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Gleanings — §468

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 468 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

وتكون من المطّلعين، فوالله ما خالفناه في شيء ولا غيره واتّبعنا أحكام الله في كلّ شأن وما كنّا من المفسدين، وهو بنفسه يشهد بذلك ولكن يريد أن يأخذنا ويرجعنا إلى العجم لارتفاع اسمه كما أنت ارتكبت هذا الذّنب لأجل ذلك وأنت وهو في حدّ سواء عند الله الملك العليم،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

God is Our witness! We have, under no circumstances, opposed either him, or others. We observed, under all conditions, the precepts of God, and were never one of those that wrought disorders. To this he himself doth testify. His intention was to lay hold on Us, and send Us back to Persia, that he might thereby exalt his fame and reputation. Thou hast committed the same crime, and for the self-same purpose. Ye both are of equal grade in the sight of God, the sovereign Lord of all, the All-Knowing.

Translation Notes

وتكون
k-w-n → “is Our witness! We have”

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

من
m-n → “from”

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

المطّلعين،
ṭ-l-ʿ

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

فوالله
w-l-h

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

ما
m-ʾ → “no” Distinctive

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

خالفناه
kh-l-f → “opposed”

literal: opposing; contrary; conflicting

في
f-y → “under” Distinctive

literal: in; in-it; in it

شيء
sh-y-ʾ → “things”

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

ولا
w-l-y → “or” Distinctive

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

غيره
gh-y-r → “others”

literal: without; besides; other than; except; other; different

واتّبعنا
t-b-ʿ → “observed”

literal: to follow; to obey; to pursue

أحكام
ḥ-k-m → “precepts”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom

الله
ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

كلّ
k-l-l → “all conditions”

literal: for us; to us

شأن
sh-ʾ-n

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

المفسدين،
f-s-d → “mischief” Distinctive

literal: corruption; ruin; discord; mischief; decay

وهو
h-w → “he”

literal: He; He is

بنفسه
n-f-s → “himself”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

يشهد
sh-h-d → “testify”

literal: witnessed; observed; seen; evident; manifest

بذلك
dh-l-k → “To this”

literal: that; this; it; by that

ولكن
l-k-n

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

يريد
r-y-d → “desire”

literal: will; intention; to will; to intend; to wish

أن
ʾ-n → “to”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

يأخذنا
ʾ-kh-dh → “lay hold on”

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

ويرجعنا
r-j-ʿ → “return”

literal: return; reference; place of return; resort

إلى
ʾ-l-y → “to”

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

العجم
ʿ-j-m → “Persian”

literal: Persians; Persian, non-Arabic; non-Arabs/foreigners

لارتفاع
r-f-ʿ → “exalt”

literal: to be raised, elevated, exalted, lifted up

اسمه
s-m-w → “heaven” Distinctive

literal: heaven; sky

كما
k-m → “loss” Distinctive

literal: as; like; how much; lane; street; quarter; abode

أنت
ʾ-n-t → “Thou”

literal: you (masculine singular)

ارتكبت
r-k-b → “committed”

literal: to ride; to commit; to undertake

هذا
h-dh-ʾ → “the” Distinctive

literal: this; that

الذّنب
dh-n-b → “crime”

literal: sin; crime; offense; fault

لأجل
ʾ-j-l → “to”

literal: majesty; glory; exaltation; magnificence

حدّ
ḥ-d-d → “limitations”

literal: iron; sharp, keen, acute

سواء
s-w-y → “equal”

literal: level; equal; straight; upon a throne; resting upon; toward; to; direction of; other than; besides; except

عند
ʿ-n-d → “sight of” Distinctive

literal: obstinacy; opposition; enmity

الملك
m-l-k → “sovereign Lord of all” Distinctive

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty; possessions; property; ownership

العليم،
ʿ-l-m → “All-Knowing”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

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