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Gleanings — §310

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 310 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

و هم‌چنین ملاحظه در ضعف وجود ثمره نمائید در اصل شجره که قبل از خروج از شجر مع آنکه در شجر است بشأنی ضعیف که ابداً مشاهده نمیشود و اگر نفسی آن شجر را قطعه قطعه نماید ذرّه‌ئی از ثمر و صورت آن نخواهد یافت ولکن بعد از خروج از شجر بطراز بدیع و قوّت منیع ظاهر چنانچه در اثمار ملاحظه میشود و بعضی از فواکه است که بعد از قطع از سدره لطیف می شود...

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Consider, moreover, how the fruit, ere it is formed, lieth potentially within the tree. Were the tree to be cut into pieces, no sign nor any part of the fruit, however small, could be detected. When it appeareth, however, it manifesteth itself, as thou hast observed, in its wondrous beauty and glorious perfection. Certain fruits, indeed, attain their fullest development only after being severed from the tree.

Translation Notes

هم‌چنین
ch-n-n → “likewise”

literal: always; ever; forever; at all times; constantly

ملاحظه
l-ḥ-ẓ → “Consider”

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

در
d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

ضعف
ḍ-ʿ-f → “weakness”

literal: weak; feeble; imperfect

وجود
w-j-d → “being”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

ثمره
th-m-r → “fruit”

literal: fruit; the fruit

نمائید
n-m-ʾ

literal: to show, to display, to manifest, to exhibit; to manifest; to display; to show

اصل
ʾ-ṣ-l

literal: evening; afternoon; noble; ancient; nightfall; genesis

شجره
sh-j-r → “tree”

literal: tree

که
k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

قبل
q-b-l → “ere it is formed”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

از
ʾ-z

literal: from

خروج
kh-r-j

literal: bringing out, taking out, expulsion, extraction

مع
m-ʿ

literal: with; together with; alongside

آنکه
ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

است
b-w-d → “is”

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

بشأنی
sh-ʾ-n

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

ابداً
ʾ-b-d

literal: in place of; instead of; to change; to alter (preposition or verb stem)

مشاهده
sh-h-d

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

نمیشود
sh-w-d → “be” Distinctive

literal: to not become; to not be

اگر
ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

نفسی
n-f-s

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

را
r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

قطعه
q-ṭ-ʿ → “detachment” Distinctive

literal: to be severed; to be cut off; to detach oneself; to abstain

ذرّه‌ئی
dh-r-r → “atom” Distinctive

literal: atom; atoms; particle

صورت
ṣ-w-r → “trumpet-call” Distinctive

literal: to imagine; to conceive; to suppose

نخواهد
kh-w-h

literal: will; to wish; to want

یافت
y-f-t

literal: find; found; to find, to attain

ولکن
l-k-n → “however”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

بعد
b-ʿ-d → “When it appeareth” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

بطراز
ṭ-r-z

literal: ornament; adornment; embroidery; stripe

بدیع
b-d-ʿ → “wondrous”

literal: to create; most wondrous; excel

قوّت
q-w-t → “power”

literal: strength; power; might

منیع
m-n-ʿ → “hinder” Distinctive

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

ظاهر
ẓ-h-r → “, in its” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

بعضی
b-ʿ-ḍ → “Certain fruits”

literal: part; some; portion

فواکه
f-k-h

literal: fruit; botanical fruit or produce

سدره
s-d-r → “tree”

literal: lote-tree; divine tree

لطیف
l-ṭ-f → “loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: kindness; grace; gentleness; benevolence

می
m-y-y

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

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