Gleanings — §300
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 300 of 729.
Source (Arabic)
وأمّا ما سألت عن الفطرة فاعلم بأنّ کلّ النّاس قد خلقوا علی فطرة الله المهیمن القیّوم وقدّر لکلّ نفس مقادیر الأمر علی ما رقم في ألواح عزّ محفوظ ولکن یظهر کلّ ذلک بإرادات أنفسکم کما أنتم في أعمالکم تشهدون مثلاً فانظر فیما حرّم علی العباد فی الکتاب من شيء کما أنتم في البیان تنظرون بحیث أحلّ الله ما أراد بأمره وحرّم ما شآء بسلطانه قل کلّ ذلک في الکتاب أفلا تشهدون ولکنّ النّاس بعد علمهم عمّا نهوا عنه هم یرتکبون هل ینسب هذا إلی الله أو إلی أنفسهم إن أنتم تنصفون قل ما من حسنة إلّا من عند الله وما من سیّئة إلّا من أنفسکم أفلا تعرفون وهذا ما نزل في کلّ الألواح إن أنتم تعلمون بلی إنّه عالم بأعمالکم قبل ظهورها کما هو عالم بعد ظهورها وإنّه ما من إله إلّا هو له الخلق والأمر وکلّ عنده في ألواح قدس مکنون وهذا العلم لم یکن علّة الفعل في خلقه کما إنّ علمکم بشيء لم یکن علّة لظهوره فیما أردتم أو تریدون وعلمتم أو تعلمون...
Shoghi Effendi Translation
And now, concerning thy question regarding the creation of man. Know thou that all men have been created in the nature made by God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting. Unto each one hath been prescribed a preordained measure, as decreed in God’s mighty and guarded Tablets. All that which ye potentially possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition. Your own acts testify to this truth. Consider, for instance, that which hath been forbidden, in the Bayán, unto men. God hath in that Book, and by His behest, decreed as lawful whatsoever He hath pleased to decree, and hath, through the power of His sovereign might, forbidden whatsoever He elected to forbid. To this testifieth the text of that Book. Will ye not bear witness? Men, however, have wittingly broken His law. Is such a behavior to be attributed to God, or to their proper selves? Be fair in your judgment. Every good thing is of God, and every evil thing is from yourselves. Will ye not comprehend? This same truth hath been revealed in all the Scriptures, if ye be of them that understand. Every act ye meditate is as clear to Him as is that act when already accomplished. There is none other God besides Him. His is all creation and its empire. All stands revealed before Him; all is recorded in His holy and hidden Tablets. This foreknowledge of God, however, should not be regarded as having caused the actions of men, just as your own previous knowledge that a certain event is to occur, or your desire that it should happen, is not and can never be the reason for its occurrence.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: We praygleaningsGWB §214: implorekitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: problemsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §835: we beseech Theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I imploregleaningsGWB §112: I beseechkitab-i-iqanKIQ §200: was questionedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: I entreat
This form usually rendered as “true”, “inner”, “through” (13 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: signsfire-tabletFire §13: ensignsgleaningsGWB §253: with their professionskitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognizedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: found outprayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: the One that knoweth all thingstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worldstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: peoplegleaningsGWB §123: mankitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: all human beingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §207: Somewill-and-testamentW&T §34: the souls of menepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: men’sgleaningsGWB §153: the peoples of the earthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: men’s
SE expanded to “have been created”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: a virtuous characterfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §669: hath fashionedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: thoseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: Thou didst causetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §5: hence I created theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: a creature
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: unto Godfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §234: He, Himself,kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §36: Truthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: Lord our Godtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven
help 68% omnipotent 6% overshadoweth 4% transcendent 4% supreme 4% protector 4% guardian 2% power 2% who 2% extend 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: overshadowethgleaningsGWB §7: pervadethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: awful majestyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §641: Potent artepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: the Help in PerilgleaningsGWB §560: transcendent and supremeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: and set up overepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: Help in Peril
self-subsisting 79% who 8% qayyum 2% self-sufficing 2% self-subsisting!” 2% self-subsisting.” 2% above 2% self-subsisting! 2% grasp 2% set 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: confrontfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §381: this privilegekitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: within theirprayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: their estatetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: rose
all 62% every 25% each 3% whole 2% whatsoever 2% entire 1% everyone 1% continually 1% whatever 1% one 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: the entiregleaningsGWB §411: entirekitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: one andprayers-and-meditationsP&M §798: the one from the otherthe-hidden-wordsHW §13: naughtwill-and-testamentW&T §36: them thatepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: Every onegleaningsGWB §610: the whole of creation
This form usually rendered as “own”, “self”, “soul” (323 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: fivegleaningsGWB §12: the down-castkitab-i-iqanKIQ §247: the faint-heartedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §218: Thy truthtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §71: OF HIS SELFwill-and-testamentW&T §44: souls such as theseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: and souls
This form usually rendered as “cause”, “revelation”, “faith” (602 occurrences)
SE expanded to “by His behest”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: have commandedfire-tabletFire §17: CommandgleaningsGWB §135: Revelationskitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decreekitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the waysprayers-and-meditationsP&M §273: as bidden by Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commandsthe-hidden-wordsHW §52: My command unto thee
