Gleanings — §520

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 520 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ثمّ استبصروا في أمرنا وتبيّنوا في ما ورد علينا ثمّ احكموا بيننا وبين أعدائنا بالعدل وكونوا من العادلين، وإن لن تمنعوا الظّالم عن ظلمه ولن تأخذوا حقّ المظلوم فبأيّ شيء تفتخرون بين العباد وتكوننّ من المفتخرين، أيكون افتخاركم بأن تأكلوا وتشربوا وتجتمعوا الزّخارف في خزائنكم أو ٱلتّزيّن بأحجار الحمر والصّفر أو لؤلؤ بيض ثمين ولو كان الافتخار بهذه الاشياء الفانية فينبغي للتّراب أن يفتخر عليكم لأنّه يبذل وينفق عليكم كلّ ذلك من مقدّر قدير وقدّر الله كلّ ذلك في بطنه ويخرج لكم من فضله إذا فانظروا في شأنكم وما تفتخرون به إن أنتم من النّاظرين،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Examine Our Cause, inquire into the things that have befallen Us, and decide justly between Us and Our enemies, and be ye of them that act equitably towards their neighbor. If ye stay not the hand of the oppressor, if ye fail to safeguard the rights of the downtrodden, what right have ye then to vaunt yourselves among men? What is it of which ye can rightly boast? Is it on your food and your drink that ye pride yourselves, on the riches ye lay up in your treasuries, on the diversity and the cost of the ornaments with which ye deck yourselves? If true glory were to consist in the possession of such perishable things, then the earth on which ye walk must needs vaunt itself over you, because it supplieth you, and bestoweth upon you, these very things, by the decree of the Almighty. In its bowels are contained, according to what God hath ordained, all that ye possess. From it, as a sign of His mercy, ye derive your riches. Behold then your state, the thing in which ye glory! Would that ye could perceive it!

Translation Notes

استبصروا

istbṣrúá b-ṣ-r → “examine our cause, inquire”

literal: sight; insight; eyes

SE expanded to “Examine Our Cause, inquire”

eyes 28% sight 15% insight 15% eye 12% discerning 12% vision 5% discernment 5% all 4% gaze 3% all-seeing 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: carefully gleaningsGWB §466: them who have discerned the truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: gaze prayers-and-meditationsP&M §442: our eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: heart the-hidden-wordsHW §45: My sight epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: with their own eyes gleaningsGWB §219: eye

أمرنا

ʾamrná ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause

SE rendered استبصروا (istbṣrúá), أمرنا (ʾamrná), وتبيّنوا (wtbíbnúá), ورد (wrd), علينا (ʿlíná) as “Examine Our Cause, inquire, have befallen, Us”

cause 50% have 10% sufferings 10% bidding 10% “our 10% command 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: condition fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §181: nobles kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: these circumstances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §468: and which Thou didst command me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §157: results

احكموا

iḥkmúá ḥ-k-m → “wisdom” Distinctive

literal: wisdom; judgment

This form usually rendered as “judge”, “decide” (3 occurrences)

judge 67% decide 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: sovereignty gleaningsGWB §288: Divine wisdom kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: rulership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: of divine wisdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §608: my behest tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: the Wise One the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §8: to the government

أعدائنا

ʾaʿdáʾná ʿ-d-w → “enemies”

literal: enemy; enemies

enemies 60% adversaries 14% foes 5% enemy 5% mine 5% enmity 4% transgressor 2% aggressor 2% all 2% who 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: him who was of His enemies fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §520: Our enemies kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: hate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §229: adversaries the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §5: the utmost enmity

العادلين،

al-ʿádlín، ʿ-d-l → “justice” Distinctive

literal: justice; just

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

justice 75% just 10% can 3% moderation 3% excelleth 3% compare 1% unjust 1% fair 1% equitable 1% justly 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy justice gleaningsGWB §33: Divine justice kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: priceless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: or resemblance the-hidden-wordsHW §29: be just will-and-testamentW&T §28: the just sovereign epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: can equal gleaningsGWB §507: your high sense of justice

