Gleanings — §322

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 322 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ثابت و محقّق و اینکه از افلاک سؤال نمودید اوّلاً باید معلوم شود که مقصود از ذکر افلاک و سماء که در کتب قبل و بعد مذکور چیست و هم‌چنین ربط و اثر آن بعالم ظاهر بچه نحو جمیع عقول و افئده در این مقام متحیّر و مبهوت ما اطّلع بها الّا الله وحده حکما که عمر دنیا را بچندین هزار سال تعبیر نموده‌اند در این مدّت سیّارات را احصا ننموده‌اند چه مقدار اختلاف در اقوال قبل و بعد ظاهر و م

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the nature of the celestial spheres. To comprehend their nature, it would be necessary to inquire into the meaning of the allusions that have been made in the Books of old to the celestial spheres and the heavens, and to discover the character of their relationship to this physical world, and the influence which they exert upon it. Every heart is filled with wonder at so bewildering a theme, and every mind is perplexed by its mystery. God, alone, can fathom its import. The learned men, that have fixed at several thousand years the life of this earth, have failed, throughout the long period of their observation, to consider either the number or the age of the other planets. Consider, moreover, the manifold divergencies that have resulted from the theories propounded by these men. Know thou that every fixed star hath its own planets, and every planet its own creatures, whose number no man can compute.

Translation Notes

ثابت

thábt th-b-t → “established”

literal: established; establish; affirmation

established 22% firmly 17% confirmed 13% steadfast 13% firm 9% definitely 9% incontestable 4% indisputably 4% establish 4% fixed 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: firmness gleaningsGWB §531: for the purpose of vindicating kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: of His confirmation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: have been inscribed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: strengthen the-hidden-wordsHW §124: writ and recorded will-and-testamentW&T §40: proven epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: set down

محقّق

mḥqqq ḥ-q-q

literal: truth; true; right

SE rendered ثابت (thábt), محقّق (mḥqqq), اینکه (iynkh), از (iz), افلاک (iflák), سؤال (sʾál), نمودید (nmúdíd) as “fixed star, Thou hast, moreover, asked, concerning, celestial spheres, Me, hath”

evident 21% demonstrated 14% recognized 14% absolute 7% hath 7% manifest 7% inevitable 7% incontrovertible 7% proven 7% confirmeth 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: truly gleaningsGWB §277: the power of truth kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: righteousness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Him that speaketh prayers-and-meditationsP&M §755: against me the-hidden-wordsHW §92: mysteries will-and-testamentW&T §27: (Ḥuqúq)epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: God

اینکه

iynkh ʾ-y-n → “chapter” Distinctive

literal: this; where; these

This form usually rendered as “divinely-inspired” (2 occurrences)

chapter 10% absurdities 10% sense 10% revelation 10% divinely-inspired 10% all 10% “whither 10% whereunto 10% “where 10% wronged 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: this Chapter gleaningsGWB §40: absurdities kitab-i-iqanKIQ §33: Whereunto will-and-testamentW&T §54: this wronged one epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: It kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: “Where kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: these

از

iz ʾ-z → “amongst”

literal: from

23 occurrences in corpus

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

افلاک

iflák f-l-k → “celestial spheres”

literal: sphere; sphere, celestial orb; heaven/sphere

celestial 50% realm 25% heaven 25%

gleaningsGWB §322: celestial spheres kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: glory the-hidden-wordsHW §132: realm kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: Ark the-hidden-wordsHW §82: heaven kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: fourth

سؤال

sʾál s-ʾ-l → “beseech” Distinctive

literal: ask; question; to ask

This form usually rendered as “questioned”, “question”, “sought” (23 occurrences)

questioned 25% question 17% sought 17% inquire 8% questions 8% asking 8% ask 8% asked 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: We beseech gleaningsGWB §627: I beseech Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: sought prayers-and-meditationsP&M §138: I implore Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: We entreat gleaningsGWB §300: question kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: questions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §764: beseech Thee

نمودید

nmúdíd n-m-ʾ → “hath”

literal: do; show; make

have 25% will 14% hath 14% thou 9% consider 7% may 7% made 7% can 7% reflect 7% offered 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: the gleaningsGWB §335: hindered kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: is kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: again utter prayers-and-meditationsP&M §659: we beseech Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §160: will reveal will-and-testamentW&T §41: succeed in bringing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: how they have made

