Gleanings — §306

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 306 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

وأمّا ما سألت، بنی نوع انسانی بعد از موت ظاهری غیر از انبیا و اولیا آیا همین تعیّن و تشخّص و ادراک و شعوری که قبل از موت در او موجود است بعد از موت هم باقی است یا زائل میشود و بر فرض بقا چگونه است که در حال حیات فی‌الجمله صدمه که بمشاعر انسانی وارد میشود از قبیل بیهوشی و مرض شدید شعور و ادراک از او زایل میشود و موت که انعدام ترکیب و عناصر است چگونه میشود که بعد او تشخّص و شعوری متصوّر شود با آنکه آلات بتمامها از هم پاشیده انتهی

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou hast asked Me whether man, as apart from the Prophets of God and His chosen ones, will retain, after his physical death, the self-same individuality, personality, consciousness, and understanding that characterize his life in this world. If this should be the case, how is it, thou hast observed, that whereas such slight injuries to his mental faculties as fainting and severe illness deprive him of his understanding and consciousness, his death, which must involve the decomposition of his body and the dissolution of its elements, is powerless to destroy that understanding and extinguish that consciousness? How can anyone imagine that man’s consciousness and personality will be maintained, when the very instruments necessary to their existence and function will have completely disintegrated?

Translation Notes

وأمّا

wʾammá ʾ-m-m → “nations” Distinctive

literal: nations; mother

This form usually rendered as “now”, “thou”, “mother” (3 occurrences)

now 33% thou 33% mother 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: the nations gleaningsGWB §306: Thou hast asked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: people of the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: before Thy face epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: in the face gleaningsGWB §511: its peoples kitab-i-iqanKIQ §172: “I prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: mother

سألت،

sʾalt، s-ʾ-l

literal: ask; ask/request; ask/beseech

SE rendered وأمّا (wʾammá), سألت، (sʾalt،), بنی (bní), نوع (núʿ), انسانی (insání), از (iz), موت (mút) as “Thou hast asked, man, as apart from, man, death”

beseech 41% implore 19% entreat 14% asked 6% pray 6% ask 4% beg 4% question 3% suppliant 2% hath 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: pray gleaningsGWB §629: I entreat Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: beseech Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §152: beseecheth gleaningsGWB §260: ‘Ask prayers-and-meditationsP&M §657: hath sought epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: ask

بنی

bní b-n-y → “son”

literal: son; sons

baní-háshim 50% son 25% man 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: Son gleaningsGWB §222: rear kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: Baní-Háshim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §824: and the-hidden-wordsHW §70: SONS will-and-testamentW&T §1: His Divine Edifice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: “O son of man gleaningsGWB §453: Him

نوع

núʿ n-w-ʿ

literal: kind, type; type/kinds; type/kind

SE rendered وأمّا (wʾammá), سألت، (sʾalt،), بنی (bní), نوع (núʿ), انسانی (insání), از (iz), موت (mút), ظاهری (ẓáhrí) as “Thou hast asked, man, as apart from, man, death, physical”

divers 33% form 33% such 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: divers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: form will-and-testamentW&T §19: such wise

انسانی

insání ʾ-n-s → “man”

literal: human; man; man/human

mankind 33% man 22% human 22% essence 11% men 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: man gleaningsGWB §599: men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: reunion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §404: enjoy such intimate communion the-hidden-wordsHW §96: desire communion epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: unto man gleaningsGWB §582: Commune intimately kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: Son of Man

از

iz ʾ-z

literal: from

SE rendered سألت، (sʾalt،), بنی (bní), نوع (núʿ), انسانی (insání), از (iz), موت (mút), ظاهری (ẓáhrí), غیر (ghír), از (iz), انبیا (inbíá), اولیا (iwlíá) as “man, as apart from, man, death, physical, the Prophets of God, His chosen ones”

23 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: at kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Amongst kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: from

موت

mút m-w-t → “death”

literal: death

death 88% physical 4% “death 4% “death” 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: him who is as one dead fallen gleaningsGWB §530: confound kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: bite prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: doomed me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: gave up the spirit the-hidden-wordsHW §84: lifeless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: death gleaningsGWB §465: the Slayer

ظاهری

ẓáhrí ẓ-h-r → “physical”

literal: manifestation; manifest

outer 20% physical 13% earthly 13% material 13% “outwardly 7% human 7% temporal 7% literal 7% visible 7% actual 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: happened fire-tabletFire §12: Dayspring gleaningsGWB §56: is revealed kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §272: shall come forth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §598: and the Revealer tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

