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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

جمیع
jmíʿ j-m-ʿ

literal: all; all, entire

SE rendered امثال (imthál)معنی (mʿní)جمیع (jmíʿ)احیان (iḥíán)محقّق (mḥqqq)همان (hmán)کلمه‌ایست (klmh‌áyst) as “similar, meaning, at no time, clear and evident, this same, truth”

all 81% every 8% whole 3% each 2% whatsoever 1% one 1% concourse 1% under 1% divers 1% any 1%
شهادت
shhádt sh-h-d

literal: witness; witnessed

SE rendered بمثل (bmthl)هر (hr)ذی (dhí)بصری (bṣrí)شهادت (shhádt)میدهد (mídhd)الآن (an-n)ربّ (rbb)موجود (mújúd) as “what, Every, discerning, eye, will readily perceive, now, Lord, Being”

‌یزل
‌ízl z-w-l

literal: cease; to cease; decline

SE rendered امکانیّه (imkánính)حقّ (ḥqq)مقدّس (mqdds)از (iz)‌یزل (‌ízl)نبوده (nbúdh)احدی (iḥdí)نه (nh) as “inherent nature, God, transcendeth, was, anyone, No”

hath 25% everlasting 13% time 13% ever 13% will 13% have 13% everlastingly 13%
رسم
rsm r-s-m

literal: trace

SE rendered نبوده (nbúdh)احدی (iḥdí)نه (nh)اسم (ism)نه (nh)رسم (rsm)نه (nh)وصف (wṣf)یزال (yzál)خواهد (khúáhd) as “was, anyone, No, name, depict, will, forever, remain”

renown 33% modes 17% reality 17% endearments 17% trace 17%

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