Gleanings — §589

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 589 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

لا تخلعي عن هيكلك الأطهر قميص الأنور ثمّ زدي عليه في كلّ حين من حلل البقاء في جبروت الإنشاء ليظهر منكِ طراز اللّه في كلّ ما سواه وتيّم فضل ربّك علی العالمين وإن وجدتِ من أحد رائحة حبّ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Beware that Thou divest not Thyself, Thou Who art the Essence of Purity, of Thy robe of effulgent glory. Nay, enrich Thyself increasingly, in the kingdom of creation, with the incorruptible vestures of Thy God, that the beauteous image of the Almighty may be reflected through Thee in all created things and the grace of Thy Lord be infused in the plenitude of its power into the entire creation.

Translation Notes

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

تخلعي

kh-l-ʿ → “robe” Distinctive

literal: robe; garment of honor; investiture

عن

ʿ-n → “of”

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

هيكلك

h-y-k-l → “form” Distinctive

literal: temple; structure; form; body

الأطهر

ṭ-h-r → “pure” Distinctive

literal: to purify; to cleanse

قميص

q-m-ṣ → “robe”

literal: garment; shirt; tunic

الأنور

n-w-r → “of effulgent glory” Distinctive

literal: light; illumination

ثمّ

th-m-m → “then”

literal: then; thereafter; next; moreover

زدي

z-y-d → “waxed greater and greater” Distinctive

literal: increase; excess; more; additional; to increase; to grow; to be added

عليه

ʿ-l-y

literal: highest; most high; supreme

في

f-y → “in”

literal: in; in-it; in it

كلّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

حين

ḥ-y-n → “moment”

literal: time; moment; while; season

من

m-n → “with” Distinctive

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

حلل

ḥ-l-l → “place” Distinctive

literal: place; location; spot

البقاء

b-q-y

literal: remaining; everlasting; eternal; immortal

جبروت

j-b-r

literal: compelled; forced; constrained

الإنشاء

n-sh-ʾ

literal: creation; bringing into existence; establishment; God willing; if God wishes; please God

ليظهر

ẓ-h-r → “may be reflected” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

طراز

ṭ-r-z → “with the ornament”

literal: ornament; adornment; embroidery; stripe

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

literal: what; which; that which; relative pronoun; interrogative

سواه

s-w-y → “except Thee” Distinctive

literal: other than; other-than; besides

وتيّم

t-y-m → “infused”

literal: and complete, fulfill; captivate, enslave

فضل

f-ḍ-l → “grace”

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

ربّك

r-b-b → “Lord”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

علی

ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; most high; supreme

العالمين

ʿ-l-m → “the entire creation” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

وإن

ʾ-n-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

وجدتِ

w-j-d

literal: to find; to discover; to obtain

أحد

ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

رائحة

r-w-ḥ

literal: banner; standard; flag; sign; banner, standard, flag, ensign

حبّ

ḥ-b-b

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