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Gleanings — §488

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 488 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

أن أذكّرهم بأعمالهم لعلّ لا يفعلوا بأحد كما فعلوا بنا ولعلّ يكوننّ من المتذكّرين، ستمضي بلايانا واضطرارنا والشّدّة الّتي أحاطتنا من كلّ الجهات وكذلك تمضي راحتهم والرّخاء الّذي كانوا فيه وهذا من حقّ الّذي لن ينكره أحد من العالمين، وسيقضى سكوننا على التّراب بهذه الذّلّة وجلوسهم على سرير العزّة ويحكم الله بيننا وبينهم وهو خير الحاكمين ونشك

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The tribulations that have touched Us, the destitution from which We suffer, the various troubles with which We are encompassed, shall all pass away, as shall pass away the pleasures in which they delight and the affluence they enjoy. This is the truth which no man on earth can reject. The days in which We have been compelled to dwell in the dust will soon be ended, as will the days in which they occupied the seats of honor. God shall, assuredly, judge with truth between Us and them, and He, verily, is the best of judges.

Translation Notes

أن
ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

أذكّرهم
dh-k-r

literal: remembrance; mention; memory; invocation; reminders; commemorations

بأعمالهم
ʿ-m-l

literal: to work; to act; to do; to perform

لعلّ
l-ʿ-l

literal: perhaps; perchance; hopefully

لا
l-ʾ

literal: no; not; negation particle

يفعلوا
f-ʿ-l

literal: to do, act, make; deed, action

كما
k-m → “loss” Distinctive

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

بنا
b-n-y

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

يكوننّ
k-w-n → “been” Distinctive

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

من
m-n → “from which We suffer”

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

ستمضي
m-ḍ-y → “shall all pass away”

literal: to pass, go by; have passed; past; bygone

بلايانا
b-l-w → “tribulations”

literal: affliction; trial; calamity

واضطرارنا
ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm; damage; injury; detriment

والشّدّة
sh-d-d → “tribulations” Distinctive

literal: strong; severe; intense; violent

الّتي
ʾ-l-l → “which”

literal: who; which/that; which

أحاطتنا
ḥ-w-ṭ → “are encompassed”

literal: to surround, encompass, encircle, beset

كلّ
k-l-l

literal: for us; to us

الجهات
j-h-h

literal: direction; aspect; side; regard

وكذلك
k-dh-l → “as” Distinctive

literal: that; thus; likewise

راحتهم
r-w-ḥ → “spirit” Distinctive

literal: to go; to depart; to rest; spirit; soul

والرّخاء
r-kh-y → “affluence”

literal: ease; plenty; comfort; affluence

الّذي
l-dh-y → “which”

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

فيه
f-y → “in” Distinctive

literal: alas; woe; oh

وهذا
h-dh-ʾ → “This is”

literal: this; that

حقّ
ḥ-q-q → “truth”

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

لن
l-n → “no” Distinctive

literal: will not (negation of future)

ينكره
n-k-r → “denied” Distinctive

literal: deny; denial; deniers

أحد
ʾ-ḥ-d → “man on earth” Distinctive

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

العالمين،
ʿ-l-m

literal: world; universe; the worlds

وسيقضى
q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

سكوننا
s-k-n → “to dwell”

literal: stillness, rest, quietude, tranquility

على
ʿ-l-w → “in” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

التّراب
t-r-b → “the dust”

literal: dust; earth; soil

الذّلّة
dh-l-l

literal: abasement; humiliation; lowliness; to be abased

وجلوسهم
j-l-s → “seated” Distinctive

literal: place; location; spot

سرير
s-r-r → “seats”

literal: throne; couch; seat of authority

العزّة
ʿ-z-z → “of honor” Distinctive

literal: glory; might; honor; dignity; power; majesty

ويحكم
ḥ-k-m → “judge” Distinctive

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom; firm; solid; strengthened

الله
ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

بيننا
b-y-n → “between Us”

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

وهو
h-w → “and He”

literal: He; He is

خير
kh-y-r → “best” Distinctive

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

ونشك
sh-k-w

literal: complain; niche; niche/lamp

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