Gleanings — §94

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 94 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

صفات مختصّ ببعضی دون بعضی نبوده و نيست بلکه جميع انبيای مقرّبين و اصفيای مقدّسين باين صفات موصوف و باين اسماء موسومند نهايت بعضی در بعضی مراتب اشدّ ظهورا و اعظم نوراً ظاهر ميشوند چنانچه ميفرمايد تلک الرّسل فضّلنا بعضهم علی بعض پس معلوم و محقّق شد که محلّ ظهور و بروز جميع اين صفا

Shoghi Effendi Translation

These attributes of God are not, and have never been, vouchsafed specially unto certain Prophets, and withheld from others. Nay, all the Prophets of God, His well-favored, His holy and chosen Messengers are, without exception, the bearers of His names, and the embodiments of His attributes. They only differ in the intensity of their revelation, and the comparative potency of their light. Even as He hath revealed: “Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others.”

Translation Notes

صفات

w-ṣ-f → “These attributes”

literal: attribute; quality; characteristic

مختصّ

kh-ṣ-ṣ → “vouchsafed specially”

literal: specific matter; particularity; especially; in this matter

ببعضی

b-ʿ-ḍ → “certain”

literal: part; some; portion

دون

d-w-n → “except Thee” Distinctive

literal: below; lower than; beneath

نبوده

b-w-d → “have never”

literal: to be; to exist; to have been

بلکه

b-l-k → “Nay”

literal: nay; but rather; on the contrary; but

جميع

j-m-ʿ → “all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

انبيای

n-b-ʾ → “Prophets”

literal: to send; dispatch; transmission

مقرّبين

q-r-b → “well-favored”

literal: stability; firmness; establishment

اصفيای

ṣ-f-w → “chosen”

literal: pure one; chosen one; selected one; elite; purity; clarity; sincerity; pure; sincere

مقدّسين

q-d-s → “holy”

literal: holiness; holy; sanctified

باين

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

اسماء

s-m-w → “names”

literal: name

موسومند

w-s-m → “called” Distinctive

literal: heaven; sky

نهايت

n-h-y → “utmost”

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

مراتب

r-t-b → “station”

literal: to pass; to pass by; to go

اشدّ

sh-d-d → “tribulations” Distinctive

literal: strong; severe; intense; violent

ظهورا

ẓ-h-r → “revelation”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

اعظم

ʿ-ẓ-m → “potency” Distinctive

literal: greatest; supreme; mightiest

نوراً

n-w-r → “light”

literal: light; illumination

ميشوند

sh-w-d → “been” Distinctive

literal: become; to become; became

چنانچه

ch-n-n → “Even as”

literal: thus; in such manner; as

ميفرمايد

f-r-m → “hath revealed” Distinctive

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

تلک

t-l-k

literal: those; that; those (feminine)

الرّسل

r-s-l → “the Apostles”

literal: to send; dispatch; transmission

فضّلنا

f-ḍ-l → “have caused to excel”

literal: grace; bounty; generosity; excellence

علی

ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; most high; supreme

پس

p-s

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

معلوم

ʿ-l-m

literal: world; universe; the worlds

محقّق

ḥ-q-q → “God” Distinctive

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

شد

sh-d

literal: strong; severe; intense; violent

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

محلّ

ḥ-l-l

literal: place; location; spot

بروز

b-r-z

literal: appearance; manifestation; coming forth

اين

ʾ-y-n

literal: this; these

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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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.

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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 ¶