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “decreed”, “inscribed” (8 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: recordedgleaningsGWB §300: as decreed inprayers-and-meditationsP&M §780: laid downwill-and-testamentW&T §52: writtenepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: written downgleaningsGWB §689: in his writingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §496: irrevocably establishedwill-and-testamentW&T §9: written by
tablets 69% tablet 7% holy 4% scriptures 4% books 4% pages 4% incomparable 2% tablets.… 2% writings 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: My TabletgleaningsGWB §598: clearkitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: the symbolic language ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §732: therefore manifestedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Bookswill-and-testamentW&T §7: a documentepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: the TabletgleaningsGWB §519: in His most holy and exalted Tablet
This form usually rendered as “glory”, “transcendent”, “exalted” (193 occurrences)
glory 42% transcendent 22% exalted 10% all-glorious 5% might 4% glorious 4% most 4% majesty 4% glorified 3% almighty 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: AlmightygleaningsGWB §495: His glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: a more preciousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: and glorytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §125: in your glorywill-and-testamentW&T §38: dearly belovedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: as a mark of honor
This form usually rendered as “may”, “shall”, “show” (75 occurrences)
may 16% shall 14% show 11% revealed 11% reveal 9% manifested 9% manifest 9% whom 7% will 7% revelation 7%
This form usually rendered as “result” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the willgleaningsGWB §67: who hast soughtkitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: Iprayers-and-meditationsP&M §392: wishestthe-hidden-wordsHW §57: dost wish forwill-and-testamentW&T §38: meant thatepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: is Our purposegleaningsGWB §266: according to the good-pleasure of Thy Will
This form usually rendered as “works”, “own”, “every” (10 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: hast done wellgleaningsGWB §723: observekitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: work aprayers-and-meditationsP&M §773: have observedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conformingthe-hidden-wordsHW §30: do thou observewill-and-testamentW&T §29: them that act accordinglyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: his work
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §233: Bear Thou witnessfire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §532: ye would readily perceivekitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: this worldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §530: that they may gazetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found themthe-hidden-wordsHW §58: couldst thou but see
This form usually rendered as “instance”, “like”, “even” (105 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: Thou art even asgleaningsGWB §601: iskitab-i-ahdAhd §14: like untokitab-i-iqanKIQ §61: as one and the sameprayers-and-meditationsP&M §428: for such as are like unto usthe-hidden-wordsHW §139: matchlesswill-and-testamentW&T §17: the daysepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: like
SE rendered أعمالکم (ʾaʿmálkm), تشهدون (tshhdún), مثلاً (mthláan), فانظر (fánẓr), فیما (fímá), حرّم (ḥrrm), العباد (al-ʿbád), الکتاب (al-ktáb) as “acts, testify, Consider, that which, hath been forbidden, men, Book”
SE expanded to “hath been forbidden”
sanctuary 43% tabernacle 13% forbidden 9% habitations 9% had 4% hath 4% court 4% dishonor 4% holy 4% precincts 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: be deprivedgleaningsGWB §573: deprive notkitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Holy Householdkitab-i-iqanKIQ §78: faithful seekerprayers-and-meditationsP&M §191: methe-hidden-wordsHW §38: forfeitwill-and-testamentW&T §23: depriveth himselfepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: withheld
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: the servants of Godfire-tabletFire §49: AdoredgleaningsGWB §600: and them that serve Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: of the peopleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: among Thy peopletablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicewill-and-testamentW&T §38: are servantsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: servant
book 87% holy 3% tablet 2% words 2% sacred 2% books 1% scriptures 1% own 1% writing 1% kitáb-i-íqán 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: My BooksgleaningsGWB §419: prescribedkitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Writkitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: this Bookprayers-and-meditationsP&M §752: Thy greatthe-hidden-wordsHW §68: and have written for theewill-and-testamentW&T §5: Textepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: the Books
This form usually rendered as “willeth”, “who”, “wisheth” (31 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: through His willgleaningsGWB §384: God grantkitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: Each and every thingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §327: no one elsetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desirethtablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §49: everythingwill-and-testamentW&T §5: this one, unworthy though he be
SE rendered البیان (al-bíán), تنظرون (tnẓrún), بحیث (bḥíth), أحلّ (ʾaḥll), الله (al-lh), أراد (ʾarád), بأمره (bʾamrh), وحرّم (wḥrrm) as “Bayán, decreed as lawful, God, hath pleased, by His behest, forbid”
This form usually rendered as “decreed”, “allowed” (2 occurrences)
This form usually rendered as “king”, “sovereignty”, “sháh” (213 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: of Thy sovereigntygleaningsGWB §633: through the power of My sovereignkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: of the Kingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §57: Authortablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §41: warrantepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: rulers
SE rendered أراد (ʾarád), بأمره (bʾamrh), وحرّم (wḥrrm), شآء (sháʾ), بسلطانه (bslṭánh), قل (ql), الکتاب (al-ktáb), أفلا (ʾaflá), تشهدون (tshhdún) as “hath pleased, by His behest, forbid, He elected, sovereign might, Book, Will ye not bear”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: ask themgleaningsGWB §107: utteranceskitab-i-ahdAhd §14: speakethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: This verily isprayers-and-meditationsP&M §465: Thou didst say—andtablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: We made replytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: And commanded herthe-hidden-wordsHW §153: by words
