Gleanings — §298

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 298 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

تالله لو أرید أن أذکر لک ما ورد عَلَيَّ لن تحمله النّفوس ولا العقول وکان الله علی ذلک شهید وإنّک أنت فاحفظ نفسک ولا تعقّب هؤلآء وکن في أمر ربّک لمن المتفکّرین أن اعرف ربّک بنفسه لا بدونه لأنّ دونه لن یکفیک بشيء ویشهد بذلک کلّ الأشیآء إن أنت من السّامعین أن اخرج عن خلف الحجاب بإذن ربّک العزیز الوهّاب ثمّ خذ کأس البقآء باسم ربّک العليّ الأعلی بین الأر

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O My servant that believest in God! By the righteousness of the Almighty! Were I to recount to thee the tale of the things that have befallen Me, the souls and minds of men would be incapable of sustaining its weight. God Himself beareth Me witness. Watch over thyself, and follow not the footsteps of these people. Meditate diligently upon the Cause of thy Lord. Strive to know Him through His own Self and not through others. For no one else besides Him can ever profit thee. To this all created things will testify, couldst thou but perceive it.

Translation Notes

تالله

tállh 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 §159: God is gleaningsGWB §204: her God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: mystic prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Divine gleaningsGWB §668: set

لو

lú l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

أرید

ʾaríd r-y-d → “i to” Distinctive

literal: desire

This form usually rendered as “wish”, “what”, “seeketh” (19 occurrences)

wish 38% what 8% seeketh 8% live 8% desire 8% attempt 8% hold 8% venture 8% ask 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: We have desired gleaningsGWB §492: thou desirest to achieve kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: intend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §784: and resolved tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §46: she did desire the-hidden-wordsHW §8: seekest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: disciples gleaningsGWB §492: in the days to come

أذکر

ʾadhkr dh-k-r → “recount” 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 §5: Thy mention gleaningsGWB §344: reference kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: quoting prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: to adequately praise Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

لک

lk l → “to thee”

literal: for; for you; for him

5 occurrences in corpus

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: His is

تحمله

tḥmlh ḥ-m-l → “sustaining” Distinctive

literal: bearing; endurance

This form usually rendered as “suffered”, “endured”, “bear” (6 occurrences)

suffered 40% endured 20% bear 20% forbearance 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: hath been willing to endure gleaningsGWB §523: laying the burden thereof kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sustaining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §225: hearing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: have sustained will-and-testamentW&T §48: my forbearance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: endured steadfastly gleaningsGWB §441: denounced

النّفوس

an-nfús n-f-s → “the souls”

literal: soul; souls

souls 61% men 15% soul 8% people 3% every 3% peoples 2% faithful 2% ones 2% officials 2% residents 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: a corrupt inclination gleaningsGWB §298: through His own Self kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: with my soul tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §142: passion will-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere

العقول

al-ʿqúl ʿ-q-l → “minds”

literal: intellect; minds; understand

mind 45% minds 20% understanding 10% every 5% limited 5% intellect 5% sound 5% intelligence 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §38: men endued with insight gleaningsGWB §322: every mind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: contemplate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §343: endued with understanding epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: judgment gleaningsGWB §124: sane mind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §94: sound of mind prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: intelligence

وکان

wkán k-w-n → “thou” Distinctive

literal: be; to be

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “had”, “past” (166 occurrences)

hath 27% had 15% past 12% can 12% numbered 6% lay 6% will 6% himself 6% whether 6% all 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: essence fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §556: worldly kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: should prayers-and-meditationsP&M §325: the essence tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

شهید

shhíd sh-h-d → “beareth me witness”

literal: witness; witnessed

SE expanded to “beareth Me witness”

witness 33% suffered 19% beareth 10% testifieth 10% who 5% cruel 5% witness.… 5% sufficient 5% testify 5% will 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: hath borne fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §2: I find myself compelled kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §252: Martyrs”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: compelled to recognize tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §46: Seek a martyr’s death

