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Gleanings — §552

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 552 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ظاهری اجساد را محترق نماید و نار لسان ارواح و افئده را بگدازد اثر آن نار بساعتی فانی شود و اثر این نار بقرنی باقی ماند و غیبت را ضلالت شمرد و بآن عرصه هرگز قدم نگذارد زیرا غیبت سراج منیر قلب را خاموش نماید و حیات دل را بمیراند بقلیل قانع باشد و از طلب کثیر فارغ مصاحبت منقطعین را غنیمت شمارد و عزلت از متمسّکین و متکبّرین را نعمت شمرد در اسحار باذکار مشغول شود و بتمام همّت و اقتدار در طلب آن نگار کوشد غفلت را بنار حبّ و ذکر بسوزاند و از ما سوی الله چون برق درگذرد و بر بی‌نصیبان نصیب بخشد و از محرومان عطا و احسان دریغ ندارد رعایت حیوان را منظور نماید تا چه رسد بانسان و اهل بیان و از جانان جان دریغ ندارد و از شماتت خلق از حقّ احتراز نجوید و آنچه برای خود نمی‌پسندد برای غیر نپسندد و نگوید آنچه را وفا نکند و از خاطئان در کمال استیلا درگذرد و طلب مغفرت نماید و بر عاصیان قلم عفو درکشد و بحقارت ننگرد زیرا حسن خاتمه مجهول است ای بسا عاصی که در حین موت بجوهر ایمان موفّق شود و خمر بقا چشد و بملأ اعلی شتابد و بسا مطیع و مؤمن که در وقت ارتقای روح تقلیب شود و باسفل درکات نیران مقرّ یابد

Shoghi Effendi Translation

That seeker should, also, regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. He should be content with little, and be freed from all inordinate desire. He should treasure the companionship of them that have renounced the world, and regard avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit. At the dawn of every day he should commune with God, and, with all his soul, persevere in the quest of his Beloved. He should consume every wayward thought with the flame of His loving mention, and, with the swiftness of lightning, pass by all else save Him. He should succor the dispossessed, and never withhold his favor from the destitute. He should show kindness to animals, how much more unto his fellowman, to him who is endowed with the power of utterance. He should not hesitate to offer up his life for his Beloved, nor allow the censure of the people to turn him away from the Truth. He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfill. With all his heart he should avoid fellowship with evildoers, and pray for the remission of their sins. He should forgive the sinful, and never despise his low estate, for none knoweth what his own end shall be. How often hath a sinner attained, at the hour of death, to the essence of faith, and, quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the Concourse on high! And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul’s ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire!

Translation Notes

بگدازد
bgdázd g-d-اخ

literal: to melt

SE rendered نار (nár)لسان (lsán)ارواح (irúáḥ)افئده (ifʾdh)بگدازد (bgdázd) as “flame, heart”

1 occurrence in corpus

بقرنی
bqrní q-r-n

literal: century; century, age; centuries

SE rendered بقرنی (bqrní)باقی (báqí)ماند (mánd)غیبت (ghíbt)ضلالت (ḍlált) as “backbiting, grievous error”

ماند
mánd m-ʾ-n

literal: remain; remained; to remain

SE rendered ماند (mánd)غیبت (ghíbt)ضلالت (ḍlált)شمرد (shmrd) as “backbiting, grievous error, regard”

postponed 17% left 17% strayed 17% endure 17% have 17% knowledge 17%
قدم
qdm q-d-m

literal: ancient; step; eternity

SE rendered ضلالت (ḍlált)شمرد (shmrd)عرصه (ʿrṣh)هرگز (hrgz)قدم (qdm)نگذارد (ngdhárd)زیرا (zírá)غیبت (ghíbt)سراج (sráj)منیر (mnír) as “grievous error, regard, dominion, never, keep himself aloof, inasmuch as, backbiting, light”

سراج
sráj s-r-j

literal: lamp; lamps; lamp/light

SE rendered هرگز (hrgz)قدم (qdm)نگذارد (ngdhárd)زیرا (zírá)غیبت (ghíbt)سراج (sráj)منیر (mnír)قلب (qlb)خاموش (khámúsh)نماید (nmáyd) as “never, keep himself aloof, inasmuch as, backbiting, light, heart, quencheth, hath”

