Gleanings — §499

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

Source (Arabic)

انّ البلآء لا یمنع قلم القدم انّه یتحرّک باذن الله مصوّر الرّمم 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

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

البلآء

al-bláʾ b-l-w

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

tribulation 42% adversity 13% woe 13% affliction 8% tribulations 8% troubles 4% trials 4% orient 4% afflictions 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: overwhelmed fire-tabletFire §39: calamity gleaningsGWB §110: agonies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: victims prayers-and-meditationsP&M §214: The trials Thou sendest the-hidden-wordsHW §154: tried will-and-testamentW&T §3: a victim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: incalculable afflictions

تمنعک

tmnʿk m-n-ʿ → “deter”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

hinder 18% have 17% withhold 13% hindered 11% deter 9% kept 8% powerless 7% hath 7% withheld 5% may 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: in withholding gleaningsGWB §686: transcendent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: ceased to rain upon mankind prayers-and-meditationsP&M §578: from me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §157: goodly will-and-testamentW&T §56: hindrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: inaccessible

قلم

qlm q-l-m

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the Pen gleaningsGWB §493: Pen of Revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Pen of Power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §729: Thy most exalted will-and-testamentW&T §13: clime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: pens gleaningsGWB §387: His Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: of Thy

القدم

al-qdm q-d-m

literal: ancient; step; eternity

ancient 47% eternity 13% step 9% feet 7% everlasting 7% eternal 5% ever-abiding 4% steps 4% who 2% stepped 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: the Ancient of Days fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §537: of His everlasting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: His imperishable Essence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §743: footstool tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: by His presence the-hidden-wordsHW §81: the next will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

یتحرّک

ytḥrrk ḥ-r-k

literal: move; movement; mover

SE rendered یتحرّک (ytḥrrk), باذن (bádhn), الله (al-lh), مصوّر (mṣúṣr), الرّمم (ar-rmm), حال (ḥál) as “Considering”

liveth 25% move 25% moving 25% moveth 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: stirred fire-tabletFire §27: Mover gleaningsGWB §595: through its movement kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: comply prayers-and-meditationsP&M §38: to tremble tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §43: She bestirred herself will-and-testamentW&T §10: and senseless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: move

باذن

bádhn ʾ-dh-n

literal: permission; ear; ears

SE rendered باذن (bádhn), الله (al-lh), مصوّر (mṣúṣr), الرّمم (ar-rmm), حال (ḥál) as “Considering”

permission 38% leave 31% ear 8% ears 8% ordained 8% fixed 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: permission gleaningsGWB §564: by the leave kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: ears.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: mine ear will-and-testamentW&T §28: leave epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: ears gleaningsGWB §622: fixed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: His permission

مصوّر

mṣúṣr ṣ-w-r

literal: form; trumpet; conception

SE rendered مصوّر (mṣúṣr), الرّمم (ar-rmm), حال (ḥál), شغل (shghl) as “Considering, most mighty enterprise”

fashioner 50% quickener 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: a picture gleaningsGWB §75: The Trumpet kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: the trumpet-blast prayers-and-meditationsP&M §127: Fashioner will-and-testamentW&T §5: be ever imagined epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: trumpet gleaningsGWB §121: image kitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: by the trumpet-call

الرّمم

ar-rmm r-m-m

literal: decayed bones; decayed, moldering; bones

SE rendered الرّمم (ar-rmm), حال (ḥál), شغل (shghl), اعظم (iʿẓm), لایق (láyq), آنست (ánst) as “Considering, most mighty enterprise, it beseemeth”

5 occurrences in corpus

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: of every moldering bone prayers-and-meditationsP&M §127: every moldering bone

شغل

shghl sh-gh-l → “busied” Distinctive

literal: occupied; busy; occupy

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

busied 33% occupied 28% busy 9% engaged 7% immersed 7% have 4% busying 4% hast 4% occupy 2% ye 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: busied gleaningsGWB §149: engaged kitab-i-iqanKIQ §89: pursuit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §429: will keep them back the-hidden-wordsHW §84: delight will-and-testamentW&T §14: hath spent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: Occupy gleaningsGWB §410: endeavor

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) as “Considering, most mighty enterprise, it beseemeth, them that love Him, gird up the loins”

most 61% greater 10% greatest 6% great 5% more 5% supreme 4% mightier 4% transcendeth 2% potency 2% mightiest 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: majesty gleaningsGWB §181: exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: too vast prayers-and-meditationsP&M §151: greatness of Thy majesty the-hidden-wordsHW §93: all-glorious will-and-testamentW&T §7: Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: the Most Great gleaningsGWB §169: How vast

