Gleanings — §302

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 302 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

و اینکه در کلمات قبل ذکر شده "کان إلهًا ولا مألوه وربًّا ولا مربوب"، و امثال ذلک معنی آن در جمیع احیان محقّق و این همان کلمه‌ایست که میفرماید کان الله و لم یکن معه من شیء و یکون بمثل ما قد کان و هر ذی بصری شهادت میدهد که الآن ربّ موجود و مربوب مفقود یعنی آن ساحت مقدّس است از ماسوی و آنچه در رتبهٴ ممکن ذکر می‌شود محدود است بحدودات امکانیّه و حقّ مقدّس از آن لم ‌یزل بوده و نبوده با او احدی نه اسم و نه رسم و نه وصف و لا یزال خواهد بود مقدّس از کلّ ما سواه

Shoghi Effendi Translation

As to those sayings, attributed to the Prophets of old, such as, “In the beginning was God; there was no creature to know Him,” and “The Lord was alone; with no one to adore Him,” the meaning of these and similar sayings is clear and evident, and should at no time be misapprehended. To this same truth bear witness these words which He hath revealed: “God was alone; there was none else besides Him. He will always remain what He hath ever been.” Every discerning eye will readily perceive that the Lord is now manifest, yet there is none to recognize His glory. By this is meant that the habitation wherein the Divine Being dwelleth is far above the reach and ken of anyone besides Him. Whatsoever in the contingent world can either be expressed or apprehended, can never transgress the limits which, by its inherent nature, have been imposed upon it. God, alone, transcendeth such limitations. He, verily, is from everlasting. No peer or partner has been, or can ever be, joined with Him. No name can be compared with His Name. No pen can portray His nature, neither can any tongue depict His glory. He will, forever, remain immeasurably exalted above anyone except Himself.

Translation Notes

اینکه

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter” Distinctive

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

در

d-r-r → “In”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

کلمات

k-l-m → “words”

literal: words; utterances; locutions; word; utterance; speech; sayings; verses

قبل

q-b-l → “before”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

ذکر

dh-k-r → “mention”

literal: remembrance; mention; memory; invocation; reminders; commemorations

شده

sh-d

literal: to become; to be

"کان

k-w-n → “was” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

إلهًا

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

ولا

w-l-y → “Lord” Distinctive

literal: no; not; negation particle

وربًّا

r-b-b → “Lord”

literal: divine; of God; lordly

امثال

m-th-l → “similar” Distinctive

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

ذلک

dh-l-k

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

معنی

ʿ-n-y → “meaning”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

آن

ʾ-n → “these”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

جمیع

j-m-ʿ

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

احیان

ḥ-y-n → “at no time”

literal: greeting; salutation; tribute; to make alive; to revive

محقّق

ḥ-q-q → “clear and evident”

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

همان

h-m → “all” Distinctive

literal: them (pronoun + object marker)

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

میفرماید

f-r-m → “saith”

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

لم

l-y-s → “not”

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

معه

m-ʿ → “notwithstanding”

literal: معه = مع + ه (with him), preposition, not from root ع-م-م

من

m-n

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

شیء

sh-y-ʾ → “else” Distinctive

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

literal: what; which; that which; relative pronoun; interrogative

قد

q-d → “We have been”

literal: verily; indeed; certainly (particle of emphasis)

هر

h-r → “Every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

ذی

dh-w-y → “and” Distinctive

literal: possessor; possessor of; possessor/owner

بصری

b-ṣ-r → “eye”

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

شهادت

sh-h-d

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

میدهد

d-h → “imputed” Distinctive

literal: give; grant; bestow; award

الآن

ʾ-n-n → “that”

literal: that; indeed/verily; indeed

موجود

w-j-d → “Being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

مفقود

f-q-d → “forgotten”

literal: to lose; to miss; lost; missing

یعنی

ʿ-n-y → “By this is meant”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

ساحت

s-w-ḥ → “court”

literal: court; presence; domain; vicinity

مقدّس

q-d-s → “holy”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

است

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

ماسوی

s-w-y → “besides Him”

literal: level; equal; straight; upon a throne; resting upon; toward; to; direction of; other than; besides; except

رتبهٴ

r-t-b → “station” Distinctive

literal: rank; station; degree; time; instance

می‌شود

sh-w-d → “been” Distinctive

literal: perhaps, perchance, haply, maybe, possibly; to become; to be; to happen; to occur

محدود

ḥ-d-d → “limitations” Distinctive

literal: iron; sharp, keen, acute

امکانیّه

m-k-n → “all created things” Distinctive

literal: establishment; confirmation; empowerment; firm settlement; place; possibility; being (negated as ‘non-being’)

‌یزل

z-w-l

literal: cease; to cease; decline

با

b-ʾ-ʾ → “with”

literal: to; with; by

او

h-w-w → “is”

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

احدی

ʾ-ḥ-d → “anyone”

literal: oneness; uniqueness; absolute unity; singularity of God

نه

n-h-y → “forbidden”

literal: end; ended; utmost

اسم

s-m-w → “name”

literal: name; title; designation

رسم

r-s-m

literal: form; custom; tradition; design; symbol

وصف

w-ṣ-f → “attributes” Distinctive

literal: to describe, characterize; description

لا

l-ʾ

literal: no; not; negation particle

خواهد

kh-w-h → “will, forever, remain” Distinctive

literal: will; to wish; to want

کلّ

k-l-l

literal: for us; to us

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

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Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

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Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

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Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

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57 ¶

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Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

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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 ¶