Gleanings — §476

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 476 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ام الّذي ينقطع عنك أيدي كلّ من على الأرض أجمعين، أن يا ملك اتّبع سنن الله في نفسك وبأركانك ولا تتّبع سنن الظّالمين، خذ زمام أمرك في كفّك وقبضة اقتدارك ثمّ استفسر عن كلّ الأمور بنفسك ولا تغفل عن شيء وإنّ في ذلك لخير عظيم، أن اشكر الله ربّك

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Wert thou to incline thine ear unto My speech and observe My counsel, God would exalt thee to so eminent a position that the designs of no man on the whole earth can ever touch or hurt thee. Observe, O King, with thine inmost heart and with thy whole being, the precepts of God, and walk not in the paths of the oppressor. Seize thou, and hold firmly within the grasp of thy might, the reins of the affairs of thy people, and examine in person whatever pertaineth unto them. Let nothing escape thee, for therein lieth the highest good.

Translation Notes

ام

literal: mother

الّذي

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

ينقطع

q-ṭ-ʿ → “detachment” Distinctive

literal: to cease; to be cut off; to break off

عنك

ʿ-n → “from”

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

أيدي

y-d-y → “hands”

literal: hand; power; action; possession

كلّ

k-l-l → “no man” Distinctive

literal: for us; to us

من

m-n → “on” Distinctive

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

على

literal: highest; most high; supreme

الأرض

ʾ-r-ḍ → “whole earth”

literal: earth; land; ground; country

أجمعين،

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

أن

ʾ-n → “that”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

يا

literal: O; or

ملك

m-l-k → “King”

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

اتّبع

t-b-ʿ → “Observe” Distinctive

literal: to follow; to obey; to pursue

سنن

s-n-n → “precepts”

literal: arrow; pointed weapon; spear-point; edge

الله

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

في

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

نفسك

n-f-s → “thine inmost heart” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

وبأركانك

r-k-n → “foundations” Distinctive

literal: pillar; pillars; pillar/foundation

ولا

w-l-y → “not”

literal: no; not; negation particle

الظّالمين،

ẓ-l-m → “the oppressor”

literal: wrongedness, oppression, meekness; state of being wronged or oppressed

خذ

ʾ-kh-dh → “Seize” Distinctive

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

زمام

z-m-m → “reins”

literal: reins; bridle; control; governance

أمرك

ʾ-m-r → “affairs” Distinctive

literal: command; cause; matter; affair

كفّك

literal: separated; detached; parted

وقبضة

q-b-ḍ → “grasp”

literal: grasp; grip; control; seize

اقتدارك

q-d-r → “might”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

ثمّ

th-m-m → “and” Distinctive

literal: then; thereafter; next; moreover

استفسر

s-ʾ-l → “I implore Thee” Distinctive

literal: question; problem; issue; matter

تغفل

gh-f-l → “heedless” Distinctive

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

شيء

sh-y-ʾ → “nothing” Distinctive

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

وإنّ

ʾ-n-n → “for” Distinctive

literal: that; indeed/verily; indeed

ذلك

dh-l-k → “Thus” Distinctive

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

لخير

kh-y-r → “highest good”

literal: goodwill; benevolence; kindness; good; goodness; benefit; better; best

عظيم،

ʿ-ẓ-m → “Most Great”

literal: strong; severe; intense; violent

اشكر

literal: thankfulness, gratitude; to give thanks, be grateful

ربّك

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

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