Gleanings — §255

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 255 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

فاعلموا بأنّ البلایا والمحن لم یزل كانت موكلة لأصفیآء الله واحبّائه ثمّ لعباده المنقطعین الّذین لا تلهیهم التّجارة ولا بیع عن ذكر الله ولا یسبقونه بالقول وهم بأمره لمن العاملین كذلك جرت سنّة الله من قبل ویجری من بعد فطوبی للصّابرین الّذین یصبرون في البأسآء والضّرّآء ولن یجزعوا من شیء وكانوا علی مناهج الصّبر لمن السّالكین....

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Know ye that trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen Ones of God and His beloved, and such of His servants as are detached from all else but Him, they whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of the Almighty, they that speak not till He hath spoken, and act according to His commandment. Such is God’s method carried into effect of old, and such will it remain in the future. Blessed are the steadfastly enduring, they that are patient under ills and hardships, who lament not over anything that befalleth them, and who tread the path of resignation.…

Translation Notes

فاعلموا

fáʿlmúá ʿ-l-m → “know”

literal: knowledge

know 90% give 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: of insight fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §305: All-Wise kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: designated prayers-and-meditationsP&M §146: of Thy knowledge tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught

البلایا

al-bláyá b-l-w → “trials and tribulations”

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

SE expanded to “trials and tribulations”

tribulations 31% tribulation 17% troubles 10% trials 7% woes 7% every 7% adversities 7% afflictions 5% manifold 5% calamities 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: afflictions fire-tabletFire §48: of tribulation gleaningsGWB §600: affliction.…kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: was condemned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §29: and the ills inflicted upon Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §49: under My trials will-and-testamentW&T §3: one epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: afflicted with trials

والمحن

wálmḥn m-ḥ-n

literal: trial

SE rendered فاعلموا (fáʿlmúá), البلایا (al-bláyá), والمحن (wálmḥn), یزل (yzl), موكلة (múklh), لأصفیآء (lʾaṣfíáʾ) as “Know, trials and tribulations, lot, chosen Ones”

trials 33% tribulations 17% troubles 17% ills 17% ordeal 17%

gleaningsGWB §255: and tribulations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: bitter trials prayers-and-meditationsP&M §210: by the tests the-hidden-wordsHW §147: toil will-and-testamentW&T §32: ills gleaningsGWB §45: trials kitab-i-iqanKIQ §173: sore test prayers-and-meditationsP&M §611: of trials

یزل

yzl z-w-l

literal: cease; to cease; ceased

SE rendered فاعلموا (fáʿlmúá), البلایا (al-bláyá), والمحن (wálmḥn), یزل (yzl), موكلة (múklh), لأصفیآء (lʾaṣfíáʾ), الله (al-lh), واحبّائه (wáḥbbáʾh) as “Know, trials and tribulations, lot, chosen Ones, God, beloved”

time 20% all 20% hath 16% everlasting 12% throughout 8% ever 8% invariably 4% never 4% will 4% eternity 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: declineth not gleaningsGWB §213: still kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: incorruptible prayers-and-meditationsP&M §153: everlastingly been the-hidden-wordsHW §153: hath ever will-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: From time immemorial gleaningsGWB §301: hath existed from eternity

موكلة

múklh w-k-l → “put” Distinctive

literal: trust; reliance; agents

This form usually rendered as “lot” (1 occurrences)

put 28% trust 14% ministers 14% have 12% reliance 9% placed 7% place 5% officials 5% trusting 5% representatives 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §233: placed My trust gleaningsGWB §264: confidently abide kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: put Our trust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §578: I have placed my whole confidence tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: Rely the-hidden-wordsHW §9: to put thy trust will-and-testamentW&T §25: represent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: Wholly reliant

لأصفیآء

lʾaṣfíáʾ ṣ-f-w → “chosen ones”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones

chosen 79% every 7% saints 7% all 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: clear fire-tabletFire §27: and purity gleaningsGWB §151: and Messengers of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: chosen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §211: stainless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §292: Thy transcendent attributes the-hidden-wordsHW §22: choicest will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones

واحبّائه

wáḥbbáʾh ḥ-b-b → “beloved”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

loved 39% beloved 25% ye 17% love 6% disdainfully 3% followers 3% friends 3% such 3% steadfast 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: love fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §486: unto His love kitab-i-iqanKIQ §100: affectionate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: for Thy servants tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §127: loved will-and-testamentW&T §3: His loved ones)

