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Gleanings — §473

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 473 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

، إيّاك يا أيّها الملك لا تجمع في حولك من هؤلاء الوكلاء الّذين لا يتّبعون إلّا هواهم ونبذوا أماناتهم وراء ظهورهم وكانوا على خيانة مبين، فأحسن على العباد كما أحسن الله لك ولا تدع النّاس وأمورهم بين يدي هؤلاء، اتّق الله وكن من المتّقين، فاجتمع من الوكلاء الّذين تجد منهم روايح الإيمان والعدل ثمّ شاورهم في الأمور وخذ أحسنها وكن من المحسنين، فاعلم

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Beware, O King, that thou gather not around thee such ministers as follow the desires of a corrupt inclination, as have cast behind their backs that which hath been committed into their hands and manifestly betrayed their trust. Be bounteous to others as God hath been bounteous to thee, and abandon not the interests of thy people to the mercy of such ministers as these. Lay not aside the fear of God, and be thou of them that act uprightly. Gather around thee those ministers from whom thou canst perceive the fragrance of faith and of justice, and take thou counsel with them, and choose whatever is best in thy sight, and be of them that act generously.

Translation Notes

إيّاك

literal: beware (imperative); you; would that, I wish, if only (optative particle)

يا

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

أيّها

literal: beware (imperative); you; would that, I wish, if only (optative particle)

الملك

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

لا

literal: no; not; negation particle

تجمع

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

في
f-y

literal: in; in-it; in it

حولك

literal: states; conditions; circumstances; situations; affairs

من

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

هؤلاء

literal: these

الوكلاء

literal: agency; representation; trusteeship; delegated authority

الّذين

literal: those who; the ones who (relative pronoun)

يتّبعون

literal: to follow; to obey; to pursue

إلّا

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

هواهم

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

ونبذوا

literal: to cast; to reject; to abandon; to throw away

أماناتهم

literal: to believe; to have faith; to be secure

وراء

literal: behind; beyond; after

ظهورهم
ẓ-h-r “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

على
ʿ-l-w “to others” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

خيانة
kh-w-n “disloyalty” Distinctive

literal: betrayal, treachery, disloyalty; betraying; treachery; betrayal; unfaithfulness

مبين،
b-y-n “manifestly” Distinctive

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

فأحسن

literal: goodness; beauty; excellence; good deed

العباد

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

كما

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

الله

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

لك

literal: for; for you; for him

ولا
w-l-y “Lord” Distinctive

literal: friend; lord; guardian

تدع

literal: call, invocation, summons; to call, invite, summon

النّاس

literal: companionship; fellowship; familiarity; to keep company

وأمورهم

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

يدي

literal: hand; power; action; possession

اتّق

literal: abstinence; piety; temperance; God-fearing

وكن

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

تجد

literal: monarch; crowned ruler; king

روايح

literal: narration; tradition; fragrance; to grow; to spring forth; to sprout

والعدل

literal: justice; equity

ثمّ

literal: then; thereafter; next; moreover

شاورهم

literal: to consult, deliberate; to advise

وخذ

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

فاعلم

literal: world; universe; the worlds

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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