غیر

ghír gh-y-r

literal: other; other than

SE rendered انسانی (insání), از (iz), موت (mút), ظاهری (ẓáhrí), غیر (ghír), از (iz), انبیا (inbíá), اولیا (iwlíá), آیا (áyá), همین (hmín), تعیّن (tʿíʿn) as “man, death, physical, the Prophets of God, His chosen ones, the self-same, individuality”

other 28% without 11% another 11% none 11% any 8% others 8% different 6% unseemly 6% else 6% anyone 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: elsewhere fire-tabletFire §27: honor gleaningsGWB §106: else kitab-i-iqanKIQ §258: through prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: except Thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §129: of another than Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: is not epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: other

انبیا

inbíá n-b-ʾ → “prophets of god”

literal: prophet; prophets

SE expanded to “Prophets of God”

prophets 83% provide 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: Prophet gleaningsGWB §321: Prophets kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: Prophethood prayers-and-meditationsP&M §77: of Thy Prophets epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: Mighty Announcement gleaningsGWB §451: unto His Apostle kitab-i-iqanKIQ §172: the Prophets”epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: informeth

اولیا

iwlíá w-l-y → “his chosen ones” Distinctive

literal: friend; lord; guardian

This form usually rendered as “men”, “endowed”, “every” (17 occurrences)

SE expanded to “His chosen ones”

men 15% endowed 15% every 15% among 8% loved 8% who 8% malicious 8% prophets 8% chosen 8% understanding 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: the Lord gleaningsGWB §240: His loved ones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: turning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §37: his Lord will-and-testamentW&T §49: have rained epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: ones gleaningsGWB §412: of understanding heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: master?”

آیا

áyá ʾ-y-y

literal: sign; signs; verse

SE rendered ظاهری (ẓáhrí), غیر (ghír), از (iz), انبیا (inbíá), اولیا (iwlíá), آیا (áyá), همین (hmín), تعیّن (tʿíʿn), تشخّص (tshkhkhṣ), ادراک (idrák) as “physical, the Prophets of God, His chosen ones, the self-same, individuality, personality, understanding”

verse 57% sign 19% mighty 5% how 5% “smoke” 5% what 5% utterances 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: are verses fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §357: Our signs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: How, We wonder prayers-and-meditationsP&M §39: in Thy signs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: repudiated Thy signs

همین

hmín h-m-n → “help” Distinctive

literal: guardian; guardian/protector; guardian, protector

This form usually rendered as “two” (3 occurrences)

help 41% omnipotent 16% supreme 13% sovereign 9% ruler 6% transcendent 3% protector 3% transcendeth 3% pervadeth 3% self-same 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: transcendent gleaningsGWB §180: Protector kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: so prayers-and-meditationsP&M §53: the Guardian gleaningsGWB §399: Omnipotent Protector kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: these two prayers-and-meditationsP&M §63: overshadoweth gleaningsGWB §278: the omnipotent protector

تعیّن

tʿíʿn ʿ-y-n → “eyes” Distinctive

literal: eye; eyes

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

eyes 37% eye 27% mine 9% own 8% spring 6% appoint 3% springs 3% appointed 2% waters 2% all 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: evident gleaningsGWB §167: with your eyes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: vision prayers-and-meditationsP&M §70: whose eyes tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: those of all creation the-hidden-wordsHW §58: with Mine eye will-and-testamentW&T §18: is appointed

تشخّص

tshkhkhṣ sh-kh-ṣ → “personality”

literal: person; personality/identity

personality 67% shall 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: highly-esteemed man gleaningsGWB §41: generation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §207: his person will-and-testamentW&T §43: him gleaningsGWB §44: Man kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: one will-and-testamentW&T §42: man (Muḥammad-‘Alí)gleaningsGWB §306: personality

ادراک

idrák d-r-k → “understanding”

literal: comprehension; perception; perception, understanding

comprehend 25% apprehend 19% understanding 17% comprehension 8% grasp 8% conceived 6% discover 4% failed 4% attain 4% fathom 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §17: taketh in gleaningsGWB §556: would perceive kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: attainment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: Apprehend gleaningsGWB §331: unknowable kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: to attain epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: recognize gleaningsGWB §201: men

شعوری

shʿúrí sh-ʿ-r → “consciousness”

literal: indicating; hair; perceive

consciousness 16% perceive 16% comprehend 11% expressive 11% indicate 11% indicative 11% hair 11% understand 5% indicating 5% mental 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: not gleaningsGWB §616: shake off their slumber kitab-i-iqanKIQ §272: unaware prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: every hair epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: understand not gleaningsGWB §413: perceive kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: testify prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: wisdom

