Gleanings — §153

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 153 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

این بسی واضح است که این عبد خیالی نداشته و ندارد چه که امرش از شئونات ظاهره خارج است چنانچه در سجن اعظم غریب و مظلوم افتاده و از دست اعدا خلاصی نیافته و نخواهد یافت لذا آنچه میگوید لوجه الله بوده که شاید ناس از حجبات نفس و هوی پاک شوند و بعرفان حقّ که اعلی المقام است فائز گردند لا یضرّنی إعراضهم و لا ینفعنی إقبالهم إنّما ندعوهم لوجه الله إنّه لغنیّ عن العالمین

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Who can ever believe that this Servant of God hath at any time cherished in His heart a desire for any earthly honor or benefit? The Cause associated with His Name is far above the transitory things of this world. Behold Him, an exile, a victim of tyranny, in this Most Great Prison. His enemies have assailed Him on every side, and will continue to do so till the end of His life. Whatever, therefore, He saith unto you is wholly for the sake of God, that haply the peoples of the earth may cleanse their hearts from the stain of evil desire, may rend its veil asunder, and attain unto the knowledge of the one true God — the most exalted station to which any man can aspire. Their belief or disbelief in My Cause can neither profit nor harm Me. We summon them wholly for the sake of God. He, verily, can afford to dispense with all creatures.

Translation Notes

بسی

bsí b-s-y → “how” Distinctive

literal: many; many, often; very much

This form usually rendered as “clear”, “astonishingly”, “admittedly” (4 occurrences)

clear 33% astonishingly 33% admittedly 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: How often gleaningsGWB §684: astonishingly kitab-i-iqanKIQ §172: admittedly will-and-testamentW&T §5: many a gleaningsGWB §340: clear and evident gleaningsGWB §118: Myriad

واضح

wáḍḥ w-ḍ-ḥ → “evident”

literal: clear; clear, evident; clear/evident

evident 27% clear 17% manifest 17% clearly 10% lucid 7% unmistakable 7% surest 5% luminous 5% exposed 2% sufficient 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: clear gleaningsGWB §91: is evident kitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: irrefutable the-hidden-wordsHW §137: open epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: so manifest gleaningsGWB §559: surest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: the epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: evident

عبد

ʿbd ʿ-b-d → “servant of god”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE expanded to “Servant of God”

servant 76% one 6% man 6% guardian 2% abdu’-salam 2% man’s 2% servant” 2% ‘abdu 2% servant’s 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: hapless creatures fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §220: they have kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: unto man prayers-and-meditationsP&M §187: amidst Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §5: ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy servant

خیالی

khíálí kh-y-l → “idle”

literal: thought; fancy

intention 29% idle 29% thought 14% desire 14% fancy 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: intention gleaningsGWB §40: imagined kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: idle fancy the-hidden-wordsHW §121: on satanic fancies epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: thought whatsoever gleaningsGWB §153: desire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: their own idle thoughts the-hidden-wordsHW §121: your vain imagining

نداشته

ndáshth dáshtn → “hath”

literal: have; to have; had

hath 30% have 20% beyond 15% without 5% ignorance 5% had 5% neither 5% washed 5% disinclined 5% none 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: can hide gleaningsGWB §192: disdaineth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: should not prayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: not deterred the-hidden-wordsHW §102: I have will-and-testamentW&T §5: did he neglect to grievously inflict upon me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: Flingest gleaningsGWB §168: made

امرش

imrsh ʾ-m-r → “cause associated with his name”

literal: cause

SE expanded to “Cause associated with His Name”

cause 44% whose 22% behests 11% revelation 11% grace 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My Cause fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §232: wise decrees kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: hath prescribed for him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: those things prayers-and-meditationsP&M §474: Thou shouldst bid me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §30: My command

شئونات

shʾúnát sh-ʾ-n → “such” Distinctive

literal: manner; affair; affairs

This form usually rendered as “manifold”, “changes”, “tokens” (37 occurrences)

manifold 38% changes 17% tokens 13% desires 8% signs 4% principle 4% assaults 4% things 4% such 4% reach 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: rank fire-tabletFire §27: the signs gleaningsGWB §254: stations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: worthy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §729: of Thy clear tokens the-hidden-wordsHW §68: My state will-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly things epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: the station