وكونوا

wkúnúá k-w-n → “and be ye”

literal: be; to be

SE expanded to “and be ye”

ye 85% prove 8% thou 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: of Mine inmost being gleaningsGWB §503: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: holdeth, for all time prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: attain 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 §52: that thou mayest become

تمنعوا

tmnʿúá m-n-ʿ → “withhold”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

withhold 33% deprive 33% restrain 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: forbad gleaningsGWB §199: His sublime kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: from attaining prayers-and-meditationsP&M §175: hath kept back tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §67: shall be hindered will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: debarreth

الظّالم

aẓ-ẓálm ẓ-l-m → “oppressor”

literal: wronged; injustice; darkness

oppressor 67% oppressors 17% wrought 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: act unjustly fire-tabletFire §49: meekness gleaningsGWB §363: they who act unjustly kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: shall the sun be darkened prayers-and-meditationsP&M §107: O wronged One the-hidden-wordsHW §144: gloom will-and-testamentW&T §5: because of this iniquity epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: by reason of mine iniquity

تأخذوا

tʾakhdhúá ʾ-kh-dh → “seize” Distinctive

literal: seize

This form usually rendered as “safeguard”, “fail” (2 occurrences)

safeguard 50% fail 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: cleave unto fire-tabletFire §12: afflicted gleaningsGWB §25: Fill kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: Grasp ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: amass prayers-and-meditationsP&M §725: so completely inebriated tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou

حقّ

ḥqq ḥ-q-q → “rights” Distinctive

literal: truth; true; right

This form usually rendered as “god”, “truth”, “one” (436 occurrences)

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 §149: the trust gleaningsGWB §508: with justice kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: a reality prayers-and-meditationsP&M §511: Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §27: It epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: truth

الاشياء

ash-shíáʾ sh-y-ʾ → “things”

literal: thing; things

all 44% things 25% created 21% creation 4% entire 2% universe 1% thing 1% whole 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: partners gleaningsGWB §665: their wishes and desires kitab-i-iqanKIQ §61: will of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §186: pleasest tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §69: substance will-and-testamentW&T §5: this one, unworthy though he be

تفتخرون

tftkhrún f-kh-r → “vaunt yourselves”

literal: boast; pride; glory

ye 67% vaunt 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: We glory therein gleaningsGWB §174: boast kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: adorn prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: and have been vaunting themselves the-hidden-wordsHW §26: Vaunt epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: pride gleaningsGWB §520: vaunt itself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: invested

العباد

al-ʿbád ʿ-b-d

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE rendered المظلوم (al-mẓlúm), فبأيّ (fbʾayy), شيء (shíʾ), تفتخرون (tftkhrún), العباد (al-ʿbád), وتكوننّ (wtkúnnn), المفتخرين، (al-mftkhrín،), أيكون (ʾaykún) as “downtrodden, what right have ye then, vaunt yourselves, Is it”

servants 35% men 28% people 19% unto 3% peoples 3% man 3% all 3% who 2% mankind 2% others 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: them that serve Him fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §312: the souls of men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: the adoration tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §10: servant of Thine epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: of Thy servant

تأكلوا

tʾaklúá ʾ-k-l → “eat” Distinctive

literal: eat; to eat; consume

This form usually rendered as “consume”, “food” (2 occurrences)

consume 50% food 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: thou wilt consume gleaningsGWB §573: Eat kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: eating prayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §44: consume not gleaningsGWB §353: share with them their food kitab-i-iqanKIQ §22: its fruit gleaningsGWB §520: food and

