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Gleanings — §689

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 689 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

باری ای سلمان بر احبّای حقّ القا کن که در کلمات احدی بدیدهٴ اعتراض ملاحظه منمائید بلکه بدیدهٴ شفقت و مرحمت مشاهده کنید مگر آن نفوسی که الیوم در ردّ الله الواح ناریّه نوشته بر جمیع نفوس حتم است که بر ردّ من ردّ علی الله آنچه قادر باشند بنویسند کذلک قدّر من لدن مقتدر قدیر چه که الیوم نصرت حقّ بذکر و بیان است نه بسیف و امثال آن کذلک نزّلنا من قبل و حینئذ ان انتم تعرفون فوالّذی ینطق حینئذ فی کلّ شیء بأنّه لا اله الّا هو که اگر نفسی در ردّ من ردّ علی الله کلمه‌ئی مرقوم دارد مقامی باو عنایت شود که جمیع اهل ملأ اعلی حسرت آن مقام برند و جمیع اقلام ممکنات از ذکر آن مقام عاجز و السن کائنات از وصفش قاصر چه که هر نفسی الیوم بر این امر اقدس ارفع امنع مستقیم شود مقابل است با کلّ من فی السّموات و الأرض و کان الله علی ذلک لشهید و علیم

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Warn, O Salmán, the beloved of the one true God, not to view with too critical an eye the sayings and writings of men. Let them rather approach such sayings and writings in a spirit of open-mindedness and loving sympathy. Those men, however, who, in this Day, have been led to assail, in their inflammatory writings, the tenets of the Cause of God, are to be treated differently. It is incumbent upon all men, each according to his ability, to refute the arguments of those that have attacked the Faith of God. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the All-Powerful, the Almighty. He that wisheth to promote the Cause of the one true God, let him promote it through his pen and tongue, rather than have recourse to sword or violence. We have, on a previous occasion, revealed this injunction, and We now confirm it, if ye be of them that comprehend. By the righteousness of Him Who, in this Day, crieth within the inmost heart of all created things: “God, there is none other God besides Me!” If any man were to arise to defend, in his writings, the Cause of God against its assailants, such a man, however inconsiderable his share, shall be so honored in the world to come that the Concourse on high would envy his glory. No pen can depict the loftiness of his station, neither can any tongue describe its splendor. For whosoever standeth firm and steadfast in this holy, this glorious, and exalted Revelation, such power shall be given him as to enable him to face and withstand all that is in heaven and on earth. Of this God is Himself a witness.

Translation Notes

القا
al-qá l-q-y

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

SE rendered باری (bárí)سلمان (slmán)بر (br)احبّای (iḥbbáy)حقّ (ḥqq)القا (al-qá)کن (kn)کلمات (klmát)احدی (iḥdí)بدیدهٴ (bdídhٴ) as “Warn, Salmán, upon, beloved, of the one true God, been, eye”

کلمات
klmát k-l-m

literal: word; words

SE rendered بر (br)احبّای (iḥbbáy)حقّ (ḥqq)القا (al-qá)کن (kn)کلمات (klmát)احدی (iḥdí)بدیدهٴ (bdídhٴ)اعتراض (iʿtráḍ)ملاحظه (mláḥẓh) as “upon, beloved, of the one true God, been, eye, too critical, view”

words 63% utterances 10% word 10% utterance 4% terms 4% sayings 2% which 2% mysteries 2% vain 2% holy 2%
احدی
iḥdí ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: anyone; one; oneness

SE rendered احبّای (iḥbbáy)حقّ (ḥqq)القا (al-qá)کن (kn)کلمات (klmát)احدی (iḥdí)بدیدهٴ (bdídhٴ)اعتراض (iʿtráḍ)ملاحظه (mláḥẓh) as “beloved, of the one true God, been, eye, too critical, view”

none 29% divine 14% any 12% god 12% anyone 8% man 6% one 6% all-glorious 4% unity 4% who 4%
منمائید
mnmáʾíd n-m-ʾ

literal: do; show; make

SE rendered بدیدهٴ (bdídhٴ)اعتراض (iʿtráḍ)ملاحظه (mláḥẓh)منمائید (mnmáʾíd)بلکه (blkh)بدیدهٴ (bdídhٴ)شفقت (shfqt)مرحمت (mrḥmt) as “eye, too critical, view, rather, loving sympathy, approach such”

