Gleanings — §487

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 487 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

يا أيّها الملك فوالله ما أريد أن أشكو منهم في حضرتك إنّما أشكو بثّي وحزني إلى الله الّذي خلقنا وإيّاهم وكان علينا وعليهم لشاهد ووكيل بل أريد

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I swear by God, O King! It is not My wish to make My plaint to thee against them that persecute Me. I only plead My grief and My sorrow to God, Who hath created Me and them, Who well knoweth our state and Who watcheth over all things. My wish is to warn them of the consequences of their actions, if perchance they might desist from treating others as they have treated Me, and be of them that heed My warning.

Translation Notes

فوالله

fúállh w-l-h → “rapture” Distinctive

literal: rapture

This form usually rendered as “swear” (1 occurrences)

rapture 33% exultation 33% swear 17% thou 17%

fire-tabletFire §42: Rapture gleaningsGWB §555: rapture, and ecstasy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: swear by prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: the Exultation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §739: Thou the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: my Exultation

أريد

ʾaríd r-y-d → “my wish”

literal: desire

wish 38% what 8% seeketh 8% live 8% desire 8% attempt 8% hold 8% venture 8% ask 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: wish gleaningsGWB §487: My wish kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: given prayers-and-meditationsP&M §131: Wishing tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §46: she did desire the-hidden-wordsHW §8: seekest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: by the will gleaningsGWB §246: He hath wished

أشكو

ʾashkú sh-k-w → “complain” Distinctive

literal: complain

This form usually rendered as “plaint”, “plead” (2 occurrences)

plaint 50% plead 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: complain gleaningsGWB §684: Lamp prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: the niche gleaningsGWB §601: The utterance of God gleaningsGWB §487: My plaint gleaningsGWB §487: plead gleaningsGWB §684: shelter of your constancy

منهم

mnhm m-n → “whosoever” Distinctive

literal: who

This form usually rendered as “others”, “some” (10 occurrences)

others 80% some 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: from fire-tabletFire §45: with hate gleaningsGWB §482: into kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: are prayers-and-meditationsP&M §56: under the influences of will-and-testamentW&T §29: my epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the man

حضرتك

ḥḍrtk ḥ-ḍ-r → “thee”

literal: presence, majesty

thee 58% befitteth 8% unto 8% loftiness 8% majesty 8% highness 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: of Him gleaningsGWB §41: path kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: Qá’im prayers-and-meditationsP&M §473: ready the-hidden-wordsHW §122: His holy will-and-testamentW&T §3: His Holiness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: his honor gleaningsGWB §292: the lips of

إنّما

ʾinnmá n-m-ʾ → “have”

literal: do; show; make

have 25% will 14% hath 14% thou 9% consider 7% may 7% made 7% can 7% reflect 7% offered 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §246: prevented gleaningsGWB §410: hath sustained kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: is kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: have failed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §667: show the-hidden-wordsHW §156: thou mayest will-and-testamentW&T §41: succeed in bringing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: Remember

بثّي

bththí b-th-th → “gave” Distinctive

literal: grief/distress; grief

This form usually rendered as “grief” (2 occurrences)

gave 33% grief 33% reveal 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: gave vent gleaningsGWB §487: My grief kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: reveal

وحزني

wḥzní ḥ-z-n → “my sorrow”

literal: sorrow

sorrow 40% “my 20% afflictions 20% anguish 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: tribulation fire-tabletFire §12: Sorrows gleaningsGWB §487: My sorrow kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: despondency prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: anguish tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: affliction the-hidden-wordsHW §95: griefs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: “My grief

وإيّاهم

wʾiyyáhm ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: sign; signs

signs 50% verses 18% verse 11% utterances 6% sign 6% words 4% what 3% repudiated 1% utterance 1% mighty 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: verse fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §82: Our verses kitab-i-iqanKIQ §100: His Word prayers-and-meditationsP&M §849: signs of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: verses

وكان

wkán k-w-n

literal: be; to be

SE rendered الله (al-lh), خلقنا (khlqná), وإيّاهم (wʾiyyáhm), وكان (wkán), علينا (ʿlíná), وعليهم (wʿlíhm), لشاهد (lsháhd) as “God, hath created, and them, Me, them, watcheth over”

hath 27% had 15% past 12% can 12% numbered 6% lay 6% will 6% himself 6% whether 6% all 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: all would fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §211: had enveloped kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: art thou to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §461: had tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyself tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

علينا

ʿlíná ʿ-l-y → “upon”

literal: upon; on

upon 33% trials 33% against 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: above all other gleaningsGWB §689: the Cause of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: glorified is He prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: the path the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: unto gleaningsGWB §234: envelop thee

وعليهم

wʿlíhm ʿ-l-w → “most” Distinctive

literal: upon

This form usually rendered as “upon” (5 occurrences)

most 40% exalted 20% high 11% glory 7% upon 6% glorified 4% inaccessible 3% sublime 3% loftiest 3% exalt 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: most exalted ranks fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §136: upon kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: upon thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: and upon tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §30: unto thee

لشاهد

lsháhd sh-h-d → “testify” Distinctive

literal: witness; witnessed

This form usually rendered as “witness”, “testifieth”, “aware” (27 occurrences)

witness 60% testifieth 20% aware 5% beareth 5% truthfulness 5% bear 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: perceiveth fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §320: reenacted kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §96: be witnessed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §402: unveil to their eyes tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §47: a martyr

ووكيل

wúkíl w-k-l

literal: trust; agents; rely upon

SE rendered وإيّاهم (wʾiyyáhm), وكان (wkán), علينا (ʿlíná), وعليهم (wʿlíhm), لشاهد (lsháhd), ووكيل (wúkíl), أريد (ʾaríd) as “and them, Me, them, watcheth over, My wish”

ministers 23% put 19% trust 15% have 12% reliance 8% trusting 8% placed 4% lot 4% placeth 4% let 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: to put my trust gleaningsGWB §620: one of His helpers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §578: I have placed my tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: Rely the-hidden-wordsHW §9: to put thy trust epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: to put his reliance gleaningsGWB §699: his whole trust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §151: trusting wholly

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Kitáb-i-'Ahd cover

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

Prayers and Meditations cover

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

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.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

Will and Testament cover

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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 ¶