Gleanings — §297

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 297 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

شهدوا أنفسهم عجزآء عن ذلک قاموا علی المکر ویأتون في کلّ حین بمکر جدید لیضیع به أمر الله قل فویل لکم تالله بذلک یضیع أنفسکم وإنّ ربّکم الرّحمن لغنيّ عن العالمین ولن یزیده شيء ولن ینقصه أمر إن آمنتم فلأنفسکم وإن کفرتم یرجع إلیکم وکان ذیله مقدّسًا عن دنس المشرکین أن یا عبد المؤمن بالله

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And when they realized their powerlessness to achieve their purpose, they arose to plot against Him. Witness how every moment they devise a fresh device to harm Him, that they may injure and dishonor the cause of God. Say: Woe be to you! By God! Your schemings cover you with shame. Your Lord, the God of mercy, can well dispense with all creatures. Nothing whatever can either increase or diminish the things He doth possess. If ye believe, to your own behoof will ye believe; and if ye believe not, ye yourselves will suffer. At no time can the hand of the infidel profane the hem of His Robe.

Translation Notes

شهدوا

shhdúá sh-h-d → “testify” Distinctive

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

This form usually rendered as “realized” (2 occurrences)

testify 25% witness 17% bear 15% visible 8% testifieth 8% beareth 7% martyrdom 7% behold 6% have 4% witnessed 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: found fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §380: really kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: hath proclaimed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §649: all things visible tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: dost witness the-hidden-wordsHW §3: see

أنفسهم

ʾanfshm n-f-s → “own”

literal: soul; souls

own 41% themselves 31% souls 10% proper 3% themselves.” 3% selves 3% uttered 3% hearts 3% within 3% lives 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: the One gleaningsGWB §454: Be fair in your judgment kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: petty-minded souls prayers-and-meditationsP&M §198: Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §158: are they will-and-testamentW&T §25: believers

عجزآء

ʿjzáʾ ʿ-j-z → “powerlessness”

literal: powerlessness

powerlessness 25% powerless 25% all 25% impotent 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: frustrate gleaningsGWB §327: futility kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §729: His powerlessness will-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thy powerlessness gleaningsGWB §297: powerlessness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the miracle

قاموا

qámúá q-w-m → “arose”

literal: station; people; place

rose 25% risen 25% have 25% arisen 6% arose 6% turned 6% resolved 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: most exalted ranks fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §374: are equal kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §222: surest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §598: most sublime station tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: own station

بمکر

bmkr m-k-r → “device”

literal: plot, scheme; scheme, plot; plotting

device 20% devices 20% evil 20% malicious 20% mischief-maker 20%

gleaningsGWB §704: mischief-maker gleaningsGWB §475: devices gleaningsGWB §68: malicious gleaningsGWB §475: evil plotter gleaningsGWB §297: device

ویأتون

wíʾatún ʾ-t-y → “come” Distinctive

literal: come

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

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 §98: is come gleaningsGWB §81: will be proclaimed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: giveth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §134: came to pass the-hidden-wordsHW §32: shall come epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: come gleaningsGWB §692: hath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: come to pass

حین

ḥín ḥ-y-n → “moment”

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: the occasions gleaningsGWB §74: From the moment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: season prayers-and-meditationsP&M §98: one the-hidden-wordsHW §154: now epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: very moment gleaningsGWB §214: times prayers-and-meditationsP&M §810: at

جدید

jdíd j-d-d → “fresh”

literal: new; renewal; renew

new 70% fresh 15% thyself 3% life 3% new-born 3% themselves 3% present 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: thyself gleaningsGWB §46: regenerated and made new kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: made new.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §515: the souls are renewed the-hidden-wordsHW §117: strive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: renew gleaningsGWB §176: fresh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §52: new-born light

لیضیع

líḍíʿ ḍ-y-ʿ → “wasteth” Distinctive

literal: waste; wasted

This form usually rendered as “harm”, “shame”, “bring” (3 occurrences)

harm 33% shame 33% bring 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: wasteth gleaningsGWB §187: have tarnished the fair name prayers-and-meditationsP&M §785: undermine gleaningsGWB §297: harm prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: undermined gleaningsGWB §685: dim the luster, or stain gleaningsGWB §215: dishonoreth gleaningsGWB §577: bring shame

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 §206: Godhead gleaningsGWB §204: her God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: Word prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: of God gleaningsGWB §191: God’s

فویل

fúyl w-y-l → “woe”

literal: woe; woe, destruction; woe, calamity

woe 90% bewail 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: Woe betide thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: “Woe epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: and woe kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: bewail epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: woe betide him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: Woe, then epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: woe betide epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: woe

لکم

lkm l-k-m → “you”

literal: to you; for-you

2 occurrences in corpus

بذلک

bdhlk dh-l-k → “thus” Distinctive

literal: thus

This form usually rendered as “thereupon”, “wherefore”, “unto” (75 occurrences)

thereupon 33% wherefore 13% unto 7% yet 7% purpose 7% such 7% schemings 7% lám 7% “such 7% mine 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: this gleaningsGWB §254: by such means as these kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: In such wise prayers-and-meditationsP&M §847: that thereby the-hidden-wordsHW §160: In this wise will-and-testamentW&T §34: with this epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: Wherefore gleaningsGWB §188: Such

