Gleanings — §59

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 59 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

رَبِّكَ مَالِكِ الأَسْمَآءِ، ثُمَّ زَيِّنِ الْعَالَمَ بِطِرَازِ أَلْطَافِ رَبِّكَ سُلْطَانُ الْقِدَمِ، لأَنَّا نَجِدُ عَرْفَ يَوْمٍ فِيْهِ تَجَلَّى الْمَقْصُودُ عَلَى مَمَالِكِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشُّهُودِ بِأَسْمَائِهِ الْحُسْنَى وَشُمُوسِ أَلْطَافِهِ الَّتِي مَا اطَّلَعَ بِهَا إِلاَّ نَفْسُهُ الْمُهَيْمِنَةُ عَلَى مَنْ فِي الإِبْدَاعِ، لا تَنْظُرِ الْخَلْقَ إِلاَّ بِعَيْنِ الرَّأْفَةِ وَالْوِدَادِ لأَنَّ رَحْمَتَنَا

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Forget the world of creation, O Pen, and turn thou towards the face of thy Lord, the Lord of all names. Adorn, then, the world with the ornament of the favors of thy Lord, the King of everlasting days. For We perceive the fragrance of the Day whereon He Who is the Desire of all nations hath shed upon the kingdoms of the unseen and of the seen the splendor of the light of His most excellent names, and enveloped them with the radiance of the luminaries of His most gracious favors — favors which none can reckon except Him, Who is the omnipotent Protector of the entire creation.

Translation Notes

رَبِّكَ

rabbik r-b-b → “thy lord”

literal: Lord; lord

lord 95% god 4% thee 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: His Lord gleaningsGWB §311: its Creator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: eye prayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: the vassal tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §2: Holy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: her Lord

مَالِكِ

málik m-l-k → “lord”

literal: kingdom; king

lord 48% possessor 14% king 13% who 5% ruler 5% sovereign 4% thou 4% all-possessing 3% layeth 2% eternal 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: kingdoms gleaningsGWB §525: your territories kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §138: Thou Who art the tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §22: guardian angels the-hidden-wordsHW §15: My dominion will-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous

الأَسْمَآءِ،

as-smáʾi، s-m-w → “of all names”

literal: name; names

SE expanded to “of all names”

names 72% all 22% name 2% amongst 1% most 1% whose 1% holy 1% names.’ 1% lord 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: in his name fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §496: lofty heights kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: day prayers-and-meditationsP&M §296: by Thy name, the All-Glorious tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §44: My heaven

زَيِّنِ

zayyin z-y-n → “adorn”

literal: adorn; adorned; adornment

adorn 21% attire 21% adorned 21% most 5% embellished 5% “adorn 5% adorneth 5% deck 5% forgoeth 5% invested 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: embellished fire-tabletFire §31: Adorner gleaningsGWB §559: readorned.…kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: is invested prayers-and-meditationsP&M §180: hast adorned epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: the most great ornament gleaningsGWB §573: its apparels prayers-and-meditationsP&M §180: do Thou adorn

الْعَالَمَ

al-ʿálam ʿ-l-m → “the world”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

world 68% earth 8% mankind 7% realm 4% men 3% whole 2% all 2% all-knowing 2% knoweth 2% dwell 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: this world fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §341: exposed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: studies prayers-and-meditationsP&M §294: of the entire creation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: existence

بِطِرَازِ

biṭiráz ṭ-r-z → “with the ornament”

literal: ornament; adornment; ornament/embroidery

SE expanded to “with the ornament”

ornament 57% adornment 18% vesture 5% splendour 5% crown 3% temple 3% raiment 3% wherewith 3% jewel 3% arrayed 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §15: with the ornament gleaningsGWB §184: wherewith kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: with the splendour kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: splendour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §358: didst adorn tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §42: with such an adorning epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: ornament gleaningsGWB §210: thy jewel

أَلْطَافِ

ʾalṭáf l-ṭ-f → “favors” Distinctive

literal: kindness

This form usually rendered as “bounty”, “bounties”, “providence” (13 occurrences)

bounty 18% bounties 9% providence 9% god 9% manifold 9% favors 9% most 9% favours 9% divine 9% loving-kindness 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: is pure gleaningsGWB §59: the favors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: irreproachable and purest Symbols prayers-and-meditationsP&M §854: most pure the-hidden-wordsHW §85: attentive will-and-testamentW&T §27: as a sign epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: most sanctified gleaningsGWB §137: providence