ظاهره

ẓáhrh ẓ-h-r → “revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “revealed”, “made” (461 occurrences)

manifest 19% revealed 15% made 13% outward 11% appeared 10% appear 8% outwardly 6% visible 6% earthly 6% manifested 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: inform fire-tabletFire §23: spring gleaningsGWB §196: is His Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: daysprings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: Manifestation of the All-Glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §288: to demonstrate tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §99: seem

خارج

khárj kh-r-j

literal: go out; outside

SE rendered امرش (imrsh), از (iz), شئونات (shʾúnát), ظاهره (ẓáhrh), خارج (khárj), چنانچه (chnánchh), سجن (sjn), اعظم (iʿẓm), غریب (ghríb) as “Cause associated with His Name, transitory, far, Behold, Most Great Prison, exile”

foreigners 10% foreign 10% describe 10% went 10% far 10% concealed 10% external 10% have 10% departed 10% come 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: draw forth gleaningsGWB §193: revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: forsaken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: and banished them tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: drawn forth the-hidden-wordsHW §104: thou didst issue will-and-testamentW&T §43: out from epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: abandoned

سجن

sjn s-j-n → “most great prison”

literal: prison; imprisoned; imprisonment

SE expanded to “Most Great Prison”

prison 70% prison-city 6% imprisonment 6% dungeon 4% prison-house 4% prisoner 3% prison-cell 1% hath 1% deliverest 1% cast 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: the prison-city gleaningsGWB §225: captivity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §36: hellish fire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §198: His prison-house will-and-testamentW&T §3: incarcerated epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §34: dungeon gleaningsGWB §501: The imprisonment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: and deliverest me from the bondage of

اعظم

iʿẓm ʿ-ẓ-m

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE rendered ظاهره (ẓáhrh), خارج (khárj), چنانچه (chnánchh), سجن (sjn), اعظم (iʿẓm), غریب (ghríb), مظلوم (mẓlúm) as “far, Behold, Most Great Prison, exile, victim”

most 70% greater 8% supreme 5% greatest 4% more 4% mightier 3% how 2% transcendeth 2% mightiest 2% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: the Most Great gleaningsGWB §628: the glory of Thy majesty kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: greater than prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: in my body the-hidden-wordsHW §42: of My greatness will-and-testamentW&T §40: more glaring epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: majesty

غریب

ghríb gh-r-b → “exile” Distinctive

literal: stranger; exile

This form usually rendered as “stranger”, “wondrous”, “thou” (11 occurrences)

stranger 36% wondrous 18% thou 9% exile 9% subtle 9% am 9% strangers 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: West fire-tabletFire §18: a foreign land gleaningsGWB §363: wondrous kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: setting prayers-and-meditationsP&M §720: stranger tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: banishment tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: of exile will-and-testamentW&T §4: the West

مظلوم

mẓlúm ẓ-l-m → “victim” Distinctive

literal: wronged

This form usually rendered as “wronged”, “whom”, “oppressed” (173 occurrences)

wronged 89% whom 3% oppressed 2% victim 1% one 1% downtrodden 1% who 1% men 1% sore 1% sorely 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: of iniquity fire-tabletFire §33: through the tyranny gleaningsGWB §447: of tyranny kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: darkened prayers-and-meditationsP&M §97: the wrongs inflicted the-hidden-wordsHW §144: gloom will-and-testamentW&T §36: that have wrought injustice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: oppressed one

افتاده

iftádh iftádn

literal: fall; fallen

SE rendered سجن (sjn), اعظم (iʿẓm), غریب (ghríb), مظلوم (mẓlúm), افتاده (iftádh), از (iz), دست (dst), اعدا (iʿdá), خلاصی (khláṣí), نیافته (níáfth) as “Most Great Prison, exile, victim, enemies, Him, and”

fallen 33% have 33% lay 17% seized 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: were kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: seized the-hidden-wordsHW §100: tested will-and-testamentW&T §3: calamity epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: when tested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: have gathered and preyed upon the-hidden-wordsHW §126: lead them will-and-testamentW&T §9: might fall

دست

dst dst

literal: hand; hand, grasp

SE rendered غریب (ghríb), مظلوم (mẓlúm), افتاده (iftádh), از (iz), دست (dst), اعدا (iʿdá), خلاصی (khláṣí), نیافته (níáfth), نخواهد (nkhúáhd) as “exile, victim, enemies, Him, and, will”

hand 38% hands 29% slumber 4% clutches 4% within 4% power 4% hath 4% forfeit 4% tyranny 4% grip 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: in the hands gleaningsGWB §168: within the claws kitab-i-iqanKIQ §116: hands the-hidden-wordsHW §77: thy hold will-and-testamentW&T §51: the hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: of slumber gleaningsGWB §429: hath His finger on kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: His hand.”

