Gleanings — §390

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 390 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

و ظاهر ساخت در هر کدام آثار عظمت و قدرت و قوّت و احاطهٴ حقّ جلّ جلاله ظاهر و مشهود است در قوّهٴ لامسه تفکّر نما که جمیع بدن را احاطه نموده و مقرّ سمع و بصر واحد و مقرّ او تمام بدن جلّت عظمته

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Every one of these gifts is an undoubted evidence of the majesty, the power, the ascendancy, the all-embracing knowledge of the one true God — exalted be His glory. Consider the sense of touch. Witness how its power hath spread itself over the entire human body. Whereas the faculties of sight and of hearing are each localized in a particular center, the sense of touch embraceth the whole human frame. Glorified be His power, magnified be His sovereignty!

Translation Notes

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

ساخت

s-kh-t → “is”

literal: hard, difficult, severe; harshness

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

هر

h-r → “Every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

کدام

k-d-m → “one”

literal: which; what; whoever; any

آثار

ʾ-th-r

literal: effect; trace; influence; imprint; sign; mark; vestige

عظمت

ʿ-ẓ-m → “majesty”

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

قدرت

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

قوّت

q-w-t → “power”

literal: strength; power; might

احاطهٴ

ḥ-w-ṭ → “encompassed” Distinctive

literal: to encompass, surround, envelop, embrace

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “God”

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

جلّ

j-l-l → “exalted”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

مشهود

sh-h-d

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

است

b-w-d

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

قوّهٴ

q-w-y → “power”

literal: power; strength; force

لامسه

l-m-s → “touch”

literal: shining; radiant; gleaming

تفکّر

f-k-r → “Consider” Distinctive

literal: thoughts; ideas; fancies; opinions

نما

n-m-ʾ → “may” Distinctive

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

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

جمیع

j-m-ʿ → “entire” Distinctive

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

بدن

b-d-n → “body”

literal: without; apart from; besides

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

نموده

n-m-ود → “hath”

literal: do; to do; do/make

مقرّ

q-r-r → “acknowledged” Distinctive

literal: matter; affair; thing

سمع

s-m-ʿ → “hearing”

literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention

بصر

b-ṣ-r → “sight”

literal: sight; insight; discernment; spiritual perception

واحد

w-ḥ-d → “one”

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

او

h-w-w → “its” Distinctive

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

تمام

t-m-m → “all”

literal: most complete; to complete; perfect; fullness

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Kitáb-i-’Ahd

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16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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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 ¶

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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.

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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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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

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57 ¶

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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 ¶

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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 ¶