SE rendered بسلطانه (bslṭánh), قل (ql), الکتاب (al-ktáb), أفلا (ʾaflá), تشهدون (tshhdún), ولکنّ (wlknn), النّاس (an-nás) as “sovereign might, Book, Will ye not bear, however, Men”
eyes 28% sight 15% insight 15% eye 12% discerning 12% vision 5% discernment 5% all 4% gaze 3% all-seeing 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: with discernmentgleaningsGWB §637: comprehend itkitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: understandingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §737: man of insighttablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: heartthe-hidden-wordsHW §143: betterepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: an eyegleaningsGWB §520: Examine Our
beyond 19% infinite 17% end 17% utmost 15% ended 8% highest 8% forbiddeth 6% until 4% immeasurable 4% divine 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: immeasurablefire-tabletFire §11: lowest depthgleaningsGWB §327: culminationkitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically forbiddenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: mostprayers-and-meditationsP&M §299: soletablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §24: them that comprehendthe-hidden-wordsHW §96: boundless
SE expanded to “have wittingly broken”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Him that rideth upongleaningsGWB §468: Thou hast committedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: steedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §118: have entered withinthe-hidden-wordsHW §142: chargerepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: mountedgleaningsGWB §292: and used askitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: that which their hands have wrought
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: claimgleaningsGWB §313: faithfulkitab-i-ahdAhd §15: kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: claimedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §609: kinshipwill-and-testamentW&T §4: attributingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: on My kinship with HimgleaningsGWB §41: Such sore accusations
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: “Judge thou fairlygleaningsGWB §181: justkitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: Observeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: will judge equitablythe-hidden-wordsHW §47: Judge thou arightwill-and-testamentW&T §5: this iniquitous personepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: equitablygleaningsGWB §220: unbiased observer
This form usually rendered as “goodly”, “kindly”, “pleasing” (16 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: into good onesgleaningsGWB §257: do goodkitab-i-iqanKIQ §39: which of you excelprayers-and-meditationsP&M §517: through Thy bountywill-and-testamentW&T §21: improveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: good deedsgleaningsGWB §409: goodlykitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: profit
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: evil deedsgleaningsGWB §509: Our illskitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: wickednessprayers-and-meditationsP&M §127: misfortuneswill-and-testamentW&T §40: transgressionsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: unhurtgleaningsGWB §428: all else but Mekitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: misdeeds
SE expanded to “Will ye not comprehend”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: ye have believedgleaningsGWB §298: Strive to knowkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: seize the significanceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: they who aspire to know Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §4: knewepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: but understand
SE expanded to “hath been revealed”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: have been sent downgleaningsGWB §113: have accompanied and proclaimedkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: that which We have revealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: homeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §270: written downtablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: Haste theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: gradesthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: thy goal
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: that which is yoursgleaningsGWB §113: themkitab-i-iqanKIQ §188: withprayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: amid thetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: on Our partthe-hidden-wordsHW §72: to Mewill-and-testamentW&T §34: in the midstepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: with their own concerns
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: have sanctified themselvesgleaningsGWB §669: veiledkitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: are immensely exalted aboveprayers-and-meditationsP&M §96: the sacrednesstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exaltedthe-hidden-wordsHW §120: purewill-and-testamentW&T §38: Mostepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: holiness
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: “HiddengleaningsGWB §29: lay hiddenkitab-i-ahdAhd §14: smoulderethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §395: the Hiddentablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: had been wraptepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: lie hidgleaningsGWB §56: Whose secret no one hath discoveredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §320: that are hid from the eyes of men
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “there”, “can” (50 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: thou didst liegleaningsGWB §122: Soulkitab-i-iqanKIQ §247: the world and allprayers-and-meditationsP&M §843: abodetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combinetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thoutablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart haththe-hidden-wordsHW §69: your inmost being
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: the cause ofgleaningsGWB §178: the essential prerequisiteskitab-i-ahdAhd §14: an occasionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §227: afflictedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §620: and sicknessthe-hidden-wordsHW §107: illsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: the sourcegleaningsGWB §312: a motive power
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: what He doethgleaningsGWB §572: your conductkitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: His doings?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §281: and wicked worksthe-hidden-wordsHW §153: your deedsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: Thou hast dealtgleaningsGWB §168: are doingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: deeds—from