لعباده

lʿbádh ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 35% men 28% people 19% unto 3% peoples 3% man 3% all 3% who 2% mankind 2% others 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: the servants fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §452: who kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: worshipped prayers-and-meditationsP&M §113: Thy servants’tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §35: me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: the guardian

المنقطعین

al-mnqṭʿín q-ṭ-ʿ → “detached”

literal: detachment; detached; severed

have 31% detached 23% rid 8% emblems 8% among 8% forsake 8% such 8% severed 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hath severed gleaningsGWB §448: can ever touch or harm it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: be stayed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: will detach ourselves tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: severed ones will-and-testamentW&T §8: final and decisive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: cease gleaningsGWB §134: cease from flowing

تلهیهم

tlhíhm l-h-w → “beguile”

literal: amusement; distract; divinity

beguile 33% celestial 33% realm 33%

gleaningsGWB §255: beguile kitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: celestial tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: Realm on High gleaningsGWB §502: He, verily, is

التّجارة

at-tjárh t-j-r → “merchant”

literal: merchant; merchants

merchant 50% merchandise 25% earthly 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: merchant gleaningsGWB §255: merchandise will-and-testamentW&T §1: earthly calling epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: a merchant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: commercial reputation

بیع

bíʿ b-y-ʿ → “plighted” Distinctive

literal: pledge allegiance; sale; pledge-fealty

This form usually rendered as “trading”, “traffic”, “sell” (3 occurrences)

trading 33% traffic 33% sell 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: the trading gleaningsGWB §255: traffic kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: plight fealty unto Him gleaningsGWB §105: plighted that fealty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: “Exchangest gleaningsGWB §105: plighted fealty unto Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: transaction kitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: sell

ذكر

dhkr dh-k-r → “remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

mention 23% remembrance 18% mentioned 16% praise 14% recorded 6% words 6% recount 5% referred 5% make 4% references 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: relate gleaningsGWB §346: now known kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: and spoken prayers-and-meditationsP&M §532: for the sake of Thy remembrance tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mention the-hidden-wordsHW §44: I may remember thee

یسبقونه

ysbqúnh s-b-q

literal: precede; preceded; precedence

SE rendered بیع (bíʿ), ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín) as “traffic, remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act”

hindered 50% speak 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: preceded gleaningsGWB §610: have excelled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: superior prayers-and-meditationsP&M §402: vie in hasting the-hidden-wordsHW §52: Hasten thereunto epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: surpassed gleaningsGWB §548: can excel kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: worthier

بالقول

bálqúl q-w-l

literal: say; saying

SE rendered بیع (bíʿ), ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín), كذلك (kdhlk) as “traffic, remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act, Such”

words 29% saith 25% through 10% word 8% utterance 6% saying 6% sayings 6% speech 4% theme 4% argument 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: through these, His words gleaningsGWB §293: a Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: speaketh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: thou shouldst say prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: and saith tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: ‘Call out to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: And thus proclaimed the-hidden-wordsHW §79: idly

وهم

whm w-h-m

literal: fancy

SE rendered ذكر (dhkr), الله (al-lh), یسبقونه (ysbqúnh), بالقول (bálqúl), وهم (whm), بأمره (bʾamrh), لمن (lmn), العاملین (al-ʿámlín), كذلك (kdhlk), جرت (jrt) as “remembrance, Almighty, His commandment, act, Such, carried into effect”

vain 43% fancy 29% idle 14% doubt 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: idle fancies fire-tabletFire §24: idle imaginings gleaningsGWB §668: vain and empty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: people of doubt prayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: and idle imaginings tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of delusion the-hidden-wordsHW §83: doubt will-and-testamentW&T §34: suspicion

بأمره

bʾamrh ʾ-m-r → “his commandment” Distinctive

literal: command; matter; cause

This form usually rendered as “cause”, “revelation”, “faith” (602 occurrences)

cause 57% revelation 17% faith 6% command 3% behest 3% divine 3% bidding 3% decree 3% ordainer 2% bidden 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: at His behest fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §491: laws kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: decreed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: to whose command prayers-and-meditationsP&M §272: and for the sake of Thy Cause tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §41: to Our command

العاملین

al-ʿámlín ʿ-m-l → “act”

literal: deed; deeds; work

act 25% who 13% ordained 13% keep 13% any 13% follow 13% conforming 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: deeds gleaningsGWB §463: all thy doings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: followed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: the works we have performed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conforming the-hidden-wordsHW §30: do thou observe will-and-testamentW&T §29: them that act accordingly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: did what