سُلْطَانُ

sulṭán s-l-ṭ → “king”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the powers gleaningsGWB §50: by virtue of Our kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: King of glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §611: may prevail tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the kings

الْقِدَمِ،

al-qidami، q-d-m → “of everlasting days” Distinctive

literal: ancient; step; eternity

This form usually rendered as “ancient”, “eternity”, “step” (104 occurrences)

SE expanded to “of everlasting days”

ancient 47% eternity 13% step 9% feet 7% everlasting 7% eternal 5% ever-abiding 4% steps 4% who 2% stepped 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: Ancient fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §40: everlasting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: hath spoken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §328: Most Ancient tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: by His presence the-hidden-wordsHW §81: the next will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

لأَنَّا

lʾanná ʾ-n → “have”

literal: that; indeed; that, to

have 13% behold 13% will 13% such 13% either 13% \‘verily 13% verily 13% truth 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: We have heard kitab-i-iqanKIQ §218: a moment’s the-hidden-wordsHW §120: moment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: in truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: Although epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: that He epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: He

نَجِدُ

najid w-j-d → “perceive”

literal: existence; find; existent

all 26% creation 16% found 11% find 10% hath 7% world 7% thou 6% existence 6% beings 6% may 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: found therein fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §415: the souls kitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: holy beings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §342: Creator tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: may find the-hidden-wordsHW §16: will be in vain will-and-testamentW&T §38: are to be found

عَرْفَ

ʿarf ʿ-r-f → “fragrance”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

fragrance 46% recognized 12% sweet 12% hath 8% known 6% have 4% perfume 4% who 4% recognize 2% breath 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: understanding gleaningsGWB §696: the sweet fragrance kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: renown prayers-and-meditationsP&M §262: those who have recognized tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thine own knowledge epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: recognition

يَوْمٍ

yawmin y-w-m → “day”

literal: day; days; today

day 89% whereon 3% days 1% judgment 1% wondrous 1% today 1% which 1% great 1% day?” 1% blessed 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: the daytime gleaningsGWB §27: Day.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of the day prayers-and-meditationsP&M §174: the Fast will-and-testamentW&T §47: daytime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: days gleaningsGWB §111: life kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: His

تَجَلَّى

tajallá j-l-w → “splendor”

literal: manifestation; manifest; manifested

revelation 37% shed 16% splendor 11% effulgence 5% resplendent 5% ordained 5% through 5% effulgent 5% plentitude 5% hath 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: Revelation gleaningsGWB §372: Him Who is the Source kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: effulgent glories prayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: hath shone forth the-hidden-wordsHW §100: beam epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: effulgent glory gleaningsGWB §328: reflecteth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: splendours

الْمَقْصُودُ

al-maqṣúd q-ṣ-d → “he who is the desire”

literal: intended; purpose; desired

SE expanded to “He Who is the Desire”

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: the Desire gleaningsGWB §322: nature kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: object prayers-and-meditationsP&M §391: who haste to meet the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: design in this matter

الْغَيْبِ

al-ghayb gh-y-b → “the unseen”

literal: unseen; unseen/hidden; unseen, invisible

invisible 35% unseen 27% visible 10% seen 8% unknowable 8% concealment 4% secrets 2% things 2% all 2% impenetrable 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: seen gleaningsGWB §552: backbiting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: veiled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §131: immemorial tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: absent the-hidden-wordsHW §90: hidden epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the visible gleaningsGWB §586: impenetrable mystery

وَالشُّهُودِ

wálshshuhúd sh-h-d → “of the seen” Distinctive

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

This form usually rendered as “visible”, “invisible”, “unseen” (45 occurrences)

SE expanded to “of the seen”

visible 56% invisible 9% unseen 9% seen 6% reveal 3% fact 3% creation 3% both 3% all 3% things 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §131: the fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §555: will perceive kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: differed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: testified to tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §45: thou mayest testify

الْحُسْنَى

al-ḥusná ḥ-s-n

literal: best; Husayn; beautiful

SE rendered وَالشُّهُودِ (wálshshuhúd), بِأَسْمَائِهِ (biʾasmáʾih), الْحُسْنَى (al-ḥusná), وَشُمُوسِ (washumús), أَلْطَافِهِ (ʾalṭáfih) as “of the seen, His most excellent names, the luminaries, His most gracious favors”