وتشربوا

wtshrbúá sh-r-b → “drink”

literal: drink; to drink

drink 23% give 17% quaffed 15% quaff 12% hath 7% have 7% make 6% draught 4% drunk 4% hast 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: quaff gleaningsGWB §89: are they that quaff it kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: drink then your fill kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: have drunk from prayers-and-meditationsP&M §508: and caused him to partake the-hidden-wordsHW §113: with them that drink epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: Drink your fill gleaningsGWB §353: and their drink

وتجتمعوا

wtjtmʿúá j-m-ʿ → “ye lay up”

literal: all; all, entire; group

SE expanded to “ye lay up”

all 75% every 9% whole 4% gather 3% number 2% one 2% each 2% have 2% great 1% many 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: all other gleaningsGWB §350: all that existed kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: all people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §154: that all may gather together the-hidden-wordsHW §96: ever will-and-testamentW&T §17: the gathering epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: gathered

الزّخارف

az-zkhárf z-kh-r-f → “riches”

literal: ornament; adornment; absurdities

vanities 27% riches 27% treasures 13% wealth 7% corruptible 7% things 7% specious 7% emoluments 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: treasures gleaningsGWB §463: the ornaments thereof kitab-i-iqanKIQ §184: absurdities epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: your treasures gleaningsGWB §406: things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §232: idle epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the treasures gleaningsGWB §406: the riches of this world

خزائنكم

khzáʾnkm kh-z-n → “your treasuries”

literal: treasury; treasuries

treasures 67% treasuries 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: treasuries gleaningsGWB §517: and treasures kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: the treasury kitab-i-iqanKIQ §22: concealed within the treasury prayers-and-meditationsP&M §131: enshrined the-hidden-wordsHW §66: storehouses epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: treasury gleaningsGWB §230: Treasure

ٱلتّزيّن

lttzízn z-y-n → “deck yourselves”

literal: adorn; adorned; adornment

adorned 38% adorn 13% deck 13% hath 13% attired 13% adorneth 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: have been adorned fire-tabletFire §31: Adorner gleaningsGWB §159: adorneth kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: is invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: Seize the time prayers-and-meditationsP&M §52: Thou didst attire the-hidden-wordsHW §126: adorneth himself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: ornament

بأحجار

bʾaḥjár ḥ-j-r → “stones”

literal: stones; stone; stone/rock

stones 60% rocks 20% gems 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: these stones gleaningsGWB §36: of the stones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: stones prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: pebble gleaningsGWB §281: the rocks gleaningsGWB §556: stone gleaningsGWB §540: gems

الحمر

al-ḥmr ḥ-m-r

literal: red; crimson; red/crimson

SE rendered خزائنكم (khzáʾnkm), ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr) as “your treasuries, deck yourselves, ornaments”

crimson 78% asses 6% dye 6% tinge 6% dyed 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: and crimson kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: asses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: with me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §6: of the crimson seas will-and-testamentW&T §10: dyed crimson epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: Crimson prayers-and-meditationsP&M §284: tinge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: dye

والصّفر

wálṣṣfr ṣ-f-r

literal: the-empty

SE rendered ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú) as “deck yourselves, ornaments”

trumpet 29% yellowed 14% empty 14% faded 14% tawny 14% have 14%

fire-tabletFire §34: yellowed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §422: tawny kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: a trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §295: Faded kitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: empty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §516: have withered away

لؤلؤ

lʾlʾ l-ʾ-l

literal: gems

SE rendered ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár) as “deck yourselves, ornaments, true glory”

pearls 68% gems 16% gem 11% treasures 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: by the pearls gleaningsGWB §684: treasures kitab-i-iqanKIQ §211: gems epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §17: pearls gleaningsGWB §99: the gems epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: the pearls gleaningsGWB §556: gem

بيض

bíḍ b-y-ḍ

literal: white

SE rendered بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh) as “ornaments, true glory, such perishable things”

snow-white 42% white 17% shining 13% have 8% whose 4% beaming 4% hand 4% splendors 4% luminous 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: white gleaningsGWB §588: shining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: the hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §591: have turned white will-and-testamentW&T §1: Luminous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: shining light gleaningsGWB §594: a shining light kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: white hand

