Gleanings — §499

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 499 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

حال مع این شغل اعظم لایق آنست که جمیع احبّا کمر خدمت محکم کنند و بنصرت امر الله توجّه نمایند نه آنکه بارتکاب امور شنیعه مشغول شوند اگر قدری در افعال و اعمال ظاهرهٴ حقّ مشاهده نمائی لتخرّ بوجهک علی التّراب و تقول یا ربّ الأرباب اشهد انّک انت مولی الوجود و مربّی الغیب و الشّهود و اشهد انّ قدرتک احاطت الکائنات لا تخوّفک جنود من علی الأرض و لا تمنعک سطوة من علیها و اشهد انّک ما اردت الّا حیاة العالم و اتّحاد اهله و نجاة من فیه

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Considering this most mighty enterprise, it beseemeth them that love Him to gird up the loins of their endeavor, and to fix their thoughts on whatever will ensure the victory of the cause of God, rather than commit vile and contemptible deeds. Wert thou to consider, for but a little while, the outward works and doings of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, thou wouldst fall down upon the ground, and exclaim: O Thou Who art the Lord of Lords! I testify that Thou art the Lord of all creation, and the Educator of all beings, visible and invisible. I bear witness that Thy power hath encompassed the entire universe, and that the hosts of the earth can never dismay Thee, nor can the dominion of all peoples and nations deter Thee from executing Thy purpose. I confess that Thou hast no desire except the regeneration of the whole world, and the establishment of the unity of its peoples, and the salvation of all them that dwell therein.

Translation Notes

حال

ḥál ḥ-w-l → “considering” Distinctive

literal: now; state

This form usually rendered as “now”, “present”, “therefore” (178 occurrences)

now 63% present 6% therefore 5% consider 4% today 4% reflect 4% yet 4% state 3% behold 3% condition 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: our state gleaningsGWB §499: Considering kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: through His power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: by Thy help tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: become veils tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §26: plight will-and-testamentW&T §8: Now at this moment

شغل

shghl sh-gh-l → “busied” Distinctive

literal: occupied; busy; occupy

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

busied 31% occupied 24% busy 10% have 8% engaged 7% will 5% immersed 5% occupy 3% busying 3% hath 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: occupied gleaningsGWB §650: wept and mourned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: eagerness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: would have the power to keep me back the-hidden-wordsHW §157: engage will-and-testamentW&T §14: hath spent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: Occupy gleaningsGWB §552: commune

اعظم

iʿẓm ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE rendered حال (ḥál), شغل (shghl), اعظم (iʿẓm), لایق (láyq), آنست (ánst), جمیع (jmíʿ), احبّا (iḥbbá), کمر (kmr), خدمت (khdmt), محکم (mḥkm), کنند (knnd) as “Considering, most mighty enterprise, beseemeth, them, that love, gird up the loins”

most 70% greater 8% supreme 5% greatest 4% more 4% mightier 3% how 2% transcendeth 2% mightiest 2% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: sovereign gleaningsGWB §465: gross kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §181: more exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §134: How great the-hidden-wordsHW §42: of My greatness will-and-testamentW&T §5: bitter epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: majesty

لایق

láyq l-y-q → “beseemeth” Distinctive

literal: worthy; befit; befits

This form usually rendered as “worthy”, “unworthy”, “best” (25 occurrences)

worthy 33% unworthy 24% best 10% beseemeth 10% deserveth 5% befitting 5% fit 5% well 5% have 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: deserveth gleaningsGWB §481: is unworthy of kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §731: falleth short the-hidden-wordsHW §157: have been and will ever be for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unseemly gleaningsGWB §486: befitteth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §782: however much they fall short of

آنست

ánst ʾ-n-s → “man” Distinctive

literal: human; man; companion

This form usually rendered as “perceive”, “companion”, “presence” (5 occurrences)

perceive 40% companion 20% presence 20% delighted 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: all men gleaningsGWB §552: fellowman kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: eternal reunion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §839: Him Who was the Companion the-hidden-wordsHW §84: pleasure will-and-testamentW&T §42: plotted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: perceive gleaningsGWB §441: No two men

احبّا

iḥbbá ḥ-b-b → “that love”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

love 27% cherish 18% loved 18% desire 9% highly 5% friends 5% more 5% lovest 5% dear 5% delight 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: love fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §225: followers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: lovest most prayers-and-meditationsP&M §352: they who love me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §127: loved will-and-testamentW&T §38: that love

