Gleanings — §663

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 663 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ر في الدّنیا وفَنائها لا تختار لنفسک إلّا نصرة أمر ربّک ولا یمنعک عن ذکره من علی الأرض أجمعین أن استقم ع

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Wert thou to consider this world, and realize how fleeting are the things that pertain unto it, thou wouldst choose to tread no path except the path of service to the Cause of thy Lord. None would have the power to deter thee from celebrating His praise, though all men should arise to oppose thee.

Translation Notes

الدّنیا

ad-dníá d-n-w → “this world”

literal: world; world/this life

world 78% things 5% life 5% earth 4% world’s 1% desire 1% nothing 1% earthly 1% worldly 1% “the 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: of the world gleaningsGWB §278: of the earth kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: of the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: sordid prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: its own abasement the-hidden-wordsHW §105: OF epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the world gleaningsGWB §675: that which

وفَنائها

wfanáʾhá f-n-y → “shall” Distinctive

literal: annihilation; perish; perishing

This form usually rendered as “fleetingness” (2 occurrences)

shall 18% death 12% mortal 12% perisheth 9% perish 9% nothingness 9% extinction 9% transient 9% self-effacement 6% which 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: yours perisheth gleaningsGWB §361: that which perisheth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: mortals prayers-and-meditationsP&M §746: and to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §29: mortal graves the-hidden-wordsHW §88: that must die epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: perisheth not gleaningsGWB §50: expire

تختار

tkhtár kh-y-r → “choose to tread”

literal: choose

SE expanded to “choose to tread”

choosest 67% choose 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Better is gleaningsGWB §691: good kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: retired prayers-and-meditationsP&M §561: of Thy bestowals the-hidden-wordsHW §101: Ponder will-and-testamentW&T §36: Thy goodly gifts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: best advantage gleaningsGWB §697: thorns

لنفسک

lnfsk n-f-s

literal: self; soul; souls

SE rendered الدّنیا (ad-dníá), وفَنائها (wfanáʾhá), تختار (tkhtár), لنفسک (lnfsk), نصرة (nṣrh), أمر (ʾamr), ربّک (rbbk), یمنعک (ymnʿk) as “this world, fleeting, choose to tread, service, Cause, thy Lord, deter”

thyself 28% own 26% self 19% thee 15% soul 3% himself 3% unto 2% inmost 2% spirit 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: his own accord gleaningsGWB §318: nature kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: fleeting breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: Thou Thyself tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §9: unto Me will-and-testamentW&T §58: To none

نصرة

nṣrh n-ṣ-r → “aid”

literal: help; victory; helper

victory 30% aid 15% help 15% triumph 10% render 5% ascendancy 5% helping 5% aided 5% cause 5% duty 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: upholder and fire-tabletFire §47: champions gleaningsGWB §125: victories kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: can render kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: risen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: Thou wilt aid will-and-testamentW&T §5: triumphant assistance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: ascendancy

أمر

ʾamr ʾ-m-r → “cause”

literal: command; matter; cause

cause 62% revelation 16% faith 6% command 3% bidding 3% ordainer 2% things 2% behest 2% divine 2% authority 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: Thy Cause gleaningsGWB §107: Divine Revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: wondrous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thine own Cause tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: commands will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Cause epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: the command gleaningsGWB §702: this duty

ربّک

rbbk r-b-b → “thy lord”

literal: Lord; lord

lord 95% god 4% thee 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: Lord gleaningsGWB §311: its Creator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §1: OUR LORD prayers-and-meditationsP&M §463: the Lord your tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §26: O Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: Lordship

یمنعک

ymnʿk m-n-ʿ → “deter”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

frustrate 30% deter 20% shall 10% can 10% withstand 10% prevent 10% arise 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: inaccessible gleaningsGWB §148: hath intervened kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: infinite prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: can ever frustrate tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §67: shall be hindered will-and-testamentW&T §56: hindrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: forbidden

ذکره

dhkrh dh-k-r → “celebrating his praise”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

SE expanded to “celebrating His praise”

remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: relate gleaningsGWB §619: a glimmer kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: His most great testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §473: revealing tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

الأرض

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “men” Distinctive

literal: earth; earth/land; land

This form usually rendered as “earth”, “land”, “world” (181 occurrences)

earth 72% land 12% world 6% whole 2% men 2% all 2% heaven 2% upon 1% desolate 1% plain 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §151: on earth fire-tabletFire §3: on gleaningsGWB §636: refrain from contending prayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: Thy realm the-hidden-wordsHW §98: realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: in this land fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §218: Land

أجمعین

ʾajmʿín j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: all; all, entire

all 50% entire 25% arrayed 13% can 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: great number gleaningsGWB §435: all the peoples kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: attest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: combined tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gathered the-hidden-wordsHW §89: ye will all will-and-testamentW&T §17: congregation

استقم

istqm q-w-m → “arise” Distinctive

literal: station; people; place

This form usually rendered as “persevere”, “may” (5 occurrences)

persevere 50% may 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: supreme attainment fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §136: steadfastness kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §165: state prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: the heights tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: own station

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Kitáb-i-'Ahd cover

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

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

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

Prayers and Meditations cover

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 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

The Hidden Words cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

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 ¶