اوّلاً

iwwláan ʾ-w-l → “to”

literal: first; firstness; beginning

SE rendered اینکه (iynkh), از (iz), افلاک (iflák), سؤال (sʾál), نمودید (nmúdíd), اوّلاً (iwwláan), باید (báyd), معلوم (mʿlúm), مقصود (mqṣúd) as “Thou hast, moreover, asked, concerning, celestial spheres, Me, hath, To, be necessary, comprehend, nature”

first 50% beginning 13% early 13% foundation 3% inception 3% firstly 3% nine 3% earliest 3% greatest 3% ever 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: From the inception gleaningsGWB §220: ever since the dawn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thine own Firstness the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §58: falsely interpret epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: Primal gleaningsGWB §364: First Leader

باید

báyd b-y-d → “must”

literal: must; must, should

must 56% incumbent 25% should 13% behooveth 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: incumbent upon gleaningsGWB §564: should kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: awaken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §832: wilderness the-hidden-wordsHW §109: With the hands will-and-testamentW&T §17: watchful epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: Awake gleaningsGWB §334: quickened

معلوم

mʿlúm ʿ-l-m → “knowledge” Distinctive

literal: knowledge

This form usually rendered as “evident”, “known”, “object” (86 occurrences)

evident 40% known 21% object 12% clear 12% know 5% ascertained 2% unmistakable 2% discovered 2% apparent 2% indubitably 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy knowledge fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §443: humanity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: the standards prayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: is known tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: existence

مقصود

mqṣúd q-ṣ-d → “purpose”

literal: intended; purpose; desired

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: them who haste to gleaningsGWB §549: them that kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: this “oppression”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §670: all that seek Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: their hearts’ Desire

ذکر

dhkr dh-k-r → “allusions” Distinctive

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

This form usually rendered as “remembrance”, “mention”, “praise” (252 occurrences)

remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: for Thy mention gleaningsGWB §315: dwell upon them kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: attribute unto Him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §584: of every praise tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

مذکور

mdhkúr dh-k-r → “have been made” Distinctive

literal: mention; mentioned

This form usually rendered as “recorded”, “referred”, “mentioned” (67 occurrences)

SE expanded to “have been made”

recorded 33% referred 21% mentioned 13% have 8% reported 4% stated 4% verily 4% spoken 4% foretold 4% cited 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: remembereth gleaningsGWB §192: to associate itself kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: mentioning kitab-i-iqanKIQ §209: been the-hidden-wordsHW §143: remember will-and-testamentW&T §39: deliberate epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: which He gleaningsGWB §419: extolled

هم‌چنین

hm‌chnín ch-n-n → “likewise”

literal: likewise

likewise 73% also 5% similarly 5% like 5% another 2% while 2% moreover 2% call 2% among 2% grievous 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: also gleaningsGWB §340: while kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: a grievous chastisement epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: at another kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: Thou epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: Likewise kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: such kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: among

ربط

rbṭ r-b-ṭ → “firm” Distinctive

literal: connection, relationship

This form usually rendered as “relationship”, “associated”, “tie” (5 occurrences)

relationship 33% associated 33% tie 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: firm gleaningsGWB §322: relationship kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: connection will-and-testamentW&T §25: union gleaningsGWB §374: be associated kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: tie of direct intercourse

اثر

ithr ʾ-th-r → “influence” Distinctive

literal: effect

This form usually rendered as “fulfill”, “script”, “effect” (14 occurrences)

fulfill 22% script 11% effect 11% consequence 11% beneficial 11% scar 11% perfume 11% effects 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: Thy signs gleaningsGWB §438: a beneficial influence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: scar the-hidden-wordsHW §148: trace epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: witness Thy signs gleaningsGWB §556: and ways kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: traces of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: evidences

ظاهر

ẓáhr ẓ-h-r → “have resulted” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “revealed”, “appeared” (458 occurrences)

manifest 29% revealed 16% appeared 11% outward 8% made 7% appear 7% manifested 6% outwardly 5% have 5% visible 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: hath manifested Me fire-tabletFire §12: Dayspring gleaningsGWB §160: Dispensation kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: are prayers-and-meditationsP&M §767: by the Manifestation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: the revelation of thy glory

بچه

bchh ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

SE rendered هم‌چنین (hm‌chnín), ربط (rbṭ), اثر (ithr), بعالم (bʿálm), ظاهر (ẓáhr), بچه (bchh), نحو (nḥú), جمیع (jmíʿ), عقول (ʿqúl), افئده (ifʾdh) as “and to, relationship, influence, physical world, Every, every mind, heart”

what 50% whatsoever 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: what gleaningsGWB §436: Whatsoever epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §178: For

نحو

nḥú n-ḥ-w

literal: manner; manner, way; mode, manner

SE rendered ربط (rbṭ), اثر (ithr), بعالم (bʿálm), ظاهر (ẓáhr), بچه (bchh), نحو (nḥú), جمیع (jmíʿ), عقول (ʿqúl), افئده (ifʾdh) as “relationship, influence, physical world, Every, every mind, heart”

manner 25% degree 25% kind 25% universally 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: manner gleaningsGWB §357: to a degree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: kind will-and-testamentW&T §23: and universally extended

جمیع

jmíʿ j-m-ʿ → “every”

literal: all; all, entire

all 81% every 8% whole 3% each 2% whatsoever 1% one 1% concourse 1% under 1% divers 1% any 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: their gleaningsGWB §163: into the kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §83: and prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: Thy manifold tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gathered the-hidden-wordsHW §96: ever will-and-testamentW&T §42: gather in

عقول

ʿqúl ʿ-q-l → “every mind”

literal: intellect; minds; understand

mind 45% minds 20% understanding 10% every 5% limited 5% intellect 5% sound 5% intelligence 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §38: men endued with insight gleaningsGWB §298: minds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: intellect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §343: endued with understanding epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: the wise gleaningsGWB §322: every mind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: intelligence

افئده

ifʾdh f-ʾ-d → “heart”

literal: heart; hearts; hearts, souls

hearts 48% souls 21% minds 9% heart 7% men’s 4% understanding 4% men’s 2% illuminated 2% illumined 2% pure 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: men’s hearts gleaningsGWB §176: men’s hearts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: illumined heart prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: thoughts the-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heart will-and-testamentW&T §48: They have epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: the hearts gleaningsGWB §117: heart

مقام

mqám q-w-m

literal: station; place

SE rendered جمیع (jmíʿ), عقول (ʿqúl), افئده (ifʾdh), مقام (mqám), متحیّر (mtḥíḥr), مبهوت (mbhút), اطّلع (iṭṭlʿ) as “Every, every mind, heart, perplexed, fathom”

station 55% connection 12% place 6% most 5% seat 5% such 5% spot 3% another 3% court 2% instance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: others before fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §39: the distinction kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your station kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: sojourned in prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: the All-Compelling tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place

متحیّر

mtḥíḥr ḥ-y-r → “perplexed”

literal: perplexed; bewilderment; bewildered

perplexed 30% sore 10% bewildering 10% marveled 10% marvelled 10% stand 10% bewildered 10% am 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: sore perplexed gleaningsGWB §361: marveled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: bewilderment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §343: would be bewildered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: astounded gleaningsGWB §321: amazement kitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: How strange prayers-and-meditationsP&M §795: I am bewildered

مبهوت

mbhút b-h-t

literal: slander; bewildered, amazed; astonished, amazed

SE rendered افئده (ifʾdh), مقام (mqám), متحیّر (mtḥíḥr), مبهوت (mbhút), اطّلع (iṭṭlʿ), الله (al-lh), وحده (wḥdh) as “heart, perplexed, fathom, God, alone”

slander 67% gross 33%

gleaningsGWB §465: a gross calumny will-and-testamentW&T §34: slander

اطّلع

iṭṭlʿ ṭ-l-ʿ → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: rising-place; dawning-place; countenance

This form usually rendered as “inscrutable”, “informed”, “arise” (13 occurrences)

inscrutable 30% informed 10% arise 10% revealed 10% fathom 10% discover 10% reckon 10% hasten 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §90: Arise fire-tabletFire §12: Revealer gleaningsGWB §230: fountain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §97: know prayers-and-meditationsP&M §514: first stirrings tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §17: May know the-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance will-and-testamentW&T §5: the angelic company

وحده

wḥdh w-ḥ-d → “alone”

literal: one; oneness

alone 71% god 14% one 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: alone fire-tabletFire §43: By Thine aloneness gleaningsGWB §128: people.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: one and the same prayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: extolleth Thy oneness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone the-hidden-wordsHW §69: all from one same

حکما

ḥkmá ḥ-k-m → “wisdom”

literal: wisdom; judgment; firm

wisdom 33% law 21% command 8% sentence 8% pronounce 8% decreed 4% judge 4% injunction 4% commandment 4% learned 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: judgment gleaningsGWB §322: The learned men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: consummate wisdom the-hidden-wordsHW §117: mystery will-and-testamentW&T §8: of the governments epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §16: perspicuous gleaningsGWB §288: Divine wisdom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: this Revelation

عمر

ʿmr ʿ-m-r → “life”

literal: life; by my life; by the life

righteousness 31% swear 23% life 14% god 14% declining 3% years 3% age 3% days 3% “as 3% lives 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: by your own gleaningsGWB §529: verily kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: “As Thou livest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §100: build up the-hidden-wordsHW §97: their lives epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: the reconstruction gleaningsGWB §545: Build prayers-and-meditationsP&M §518: had been built up

دنیا

dníá d-n-w → “this earth” Distinctive

literal: world; world/this life

This form usually rendered as “world”, “things”, “life” (89 occurrences)

world 78% things 5% life 5% earth 4% world’s 1% desire 1% nothing 1% earthly 1% worldly 1% “the 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: By the world gleaningsGWB §595: mortal man kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: of the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: or low prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: its own abasement the-hidden-wordsHW §125: things below epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the world gleaningsGWB §571: worldly things

هزار

hzár h-z-r → “thousand”

literal: thousand

myriad 25% thousand 25% twelve 17% myriads 17% about 8% many 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: myriad kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: thousand will-and-testamentW&T §3: Ten thousand epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: twelve kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: myriads will-and-testamentW&T §3: many a kitab-i-iqanKIQ §218: about a thousand

سال

sál s-n-h → “years”

literal: year; years; year-old

years 88% seventy-year 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: years gleaningsGWB §176: twenty years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: centuries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: ere the present year the-hidden-wordsHW §97: for long years epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: year gleaningsGWB §44: for kitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: “the year

تعبیر

tʿbír ʿ-b-r

literal: expression

SE rendered عمر (ʿmr), دنیا (dníá), بچندین (bchndín), هزار (hzár), سال (sál), تعبیر (tʿbír), نموده‌اند (nmúdh‌ánd), مدّت (mddt), سیّارات (sísárát) as “life, this earth, several, thousand, years, have fixed, period, other planets”

expressed 33% likened 33% symbolically 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: warned gleaningsGWB §355: expression kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: utterances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: my tears will-and-testamentW&T §9: very words epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: interpretations gleaningsGWB §347: (‘Ibrání)kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: verses

نموده‌اند

nmúdh‌ánd n-m-w → “have fixed”

literal: do; to do; show

have 50% interpreted 13% related 13% presume 13% devising 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: have made to flourish gleaningsGWB §110: measure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: have been made the-hidden-wordsHW §107: forget it not will-and-testamentW&T §30: having epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §34: meditated gleaningsGWB §148: will continue to intervene kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: again

مدّت

mddt m-d-d → “period”

literal: period

period 50% remoteness 17% space 17% all 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: will stretch forth gleaningsGWB §171: assistance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: all this time prayers-and-meditationsP&M §87: Thou feedest the-hidden-wordsHW §104: with the clay will-and-testamentW&T §30: for a long time epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: assist gleaningsGWB §344: remoteness

سیّارات

sísárát s-y-r → “journeying”

literal: journey

journeying 14% made 14% moveth 14% character 14% traverse 14% make 14% elsewhere 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: journeying gleaningsGWB §320: moveth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: the character prayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: make me able to will-and-testamentW&T §34: elsewhere gleaningsGWB §305: made to traverse kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: traverse

احصا

iḥṣá ḥ-ṣ-y

literal: counted; enumeration; enumeration/counting

SE rendered نموده‌اند (nmúdh‌ánd), مدّت (mddt), سیّارات (sísárát), احصا (iḥṣá), ننموده‌اند (nnmúdh‌ánd), چه (chh), مقدار (mqdár), اختلاف (ikhtláf) as “have fixed, period, other planets, have failed, manifold, divergencies”