کمر

kmr k-m-r → “gird up the loins”

literal: loins

SE expanded to “gird up the loins”

loins 89% girded 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: loins epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: girded themselves epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: the loins

محکم

mḥkm ḥ-k-m → “gird up the loins”

literal: wisdom; wise; judgment

SE expanded to “gird up the loins”

perspicuous 17% gird 17% binding 13% weighty 13% mighty 9% firm 9% firmer 9% firmly-established 4% irrefutable 4% fortified 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: its command gleaningsGWB §505: adamant kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: rulership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: more emphatically asserted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: insight tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: the Wise One the-hidden-wordsHW §117: the one will-and-testamentW&T §8: to the government

کنند

knnd krdn → “hath” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do/make

This form usually rendered as “would”, “appreciate”, “witnessed” (39 occurrences)

would 20% appreciate 10% witnessed 10% vainly 10% toward 10% should 10% uttered 10% give 10% indulge 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: to recount gleaningsGWB §672: impart kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §116: Shouldst thou observe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: exaltest the-hidden-wordsHW §156: thou mayest will-and-testamentW&T §24: to you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: is

بنصرت

bnṣrt n-ṣ-r → “and to fix their thoughts”

literal: help; aid

SE expanded to “and to fix their thoughts”

aid 31% triumph 19% thou 6% helping 6% aided 6% aidest 6% have 6% gain 6% aiding 6% ensure 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: aidest fire-tabletFire §28: championed gleaningsGWB §584: who shall aid kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: can render kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: of assisting prayers-and-meditationsP&M §63: for their assistance the-hidden-wordsHW §43: obtain the victory will-and-testamentW&T §5: triumphant assistance

امور

imúr ʾ-m-r → “cause” Distinctive

literal: cause

This form usually rendered as “things”, “affairs”, “such” (103 occurrences)

things 38% affairs 18% such 9% all 8% events 8% circumstances 6% acts 5% authority 3% judgment 3% condition 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: commissioned fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §664: His service kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: decreed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: Theme prayers-and-meditationsP&M §375: this tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thine

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “cause of god”

literal: god; divine; o god

SE expanded to “cause of God”

god 93% god’s 2% lord 1% divine 1% almighty 1% “god 1% god.” 0% unto 0% towards 0% \‘god 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: God is fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §462: and to this God is My witness kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: God verily prayers-and-meditationsP&M §606: Thou the Lord tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

بوجهک

bújhk w-j-h → “face”

literal: face

sake 47% face 18% upon 6% before 6% self 6% light 6% whose 6% thee 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: turning towards fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §156: with a face kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: set his face kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: to turn prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: and have set their faces towards Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy steps the-hidden-wordsHW §41: before Our Face

نمایند

nmáynd nmúdn

literal: do; to do; show

SE rendered کمر (kmr), خدمت (khdmt), محکم (mḥkm), کنند (knnd), بنصرت (bnṣrt), امر (imr), الله (al-lh), توجّه (tújjh), نمایند (nmáynd), نه (nh), آنکه (ánkh), بارتکاب (bártkáb), امور (imúr), شنیعه (shníʿh) as “gird up the loins, and to fix their thoughts, cause of God, rather, commit, contemptible”

may 23% would 18% will 18% must 11% should 11% have 7% might 5% show 2% cleanse 2% thou 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: must arise gleaningsGWB §110: none can ever kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: We exhort kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: how could prayers-and-meditationsP&M §659: we beseech Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: thou didst neglect will-and-testamentW&T §56: offer epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: nor do We have now

بارتکاب

bártkáb r-k-b → “commit”

literal: commit; commit, perpetrate; to commit

commit 50% committed 25% act 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: perpetrated gleaningsGWB §452: ye have perpetrated kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: steed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: hath united the-hidden-wordsHW §29: committeth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: mounted gleaningsGWB §227: followeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: accomplish

شنیعه

shníʿh sh-n-ʿ → “more” Distinctive

literal: more abominable; vile/abominable; wretched

This form usually rendered as “vile”, “wretched” (2 occurrences)

vile 50% wretched 50%

gleaningsGWB §499: vile and contemptible kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: wretched will-and-testamentW&T §6: more odious will-and-testamentW&T §8: more abominable

