (mʿshr), العلمآء (al-ʿlmáʾ), وحضر (wḥḍr), تلقآء (tlqáʾ) as “the nations, have happened, ‘Iráq, the messenger, congregation, the divines, had delegated to meet, presence”

come 21% hath 14% strike 14% summoned 7% arrived 7% arriveth 7% reached 7% came 7% reacheth 7% promise 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §83: I came gleaningsGWB §572: He came unto them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: cometh prayers-and-meditationsP&M §200: reached epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: hath reached gleaningsGWB §506: did bring kitab-i-iqanKIQ §159: came unto prayers-and-meditationsP&M §329: came

رسول

rsúl r-s-l → “messenger”

literal: messenger; messengers

apostle 60% messenger 31% apostle?” 2% muḥammad 2% messengers 2% muhammad 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: sent down gleaningsGWB §198: and Messengers of old kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: send prayers-and-meditationsP&M §255: hast entrusted tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: of the Messengers the-hidden-wordsHW §71: wafted will-and-testamentW&T §53: treatises epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: His Apostle

معشر

mʿshr ʿ-sh-r → “congregation”

literal: assembly; association; associate

concourse 28% leaders 22% congregation 17% kings 11% company 6% people 6% ye 6% members 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: Our fellow-prisoners gleaningsGWB §260: ye congregation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §115: intercourse prayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: have communed the-hidden-wordsHW §145: commune will-and-testamentW&T §43: company epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: Consort gleaningsGWB §507: Twenty

العلمآء

al-ʿlmáʾ ʿ-l-m → “the divines”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

divines 62% learned 18% leaders 9% doctors 2% priests 2% jewish 2% clerics 2% exalted 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: people fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §219: Standard kitab-i-iqanKIQ §209: attainments prayers-and-meditationsP&M §491: Aware as I am tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §57: is My knowledge

وحضر

wḥḍr ḥ-ḍ-r → “majesty”

literal: presence, majesty

majesty 38% honor 13% had 13% suited 13% have 13% stood 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: the gleaningsGWB §259: the court kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: Sádiq prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: to Thee for shelter the-hidden-wordsHW §122: His holy will-and-testamentW&T §3: His Holiness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: of Him gleaningsGWB §440: Gather ye together

تلقآء

tlqáʾ l-q-y → “presence” Distinctive

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

This form usually rendered as “before”, “brought”, “when” (29 occurrences)

before 63% brought 11% when 11% set 5% face 5% faced 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: concerning the Divine Presence fire-tabletFire §1: of Thy Countenance gleaningsGWB §109: proclamation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: attaining the presence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §249: beloved tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: the Kingdom of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §72: We have revealed unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §41: sowing the seeds

الوجه

al-wjh w-j-h

literal: face

SE rendered معشر (mʿshr), العلمآء (al-ʿlmáʾ), وحضر (wḥḍr), تلقآء (tlqáʾ), الوجه (al-wjh), وسأل (wsʾal), العلوم (al-ʿlúm), أجبناه (ʾajbnáh), بعلم (bʿlm) as “congregation, the divines, had delegated to meet, presence, questioned, certain sciences, answered, the knowledge”

sake 57% face 19% countenance 12% wholly 2% bright 2% whose 2% friendly 2% light 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: proceeded fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §70: on your faces kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: meanings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §619: hath set her face tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §16: thy face unto Mine

وسأل

wsʾal s-ʾ-l → “questioned”

literal: ask

questioned 50% asked 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: I implore Thee gleaningsGWB §265: prayer and entreaty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §835: we beseech Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the suppliant gleaningsGWB §179: entreat prayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: I beg epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: ask

أجبناه

ʾajbnáh j-w-b → “answered”

literal: answer; answerer; answer, reply

answer 39% answered 15% reply 12% answerer 9% ready 6% heeded 6% replied 3% replies 3% answering 3% made 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: to answer fire-tabletFire §4: Answerer gleaningsGWB §39: the answer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: answering, said prayers-and-meditationsP&M §163: meet to answer them tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: hearkened epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: ready to answer gleaningsGWB §166: reply

لدنّا

ldnná l-d-n → “divine” Distinctive

literal: divine

This form usually rendered as “who”, “unto”, “part” (47 occurrences)

who 30% unto 20% part 10% decreed 10% one 10% inherently 10% consequences 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: on the part of gleaningsGWB §259: inherently possess kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: divine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §807: unto Thee by the-hidden-wordsHW §155: My divine epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: of gleaningsGWB §286: consequences kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: divine Knowledge!”

