Gleanings — §608

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 608 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

باری روح قلب معرفة الله است و زینت او اقرار به انّه یفعل ما یشآء و یحکم ما یرید و ثوب آن تقوی الله و کمال آن استقامت کذلک یبیّن الله لمن اراده انّه یحبّ من توجّه الیه لا اله الّا هو الغفور الکریم الحمد للّه ربّ العالمین...

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The spirit that animateth the human heart is the knowledge of God, and its truest adorning is the recognition of the truth that “He doeth whatsoever He willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth.” Its raiment is the fear of God, and its perfection steadfastness in His Faith. Thus God instructeth whosoever seeketh Him. He, verily, loveth the one that turneth towards Him. There is none other God but Him, the Forgiving, the Most Bountiful. All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

Translation Notes

باری

b-r-y

literal: well; cistern; pit

روح

r-w-ḥ → “spirit”

literal: to go; to depart; to rest; spirit; soul

قلب

q-l-b → “heart”

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

معرفة

ʿ-r-f → “knowledge”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

الله

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

است

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

زینت

z-y-n → “adorning”

literal: to adorn; ornament; beauty

او

h-w-w → “is”

literal: he; it (third person pronoun); refuge; shelter; dwelling place; abode; lamentation, cry, woe; melody, song

اقرار

q-r-r → “acknowledged”

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

به

b-h

literal: by it; by him; with it

انّه

ʾ-n-n

literal: I, verily; behold I

یفعل

f-ʿ-l → “doeth”

literal: to do, act, make; deed, action

ما

m-ʾ → “that”

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

یشآء

sh-y-ʾ → “willeth”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

یحکم

ḥ-k-m → “ordaineth”

literal: government; rule; governance; wisdom; firm; solid; strengthened

یرید

r-y-d → “pleaseth.””

literal: will; intention; to will; to intend; to wish

ثوب

th-w-b → “raiment”

literal: garment; dress; attire; clothing

آن

ʾ-n → “its” Distinctive

literal: that; those; he; she; it

تقوی

w-q-y → “fear”

literal: to protect, safeguard, shield

کمال

k-m-l → “perfection” Distinctive

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

استقامت

q-w-m → “steadfastness”

literal: sickness; disease; ailment

کذلک

dh-l-k → “Thus”

literal: thus; likewise; also

یبیّن

b-y-n → “utterance” Distinctive

literal: between; utterance; clear

لمن

m-n → “whosoever” Distinctive

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

اراده

r-w-d → “desire”

literal: to will; to intend; to wish; will, volition, intention, desire

یحبّ

ḥ-b-b → “loveth”

literal: love; affection

توجّه

w-j-h → “turneth”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

الیه

ʾ-l-y → “besmirch”

literal: to; to him; besmirch

لا

l-ʾ

literal: no; not; negation particle

اله

ʾ-l-h → “God”

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

الّا

ʾ-kh-r → “but” Distinctive

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

هو

h-w → “is”

literal: He; He is

الغفور

gh-f-r → “Forgiving”

literal: to forgive; forgiveness

الکریم

k-r-m → “Most Bountiful”

literal: Carmel (Mount Carmel); vineyard, fruitful field

الحمد

ḥ-m-d → “All praise”

literal: praise; to praise

ربّ

r-b-b → “Lord”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

العالمین...

ʿ-l-m → “all worlds”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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50 ¶

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16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

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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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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

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Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

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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 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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 ¶