شوند

shúnd shdn

literal: become; to become

SE rendered آنکه (ánkh), بارتکاب (bártkáb), امور (imúr), شنیعه (shníʿh), مشغول (mshghúl), شوند (shúnd), قدری (qdrí), افعال (ifʿál) as “rather, commit, contemptible, while, the, outward works”

may 25% will 15% would 10% should 10% made 10% must 10% mayest 5% might 5% again 5% commissioned 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: which gleaningsGWB §43: have refused kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: intervening prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: ever reveal the-hidden-wordsHW §144: be laid will-and-testamentW&T §42: recovered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: made

قدری

qdrí q-d-r → “while, the”

literal: power; powerful; amount

while 41% awhile 15% little 11% providence 7% moment 7% portion 4% dewdrop 4% now 4% according 4% some 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of Thy ordinance fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §522: doth what kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: “power,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §543: Thou didst ordain for them tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §9: There is

اعمال

iʿmál ʿ-m-l

literal: deed; deeds; work

SE rendered قدری (qdrí), افعال (ifʿál), اعمال (iʿmál), ظاهرهٴ (ẓáhrhٴ), حقّ (ḥqq), مشاهده (msháhdh), نمائی (nmáʾí), لتخرّ (ltkhrr) as “while, the, outward works, the Eternal Truth, wouldst fall down upon”

deeds 41% all 13% doings 13% works 9% acts 7% deed 4% behavior 4% goodly 4% words 4% men’s 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: have acted gleaningsGWB §345: use kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: followed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §281: misdeeds tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conforming the-hidden-wordsHW §30: do thou observe will-and-testamentW&T §15: that are men of action epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: acts

ظاهرهٴ

ẓáhrhٴ ẓ-h-r

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

SE rendered قدری (qdrí), افعال (ifʿál), اعمال (iʿmál), ظاهرهٴ (ẓáhrhٴ), حقّ (ḥqq), مشاهده (msháhdh), نمائی (nmáʾí), لتخرّ (ltkhrr), بوجهک (bújhk) as “while, the, outward works, the Eternal Truth, wouldst fall down upon, the ground”

outward 67% made 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: that from him may be manifested fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §95: be shorn of kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: daysprings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: imprinted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: Thine own revelation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §14: I gave thee being

حقّ

ḥqq ḥ-q-q → “eternal truth”

literal: truth; true; right

god 29% truth 29% one 20% true 8% who 6% through 3% eternal 3% right 1% unto 1% righteousness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: of Truth gleaningsGWB §497: God, the Sovereign Truth kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: God’s prayers-and-meditationsP&M §794: they the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §5: clear epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: its right

اشهد

ishhd sh-h-d → “i testify”

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

testify 56% bear 37% “i 1% confess 1% having 1% “i 1% within 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: beholdest fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §499: I confess kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: put to a shameful death prayers-and-meditationsP&M §41: bearest witness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §3: see

لتخرّ

ltkhrr kh-r-r → “wouldst”

literal: fall down; murmur; fell

wouldst 20% fall 20% whose 20% withdrew 20% murmur 20%

gleaningsGWB §499: wouldst fall down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §497: withdrew gleaningsGWB §70: Fall prayers-and-meditationsP&M §185: from whose murmuring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §726: murmur

التّراب

at-tráb t-r-b

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

SE rendered لتخرّ (ltkhrr), بوجهک (bújhk), التّراب (at-tráb), تقول (tqúl), ربّ (rbb), الأرباب (ar-rbáb), اشهد (ishhd) as “wouldst fall down upon, the ground, exclaim, of Lords, I testify”

dust 75% earth 12% clay 8% upon 2% lowly 2% ground 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earth gleaningsGWB §637: dust and ashes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: their resting-place prayers-and-meditationsP&M §497: ground the-hidden-wordsHW §115: dust-heap epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: the dust thereof gleaningsGWB §685: clay kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the lowly dust

تقول

tqúl q-w-l → “exclaim”

literal: say; saying

saith 30% saying 10% exclaimeth 10% say 10% thou 10% maintain 10% exclaim: 10% cry 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: I say gleaningsGWB §305: maintain kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: speaketh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: This verily is prayers-and-meditationsP&M §566: uttered tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: We made reply tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: And thus proclaimed the-hidden-wordsHW §153: by words

الأرباب

ar-rbáb r-b-b → “of lords”

literal: lord; lordship

lords 94% rulers 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: the Lordship of God gleaningsGWB §564: Lord of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §228: the Lord thy God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: is the vassal of none tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: be my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §10: O Lord my God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: Lords

