Gleanings — §575
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 575 of 729.
Source (Arabic)
س ليجذب قوله قلوب السّامعين ومن دون ذلك لن يؤثّر قوله في أفئدة الطّالبين إيّاكم يا قوم لا تكوننّ من الّذين يأمرون النّاس بالبرّ وينسون أنفسهم أولئك يكذّبهم كلّما يخرج من أفواههم ثمّ حقايق الأشياء ثمّ ملئكة المقرّبين وإن يؤثّر قول هؤلاء في أحد هذا لم يكن منهم بل بما قدّر في الكلمات من لدن مقتدر حكيم
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Whoso ariseth among you to teach the Cause of his Lord, let him, before all else, teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him. Unless he teacheth his own self, the words of his mouth will not influence the heart of the seeker. Take heed, O people, lest ye be of them that give good counsel to others but forget to follow it themselves. The words of such as these, and beyond the words the realities of all things, and beyond these realities the angels that are nigh unto God, bring against them the accusation of falsehood.
Translation Notes
السّامعين
literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention
