Gleanings — §328

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 328 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

...حقّ را مقدّس از کلّ مشاهده کن او است مجلّی بر کلّ و مقدّس از کلّ اصل معنی توحید این است که حقّ وحده را مهیمن بر کلّ و مجلّی بر مرایای موجودات مشاهده نمائید کلّ را قائم باو و مستمدّ از او دانید این است معنی توحید و مقصود

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Regard thou the one true God as One Who is apart from, and immeasurably exalted above, all created things. The whole universe reflecteth His glory, while He is Himself independent of, and transcendeth His creatures. This is the true meaning of Divine unity. He Who is the Eternal Truth is the one Power Who exerciseth undisputed sovereignty over the world of being, Whose image is reflected in the mirror of the entire creation. All existence is dependent upon Him, and from Him is derived the source of the sustenance of all things. This is what is meant by Divine unity; this is its fundamental principle.

Translation Notes

...حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “one true God”

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

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

مقدّس

q-d-s → “exalted”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

کلّ

k-l-l → “all created things”

literal: for us; to us

مشاهده

sh-h-d → “Regard thou” Distinctive

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

کن

k-w-n

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

او

h-w-w → “He is Himself” Distinctive

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

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

مجلّی

j-l-w → “revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestations; splendors; display; mirrors

بر

b-r-r → “righteous” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

اصل

ʾ-ṣ-l → “essence”

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

معنی

ʿ-n-y → “true meaning”

literal: meaning; sense; significance

توحید

w-ḥ-d → “Divine unity”

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

این

ʾ-y-n → “This is the”

literal: this; these

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

مهیمن

h-y-m-n → “Help in Peril”

literal: Guardian; Preserver; Protector; Overseer

مرایای

r-ʾ-y → “mirror”

literal: to guard, watch over, regard, heed, respect, maintain

موجودات

w-j-d → “entire creation”

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

نمائید

n-m-ʾ

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

قائم

q-w-m → “is”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

باو

ʾ-w-w → “dependent upon Him”

literal: sale; to sell; to swear allegiance; to pledge; to make covenant

مستمدّ

m-d-d → “ink” Distinctive

literal: extended; outstretched; sustained

دانید

d-ʾ-n-s

literal: this world; earthly life; temporal realm; lowest; base; mean; of little account; to know; to be acquainted with

مقصود

q-ṣ-d → “this is its” Distinctive

literal: intention; purpose; aim; goal; to seek; to direct oneself

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Kitáb-i-’Ahd

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16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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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.

858 ¶

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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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5 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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 ¶