Gleanings — §50

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 50 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ُ وَآثَارُهَا، قَدْ أَخَذَ الْفَنَاءُ مَنْ فِي الإِنْشَاءِ وَهَذَا وَجْهِيَ الْبَاقِي الْمُشِرِقُ الْمُنِيرُ، هَذَا يَوْمٌ لا يُرَى فِيهِ إِلاَّ الأَنْوَارُ الَّتِي أَشْرَقَتْ وَلاحَتْ مِنْ أُفُقِ وَجْهِ رَبِّكَ الْعَزِيزِ الْكَرِيمِ، قَدْ قَبَضْنَا الأَرْواحَ بِسُلْطَانِ الْقُدْرَةِ وَالاقْتِدَارِ، وَشَرَعْنَا فِي خَلْقٍ بَدِيعٍ فَضْلاً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا وَأَنَا الْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

This is the Day whereon naught can be seen except the splendors of the Light that shineth from the face of Thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful. Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.

Translation Notes

وَآثَارُهَا،

wátháruhá، ʾ-th-r

literal: effect; writing; trace

SE rendered وَآثَارُهَا، (wátháruhá،), أَخَذَ (ʾakhadh), الْفَنَاءُ (al-fanáʾ) as “have caused, expire”

signs 24% writings 20% evidences 12% influence 8% sacrifice 8% prefer 8% tokens 8% shining 4% sacrificed 4% sign 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: signs gleaningsGWB §203: sacrificed their all kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: force prayers-and-meditationsP&M §769: all past traces epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: writings gleaningsGWB §196: the signs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §353: tokens

أَخَذَ

ʾakhadh ʾ-kh-dh → “seize”

literal: take; taking; seizing

arrested 28% seize 17% hath 11% seek 11% inebriated 6% assumption 6% seized 6% rescued 6% overwhelmed 6% apprehended 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: inebriated gleaningsGWB §282: transported kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: Grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: worship prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: been so inebriated will-and-testamentW&T §5: regarded him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Hold gleaningsGWB §13: thrilled

الْفَنَاءُ

al-fanáʾ f-n-y → “shall” Distinctive

literal: annihilation; perish; perishing

This form usually rendered as “expire”, “extinction”, “death” (9 occurrences)

expire 14% extinction 14% death 14% evanescence 14% nothingness 14% mortal 14% which 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: perisheth not gleaningsGWB §112: His nothingness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: everlasting prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: the entire creation would perish tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §29: mortal graves the-hidden-wordsHW §147: mortality epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: pass away gleaningsGWB §119: extinction

الإِنْشَاءِ

an-nsháʾ n-sh-ʾ

literal: creation; creation/origination; creation, composition

SE rendered أَخَذَ (ʾakhadh), الْفَنَاءُ (al-fanáʾ), الإِنْشَاءِ (an-nsháʾ), وَهَذَا (wahadhá), وَجْهِيَ (wajhí), الْبَاقِي (al-báqí) as “have caused, expire, This is, face, Ancient of Days”

creation 71% creatures 7% unto 7% entire 7% erected 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of gleaningsGWB §428: creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: unto all Thy creatures will-and-testamentW&T §7: erected prayers-and-meditationsP&M §623: Thy creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: of Thy creatures prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: of Thine invention prayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: in the entire creation

وَهَذَا

wahadhá h-dh-ʾ → “this is”

literal: this; this (masculine); this (feminine)

SE rendered الْفَنَاءُ (al-fanáʾ), الإِنْشَاءِ (an-nsháʾ), وَهَذَا (wahadhá), وَجْهِيَ (wajhí), الْبَاقِي (al-báqí) as “expire, This is, face, Ancient of Days”

world 22% who 11% such 11% verily 11% things 11% wherein 11% land 11% troubled 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: Such a gleaningsGWB §305: the world tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: these tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: and this will-and-testamentW&T §36: in these troubled times epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: This gleaningsGWB §86: This is tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: Wherein

وَجْهِيَ

wajhí w-j-h → “face”

literal: face

face 85% sum 8% countenance 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: incline fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §512: may journey kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: the radiance of Thy countenance tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §9: thyself