ثمين

thmín th-m-n

literal: eighty; eight; eighth

SE rendered ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh), الاشياء (ash-shíáʾ) as “true glory, such perishable things, possession of”

precious 50% cost 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: eighth gleaningsGWB §520: cost kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: eighty epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: precious gleaningsGWB §176: twenty years later kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: price epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: eight

الفانية

al-fáníh f-n-y

literal: mortal; perishing

SE rendered الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh), الاشياء (ash-shíáʾ), الفانية (al-fáníh), فينبغي (fínbghí), للتّراب (llttráb), يفتخر (yftkhr), عليكم (ʿlíkm) as “true glory, such perishable things, possession of, must needs, earth, vaunt itself, you”

evanescent 29% transitory 14% perishable 14% temporal 14% am 14% mortal 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: dieth gleaningsGWB §558: without death kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: effaced prayers-and-meditationsP&M §746: and to the evanescence the-hidden-wordsHW §132: detachment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: yours perisheth gleaningsGWB §279: will perish kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: poor

للتّراب

llttráb t-r-b → “earth”

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: dust gleaningsGWB §717: world of dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the lowly dust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §497: ground the-hidden-wordsHW §104: the clay epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earth gleaningsGWB §122: pertaining to the world of matter kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: earth

يبذل

ybdhl b-dh-l → “confer” Distinctive

literal: bestowed; expended; granted

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

confer 23% all-bountiful 15% exert 8% bend 8% supplieth 8% most 8% dedicated 8% have 8% conferring 8% lay 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: exert gleaningsGWB §615: dedicated kitab-i-iqanKIQ §22: conferring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §451: All-Bountiful the-hidden-wordsHW §138: shed will-and-testamentW&T §23: fall upon gleaningsGWB §686: have wafted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: lay down

وينفق

wínfq n-f-q → “sacrificed” Distinctive

literal: hypocrisy; spend; spending

This form usually rendered as “generous”, “showered”, “bestoweth” (4 occurrences)

generous 25% showered 25% bestoweth 25% renounce 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §87: malicious fire-tabletFire §10: in malice gleaningsGWB §178: malice kitab-i-iqanKIQ §116: an opening prayers-and-meditationsP&M §248: I had offered up the-hidden-wordsHW §58: thou mayest draw will-and-testamentW&T §36: their craft epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: hath offered himself

مقدّر

mqddr q-d-r → “by the decree”

literal: power; powerful; amount

SE expanded to “by the decree”

destined 23% decree 15% ordainer 8% hath 8% preordained 8% implied 8% bestowed 8% divine 8% predestined 8% provided 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of Thy ordinance fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §129: dominion kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: now prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: Thou hast irrevocably ordained tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §72: be in thy power

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h

literal: god; divine; o god

SE rendered مقدّر (mqddr), قدير (qdír), وقدّر (wqddr), الله (al-lh), بطنه (bṭnh), ويخرج (wíkhrj), لكم (lkm) as “by the decree, the Almighty, what God hath ordained, bowels, From, it”

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 §78: Him fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §383: the hand of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of divine mercy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §815: are God’s tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

بطنه

bṭnh b-ṭ-n → “inwardly” Distinctive

literal: inward

This form usually rendered as “womb”, “bowels” (3 occurrences)

womb 67% bowels 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: Concealment gleaningsGWB §49: unseen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “hidden,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thine own Concealment the-hidden-wordsHW §104: womb epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: inwardly gleaningsGWB §137: invisible kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: the hidden

ويخرج

wíkhrj kh-r-j → “from”

literal: go out

SE rendered وقدّر (wqddr), الله (al-lh), بطنه (bṭnh), ويخرج (wíkhrj), لكم (lkm), فضله (fḍlh), فانظروا (fánẓrúá) as “what God hath ordained, bowels, From, it, of His mercy, Behold”