الرّحمن

ar-rḥmn r-ḥ-m → “god of mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful; the Merciful

SE expanded to “God of mercy”

merciful 40% mercy 20% compassionate 20% all-merciful 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: His mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §519: Have mercy kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: Him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §408: Thy loving-kindness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §89: celestial

لغنيّ

lghnín gh-n-y → “can well dispense”

literal: rich; wealth; riches

SE expanded to “can well dispense”

all-possessing 37% rich 33% dispense 7% afford 3% self-sufficient 3% all 3% can 3% independent 3% truth 3% enrich 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the All-Possessing gleaningsGWB §665: rich ones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: independence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §522: their souls enriched tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: singeth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: eternal wealth the-hidden-wordsHW §128: all-possessing,”epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: possessest shall profit

العالمین

al-ʿálmín ʿ-l-m → “all creatures”

literal: world; worlds

worlds 53% all 31% world 5% whole 3% earth 2% men 2% creation 2% entire 1% people 1% peoples 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: know not fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §589: the entire creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: Christian divines prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: to Thy will tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §14: seekest thou enlightenment

ولن

wln l-n

literal: will not

SE rendered ربّکم (rbbkm), الرّحمن (ar-rḥmn), لغنيّ (lghnín), العالمین (al-ʿálmín), ولن (wln), یزیده (yzídh), شيء (shíʾ), ولن (wln), ینقصه (ynqṣh), أمر (ʾamr) as “Lord, God of mercy, can well dispense, all creatures, increase, Nothing whatever, diminish, the things He doth possess”

2 occurrences in corpus

gleaningsGWB §66: neither

یزیده

yzídh z-y-d → “increase”

literal: increase; increased

shall 50% increase 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: waxed greater and greater gleaningsGWB §160: increase kitab-i-iqanKIQ §206: extravagance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §266: increased will-and-testamentW&T §35: waxed fiercer epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: grievous their woes gleaningsGWB §321: “Increase prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: waxeth

ینقصه

ynqṣh n-q-ṣ → “imperfect” Distinctive

literal: deficient; deficiency; decrease

This form usually rendered as “detracting”, “diminish”, “cause” (4 occurrences)

detracting 25% diminish 25% cause 25% withheld 25%

gleaningsGWB §536: cause Him any loss kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: imperfect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §839: to be withheld gleaningsGWB §297: diminish kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: deficient gleaningsGWB §254: of detracting

آمنتم

ámntm ʾ-m-n → “ye believe” Distinctive

literal: believe

This form usually rendered as “have” (2 occurrences)

faith 27% believer 14% have 14% belief 11% believe 7% faithful 7% believed 7% trusted 5% hath 5% true 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: Trustees gleaningsGWB §251: have believed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: faith—the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: firmly believed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: have ye believed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: hath believed gleaningsGWB §530: have already recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §169: the Faith

کفرتم

kfrtm k-f-r → “ye believe not”

literal: disbelieve; disbelieved; disbeliever

SE expanded to “ye believe not”

ye 67% cast 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: forgive gleaningsGWB §35: blasphemy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §159: disbelieved in prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: and disbelieved tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: deny will-and-testamentW&T §34: denied Thy wondrous Signs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: unbelievers gleaningsGWB §359: believed not

یرجع

yrjʿ r-j-ʿ → “ye yourselves will suffer”

literal: return; returning; to return

SE expanded to “ye yourselves will suffer”

return 20% will 10% ye 10% befit 10% returneth 10% against 10% can 10% must 10% pertaineth 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: to turn aside gleaningsGWB §468: send Us back kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: turneth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: befit only tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: repaired to the-hidden-wordsHW §36: and returning will-and-testamentW&T §27: to be offered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: return

إلیکم

ʾilíkm ʾ-l-y

literal: to; to, toward; to, until

SE rendered آمنتم (ámntm), فلأنفسکم (flʾanfskm), کفرتم (kfrtm), یرجع (yrjʿ), إلیکم (ʾilíkm), وکان (wkán), ذیله (dhílh), مقدّسًا (mqddsan) as “ye believe, to your own behoof, ye believe not, ye yourselves will suffer, hem, profane”

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: upon gleaningsGWB §227: Such a one kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: to an prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: unto Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: until this gleaningsGWB §156: towards Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: in need prayers-and-meditationsP&M §99: to turn

وکان

wkán k-w-n

literal: be; to be

SE rendered فلأنفسکم (flʾanfskm), کفرتم (kfrtm), یرجع (yrjʿ), إلیکم (ʾilíkm), وکان (wkán), ذیله (dhílh), مقدّسًا (mqddsan), دنس (dns), المشرکین (al-mshrkín) as “to your own behoof, ye believe not, ye yourselves will suffer, hem, profane, infidel”