Gleanings — §301

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 301 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

...و اینکه سؤال از خلق شده بود بدان که لم‌ یزل خلق بوده و لا یزال خواهد بود لا لأوّله بدایة و لا لآخره نهایة اسم الخالق بنفسه یطلب المخلوق و کذلک اسم الرّبّ یقتضی المربوب

Shoghi Effendi Translation

As to thy question concerning the origin of creation. Know assuredly that God’s creation hath existed from eternity, and will continue to exist forever. Its beginning hath had no beginning, and its end knoweth no end. His name, the Creator, presupposeth a creation, even as His title, the Lord of Men, must involve the existence of a servant.

Translation Notes

اینکه

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter” Distinctive

literal: that, the fact that, this (demonstrative particle)

سؤال

s-ʾ-l

literal: question; problem; issue; matter; asking; petition; request

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

خلق

kh-l-q → “origin of creation”

literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct

شده

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

بدان

d-n-n → “City” Distinctive

literal: nonexistent; void; nullified

که

k-h → “that God’s”

literal: that; who; who, that

لم‌

l-y-s

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

یزل

z-w-l → “at all times” Distinctive

literal: cease; to cease; decline

بوده

b-w-d → “hath existed”

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

لا

l-ʾ → “no”

literal: no; not; negation particle

خواهد

kh-w-h → “will continue to exist” Distinctive

literal: will; to wish; to want

لأوّله

ʾ-w-l → “beginning”

literal: first; beginning; at first

بدایة

b-d-ʾ → “beginning”

literal: beginning; source; origin, beginning

لآخره

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

literal: the hereafter, the next life, the world to come

نهایة

n-h-y → “end”

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final

اسم

s-m-w → “name”

literal: name; title; designation

بنفسه

n-f-s

literal: soul; self; person; essence

یطلب

ṭ-l-b → “theme” Distinctive

literal: seeker, one who seeks; those who seek

کذلک

dh-l-k

literal: thus; likewise; also

الرّبّ

r-b-b → “Lord”

literal: divine; of God; lordly

یقتضی

q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: requirement; exigency; what demands or calls for; to require; to necessitate; to demand

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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291 ¶

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858 ¶

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17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

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5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

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57 ¶

The Hidden Words

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160 ¶

Will and Testament

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Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