اعدا

iʿdá ʿ-d-w → “enemies”

literal: enemy; enemies

enemies 75% mine 13% prepared 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: excesses fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §520: Our enemies kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: cruelty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §229: adversaries the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §4: the hostility

خلاصی

khláṣí kh-l-ṣ → “wholly” Distinctive

literal: sincere; pure; sincere ones

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

wholly 26% sincere 20% who 14% such 10% deliver 7% devoted 6% pure 5% essence 5% faithful 5% true 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: pure fire-tabletFire §1: the sincere gleaningsGWB §617: to be entirely divested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §254: true prayers-and-meditationsP&M §335: all who are wholly devoted to Thy will the-hidden-wordsHW §110: purest will-and-testamentW&T §34: Thy devoted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: such as are devoted to Thee

نخواهد

nkhúáhd khúástn → “will”

literal: will; to want/will

will 57% can 29% shall 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: will cling gleaningsGWB §287: will continue to be kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: were pressing Him the-hidden-wordsHW §93: I have not desired for you will-and-testamentW&T §20: seek epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: will ye gleaningsGWB §391: will ever so remain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: nor will they ever

میگوید

mígúyd gftn → “say”

literal: say; to say

saying 33% speaketh 33% stated 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: contend gleaningsGWB §552: promise kitab-i-iqanKIQ §206: expounded the-hidden-wordsHW §83: exclaim will-and-testamentW&T §17: will not openly declare epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Say gleaningsGWB §118: how can I confess kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: they raised their voice saying:

لوجه

lújh w-j-h → “sake of god”

literal: face

SE expanded to “sake of God”

sake 52% face 21% countenance 14% wholly 2% presence 2% whose 2% radiance 2% gaze 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: journeyed fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §510: would turn his face towards Thee kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: set his face kitab-i-iqanKIQ §187: their countenance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: mine eyes bent tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy steps the-hidden-wordsHW §41: before Our Face

شاید

sháyd sháyd → “haply”

literal: perhaps; perhaps, maybe; befits, is allowed

haply 42% perchance 42% should 4% am 4% must 4% hoping 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: perchance gleaningsGWB §146: must needs be adorned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: hoping that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: haply gleaningsGWB §142: as I am allowed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: Should

ناس

nás n-ʾ-s → “peoples”

literal: people; people, mankind; people/mankind

men 36% people 32% mankind 8% others 8% all 6% amongst 3% neighbor 3% man 2% souls 2% peoples 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of others gleaningsGWB §622: their neighbor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §192: most of the people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §207: Some will-and-testamentW&T §34: the souls of men epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: men gleaningsGWB §467: of his fellowmen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: all human beings

حجبات

ḥjbát ḥ-j-b → “veil”

literal: veil; veiled; veils

veils 63% veil 22% densest 2% veiled 2% dust 2% sayings 2% such 2% intervening 2% shut 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: shut thee not out as by a veil gleaningsGWB §48: to kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: have been hindered prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: shut me out tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: her brow the-hidden-wordsHW §33: dost thou veil thyself will-and-testamentW&T §4: veil thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: the veils

نفس

nfs n-f-s → “desire” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; souls

This form usually rendered as “own”, “self”, “soul” (323 occurrences)

own 19% self 19% soul 17% himself 16% evil 8% corrupt 5% one 5% souls 4% breath 4% man 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: Myself gleaningsGWB §234: the man kitab-i-iqanKIQ §247: the timorous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: the same tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §71: OF HIS SELF will-and-testamentW&T §44: souls such as these epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §67: for their own sakes

پاک

pák pák → “cleanse”

literal: pure; clean; pure/clean

cleanse 30% cleansed 23% pure 13% sanctified 10% stainless 7% cleansing 3% sanctify 3% purge 3% unsullied 3% clear 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: cleansed gleaningsGWB §140: pure the-hidden-wordsHW §85: a clear vision gleaningsGWB §132: Sanctify the-hidden-wordsHW §120: unsullied gleaningsGWB §153: cleanse the-hidden-wordsHW §118: Purge gleaningsGWB §122: cleansing