موجود

mújúd w-j-d

literal: existence; existent

SE rendered شعوری (shʿúrí), از (iz), موت (mút), موجود (mújúd) as “consciousness”

exist 21% extant 14% found 14% existing 7% standeth 7% possession 7% there 7% embodied 7% could 7% recipient 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: found therein fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §239: discover kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: come to exist prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: he would unfailingly discover tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: they found the-hidden-wordsHW §60: OF will-and-testamentW&T §16: grown

باقی

báqí b-q-y

literal: remaining; remain

SE rendered موجود (mújúd), از (iz), موت (mút), باقی (báqí), زائل (záʾl), میشود (míshúd) as “”

everlasting 25% immortal 17% imperishable 13% incorruptible 8% eternal 8% eternity 8% abiding 8% endure 4% live 4% last 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: Eternal fire-tabletFire §36: is gleaningsGWB §652: of eternity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: the immortal draught prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine eternity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remained the-hidden-wordsHW §8: eternally live epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the last trace

زایل

záyl z-w-l → “everlasting” Distinctive

literal: cease; to cease; decline

This form usually rendered as “dispelled”, “eliminate”, “deprive” (10 occurrences)

dispelled 29% eliminate 14% deprive 14% vanished 14% fleeting 14% may 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: pass away gleaningsGWB §649: time kitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: pass away.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §196: Thou wert the-hidden-wordsHW §55: fleeting will-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: From everlasting gleaningsGWB §306: deprive him of

میشود

míshúd sh-w-d

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered میشود (míshúd), بر (br), فرض (frḍ), بقا (bqá), چگونه (chgúnh) as “how”

affirm 14% bringeth 14% conscripted 14% now 14% shall 14% ascribed 14% will 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: been made gleaningsGWB §107: for themselves kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: will be kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: mentioned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §704: forth the-hidden-wordsHW §119: should will-and-testamentW&T §19: not be epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: place

بر

br b-r-r

literal: on; on, upon; upon

SE rendered بر (br), فرض (frḍ), بقا (bqá), چگونه (chgúnh) as “how”

land 33% upon 11% piety 11% unto 11% pious 6% righteousness 6% beseech 6% good 6% against 6% indignities 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: wilderness gleaningsGWB §575: good counsel kitab-i-iqanKIQ §6: voiced by the-hidden-wordsHW §41: immensity of space will-and-testamentW&T §25: in epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: the pious gleaningsGWB §11: Beseech ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §6: subjected to

فرض

frḍ f-r-ḍ

literal: obligation

SE rendered بر (br), فرض (frḍ), بقا (bqá), چگونه (chgúnh) as “how”

hath 33% obligation 33% commandment 33%

gleaningsGWB §409: hath been prescribed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: the ordinances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §358: didst enjoin tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: have been enjoined will-and-testamentW&T §22: binding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: obligation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §21: hast bidden will-and-testamentW&T §27: This fixed money offering

چگونه

chgúnh ch-g-n → “how”

literal: how

how 67% will 17% wherefore 17%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: of the Will the-hidden-wordsHW §145: Wherefore kitab-i-iqanKIQ §138: how

حال

ḥál ḥ-w-l

literal: state; now

SE rendered بر (br), فرض (frḍ), بقا (bqá), چگونه (chgúnh), حال (ḥál), حیات (ḥíát), فی‌الجمله (fí‌áljmlh), صدمه (ṣdmh), بمشاعر (bmsháʿr) as “how, such slight injuries, mental faculties”

now 57% consider 11% present 8% reflect 5% behold 5% state 4% how 3% today 3% what 3% ponder 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: It is now gleaningsGWB §211: countenance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: Reflect thou prayers-and-meditationsP&M §570: distract tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: waver tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §109: now that will-and-testamentW&T §6: whilst

حیات

ḥíát ḥ-y-y

literal: life

SE rendered چگونه (chgúnh), حال (ḥál), حیات (ḥíát), فی‌الجمله (fí‌áljmlh), صدمه (ṣdmh), بمشاعر (bmsháʿr) as “how, such slight injuries, mental faculties”

life 74% “life” 11% new 5% “life 5% quickened 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: of life fire-tabletFire §19: eternal life gleaningsGWB §651: with shame kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: “life”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §146: By Thy life tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: quickened my soul tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: of love will-and-testamentW&T §2: Salutation

فی‌الجمله

fí‌áljmlh j-m-l

literal: beauty; totality; beautiful

beauty 85% countenance 3% ancient 3% among 2% glory 2% beneficent 1% beauteous 1% ornament 1% seemly 1% promised 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: by the Beauty gleaningsGWB §651: the glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: them prayers-and-meditationsP&M §248: my glory tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: her beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §63: of beauty will-and-testamentW&T §38: of the Ancient Beauty