extinguish 25% suffer 25% become 25% made 25%
کنید
kníd k-r-d

literal: do; to do; do, make

SE rendered شفقت (shfqt)مرحمت (mrḥmt)مشاهده (msháhdh)کنید (kníd)مگر (mgr)نفوسی (nfúsí)الیوم (al-yúm)ردّ (rdd) as “loving sympathy, approach such, however, Those men, in this Day, assail”

do 40% reflect 20% sanctify 20% yourselves 20%
نوشته
núshth n-w-sh

literal: drink; to drink; write

SE rendered ردّ (rdd)الله (al-lh)الواح (al-wáḥ)ناریّه (nárírh)نوشته (núshth)بر (br)جمیع (jmíʿ)نفوس (nfús)حتم (ḥtm) as “assail, the Cause of God, writings, inflammatory, all men, is incumbent”

hath 33% wrote 33% addressed 33%
چه
chh ch-h

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

SE rendered کذلک (kdhlk)قدّر (qddr)لدن (ldn)مقتدر (mqtdr)قدیر (qdír)چه (chh)الیوم (al-yúm)نصرت (nṣrt)حقّ (ḥqq)بذکر (bdhkr) as “Thus, hath it been decreed, Who is, All-Powerful, Almighty, Day, promote the Cause, of the one true God, his pen and tongue”

what 50% whatsoever 50%
بیان
bíán b-y-n

literal: utterance

SE rendered الیوم (al-yúm)نصرت (nṣrt)حقّ (ḥqq)بذکر (bdhkr)بیان (bíán)نه (nh)بسیف (bsíf) as “Day, promote the Cause, of the one true God, his pen and tongue, sword”

utterance 65% bayán 8% words 6% divine 4% speech 4% unfold 4% force 2% recount 2% word 2% sayings 2%
نه
nh n-h-y

literal: end; ended; utmost

SE rendered الیوم (al-yúm)نصرت (nṣrt)حقّ (ḥqq)بذکر (bdhkr)بیان (bíán)نه (nh)بسیف (bsíf)امثال (imthál)کذلک (kdhlk)نزّلنا (nzzlná) as “Day, promote the Cause, of the one true God, his pen and tongue, sword, revealed”

end 16% forbidden 12% ended 12% infinite 12% highest 12% forbiddeth 8% most 8% utmost 8% last 8% unnumbered 4%
امثال
imthál m-th-l

literal: like; likeness

SE rendered حقّ (ḥqq)بذکر (bdhkr)بیان (bíán)نه (nh)بسیف (bsíf)امثال (imthál)کذلک (kdhlk)نزّلنا (nzzlná) as “of the one true God, his pen and tongue, sword, revealed”

حینئذ
ḥínʾdh ḥ-y-n

literal: time/moment; then

SE rendered نزّلنا (nzzlná)حینئذ (ḥínʾdh)تعرفون (tʿrfún)فوالّذی (fúálldhí)ینطق (ynṭq) as “revealed, By the righteousness, crieth”

now 43% moment 29% render 14% then 14%
تعرفون
tʿrfún ʿ-r-f

literal: knowledge; know; knower

SE rendered نزّلنا (nzzlná)حینئذ (ḥínʾdh)تعرفون (tʿrfún)فوالّذی (fúálldhí)ینطق (ynṭq)حینئذ (ḥínʾdh) as “revealed, By the righteousness, crieth”

comprehend 43% know 29% ye 14% will 14%
شیء
shíʾ sh-y-ʾ

literal: thing; things

SE rendered فوالّذی (fúálldhí)ینطق (ynṭq)حینئذ (ḥínʾdh)شیء (shíʾ)بأنّه (bʾannh)اله (al-h) as “By the righteousness, crieth, God”

things 47% nothing 12% all 8% whatsoever 7% anything 7% created 5% else 4% creation 3% thing 3% none 3%
کلمه‌ئی
klmh‌ʾí k-l-m

literal: word; words

SE rendered الله (al-lh)کلمه‌ئی (klmh‌ʾí)مرقوم (mrqúm)دارد (dárd)مقامی (mqámí)باو (báw) as “the Cause of God, arise, Him”

