Gleanings — §161

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 161 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

وإنّها لو تطلع بغتةً في وسط السّمآء یضرّ حرارتها الأشیآء کذلک فانظر في شمس المعاني لتکون من المطّلعین فإنّها لو تستشرق في أوّل فجر الظّهور بأنوار الّتي قدّر الله لها لیحترق أرض العرفان من قلوب العباد لأنّهم لن یقدرنّ أن یحملنّها أو یستعکسنّ منها بل یضطربنّ منها ویکوننّ من المعدومین

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Were it, all of a sudden, to manifest the energies latent within it, it would, no doubt, cause injury to all created things.… In like manner, if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the earliest stages of its manifestation, the full measure of the potencies which the providence of the Almighty hath bestowed upon it, the earth of human understanding would waste away and be consumed; for men’s hearts would neither sustain the intensity of its revelation, nor be able to mirror forth the radiance of its light. Dismayed and overpowered, they would cease to exist.

Translation Notes

تطلع

tṭlʿ ṭ-l-ʿ → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: rising-place; dawning-place; countenance

This form usually rendered as “thou”, “haply”, “riseth” (11 occurrences)

thou 27% haply 18% riseth 18% discover 9% manifest 9% shine 9% realize 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §195: the fountain-head fire-tabletFire §24: exponents gleaningsGWB §197: shine kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: sources kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: witness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: the manifestations tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: may understand the-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance

بغتةً

bghthan b-gh-t → “all”

literal: suddenly; suddenly, unexpectedly

all 25% suddenly 25% sudden 25% unheralded 25%

gleaningsGWB §228: suddenly the-hidden-wordsHW §32: unheralded gleaningsGWB §161: all of a sudden the-hidden-wordsHW §152: of a sudden

وسط

wsṭ w-s-ṭ

literal: middle; middle, midst

SE rendered وإنّها (wʾinnhá), لو (lú), تطلع (tṭlʿ), بغتةً (bghthan), وسط (wsṭ), السّمآء (as-smáʾ), یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ) as “Were it, if, reveal, all of a sudden, cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…”

zenith 25% meridian 13% midmost 13% middle 13% noontide 13% midday 13% noon-tide 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: the midmost gleaningsGWB §123: Vehicle for the transmission kitab-i-iqanKIQ §276: noon-tide the-hidden-wordsHW §63: to the zenith epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: middle gleaningsGWB §195: in its noontide glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: from epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: Mediator

السّمآء

as-smáʾ s-m-w

literal: heaven

SE rendered وإنّها (wʾinnhá), لو (lú), تطلع (tṭlʿ), بغتةً (bghthan), وسط (wsṭ), السّمآء (as-smáʾ), یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), کذلک (kdhlk) as “Were it, if, reveal, all of a sudden, cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…, In like manner”

heaven 74% heavens 16% “heaven 3% “heaven” 2% all 2% heavenly 1% into 1% out 1% towards 0% who 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: advancement fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §168: thereof kitab-i-iqanKIQ §1: firmament prayers-and-meditationsP&M §327: inaccessible heights tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My sake tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes

یضرّ

yḍrr ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm

This form usually rendered as “cause”, “may” (2 occurrences)

cause 50% may 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: can harm gleaningsGWB §644: the tribulations We have suffered kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: in no wise damage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: and tribulations tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficulties will-and-testamentW&T §25: injurious epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: trouble gleaningsGWB §284: harm Us

حرارتها

ḥrárthá ḥ-r-r → “energies”

literal: heat; writing; freedom

rays 50% energies 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: setting down fire-tabletFire §38: heat gleaningsGWB §345: writing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: the flame prayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: chilled the-hidden-wordsHW §135: righteous will-and-testamentW&T §38: to write epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: describe them

الأشیآء

ash-shíáʾ sh-y-ʾ → “to all created things.…”

literal: thing; things

SE expanded to “to all created things.…”

all 44% things 25% created 21% creation 4% entire 2% universe 1% thing 1% whole 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: will gleaningsGWB §463: things,”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: Primal Will prayers-and-meditationsP&M §640: it may please Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §13: else will-and-testamentW&T §5: this one, unworthy though he be

کذلک

kdhlk dh-l-k → “thus”

literal: thus; thus, likewise; likewise

thus 74% such 17% even 4% wise 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: So gleaningsGWB §188: Such kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: In such wise the-hidden-wordsHW §160: In this wise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: Thus gleaningsGWB §301: even as kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: Such is gleaningsGWB §220: And yet

فانظر

fánẓr n-ẓ-r

literal: look; looking

SE rendered یضرّ (yḍrr), حرارتها (ḥrárthá), الأشیآء (ash-shíáʾ), کذلک (kdhlk), فانظر (fánẓr), شمس (shms), المعاني (al-mʿání) as “cause injury, the energies, to all created things.…, In like manner, the Sun, of Truth”

look 29% consider 21% gaze 11% behold 11% contemplate 7% eyes 7% “look 4% “witness 4% know 4% ponder 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: turned towards fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §622: turn his gaze towards anyone kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: to turn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: responding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: gaze on tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §129: seeking

المعاني

al-mʿání ʿ-n-y → “of truth” Distinctive

literal: meaning; meanings

This form usually rendered as “meaning”, “inner”, “divine” (79 occurrences)

meaning 21% inner 19% divine 13% mystic 11% understanding 9% mysteries 6% truth 6% spirit 6% ma’ani 4% revelation 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: meaning fire-tabletFire §26: grace gleaningsGWB §188: of glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: in the realms above prayers-and-meditationsP&M §20: of Thy loving-kindness the-hidden-wordsHW §52: My providence will-and-testamentW&T §6: in the aforementioned manner