صدمه

ṣdmh ṣ-d-m → “such”

literal: shock/injury; blow; affliction

such 33% intense 33% afflictions 33%

gleaningsGWB §306: such slight injuries will-and-testamentW&T §40: afflictions will-and-testamentW&T §3: intense

وارد

wárd w-r-d

literal: entering

SE rendered صدمه (ṣdmh), بمشاعر (bmsháʿr), انسانی (insání), وارد (wárd), میشود (míshúd), از (iz), قبیل (qbíl), بیهوشی (bíhúshí), مرض (mrḍ) as “such slight injuries, mental faculties, fainting, illness”

inflicted 24% befell 16% have 11% enter 11% hath 9% befallen 9% attain 7% came 4% befalleth 4% entered 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: joined gleaningsGWB §227: met kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: inflict prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: in Thy name will-and-testamentW&T §49: midst of my woes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: arrived gleaningsGWB §217: lamenteth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: heaped

قبیل

qbíl q-b-l

literal: before; acceptance; approach

SE rendered بمشاعر (bmsháʿr), انسانی (insání), وارد (wárd), میشود (míshúd), از (iz), قبیل (qbíl), بیهوشی (bíhúshí), مرض (mrḍ), شدید (shdíd), شعور (shʿúr), ادراک (idrák) as “mental faculties, fainting, illness, severe, consciousness, his understanding”

company 40% such 20% peoples 20% sense 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: prior fire-tabletFire §46: press onward gleaningsGWB §219: In days gone by kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: receptive soul kitab-i-iqanKIQ §267: a bygone age prayers-and-meditationsP&M §631: to set myself towards tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: been lifted upon tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: “And kiss

بیهوشی

bíhúshí h-sh-y → “fainting”

literal: unconsciousness/fainting

1 occurrence in corpus

gleaningsGWB §306: fainting

مرض

mrḍ m-r-ḍ → “sickness”

literal: sick

sickness 50% illness 17% spiritual 17% ills 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: maladies gleaningsGWB §156: infirmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §165: is in a diseased prayers-and-meditationsP&M §60: am sore sick epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: grievous malady gleaningsGWB §74: inveterate diseases kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: ills prayers-and-meditationsP&M §59: the sicknesses

شدید

shdíd sh-d-d → “severe”

literal: severe

severe 40% deeds 20% grievous 20% intense 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: been made gleaningsGWB §527: waxed kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: woes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: be prayers-and-meditationsP&M §297: sore pressed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: affliction the-hidden-wordsHW §122: ye are will-and-testamentW&T §32: trials

انعدام

inʿdám ʿ-d-m → “nothingness” Distinctive

literal: non-existence; non-existent; nonexistent

This form usually rendered as “reversed”, “utter” (4 occurrences)

reversed 50% utter 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: evanescent gleaningsGWB §116: utter nothingness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: non-existent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §438: to its non-existence will-and-testamentW&T §5: speeding towards destruction epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: innocence gleaningsGWB §386: are as nothing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: blindness

ترکیب

trkíb r-k-b

literal: commit; commission; mount

SE rendered زایل (záyl), میشود (míshúd), موت (mút), انعدام (inʿdám), ترکیب (trkíb), عناصر (ʿnáṣr), چگونه (chgúnh) as “deprive him of, his death, decomposition, its elements, How”

hath 50% compiled 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: committed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: steed the-hidden-wordsHW §142: charger epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: mounted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §235: compiled epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: commit kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: hath compiled

عناصر

ʿnáṣr ʿ-n-ṣ-r → “its elements”

literal: element; elemental

elements 40% mortal 20% earthly 20% spiritual 20%

gleaningsGWB §306: its elements kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: elements will-and-testamentW&T §18: spiritual gleaningsGWB §36: mortal blasts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: earthly

متصوّر

mtṣúṣr ṣ-w-r → “trumpet” Distinctive

literal: trumpet

This form usually rendered as “imagine”, “can” (3 occurrences)

imagine 50% can 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Bugle gleaningsGWB §368: Under such conditions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the mystic trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §127: Fashioner will-and-testamentW&T §5: be ever imagined epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: report gleaningsGWB §310: however small kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: conceived

آنکه

ánkh ʾ-n

literal: that; indeed; that, to

SE rendered تشخّص (tshkhkhṣ), شعوری (shʿúrí), متصوّر (mtṣúṣr), آنکه (ánkh), آلات (álát), بتمامها (btmámhá), از (iz), پاشیده (páshídh) as “personality, consciousness, imagine that, very instruments, completely, disintegrated”