Gleanings — §551
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 551 of 729.
Source (Arabic)
ل میل دهد و یا بغض او را از جهتی منع نماید چنانچه الیوم اکثری باین دو وجه از وجههٴ باقی و حضرت معانی بازماندهاند و بیشبان در صحراهای ضلالت و نسیان میچرند و باید در کلّ حین توکّل بحقّ نماید و از خلق اعراض کند و از عالم تراب منقطع شود و بگسلد و بربّ الأرباب دربندد و نفس خود را بر احدی ترجیح ندهد و افتخار و استکبار را از لوح قلب بشوید و بصبر و اصطبار دل بندد و صمت را شعار خود نماید و از تکلّم بیفائده احتراز کند چه زبان ناریست افسرده و کثرت بیان سمّی است هلاککننده نار
Shoghi Effendi Translation
That seeker must, at all times, put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, must detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt himself above anyone, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vainglory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century.
Translation Notes
او
literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song
معانی
literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense
توکّل
literal: agency; representation; trusteeship; delegated authority
خلق
literal: character; moral traits; disposition; conduct
اعراض
literal: to turn away; to avert; to abstain; heedless
منقطع
literal: to be severed; to be cut off; to detach oneself; to abstain