الْبَاقِي

al-báqí b-q-y → “ancient of days” Distinctive

literal: remaining; permanence; remain

This form usually rendered as “ever-abiding”, “imperishable”, “eternal” (9 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Ancient of Days”

ever-abiding 25% imperishable 25% eternal 13% everlasting 13% ancient 13% live 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: remain fire-tabletFire §36: is gleaningsGWB §247: may endure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: of its ancient sovereignty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine eternity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remained the-hidden-wordsHW §138: immortal life epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: Eternal

أَشْرَقَتْ

ʾashraqat sh-r-q → “shineth”

literal: shining; shine

hath 24% shed 21% shineth 14% shone 10% manifested 7% revealed 7% risen 7% shine 3% illumined 3% lighteth 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: hath shone fire-tabletFire §14: Dawning Place gleaningsGWB §493: have shone forth from kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the East prayers-and-meditationsP&M §755: the radiance tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §27: Flooding the-hidden-wordsHW §42: shine upon thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: shineth resplendently

الْمُنِيرُ،

al-muníru، n-w-r → “light” Distinctive

literal: light; lights; luminous

This form usually rendered as “resplendent”, “luminous”, “radiant” (61 occurrences)

resplendent 33% luminous 15% radiant 11% illumined 11% shining 7% illuminated 7% enlightened 4% enlightening 4% beaming 4% glorious 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: the fire fire-tabletFire §48: flaming gleaningsGWB §725: unfading splendor kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: shining and resplendent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: splendours prayers-and-meditationsP&M §346: the glory tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: exalted and glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §13: of My light

يَوْمٌ

yawmun y-w-m → “whereon”

literal: day; days; today

day 89% whereon 3% days 1% judgment 1% wondrous 1% today 1% which 1% great 1% day?” 1% blessed 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: in the days gleaningsGWB §286: are kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: His days prayers-and-meditationsP&M §174: the Ayyám-i-Há (the Days will-and-testamentW&T §47: daytime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: the daytime gleaningsGWB §27: Day.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: dost witness today

يُرَى

yurá r-ʾ-y → “can be seen” Distinctive

literal: see; to see

This form usually rendered as “would”, “seeth”, “beholding” (16 occurrences)

SE expanded to “can be seen”

would 18% seeth 9% beholding 9% unseen 9% seen 9% maketh 9% assigneth 9% put 9% estimation 9% eyes 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: see fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §187: may recognize prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: Thou dost consider the-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtain will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou beholdest gleaningsGWB §432: eclipseth

وَلاحَتْ

waláḥat l-w-ḥ

literal: tablet; tablets; allusion

SE rendered الأَنْوَارُ (an-nwár), أَشْرَقَتْ (ʾashraqat), وَلاحَتْ (waláḥat), أُفُقِ (ʾufuq), وَجْهِ (wajh), رَبِّكَ (rabbik) as “splendors, shineth, of Thy Lord”

demonstrated 50% have 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: a perspicuous Tablet gleaningsGWB §677: Tablets.…kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: the mystic Tablet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: Thine irrevocable Tablet tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Books will-and-testamentW&T §7: document epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: My Tablet gleaningsGWB §689: writings

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

SE rendered أَشْرَقَتْ (ʾashraqat), وَلاحَتْ (waláḥat), أُفُقِ (ʾufuq), وَجْهِ (wajh), رَبِّكَ (rabbik), الْعَزِيزِ (al-ʿazíz) as “shineth, of Thy Lord, the Gracious”

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 5% heaven 5% realm 5% orient 3% supreme 1% works 1% created 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: world fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §441: everywhere prayers-and-meditationsP&M §831: the all-glorious Horizon the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: Horizon gleaningsGWB §611: Realm prayers-and-meditationsP&M §445: the Dayspring

رَبِّكَ

rabbik r-b-b → “of thy lord”

literal: Lord; lord

SE expanded to “of Thy Lord”

lord 95% god 4% thee 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: Lordship gleaningsGWB §380: the Creator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: by the Lord prayers-and-meditationsP&M §196: art tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §47: O epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: is our Lord