مولی

múlí w-l-y → “lord of all creation”

literal: lord

SE expanded to “Lord of all creation”

lord 31% loved 24% chosen 15% guardian 12% ye 4% holy 3% men 3% guardianship 3% saints 3% dear 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the holy ones gleaningsGWB §211: companion kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: friends!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §654: of Thy loved ones the-hidden-wordsHW §157: men will-and-testamentW&T §27: through the Guardian epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: His loved ones gleaningsGWB §38: To them that are endowed with

الوجود

al-wjúd w-j-d

literal: existence; existent

SE rendered الأرباب (ar-rbáb), اشهد (ishhd), مولی (múlí), الوجود (al-wjúd), مربّی (mrbbí), الغیب (al-ghíb) as “of Lords, I testify, Lord of all creation, the Educator of all beings, visible and invisible”

all 37% creation 24% existence 12% world 7% created 5% human 5% life 2% owe 2% derived 2% mankind 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: is extant fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §706: they would, of a certainty, attain unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: This is evidenced by prayers-and-meditationsP&M §680: cause of my being tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §36: Shouldst thou inhale the-hidden-wordsHW §150: things will-and-testamentW&T §6: extant

مربّی

mrbbí r-b-y → “educator of all beings”

literal: education; educator

SE expanded to “Educator of all beings”

educator 80% educateth 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §50: education gleaningsGWB §123: Teachings kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: being nurtured in kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: development prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: for the edification the-hidden-wordsHW §104: training will-and-testamentW&T §21: edify epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §207: Educator

الغیب

al-ghíb gh-y-b → “visible and invisible”

literal: unseen; unseen/hidden; invisible

SE expanded to “visible and invisible”

invisible 53% unseen 28% unknowable 5% concealment 3% hidden 3% seen 3% secrets 1% things 1% whom 1% impenetrable 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: hath been obscured gleaningsGWB §34: of concealment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §198: of the Unseen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §653: disappearance tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: while I am absent the-hidden-wordsHW §143: with detraction epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the invisible gleaningsGWB §280: absence

احاطت

iḥáṭt ḥ-w-ṭ → “encompassed the entire universe”

literal: encompassing; encompass; encompassed

SE expanded to “encompassed the entire universe”

encompassed 30% have 23% compassed 13% hath 13% enveloped 3% all-encompassing 3% encompasseth 3% blew 3% encompass 3% embraced 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: compassed me about fire-tabletFire §9: enveloped gleaningsGWB §390: all-embracing knowledge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: comprehendeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: and all-encompassing dominion the-hidden-wordsHW §98: beset will-and-testamentW&T §32: compassed me round epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: throughout

الکائنات

al-káʾnát k-w-n

literal: be; to be

SE rendered اشهد (ishhd), قدرتک (qdrtk), احاطت (iḥáṭt), الکائنات (al-káʾnát), تخوّفک (tkhúhfk), جنود (jnúd) as “I bear witness, Thy power hath, encompassed the entire universe, dismay, the hosts of the earth”

all 47% whole 16% entire 11% universe 5% things 5% creation 5% created 5% beings 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: essence gleaningsGWB §109: haply thou mayest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: that ye may prayers-and-meditationsP&M §311: I am the one tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyself tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thou tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath the-hidden-wordsHW §4: Veiled

تخوّفک

tkhúhfk kh-w-f → “dismay”

literal: fear; fearful; frighten

fear 60% fearful 8% afraid 8% dismay 8% may 5% full 3% terrible 3% am 3% feareth 3% shall 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: terrible gleaningsGWB §246: am afraid kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: when I feared you prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: the fearful the-hidden-wordsHW §15: fearest thou will-and-testamentW&T §34: fear fell upon epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: fearful gleaningsGWB §532: Walk ye in the fear of

جنود

jnúd j-n-d → “hosts of the earth”

literal: hosts; host

SE expanded to “hosts of the earth”

hosts 80% host 4% aided 2% armies 2% through 2% powers 2% nations 2% assaults 2% multitude 2% battalions 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: aided by the hosts gleaningsGWB §717: battalions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §135: warrior prayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: by Thine invisible hosts tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §10: with the everlasting hosts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: hosts gleaningsGWB §277: powers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: of that host

الأرض

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ

literal: earth; land; earth, land

SE rendered تخوّفک (tkhúhfk), جنود (jnúd), الأرض (ar-rḍ), تمنعک (tmnʿk), سطوة (sṭúh), علیها (ʿlíhá) as “dismay, the hosts of the earth, deter, the dominion, all peoples and nations”