شوند

shúnd shdn → “may”

literal: become; to become

may 25% will 15% would 10% should 10% made 10% must 10% mayest 5% might 5% again 5% commissioned 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §170: be gleaningsGWB §123: he kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: have already been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §195: mayest become prayers-and-meditationsP&M §704: forth the-hidden-wordsHW §139: may be thine will-and-testamentW&T §42: recovered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: made

حقّ

ḥqq ḥ-q-q → “god”

literal: truth; true; right

god 29% truth 29% one 20% true 8% who 6% through 3% eternal 3% right 1% unto 1% righteousness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: unto gleaningsGWB §264: Sovereign kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: innermost prayers-and-meditationsP&M §149: befittingly the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §8: to God Himself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: with God

اعلی

iʿlí ʿ-l-w → “most”

literal: highest; exalted; high

most 47% high 15% glory 9% supreme 6% loftiest 5% exalted 5% celestial 4% aloud 3% highest 3% all-glorious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: exalt fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §548: and all honor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: apart from prayers-and-meditationsP&M §520: effulgent glory tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on high will-and-testamentW&T §4: Exalted One

گردند

grdnd gshtn → “have” Distinctive

literal: become; to become

This form usually rendered as “become”, “may”, “wouldst” (18 occurrences)

become 38% may 25% wouldst 13% will 13% themselves 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: been gleaningsGWB §287: will, assuredly,kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: thou wilt not return the-hidden-wordsHW §97: failed will-and-testamentW&T §18: may not arise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: remained gleaningsGWB §370: life-vein kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: be made

یضرّنی

yḍrrní ḍ-r-r → “harm”

literal: harm

harm 50% can 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: to harm gleaningsGWB §255: hardships kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: sufferings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §483: to injure him tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficulties will-and-testamentW&T §35: troubles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: woe gleaningsGWB §501: sorely hurt

إعراضهم

ʾiʿráḍhm ʿ-r-ḍ → “turned” Distinctive

literal: turn away; turning away

This form usually rendered as “denials”, “disbelief”, “opposition” (5 occurrences)

denials 25% disbelief 25% opposition 25% how 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I have chosen to turn away therefrom gleaningsGWB §353: to challenge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: spoke these words unto Muhammad prayers-and-meditationsP&M §798: opposed me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: hath also turned away the-hidden-wordsHW §22: hast thou turned away will-and-testamentW&T §58: hath turned away epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: hast turned away

ینفعنی

ynfʿní n-f-ʿ → “profit”

literal: benefit, profit

profit 20% profiteth 20% shall 20% will 20% what 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: weal gleaningsGWB §719: indeed, profit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §675: what will profit me the-hidden-wordsHW §19: profiteth thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: is unprofitable unto you gleaningsGWB §523: profiteth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §158: profiteth me not epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: profit thee

إقبالهم

ʾiqbálhm q-b-l

literal: before; acceptance; approach

SE rendered یضرّنی (yḍrrní), إعراضهم (ʾiʿráḍhm), ینفعنی (ynfʿní), إقبالهم (ʾiqbálhm), إنّما (ʾinnmá), ندعوهم (ndʿúhm), لوجه (lújh), الله (al-lh) as “harm, belief, profit, We, God”

whereby 25% belief 25% turning 25% had 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: with his eyes fixed on fire-tabletFire §46: press onward gleaningsGWB §405: Him Who is the Object of the adoration kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: ago kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: the tribes prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: to face tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: “And kiss

إنّما

ʾinnmá n-m-ʾ → “suffer”

literal: do; make; show

suffer 18% strive 18% thou 12% consider 12% endeavour 12% do 6% set 6% hath 6% gird 6% have 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §31: shouldst gleaningsGWB §165: this emblem kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: be made kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: endeavour to the-hidden-wordsHW §125: not yourselves epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: cut it off gleaningsGWB §683: not kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: make it not

ندعوهم

ndʿúhm d-ʿ-w

literal: call; invitation; claim

SE rendered ینفعنی (ynfʿní), إقبالهم (ʾiqbálhm), إنّما (ʾinnmá), ندعوهم (ndʿúhm), لوجه (lújh), الله (al-lh), لغنیّ (lghnín) as “profit, We, God, afford”