الْعَزِيزِ

al-ʿazíz ʿ-z-z → “the gracious” Distinctive

literal: glory; mighty; might

This form usually rendered as “all-glorious”, “almighty”, “mighty” (159 occurrences)

all-glorious 39% almighty 23% mighty 16% gracious 7% glorious 4% all-powerful 2% exalted 2% god 2% hard 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: All-Powerful, the fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §640: glory of all temporal honor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: more glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: one the-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselves will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: “Better is it

الْكَرِيمِ،

al-karími، k-r-m → “the most bountiful”

literal: generous; generosity; bounty

SE expanded to “the Most Bountiful”

most 41% all-bountiful 23% generous 13% bountiful 5% god 5% goodness 3% noble 3% all-powerful 3% bounteousness 3% wisdom 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Generous fire-tabletFire §4: bestowal gleaningsGWB §655: of Thy bountiful favor kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: All-Powerful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: the clouds will-and-testamentW&T §50: Gracious epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: the Bountiful

قَبَضْنَا

qabaḍná q-b-ḍ

literal: grasp; grasp/grip; grasped

SE rendered الْعَزِيزِ (al-ʿazíz), الْكَرِيمِ، (al-karími،), قَبَضْنَا (qabaḍná), الأَرْواحَ (ar-rwáḥ), بِسُلْطَانِ (bisulṭán) as “the Gracious, the Most Bountiful, by virtue of Our”

grasp 66% whose 7% hollow 5% handful 5% within 5% holdeth 5% relief 2% yield 2% mighty 2% breath 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: relief gleaningsGWB §78: His grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: turned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: within the grasp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: the grasp gleaningsGWB §303: yield up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §199: but a handful

الأَرْواحَ

ar-rwáḥ r-w-ḥ

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

SE rendered الْكَرِيمِ، (al-karími،), قَبَضْنَا (qabaḍná), الأَرْواحَ (ar-rwáḥ), بِسُلْطَانِ (bisulṭán), الْقُدْرَةِ (al-qudrah) as “the Most Bountiful, by virtue of Our, irresistible and all-subduing”

souls 43% essences 14% spirits 10% soul 5% human 5% embodiments 5% hearts 5% holy 5% detachment 5% all 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: went fire-tabletFire §49: fragrance gleaningsGWB §488: the pleasures kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: of Spirits prayers-and-meditationsP&M §80: Cause me to rest tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: of the-hidden-wordsHW §135: Holy

بِسُلْطَانِ

bisulṭán s-l-ṭ → “by virtue of our” Distinctive

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

This form usually rendered as “king”, “sovereignty”, “sháh” (213 occurrences)

SE expanded to “by virtue of Our”

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sovereign gleaningsGWB §50: by virtue of Our kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: of the earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §756: through His sovereignty tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: by His sovereignty

الْقُدْرَةِ

al-qudrah q-d-r → “irresistible and all-subduing” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “power”, “ordained”, “ordain” (182 occurrences)

SE expanded to “irresistible and all-subduing”

power 23% ordained 18% ordain 17% hath 12% might 8% decreed 6% had 5% do 5% value 4% measure 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: with Thy power fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §377: rank and station kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: powerful is prayers-and-meditationsP&M §6: potency of His might, supreme tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

وَشَرَعْنَا

washaraʿná sh-r-ʿ → “we have, then, called”

literal: law; law, religious law; legislation

SE expanded to “We have, then, called”

law 48% faith 14% river 9% laws 7% have 5% dispensation 3% revelation 3% law.” 3% dispensations 3% divine 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: the dictates gleaningsGWB §148: the truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: the river prayers-and-meditationsP&M §160: the dispensations will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Resplendent Law epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: “The dispensation of John gleaningsGWB §711: to the law kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: river of divine knowledge

خَلْقٍ

khalqin kh-l-q → “new creation”

literal: creation; create; created

creation 31% creatures 16% hath 14% created 12% men 9% people 7% mankind 4% world 3% called 2% made 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: Creator fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §536: every single name hath kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: a new creation!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: creature tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §83: creators epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: hast created me

بَدِيعٍ

badíʿin b-d-ʿ

literal: wondrous; wonders; creation

SE rendered وَشَرَعْنَا (washaraʿná), خَلْقٍ (khalqin), بَدِيعٍ (badíʿin), فَضْلاً (faḍláan), عِنْدِنَا (ʿindiná) as “We have, then, called, a new creation, as a token of, Our grace unto men”