كذلك

kdhlk dh-l-k → “such”

literal: thus; thus, likewise; likewise

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

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

جرت

jrt j-r-y → “hath” Distinctive

literal: flowing; flow; to flow

This form usually rendered as “have”, “carried” (3 occurrences)

have 67% carried 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: flow out gleaningsGWB §95: been endowed with kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: hath streamed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §636: may flow down tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §45: knoweth the-hidden-wordsHW §142: hath emboldened will-and-testamentW&T §42: promote epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §178: are streaming

سنّة

snnh s-n-h → “years”

literal: year; years

years 61% year 16% each 6% yearly 3% centuries 3% aeons 3% “the 3% present 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: yearly gleaningsGWB §44: for generations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: for years prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: the present year the-hidden-wordsHW §97: for long years will-and-testamentW&T §5: the breast epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: years gleaningsGWB §139: year

فطوبی

fṭúbí ṭ-w-b → “blessed”

literal: blessed; blessedness; blessedness, happiness

blessed 39% happy 27% well 16% great 8% how 3% blessedness 2% “blessed 2% rejoice 2% “great 2% “great 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Blessed gleaningsGWB §639: Great is the blessedness awaiting thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: of Blessedness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §301: Great is his blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: Happy gleaningsGWB §610: Blessed art thou prayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: How great is the blessedness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: Well is it

للصّابرین

llṣṣábrín ṣ-b-r → “patience” Distinctive

literal: patience; patient

This form usually rendered as “who”, “such”, “endure” (11 occurrences)

who 18% such 9% endure 9% steadfastly 9% tarry 9% hesitate 9% all 9% patiently 9% negligent 9% withhold 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy patience fire-tabletFire §40: to bear and endure gleaningsGWB §619: patiently endure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: their fortitude prayers-and-meditationsP&M §352: of Thy forbearance tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold the-hidden-wordsHW §142: My long-suffering epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: such as have been patient

البأسآء

al-bʾasáʾ b-ʾ-s → “ills”

literal: adversity

ills 33% troubles 33% trials 17% adversity 17%

gleaningsGWB §593: wretched kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: Wretched is that which prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: my troubles the-hidden-wordsHW §138: Vile gleaningsGWB §684: How vain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: An ill prayers-and-meditationsP&M §505: violence gleaningsGWB §448: Wretched is

والضّرّآء

wálḍḍrráʾ ḍ-r-r → “harm” Distinctive

literal: harm; hardship

This form usually rendered as “tribulations”, “hardships”, “distress” (10 occurrences)

tribulations 20% hardships 10% distress 10% troubles 10% tribulation 10% trouble 10% ills 10% sufferings 10% adversity 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: will harm gleaningsGWB §264: the harm kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: injury prayers-and-meditationsP&M §723: and my woes tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficulties will-and-testamentW&T §35: troubles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: trouble gleaningsGWB §703: that which injureth them

یجزعوا

yjzʿúá j-z-ʿ → “lament”

literal: be-impatient; despair; dismay

lament 50% cast 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: fear fire-tabletFire §40: Lament gleaningsGWB §255: lament not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: dismay prayers-and-meditationsP&M §342: impatient will-and-testamentW&T §5: plaintive gleaningsGWB §352: cast away their fears prayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: I am afraid

شیء

shíʾ sh-y-ʾ → “anything” Distinctive

literal: thing; things

This form usually rendered as “things”, “nothing”, “created” (213 occurrences)

things 49% nothing 18% created 9% all 5% anything 5% thing 3% creation 3% none 3% one 2% which 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §219: that gleaningsGWB §257: willeth not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: to a stern business prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: none to describe Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §69: substance will-and-testamentW&T §5: this one, unworthy though he be

وكانوا

wkánúá k-w-n → “and who”

literal: be; was; to be

have 32% who 26% stand 5% though 5% continue 5% joined 5% occupy 5% represented 5% truly 5% still 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: I dwelt gleaningsGWB §46: hold not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: alone prayers-and-meditationsP&M §792: have been tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thou tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath the-hidden-wordsHW §43: thyself

مناهج

mnáhj n-h-j

literal: paths; ways

SE rendered ولن (wln), یجزعوا (yjzʿúá), شیء (shíʾ), وكانوا (wkánúá), مناهج (mnáhj), الصّبر (aṣ-ṣbr) as “not, lament, anything, and who, resignation.…”