ویکوننّ

wíkúnnn k-w-n → “they would cease”

literal: be; to be

SE expanded to “they would cease”

all 25% would 25% numbered 25% holdeth 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: Will there be vouchsafed gleaningsGWB §96: His own Person kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: that ye may prayers-and-meditationsP&M §581: and fixed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thou tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath the-hidden-wordsHW §52: that thou mayest become

تستشرق

tstshrq sh-r-q → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: shining; east; shine

This form usually rendered as “reveal”, “issueth” (2 occurrences)

reveal 50% issueth 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §18: are rays fire-tabletFire §14: Dawning Place gleaningsGWB §382: this light hath enveloped kitab-i-iqanKIQ §9: above the horizon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §766: shineth forth above tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §27: Flooding the-hidden-wordsHW §61: radiant will-and-testamentW&T §4: of the world

أوّل

ʾawwl ʾ-w-l → “at the earliest stages” Distinctive

literal: first; beginning; firstness

This form usually rendered as “first”, “beginning”, “hath” (119 occurrences)

SE expanded to “at the earliest stages”

first 49% beginning 19% hath 9% early 7% former 3% earliest 3% ever 3% inception 2% prime 2% “beginning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the first fire-tabletFire §31: the people gleaningsGWB §116: beginning, and kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: members kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: that hath no beginnings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §366: this life the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §34: the one

فجر

fjr f-j-r

literal: dawn

SE rendered فإنّها (fʾinnhá), لو (lú), تستشرق (tstshrq), أوّل (ʾawwl), فجر (fjr), الظّهور (aẓ-ẓhúr), بأنوار (bʾanúár), قدّر (qddr), الله (al-lh) as “were, manifest, at the earliest stages, its manifestation, hath bestowed, the providence of the Almighty”

dayspring 35% morning 12% dawn 12% dawning 12% daybreak 6% dawning-light 6% break 6% dawning-place 6% daystar 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: daybreak gleaningsGWB §44: wicked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: wicked,—they prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: workers of iniquity epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: Dayspring of gleaningsGWB §37: Dayspring kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: break prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: have burst forth

الظّهور

aẓ-ẓhúr ẓ-h-r → “its manifestation”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

revelation 59% manifestation 16% dispensation 8% advent 4% appearance 3% made 3% through 2% divine 2% every 2% unveiled 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Raise up fire-tabletFire §12: Dayspring gleaningsGWB §103: Through their appearance kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: announced prayers-and-meditationsP&M §326: is generated tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §60: for My manifestation

بأنوار

bʾanúár n-w-r

literal: light; lights; luminous

SE rendered تستشرق (tstshrq), أوّل (ʾawwl), فجر (fjr), الظّهور (aẓ-ẓhúr), بأنوار (bʾanúár), قدّر (qddr), الله (al-lh), لیحترق (líḥtrq) as “manifest, at the earliest stages, its manifestation, hath bestowed, the providence of the Almighty, consumed”

light 48% splendors 23% lights 13% brightness 4% effulgence 3% resplendent 2% glory 2% luminaries 2% all 1% effulgent 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: His light fire-tabletFire §26: Lightgiver gleaningsGWB §307: its radiance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §39: traditions established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §728: whose brightness tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: splendour the-hidden-wordsHW §109: the flame will-and-testamentW&T §13: radiantly

قدّر

qddr q-d-r → “hath bestowed”

literal: power; powerful

hath 21% ordain 18% power 16% ordained 11% how 7% do 7% might 6% decreed 5% had 4% according 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: as much as fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §50: irresistible kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §256: influential prayers-and-meditationsP&M §370: God of power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §68: thy capacity

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “the providence of the almighty” Distinctive

literal: god; divine; o god

This form usually rendered as “god”, “god’s”, “lord” (1314 occurrences)

SE expanded to “the providence of the Almighty”

god 93% god’s 2% lord 1% divine 1% almighty 1% “god 1% god.” 0% unto 0% towards 0% \‘god 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: uttered by God fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §544: and to this the Almighty is My witness kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: our gods prayers-and-meditationsP&M §833: before Thy Godhead tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

لیحترق

líḥtrq ḥ-r-q → “consumed”

literal: burn; burned; burning

may 29% consumed 14% burnt 14% would 14% burneth 14% melt 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: were melted gleaningsGWB §497: hath melted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: burnt prayers-and-meditationsP&M §747: melt away tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: fast consuming thee will-and-testamentW&T §51: his heart was consumed with the flame epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: were consumed gleaningsGWB §651: The fire that hath inflamed

أرض

ʾarḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; earth, land

earth 65% land 13% world 9% all 4% soil 2% whole 2% amongst 2% mankind 1% realm 1% city 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: in this land fire-tabletFire §3: sands gleaningsGWB §245: amongst men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §231: the peoples of the world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: earth and tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §43: the lands the-hidden-wordsHW §1: in the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: earth

العرفان

al-ʿrfán ʿ-r-f → “of human understanding”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

SE expanded to “of human understanding”

knowledge 32% understanding 23% recognize 8% recognition 7% comprehension 7% know 6% divine 5% recognizing 4% wisdom 3% insight 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: the recognition gleaningsGWB §658: inasmuch as thou hast recognized kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: and understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §472: lay bare before tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thine own knowledge epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: well-known

العباد

al-ʿbád ʿ-b-d

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE rendered لیحترق (líḥtrq), أرض (ʾarḍ), العرفان (al-ʿrfán), قلوب (qlúb), العباد (al-ʿbád), لأنّهم (lʾannhm), یقدرنّ (yqdrnn), یحملنّها (yḥmlnnhá) as “consumed, the earth, of human understanding, men’s hearts, for, sustain, the intensity of its revelation”