Gleanings — §443

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 443 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

انشآءالله نور انصاف بتابد و عالم را از اعتساف مقدّس فرماید اگر ملوک و سلاطین که مظاهر اقتدار حقّ جلّ جلاله‌اند همّت نمایند و به ما ینتفع به من علی الأرض قیام فرمایند عالم را انوار آفتاب عدل اخذ نماید و منوّر سازد

Shoghi Effendi Translation

If the rulers and kings of the earth, the symbols of the power of God, exalted be His glory, arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity, the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the children of men, and the effulgence of its light will envelop the whole earth.

Translation Notes

انشآءالله

sh-y-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

literal: creation; bringing into existence; establishment; God willing; if God wishes; please God

نور

n-w-r → “light”

literal: light; illumination

انصاف

n-ṣ-f → “justice”

literal: justice; fairness; equity

بتابد

t-ʾ-b

literal: to shine; to radiate; to illuminate

عالم

ʿ-l-m → “humanity” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

از

ʾ-z → “of”

literal: from

اعتساف

ʿ-s-f

literal: oppression; tyranny; wrongdoing; unjust treatment

مقدّس

q-d-s

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

فرماید

f-r-m

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

اگر

ʾ-g-r → “were they”

literal: although; even if; though; notwithstanding

ملوک

m-l-k → “kings”

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty

سلاطین

s-l-ṭ → “rulers”

literal: dominion; authority; power; sovereignty; control

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

مظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “symbols” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

اقتدار

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

حقّ

ḥ-q-q → “God”

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

جلّ

j-l-l → “exalted”

literal: exalted; glory; majesty

همّت

h-m-m → “resolve”

literal: them (feminine or general); by them; through them

نمایند

n-m-ʾ → “may”

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

به

b-h → “to”

literal: by it; by him; with it

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

ینتفع

n-f-ʿ → “profit”

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

من

m-n

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

علی

ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; most high; supreme

الأرض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

قیام

q-w-m → “arise”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

آفتاب

ʾ-f-t-ʾ-b

literal: horizon; sun

عدل

ʿ-d-l

literal: justice; equity

اخذ

ʾ-kh-dh → “arrested”

literal: to take; to seize; to affect; to grasp

سازد

s-ʾ-z → “illuminate”

literal: to make; to create; to cause

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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 ¶

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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 ¶