any 33% word 33% certain 33%
دارد
dárd d-ʾ-r

literal: have; to have; possessor

SE rendered الله (al-lh)کلمه‌ئی (klmh‌ʾí)مرقوم (mrqúm)دارد (dárd)مقامی (mqámí)باو (báw)عنایت (ʿnáyt)جمیع (jmíʿ)اهل (ihl)ملأ (mlʾ) as “the Cause of God, arise, Him, the Concourse on high would”

carry 33% dispatch 33% seek 33%
عنایت
ʿnáyt ʿ-n-y

literal: care

SE rendered مقامی (mqámí)باو (báw)عنایت (ʿnáyt)جمیع (jmíʿ)اهل (ihl)ملأ (mlʾ)اعلی (iʿlí)حسرت (ḥsrt) as “arise, Him, the Concourse on high would, exalted, envy”

برند
brnd b-r-d

literal: brother; take; coldness

SE rendered جمیع (jmíʿ)اهل (ihl)ملأ (mlʾ)اعلی (iʿlí)حسرت (ḥsrt)مقام (mqám)برند (brnd)جمیع (jmíʿ)اقلام (iqlám) as “the Concourse on high would, exalted, envy, his glory, No pen”

ممکنات
mmknát m-k-n

literal: possible things

SE rendered مقام (mqám)برند (brnd)جمیع (jmíʿ)اقلام (iqlám)ممکنات (mmknát)از (iz)ذکر (dhkr)مقام (mqám)عاجز (ʿájz)السن (as-sn) as “the loftiness of his station, No pen, tongue”

all 49% entire 21% created 14% creatures 5% creation 5% things 2% souls 2% every 2%
از
iz ʾ-z

literal: from

SE rendered مقام (mqám)برند (brnd)جمیع (jmíʿ)اقلام (iqlám)ممکنات (mmknát)از (iz)ذکر (dhkr)مقام (mqám)عاجز (ʿájz)السن (as-sn) as “the loftiness of his station, No pen, tongue”

23 occurrences in corpus

عاجز
ʿájz ʿ-j-z

literal: unable; powerlessness

SE rendered اقلام (iqlám)ممکنات (mmknát)از (iz)ذکر (dhkr)مقام (mqám)عاجز (ʿájz)السن (as-sn)کائنات (káʾnát)از (iz)وصفش (wṣfsh) as “No pen, the loftiness of his station, tongue, describe its splendor”

powerless 17% fail 17% impotent 17% unable 17% incapable 8% wearied 8% can 8% mere 8%
کائنات
káʾnát k-w-n “been”

literal: be; to be

SE rendered مقام (mqám)عاجز (ʿájz)السن (as-sn)کائنات (káʾnát)از (iz)وصفش (wṣfsh)قاصر (qáṣr)چه (chh)هر (hr)نفسی (nfsí) as “the loftiness of his station, tongue, describe its splendor, whosoever standeth”

universe 25% things 25% beings 25% all 25%
قاصر
qáṣr q-ṣ-r

literal: palace; deficient; fault

SE rendered السن (as-sn)کائنات (káʾnát)از (iz)وصفش (wṣfsh)قاصر (qáṣr)چه (chh)هر (hr)نفسی (nfsí) as “tongue, describe its splendor, whosoever standeth”

هر
hr h-r

literal: every; every/each; each

SE rendered السن (as-sn)کائنات (káʾnát)از (iz)وصفش (wṣfsh)قاصر (qáṣr)چه (chh)هر (hr)نفسی (nfsí)الیوم (al-yúm)بر (br)امر (imr)اقدس (iqds) as “tongue, describe its splendor, whosoever standeth, Revelation, holy”

ارفع
irfʿ r-f-ʿ

literal: raise; raised; elevation

SE rendered نفسی (nfsí)الیوم (al-yúm)بر (br)امر (imr)اقدس (iqds)ارفع (irfʿ)امنع (imnʿ)مستقیم (mstqím)مقابل (mqábl) as “whosoever standeth, Revelation, holy, steadfast, face and withstand”

lift 60% exalted 20% may 20%
امنع
imnʿ m-n-ʿ

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

SE rendered امر (imr)اقدس (iqds)ارفع (irfʿ)امنع (imnʿ)مستقیم (mstqím)مقابل (mqábl) as “Revelation, holy, steadfast, face and withstand”

hinder 18% have 17% withhold 13% hindered 11% deter 9% kept 8% powerless 7% hath 7% withheld 5% may 5%

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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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 ¶

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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 ¶

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5 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