بمیراند

literal: to kill

1 occurrence in corpus

باشد
báshd b-w-d

literal: be; is; to be

SE rendered حیات (ḥíát)دل (dl)بمیراند (bmíránd)بقلیل (bqlíl)قانع (qánʿ)باشد (báshd)از (iz)طلب (ṭlb)کثیر (kthír)فارغ (fárgh)مصاحبت (mṣáḥbt) as “life, soul, extinguisheth, of, content, from, seeker, much, companionship”

may 20% self 10% dwelling 10% interpreted 10% true 10% regarded 10% should 10% sincerely 10% required 10%
از

literal: from

SE rendered بمیراند (bmíránd)بقلیل (bqlíl)قانع (qánʿ)باشد (báshd)از (iz)طلب (ṭlb)کثیر (kthír)فارغ (fárgh)مصاحبت (mṣáḥbt)منقطعین (mnqṭʿín) as “extinguisheth, of, content, from, seeker, much, companionship, renounced”

23 occurrences in corpus

فارغ
fárgh f-r-gh

literal: free; empty; freedom

SE rendered بقلیل (bqlíl)قانع (qánʿ)باشد (báshd)از (iz)طلب (ṭlb)کثیر (kthír)فارغ (fárgh)مصاحبت (mṣáḥbt)منقطعین (mnqṭʿín)غنیمت (ghnímt)شمارد (shmárd) as “of, content, from, seeker, much, companionship, renounced, treasure, regard”

detached 25% freed 17% rid 8% relieved 8% sanctified 8% have 8% remain 8% emptied 8% free 8%
متمسّکین
mtmsskín m-s-k

literal: clinging; adherence; cling

SE rendered غنیمت (ghnímt)شمارد (shmárd)عزلت (ʿzlt)از (iz)متمسّکین (mtmsskín)متکبّرین (mtkbbrín)نعمت (nʿmt) as “treasure, regard, avoidance, from, favor”

cling 32% cleave 18% cleaving 12% clinging 9% clung 6% lay 6% hold 6% have 6% seized 3% acted 3%
متکبّرین
mtkbbrín k-b-r

literal: greatest; great; greater

SE rendered شمارد (shmárd)عزلت (ʿzlt)از (iz)متمسّکین (mtmsskín)متکبّرین (mtkbbrín)نعمت (nʿmt)شمرد (shmrd)اسحار (isḥár)باذکار (bádhkár) as “regard, avoidance, from, favor, dawn, commune”

مشغول
mshghúl sh-gh-l

literal: occupied; busy; occupy

SE rendered نعمت (nʿmt)شمرد (shmrd)اسحار (isḥár)باذکار (bádhkár)مشغول (mshghúl)بتمام (btmám)همّت (hmmt)اقتدار (iqtdár) as “favor, dawn, commune, all, power”

همّت
hmmt h-m-m

literal: endeavor

SE rendered اسحار (isḥár)باذکار (bádhkár)مشغول (mshghúl)بتمام (btmám)همّت (hmmt)اقتدار (iqtdár)طلب (ṭlb)نگار (ngár)کوشد (kúshd) as “dawn, commune, all, power, quest, Beloved, persevere”

کوشد
kúshd k-w-sh “strive” Distinctive

literal: strive

This form usually rendered as “persevere” (3 occurrences)

strive 43% exertions 14% labor 14% persevere 14% striven 14%
غفلت
ghflt gh-f-l

literal: heedless; heedlessness; neglect

SE rendered اقتدار (iqtdár)طلب (ṭlb)نگار (ngár)کوشد (kúshd)غفلت (ghflt)بنار (bnár)حبّ (ḥbb)ذکر (dhkr)بسوزاند (bsúzánd) as “power, quest, Beloved, persevere, loving, mention, consume”

چون
chún ch-w-n

literal: when; as

SE rendered ذکر (dhkr)بسوزاند (bsúzánd)از (iz)سوی (súy)الله (al-lh)چون (chún)برق (brq)درگذرد (drgdhrd) as “mention, consume, from, else save, God, lightning, pass”

“when 20% inasmuch 20% soon 20% “inasmuch 20% even 20%
بر
br b-r-r

literal: on; on, upon; upon

SE rendered سوی (súy)الله (al-lh)چون (chún)برق (brq)درگذرد (drgdhrd)بر (br)بی‌نصیبان (bí‌nṣíbán)نصیب (nṣíb)بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán) as “else save, God, lightning, pass, from, destitute”

land 33% upon 11% piety 11% unto 11% pious 6% righteousness 6% beseech 6% good 6% against 6% indignities 6%
بی‌نصیبان
bí‌nṣíbán n-ṣ-y-b

literal: portion-less; portion

SE rendered سوی (súy)الله (al-lh)چون (chún)برق (brq)درگذرد (drgdhrd)بر (br)بی‌نصیبان (bí‌nṣíbán)نصیب (nṣíb)بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán) as “else save, God, lightning, pass, from, destitute”