لایق

láyq l-y-q → “it beseemeth”

literal: worthy; befit; befits

worthy 40% beseemeth 20% fit 10% entirely 10% unworthy 10% best 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: worthy gleaningsGWB §492: and beseemeth thy sovereignty kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: what can truly befit epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unseemly gleaningsGWB §486: befitteth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: to bestow epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: fit

آنست

ánst ʾ-n-s → “man” Distinctive

literal: human; man; man/human

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

man 69% mankind 7% men 7% human 6% all 2% perceive 2% unto 2% every 2% adapt 2% essence 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: Every man gleaningsGWB §9: man’s kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: “Man prayers-and-meditationsP&M §404: enjoy such intimate communion the-hidden-wordsHW §96: desire communion epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: perceive gleaningsGWB §582: Commune intimately kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: Son of Man

جمیع

jmíʿ j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: all; all, entire

all 81% every 8% whole 3% each 2% whatsoever 1% one 1% concourse 1% under 1% divers 1% any 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: thy speech gleaningsGWB §317: any object whatsoever kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: they prayers-and-meditationsP&M §776: reunited tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gathered the-hidden-wordsHW §92: wisdom will-and-testamentW&T §13: meeting

احبّا

iḥbbá ḥ-b-b → “them that love him”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

SE expanded to “them that love Him”

love 26% cherish 22% loved 17% long 9% desire 9% highly 4% friends 4% lovest 4% best 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: For the love of God fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §163: my Well-Beloved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: of love prayers-and-meditationsP&M §756: is to be loved tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Day tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §20: a beloved

کمر

kmr k-m-r → “gird up the loins”

literal: loins; waist/loins

SE expanded to “gird up the loins”

loins 50% girded 25% gird 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: girded gleaningsGWB §499: gird up the loins epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: loins

خدمت

khdmt kh-d-m → “serve”

literal: service; servant; serve

serve 37% service 32% seek 5% serving 5% promote 5% endeavor 5% went 5% adequate 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: Our servants gleaningsGWB §513: the best interests kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: in the service prayers-and-meditationsP&M §94: continued to serve will-and-testamentW&T §19: important services epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: in serving gleaningsGWB §419: promote the welfare kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: servant

محکم

mḥkm ḥ-k-m

literal: wisdom; wise; judgment

SE rendered لایق (láyq), آنست (ánst), جمیع (jmíʿ), احبّا (iḥbbá), کمر (kmr), خدمت (khdmt), محکم (mḥkm), کنند (knnd), بنصرت (bnṣrt), امر (imr), الله (al-lh), توجّه (tújjh) as “it beseemeth, them that love Him, gird up the loins, endeavor, to fix their thoughts, cause, God, on whatever will ensure”

perspicuous 23% gird 15% firmly-established 8% mighty 8% resistless 8% fortified 8% fully 8% firmly 8% emphatically 8% impregnable 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: rulest gleaningsGWB §599: firmly kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: rulership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: penalty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §362: Thy behest tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: the Wise the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §22: Tribunal

کنند

knnd k-r-d

literal: do; to do; do, make

SE rendered جمیع (jmíʿ), احبّا (iḥbbá), کمر (kmr), خدمت (khdmt), محکم (mḥkm), کنند (knnd), بنصرت (bnṣrt), امر (imr), الله (al-lh), توجّه (tújjh) as “them that love Him, gird up the loins, endeavor, to fix their thoughts, cause, God, on whatever will ensure”

appreciate 14% lead 14% after 14% themselves 14% toward 14% should 14% give 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: feeleth gleaningsGWB §43: behold kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: in Him the-hidden-wordsHW §93: sanctify will-and-testamentW&T §3: offered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: not gleaningsGWB §563: perceive kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: have spent

بنصرت

bnṣrt n-ṣ-r → “aid”

literal: help; victory; helper

aid 27% triumph 20% extended 7% helped 7% helping 7% aidest 7% have 7% victory 7% aiding 7% fix 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: helping fire-tabletFire §28: championed gleaningsGWB §663: service kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: can render kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: for the triumph prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: to help Thee will-and-testamentW&T §5: triumphant assistance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: extended Me his aid

امر

imr ʾ-m-r → “cause”

literal: command; matter; cause

cause 62% revelation 16% faith 6% command 3% bidding 3% ordainer 2% things 2% behest 2% divine 2% authority 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: a Cause gleaningsGWB §702: this duty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: acts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: of Thy revelation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: commands will-and-testamentW&T §22: absolute command epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: that which gleaningsGWB §659: do We devolve

توجّه

tújjh w-j-h → “face” Distinctive

literal: face; turning

This form usually rendered as “turning”, “turn”, “set” (116 occurrences)

turning 30% turn 17% set 13% turned 10% setting 9% hath 4% directed 4% proceeded 4% directing 4% visited 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: thy face towards fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §568: Me kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §615: have set tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §16: thy face unto Mine