وإنّک

wʾinnk ʾ-n-n

literal: indeed/verily

SE rendered العقول (al-ʿqúl), وکان (wkán), الله (al-lh), شهید (shhíd), وإنّک (wʾinnk), فاحفظ (fáḥfẓ), نفسک (nfsk), تعقّب (tʿqqb) as “minds, be, God, beareth Me witness, Watch over, thyself, the footsteps of these people”

thee 43% thou 29% verily 14% since 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §161: Were it prayers-and-meditationsP&M §534: for Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: for they are gleaningsGWB §2: And if prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: Since Thou hast will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §2: to recognize that

فاحفظ

fáḥfẓ ḥ-f-ẓ → “watch over” Distinctive

literal: protection; protect; preserve

This form usually rendered as “shield”, “keep”, “preserve” (17 occurrences)

shield 19% keep 19% preserve 13% guard 13% commit 6% watch 6% do 6% make 6% protect 6% learn 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: We watched gleaningsGWB §591: wrapt kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: safeguarding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §249: “Guarded prayers-and-meditationsP&M §748: in which account is tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Learn well will-and-testamentW&T §3: the protection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: spared

تعقّب

tʿqqb ʿ-q-b → “footsteps of these people”

literal: behind; heels; height

SE expanded to “footsteps of these people”

followed 13% hill 13% footsteps 13% retribution 13% awaiteth 13% emerald 7% end 7% heels 7% must 7% punishing 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: followed gleaningsGWB §729: in punishing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: heels.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: issue the-hidden-wordsHW §128: followed by will-and-testamentW&T §3: Later on gleaningsGWB §421: awaiteth the-hidden-wordsHW §122: footsteps

هؤلآء

hʾláʾ h-ʾ-l

literal: these

SE rendered فاحفظ (fáḥfẓ), نفسک (nfsk), تعقّب (tʿqqb), هؤلآء (hʾláʾ), وکن (wkn), أمر (ʾamr), ربّک (rbbk), لمن (lmn), المتفکّرین (al-mtfkkrín) as “Watch over, thyself, the footsteps of these people, Meditate, the Cause, of thy Lord, diligently”

2 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: these will-and-testamentW&T §10: these Covenant-breakers

ربّک

rbbk r-b-b → “of thy lord”

literal: Lord; lord

SE expanded to “of thy Lord”

lord 95% god 4% thee 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: and gleaningsGWB §686: His kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: divine decree prayers-and-meditationsP&M §196: art 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 §102: its Lord

لمن

lmn m-n → “but”

literal: who

SE rendered تعقّب (tʿqqb), هؤلآء (hʾláʾ), وکن (wkn), أمر (ʾamr), ربّک (rbbk), لمن (lmn), المتفکّرین (al-mtfkkrín), اعرف (iʿrf), ربّک (rbbk), بنفسه (bnfsh) as “the footsteps of these people, Meditate, the Cause, Him, diligently, know, through His own Self”

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 §88: yet fire-tabletFire §45: with hate gleaningsGWB §482: into kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: “Whoso sayeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: all the denizens will-and-testamentW&T §2: after my epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: Him

المتفکّرین

al-mtfkkrín f-k-r → “ponder”

literal: reflection; reflect; contemplation

ponder 75% diligently 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: considered gleaningsGWB §695: Meditate upon this kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: pondered prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: muse the-hidden-wordsHW §119: insight epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: to ponder gleaningsGWB §37: thoughts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §124: fancy

اعرف

iʿrf ʿ-r-f → “know”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

know 44% acquainted 11% “know 11% comprehend 11% perceive 11% do 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §233: breath gleaningsGWB §389: know and recognize kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: and understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §228: have acknowledged tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §4: knew epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: have known

