Gleanings — §382

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 382 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

کن که بر کلّ اشراق فرموده یعنی در کلّ آیهٴ توحید الهی ظاهر چنانچه کلّ مدلّند بر حقّ و سلطنت او و وحدت او و قدرت او و این تجلّی رحمت او است که سبقت گرفته کلّ را ولکن نفوس مشرکه از این تجلّی غافل و از شریعهٴ قرب و لقا محروم چنانچه مشاهده میشود جمیع ملل مختلفه بوحدانیّت او مقرّ و بفردانیّت او معترف اگر آیهٴ توحید الهی در آن نفوس نمیبود هرگز مقرّ باین کلمهٴ مبارکهٔ لا اله الّا هو نبودند مع‌ذلک غافل و بعیدند و عندالله از موحّدین محسوب نه چه که سلطان مجلّی را ادراک ننموده‌اند و

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Consider, in like manner, the revelation of the light of the Name of God, the Incomparable. Behold, how this light hath enveloped the entire creation, how each and every thing manifesteth the sign of His Unity, testifieth to the reality of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, proclaimeth His sovereignty, His oneness, and His power. This revelation is a token of His mercy that hath encompassed all created things. They that have joined partners with Him, however, are unaware of such a revelation, and are deprived of the Faith through which they can draw near unto, and be united with, Him. Witness how the divers peoples and kindreds of the earth bear witness to His unity, and recognize His oneness. But for the sign of the Unity of God within them, they would have never acknowledged the truth of the words, “There is none other God but God.” And yet, consider how grievously they have erred, and strayed from His path. Inasmuch as they have failed to recognize the Sovereign Revealer, they have ceased to be reckoned among those who may be regarded as true believers in the Unity of God.

Translation Notes

کن

k-w-n → “be”

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

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

بر

b-r-r

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

کلّ

k-l-l → “entire creation” Distinctive

literal: for us; to us

اشراق

sh-r-q → “revelation of the light” Distinctive

literal: radiance; splendor; dawn; illumination

فرموده

f-r-m

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

یعنی

ʿ-n-y

literal: that is; meaning; i.e.

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

آیهٴ

ʾ-y-y → “signs” Distinctive

literal: sign; signs; verse

توحید

w-ḥ-d → “His Unity”

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

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “of God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “manifesteth”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “likewise” Distinctive

literal: thus; in such manner; as

مدلّند

d-l-l → “testifieth”

literal: proof; indicating; evidence

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “Eternal Truth”

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

سلطنت

s-l-ṭ → “His sovereignty”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

او

h-w-w → “is”

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

قدرت

q-d-r → “His power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

این

ʾ-y-n → “This”

literal: this; these

تجلّی

j-l-w → “revelation”

literal: effulgence; manifestation; revelation

رحمت

r-ḥ-m → “His mercy”

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

سبقت

s-b-q → “hath”

literal: to precede; to surpass; to excel

گرفته

g-r-f → “hath quaffed”

literal: captive, afflicted, troubled, caught; affliction, trouble

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

ولکن

l-k-n → “however”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

نفوس

n-f-s → “They that” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

مشرکه

sh-r-k → “misbelief” Distinctive

literal: partner; associate; sharer; companion

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

غافل

gh-f-l → “are unaware”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

شریعهٴ

sh-r-ʿ → “Faith”

literal: law; law, religious law; legislation

قرب

q-r-b → “draw near” Distinctive

literal: place of sacrifice; altar

لقا

l-q-y → “presence”

literal: opposite; facing; in front of; towards

محروم

ḥ-r-m → “are deprived”

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

مشاهده

sh-h-d → “bear witness”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

میشود

sh-w-d

literal: perhaps, perchance, haply, maybe, possibly; to become; to be; to happen; to occur

جمیع

j-m-ʿ → “divers peoples” Distinctive

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

ملل

m-l-l → “divers peoples”

literal: nation; people; religion; community

مختلفه

kh-l-f

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

مقرّ

q-r-r → “acknowledged” Distinctive

literal: matter; affair; thing

بفردانیّت

f-r-d → “His oneness”

literal: unique; singular; incomparable

معترف

ʿ-r-f → “recognize” Distinctive

literal: to confess; to acknowledge; to recognize

اگر

ʾ-g-r

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

آن

ʾ-n → “they”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

هرگز

h-r-g → “never”

literal: never; at no time; never ever

باین

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

کلمهٴ

k-l-m → “truth of the words”

literal: word; words; speak

مبارکهٔ

b-r-k → “blessed”

literal: blessed; auspicious; fruitful; blest; blessed word

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

اله

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

الّا

ʾ-kh-r → “but” Distinctive

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

هو

h-w → “is”

literal: He; He is

مع‌ذلک

dh-l-k → “Thus”

literal: nevertheless; despite this; yet; however

بعیدند

b-ʿ-d → “after” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

عندالله

ʿ-n-d

literal: obstinacy; opposition; enmity

محسوب

ḥ-s-b → “accounted”

literal: according to; in accordance with; as regards

نه

n-h-y

literal: end; ended; utmost

چه

ch-h

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

ادراک

d-r-k → “failed to recognize” Distinctive

literal: to overtake; to catch; to reach; to attain; to perceive; to comprehend

ننموده‌اند

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

literal: to show, display, exhibit; to grow, develop

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet

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Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

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 ¶