نمایند

nmáynd n-m-ʾ

literal: do; show; make

SE rendered بنصرت (bnṣrt), امر (imr), الله (al-lh), توجّه (tújjh), نمایند (nmáynd), نه (nh), آنکه (ánkh), بارتکاب (bártkáb), امور (imúr) as “to fix their thoughts, cause, God, on whatever will ensure, rather, than, commit vile and contemptible, deeds”

may 15% should 15% quench 15% choose 8% converse 8% will 8% dedicate 8% consider 8% declare 8% heart 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: have appeared gleaningsGWB §340: be filled kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: Give kitab-i-iqanKIQ §96: How vain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: can cause the-hidden-wordsHW §160: will reveal will-and-testamentW&T §24: towards them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: chose

آنکه

ánkh ʾ-n → “have”

literal: that; indeed; that, to

have 10% behold 10% will 10% such 10% either 10% \‘verily 10% verily 10% truth 10% \‘they 10% although 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: \‘Verily kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: for the-hidden-wordsHW §120: moment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: in truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §218: a moment’s epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: He, verily kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: these epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: We have heard

بارتکاب

bártkáb r-k-b → “commit vile and contemptible”

literal: commit; commit, perpetrate; to commit

SE expanded to “commit vile and contemptible”

act 50% commit 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: committed gleaningsGWB §292: and used as kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: have wrought prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: been so harassed tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §3: let the angelic spirits enter the-hidden-wordsHW §29: committeth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: commit gleaningsGWB §495: to act

شنیعه

shníʿh sh-n-ʿ

literal: wretched

SE rendered نه (nh), آنکه (ánkh), بارتکاب (bártkáb), امور (imúr), شنیعه (shníʿh), مشغول (mshghúl), شوند (shúnd), قدری (qdrí), افعال (ifʿál) as “rather, than, commit vile and contemptible, deeds, for but a little while, outward works and doings”

wretched 33% odious 33% abominable 33%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: wretched will-and-testamentW&T §8: abominable will-and-testamentW&T §6: odious

شوند

shúnd sh-w-d

literal: become; to become; became

SE rendered آنکه (ánkh), بارتکاب (bártkáb), امور (imúr), شنیعه (shníʿh), مشغول (mshghúl), شوند (shúnd), قدری (qdrí), افعال (ifʿál) as “than, commit vile and contemptible, deeds, for but a little while, outward works and doings”

again 14% would 14% feed 14% unraveling 14% will 14% therein 14% intervening 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: made gleaningsGWB §669: hath fashioned kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: will be kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: find prayers-and-meditationsP&M §704: forth the-hidden-wordsHW §144: be laid will-and-testamentW&T §19: not be epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: would be made

قدری

qdrí q-d-r → “for but a little while”

literal: power; powerful; amount

SE expanded to “for but a little while”

while 36% ponder 14% awhile 14% little 9% reflect 5% now 5% providence 5% according 5% least 5% men 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: destined fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §264: predestination kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: ordained—fasting prayers-and-meditationsP&M §163: the God of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

افعال

ifʿál f-ʿ-l → “outward works and doings”

literal: do; deed

SE expanded to “outward works and doings”

deeds 42% acts 13% works 13% doings 8% activities 4% activity 4% outward 4% mighty 4% conduct 4% motive 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: thine acts gleaningsGWB §168: have done kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: His doings?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: doest what the-hidden-wordsHW §30: thou doest not epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: act gleaningsGWB §457: have persisted in your waywardness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §169: in deeds

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 “for but a little while, outward works and doings, Truth, wouldst fall down”

deeds 44% doings 13% acts 8% works 8% all 8% behavior 4% deed 4% words 4% men’s 4% man’s 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: done gleaningsGWB §585: your works kitab-i-iqanKIQ §215: conditions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §594: to perform tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conforming the-hidden-wordsHW §30: do thou observe will-and-testamentW&T §39: transactions epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: who act

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 “for but a little while, outward works and doings, Truth, wouldst fall down, upon the ground”

revelation 29% manifestation 16% manifestations 13% manifest 11% revealed 8% hath 6% manifested 5% appeared 5% made 4% revelations 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: show fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §295: of the promised Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: outward behaviour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: in revealing tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: the revelation of thy glory

اشهد

ishhd sh-h-d → “i testify”

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

testify 54% bear 39% “i 2% confess 2% “i 2% authority 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: cruel a martyrdom fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §456: perceive it kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: will behold prayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: Thou didst behold tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §47: a martyr

لتخرّ

ltkhrr kh-r-r → “murmur” Distinctive

literal: murmur; murmuring

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

murmur 40% wouldst 20% fall 20% murmuring 20%

gleaningsGWB §499: wouldst fall down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §185: murmuring gleaningsGWB §70: Fall gleaningsGWB §56: 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: O, Lord, Lords, I testify”