بدونه

bdúnh d-w-n → “through others”

literal: besides; without

without 31% except 10% others 10% all 10% none 7% else 7% through 7% nothing 7% withheld 7% comprehension 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: but Thee gleaningsGWB §505: from all else but kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: unlike prayers-and-meditationsP&M §322: not of Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §17: all save Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: All others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: any gleaningsGWB §685: but

یکفیک

ykfík k-f-y → “suffice”

literal: suffice; sufficient; sufficiency

ever 50% suffice 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: suffice gleaningsGWB §532: He is Himself a kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Sufficient prayers-and-meditationsP&M §820: it would suffice the-hidden-wordsHW §18: suffice thee will-and-testamentW&T §34: still they rested gleaningsGWB §259: is insufficient kitab-i-iqanKIQ §82: content ourselves

بذلک

bdhlk dh-l-k → “thus”

literal: that; thus; by-that

SE rendered دونه (dúnh), یکفیک (ykfík), بشيء (bshíʾ), ویشهد (wíshhd), بذلک (bdhlk), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), السّامعین (as-sámʿín) as “no one else besides Him, ever profit, thee, will testify, To this, created things, perceive it”

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 §130: Thereupon gleaningsGWB §188: Such kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: “Such 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 §106: that gleaningsGWB §721: other things

السّامعین

as-sámʿín s-m-ʿ → “perceive it”

literal: hear; hearing; heard

hearken 50% perceive 25% hearing 13% hear 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: thou hearest fire-tabletFire §48: I have heard gleaningsGWB §305: hearken unto Our Voice kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sight kitab-i-iqanKIQ §290: that inclineth his ear prayers-and-meditationsP&M §6: incline mine ear tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hearken to Thy call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard

اخرج

ikhrj kh-r-j

literal: go out; exit; outside

SE rendered الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), السّامعین (as-sámʿín), اخرج (ikhrj), خلف (khlf), الحجاب (al-ḥjáb), بإذن (bʾidhn), ربّک (rbbk), العزیز (al-ʿzíz) as “created things, perceive it, Almighty”

draw 25% “begone 25% unseal 25% left 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: describe gleaningsGWB §86: cast forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: expelled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §527: quit tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: hastened forth the-hidden-wordsHW §104: issue will-and-testamentW&T §25: expel epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: drew forth

خلف

khlf kh-l-f

literal: behind

SE rendered السّامعین (as-sámʿín), اخرج (ikhrj), خلف (khlf), الحجاب (al-ḥjáb), بإذن (bʾidhn), ربّک (rbbk), العزیز (al-ʿzíz) as “perceive it, Almighty”

behind 53% within 18% beyond 12% whilst 6% beneath 6% “behind 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: differences gleaningsGWB §349: disturbances and changes kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: contending peoples kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: desires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §776: divided the-hidden-wordsHW §150: from behind will-and-testamentW&T §58: revolt epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: the divers

الحجاب

al-ḥjáb ḥ-j-b

literal: veil; veiled; veils

SE rendered السّامعین (as-sámʿín), اخرج (ikhrj), خلف (khlf), الحجاب (al-ḥjáb), بإذن (bʾidhn), ربّک (rbbk), العزیز (al-ʿzíz) as “perceive it, Almighty”

veil 40% veiled 13% unveiled 13% veils 10% concealment 7% covering 3% wrapped 3% palpable 3% dense 3% “clouds” 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: veiled from gleaningsGWB §287: the dense veils kitab-i-iqanKIQ §172: obscure their understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: shut him out from the-hidden-wordsHW §33: veil thyself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: curtains gleaningsGWB §324: deprived kitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: imprisoned

بإذن

bʾidhn ʾ-dh-n

literal: permission; ear; ears

SE rendered السّامعین (as-sámʿín), اخرج (ikhrj), خلف (khlf), الحجاب (al-ḥjáb), بإذن (bʾidhn), ربّک (rbbk), العزیز (al-ʿzíz) as “perceive it, Almighty”