2 occurrences in corpus

نصیب
nṣíb n-ṣ-b

literal: portion; share; share, portion

SE rendered برق (brq)درگذرد (drgdhrd)بر (br)بی‌نصیبان (bí‌nṣíbán)نصیب (nṣíb)بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán) as “lightning, pass, from, destitute”

share 42% portion 33% partake 8% favour 8% deprive 8%
بخشد
bkhshd b-kh-sh

literal: bestow

SE rendered درگذرد (drgdhrd)بر (br)بی‌نصیبان (bí‌nṣíbán)نصیب (nṣíb)بخشد (bkhshd)از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán)عطا (ʿṭá)احسان (iḥsán)دریغ (drígh) as “pass, from, destitute, withhold”

deliver 29% bestoweth 29% bestow 29% succour 14%
عطا
ʿṭá ʿ-ṭ-w

literal: bounty

SE rendered از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán)عطا (ʿṭá)احسان (iḥsán)دریغ (drígh)ندارد (ndárd)رعایت (rʿáyt)حیوان (ḥíwán) as “from, destitute, withhold, show kindness, animals”

bestow 33% show 17% vouchsafing 17% all 17% bounty 17%
احسان
iḥsán ḥ-s-n

literal: best; Husayn; beautiful

SE rendered از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán)عطا (ʿṭá)احسان (iḥsán)دریغ (drígh)ندارد (ndárd)رعایت (rʿáyt)حیوان (ḥíwán) as “from, destitute, withhold, show kindness, animals”

دریغ

literal: withhold; withholding, regret

4 occurrences in corpus

ندارد
ndárd d-ʾ-r

literal: have; to have; possessor

SE rendered از (iz)محرومان (mḥrúmán)عطا (ʿṭá)احسان (iḥsán)دریغ (drígh)ندارد (ndárd)رعایت (rʿáyt)حیوان (ḥíwán) as “from, destitute, withhold, show kindness, animals”

منظور
mnẓúr n-ẓ-r

literal: look; looking; view

SE rendered دریغ (drígh)ندارد (ndárd)رعایت (rʿáyt)حیوان (ḥíwán)منظور (mnẓúr)نماید (nmáyd)چه (chh)رسد (rsd)بانسان (bánsán)اهل (ihl) as “withhold, show kindness, animals, people”

end 50% feel 50%
چه
chh ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

SE rendered رعایت (rʿáyt)حیوان (ḥíwán)منظور (mnẓúr)نماید (nmáyd)چه (chh)رسد (rsd)بانسان (bánsán)اهل (ihl)بیان (bíán)از (iz)جانان (jánán) as “show kindness, animals, people, utterance, Beloved”

what 50% whatsoever 50%
رسد
rsd r-s-d

literal: reach; to reach; arrive

SE rendered حیوان (ḥíwán)منظور (mnẓúr)نماید (nmáyd)چه (chh)رسد (rsd)بانسان (bánsán)اهل (ihl)بیان (bíán)از (iz)جانان (jánán) as “animals, people, utterance, Beloved”

how 30% attaineth 20% ended 10% much 10% unto 10% offereth 10% more 10%
بانسان
bánsán ʾ-n-s

literal: human; man; man/human

SE rendered بانسان (bánsán)اهل (ihl)بیان (bíán)از (iz)جانان (jánán)جان (ján) as “people, utterance, Beloved, life”

man 77% men 5% all 3% unto 3% every 3% inherent 3% human 3% man’s 3% son 3%
نجوید
njúyd j-s-t

literal: seek; sought; to seek

SE rendered شماتت (shmátt)خلق (khlq)از (iz)حقّ (ḥqq)احتراز (iḥtráz)نجوید (njúyd)آنچه (ánchh)برای (bráy)نمی‌پسندد (nmí‌psndd) as “censure, people, Truth, avoid, He, wish”