ربّك

rbbk r-b-b → “thy lord”

literal: Lord; lord

lord 95% god 4% thee 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: its Lord gleaningsGWB §549: of Truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: divine decree prayers-and-meditationsP&M §345: omnipotence tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §2: Holy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: of Divinity

الغیوب

al-ghíwb gh-y-b → “of things unseen”

literal: unseen

SE expanded to “of things unseen”

things 63% invisibles 25% secret 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: the seen and unseen gleaningsGWB §499: all beings, visible and invisible kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: unassisted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §366: the secret things tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: absent the-hidden-wordsHW §90: hidden epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the visible gleaningsGWB §109: invisible

قال

qál q-w-l → “said”

literal: say; said; saying

said 57% hath 12% saith 10% say 7% have 3% answered 3% made 3% doth 2% reply 2% replied 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: called gleaningsGWB §230: I kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: their saying prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: saying: “O tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: Verily tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: ‘Call out to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: And the-hidden-wordsHW §2: counsel

نشهد

nshhd sh-h-d → “testify,””

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

testify 64% bear 18% recognize 9% testified 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: have borne fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §244: To this kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: to suffer martyrdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §41: bearest witness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §46: Seek a martyr’s death

عندك

ʿndk ʿ-n-d → “possess” Distinctive

literal: with; at; with/at

This form usually rendered as “thee”, “thou”, “mouth” (53 occurrences)

thee 38% thou 21% mouth 8% presence 8% possessions 5% possessest 5% possess 5% which 5% dost 3% things 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: estimation of gleaningsGWB §629: that they may kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: inspired by God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §430: in the days the-hidden-wordsHW §72: to Me will-and-testamentW&T §47: in the presence of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: belong unto God gleaningsGWB §474: neither trustworthy

أحاطه

ʾaḥáṭh ḥ-w-ṭ → “encompassed”

literal: encompassing; encompass; encompassed

encompassed 40% hath 16% envelop 11% pervaded 7% embraced 7% have 4% comprehend 4% all-encompassing 4% surrounded 4% surround 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: have encompassed fire-tabletFire §9: enveloped gleaningsGWB §305: encompassed Us kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: encompassed the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §381: assault the-hidden-wordsHW §98: beset will-and-testamentW&T §32: compassed me round epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: neglect

أحد

ʾaḥd ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: one; anyone; oneness

SE rendered عندك (ʿndk), العلوم (al-ʿlúm), أحاطه (ʾaḥáṭh), أحد (ʾaḥd), یكفي (ykfí), المقام (al-mqám), ینسبونه (ynsbúnh) as “possess, the knowledge, rival, is insufficient, the exalted station, ascribe”

one 28% any 17% anyone 15% none 13% man 13% neighbor 4% incomparable 2% alone 2% another’s 2% king 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Incomparable gleaningsGWB §181: commoners kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: Lamp prayers-and-meditationsP&M §133: glory tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §28: others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: any one gleaningsGWB §103: Singleness

یكفي

ykfí k-f-y → “suffice” Distinctive

literal: suffice; sufficient; sufficiency

This form usually rendered as “insufficient”, “will”, “would” (4 occurrences)

insufficient 33% will 33% would 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: suffice gleaningsGWB §595: can satisfy the needs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §82: content ourselves prayers-and-meditationsP&M §820: it would suffice the-hidden-wordsHW §18: Be thou content will-and-testamentW&T §34: still they rested gleaningsGWB §510: be Thy sufficing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Sufficient

المقام

al-mqám q-w-m → “the exalted station”

literal: station; place

SE expanded to “the exalted station”

station 55% connection 12% place 6% most 5% seat 5% such 5% spot 3% another 3% court 2% instance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: primarily and fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §708: station of kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: the Day of Resurrection prayers-and-meditationsP&M §794: bade me arise tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: she rose