برای
bráy b-r-y

literal: for

SE rendered حقّ (ḥqq)احتراز (iḥtráz)نجوید (njúyd)آنچه (ánchh)برای (bráy)نمی‌پسندد (nmí‌psndd)برای (bráy)غیر (ghír)نپسندد (npsndd) as “Truth, avoid, He, wish, others”

wherefore 50% light 50%
نگوید
ngúyd g-f-t

literal: say; to say; said

SE rendered نمی‌پسندد (nmí‌psndd)برای (bráy)غیر (ghír)نپسندد (npsndd)نگوید (ngúyd)آنچه (ánchh)وفا (wfá)نکند (nknd)از (iz)خاطئان (kháṭʾán) as “wish, others, He, fulfill, sins”

say 21% said 18% words 11% have 11% saying 11% spoken 7% hath 7% protested 7% tales 4% stated 4%
نکند
nknd k-r-d

literal: do; to do; do, make

SE rendered نپسندد (npsndd)نگوید (ngúyd)آنچه (ánchh)وفا (wfá)نکند (nknd)از (iz)خاطئان (kháṭʾán) as “wish, He, fulfill, sins”

made 21% have 16% do 16% conduct 11% hath 11% arisen 5% ordered 5% done 5% reflect 5% hast 5%
کمال
kmál k-m-l

literal: perfection; complete; with perfection

SE rendered وفا (wfá)نکند (nknd)از (iz)خاطئان (kháṭʾán)کمال (kmál)استیلا (istílá)درگذرد (drgdhrd)طلب (ṭlb)مغفرت (mghfrt) as “fulfill, sins, pray, forgive”

استیلا
istílá s-l-w

literal: Siloam; mastery; mastery, control

SE rendered وفا (wfá)نکند (nknd)از (iz)خاطئان (kháṭʾán)کمال (kmál)استیلا (istílá)درگذرد (drgdhrd)طلب (ṭlb)مغفرت (mghfrt) as “fulfill, sins, pray, forgive”

3 occurrences in corpus

قلم
qlm q-l-m

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

SE rendered طلب (ṭlb)مغفرت (mghfrt)نماید (nmáyd)بر (br)عاصیان (ʿáṣíán)قلم (qlm)عفو (ʿfú)درکشد (drkshd)بحقارت (bḥqárt) as “pray, forgive, sinful, despise”

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%
عفو
ʿfú ʿ-f-w

literal: pardon

SE rendered مغفرت (mghfrt)نماید (nmáyd)بر (br)عاصیان (ʿáṣíán)قلم (qlm)عفو (ʿfú)درکشد (drkshd)بحقارت (bḥqárt) as “forgive, sinful, despise”

درکشد
drkshd k-sh-d

literal: draw; drawn; to draw

SE rendered عاصیان (ʿáṣíán)قلم (qlm)عفو (ʿfú)درکشد (drkshd)بحقارت (bḥqárt)ننگرد (nngrd)زیرا (zírá)حسن (ḥsn)خاتمه (khátmh) as “sinful, despise, end”

brought 50% advance 50%
مجهول
mjhúl j-h-l

literal: ignorance; ignorant; ignorant ones

SE rendered بحقارت (bḥqárt)ننگرد (nngrd)زیرا (zírá)حسن (ḥsn)خاتمه (khátmh)مجهول (mjhúl)بسا (bsá)عاصی (ʿáṣí)حین (ḥín)موت (mút) as “despise, end, often hath, sinner, hour, death”

foolish 38% ignorance 25% ignorant 17% folly 6% empty 4% manifest 2% former 2% mine 2% depths 2% who 2%
موفّق
múffq w-f-q

literal: agreement; grant success; grant-success

SE rendered حین (ḥín)موت (mút)بجوهر (bjúhr)ایمان (iymán)موفّق (múffq)خمر (khmr)بقا (bqá)چشد (chshd)بملأ (bmlʾ)اعلی (iʿlí) as “hour, death, essence, faith, draught, immortal, quaffing, Concourse, high”

may 29% strengthened 14% hath 14% attained 14% favoured 14% enable 14%
شتابد
shtábd sh-t-ʾ-b

literal: hasten

SE rendered خمر (khmr)بقا (bqá)چشد (chshd)بملأ (bmlʾ)اعلی (iʿlí)شتابد (shtábd)بسا (bsá)مطیع (mṭíʿ)مؤمن (mʾmn)وقت (wqt) as “draught, immortal, quaffing, Concourse, high, how often, devout, believer, hour”

2 occurrences in corpus

درکات
drkát d-r-k

literal: comprehension; perception; perception, understanding

SE rendered ارتقای (irtqáy)روح (rúḥ)تقلیب (tqlíb)باسفل (básfl)درکات (drkát)نیران (nírán) as “ascension, soul’s, nethermost, fire”

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

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The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

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Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

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Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel cover

Tablet of Carmel

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5 ¶

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Tablet of the Holy Mariner

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Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

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Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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59 ¶