ینسبونه

ynsbúnh n-s-b → “relationship” Distinctive

literal: relation

This form usually rendered as “who”, “ascribe”, “impute” (5 occurrences)

who 33% ascribe 33% impute 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: who, though they bear gleaningsGWB §383: the distance kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: have charged prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: in acknowledgment of its relationship the-hidden-wordsHW §30: to will-and-testamentW&T §43: connection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §34: against

النّاس

an-nás n-ʾ-s → “the people”

literal: people; people, mankind; people/mankind

men 38% people 34% others 8% mankind 5% all 4% peoples 3% fellowmen 2% neighbor 2% men’s 1% wayward 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: men’s repudiation gleaningsGWB §139: They that heard Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: of the people will-and-testamentW&T §34: the souls of men epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: mankind gleaningsGWB §467: of his fellowmen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: hath epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: people

إلیك

ʾilík ʾ-l-y → “until” Distinctive

literal: to; to, until

This form usually rendered as “unto” (4 occurrences)

until 23% towards 23% unto 15% further 8% upon 8% such 8% need 8% turn 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: until gleaningsGWB §227: Such a one kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: to an prayers-and-meditationsP&M §99: to turn epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: unto gleaningsGWB §156: towards Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: in need prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: unto Thee

فأتنا

fʾatná ʾ-t-y → “produce”

literal: come; came; bring

come 48% produce 12% hath 10% appeared 7% will 5% bring 5% coming 5% came 5% utter 2% cometh 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: will bring gleaningsGWB §78: come down kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: giveth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: come to pass the-hidden-wordsHW §32: shall come epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: Produce thou gleaningsGWB §78: been prayers-and-meditationsP&M §496: descend

یعجز

yʿjz ʿ-j-z → “are powerless”

literal: powerlessness

can 40% faileth 20% powerless 20% frustrate 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: tree-stumps gleaningsGWB §14: incapable kitab-i-iqanKIQ §189: unable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: weakness will-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: helplessness gleaningsGWB §259: are powerless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity

بمثله

bmthlh m-th-l

literal: like; likeness; example

SE rendered فأتنا (fʾatná), یعجز (yʿjz), الاتیان (at-tíán), بمثله (bmthlh), الأرض (ar-rḍ), كلّها (kllhá), کذلك (kdhlk), قضي (qḍí) as “Produce, are powerless, produce.”, the earth, the combined forces, Thus, decreed”

consider 20% such 15% even 15% like 11% same 9% instance 9% similar 7% what 6% equal 4% likened 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: Thou art even as gleaningsGWB §453: your like kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: like unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: For prayers-and-meditationsP&M §103: comparison the-hidden-wordsHW §4: image epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: same as gleaningsGWB §438: such things as

الأرض

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “the earth”

literal: earth; earth/land; land

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 §110: in this land fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §532: on the earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §364: Thy land the-hidden-wordsHW §69: the same land epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §151: the earth fire-tabletFire §3: on gleaningsGWB §295: or in the earth

كلّها

kllhá k-l-l → “all”

literal: all; every; all, every

all 62% whole 5% every 5% combined 5% successive 5% one 5% over 5% days 5% wholly 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: hour gleaningsGWB §669: the highest expressions kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: one and prayers-and-meditationsP&M §260: and the mightiest of potentates tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: be the-hidden-wordsHW §49: For will-and-testamentW&T §36: whomsoever

کذلك

kdhlk dh-l-k → “thus”

literal: thus

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: Unto this gleaningsGWB §182: To this kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: “Such prayers-and-meditationsP&M §847: that thereby the-hidden-wordsHW §160: In this wise will-and-testamentW&T §34: as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: this gleaningsGWB §254: by such means as these

قضي

qḍí q-ḍ-y → “decreed”

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

hath 25% fulfilled 15% decreed 15% have 10% happened 10% decided 5% decision 5% ordained 5% preordained 5% committed 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: been fulfilled fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §509: have befallen kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §546: hast determined the-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordained epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: elapsed

الأمر

al-ʾamr ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause

SE rendered الأرض (ar-rḍ), كلّها (kllhá), کذلك (kdhlk), قضي (qḍí), الأمر (al-ʾamr), محضر (mḥḍr), ربّك (rbbk), العزیز (al-ʿzíz), الودود (al-wdúd) as “the earth, the combined forces, Thus, decreed, the court, thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Loving”