Gleanings — §502

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 502 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ای ذبیح لسان عظمت میفرماید ونفسی الحقّ قد انتهت الظّهورات الی هذا الظّهور الأعظم و من یدّعی بعده انّه کذّاب مفتر نسأل الله بأن یوفّقه علی الرّجوع ان تاب انّه لهو التّوّاب و ان اصرّ علی ما قال یبعث علیه من لا یرحمه انّه لهو المقتدر القدیر

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O Ḏhabíḥ! The Tongue of Grandeur saith: By Myself that speaketh the truth! In this most mighty Revelation all the Dispensations of the past have attained their highest and final consummation. Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation after Him, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray God that He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim. Should he repent, God will no doubt forgive him. If, however, he persisteth in his error, God will assuredly send down one who will deal mercilessly with him. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Powerful.

Translation Notes

لسان

lsán l-s-n → “tongue”

literal: tongue; tongue, language; tongues

tongue 78% language 5% languages 3% voice 3% words 3% tongues 3% mouth 3% said 1% own 1% through 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: your tongue gleaningsGWB §464: mouths kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: mouth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §379: the wish of tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: her honeyed tongue the-hidden-wordsHW §101: IN WORD epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: a tongue gleaningsGWB §535: My words

عظمت

ʿẓmt ʿ-ẓ-m → “grandeur” Distinctive

literal: greatest; great; greatness

This form usually rendered as “majesty”, “greatness”, “dominion” (31 occurrences)

majesty 30% greatness 27% dominion 13% glory 13% grandeur 7% overpowering 3% heavenly 3% grievous 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: highly-honored gleaningsGWB §10: most excellent kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: the mightiest of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: How the-hidden-wordsHW §42: of My greatness will-and-testamentW&T §7: Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: dire

میفرماید

mífrmáyd frmúdn → “saith”

literal: say

saith 72% hath 9% will 4% declareth 4% who 2% said 2% turned 2% saying 2% guardeth 2% drawing 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: would gleaningsGWB §148: He hath revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: He exhorted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §704: Thou didst the-hidden-wordsHW §125: will I will-and-testamentW&T §6: by Him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: to enforce gleaningsGWB §381: pervadeth

ونفسی

wnfsí n-f-s → “by myself”

literal: self; soul; souls

myself 32% one 11% soul 10% anyone 9% any 8% man 7% whoso 6% whosoever 6% mine 5% every 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: others gleaningsGWB §454: in your judgment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §169: those who prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: herself tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §71: for My Self will-and-testamentW&T §27: the people epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: soul

الحقّ

al-ḥqq ḥ-q-q → “speaketh the truth”

literal: truth; true; right

SE expanded to “speaketh the truth”

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 §229: to that gleaningsGWB §474: is the truth kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: hath come to pass prayers-and-meditationsP&M §511: Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §2: Celestial epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: as it behooveth you

انتهت

intht n-h-y → “have attained”

literal: end; utmost; ended

have 33% until 17% attain 17% culminated 17% preceding 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: until they ended in fire-tabletFire §29: Divine gleaningsGWB §124: an end kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: utmost prayers-and-meditationsP&M §299: sole tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §24: them that comprehend the-hidden-wordsHW §96: boundless

الظّهورات

aẓ-ẓhúrát ẓ-h-r → “dispensations of the past” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest

This form usually rendered as “revelations”, “manifestations”, “revelation” (98 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Dispensations of the past”

revelations 32% manifestations 14% revelation 13% evidences 11% manifold 8% tokens 8% all 7% manifestation 4% signs 1% testimonies 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: demonstrate fire-tabletFire §12: Dayspring gleaningsGWB §723: the avowed believer kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §138: outer seeming prayers-and-meditationsP&M §186: evidences tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §52: outwardly it

یدّعی

yddʿí d-ʿ-y → “layeth claim”

literal: claim; claimant; claim, assert

layeth 50% presumeth 25% claim 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: laid claim gleaningsGWB §465: hath laid claim kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: professed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §337: to claim the-hidden-wordsHW §25: claim will-and-testamentW&T §6: of his claim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: thou didst profess gleaningsGWB §623: call yourselves

کذّاب

kdhdháb k-dh-b → “lying”

literal: liar; denial; falsehood

lying 57% impostor 14% speak 14% impostors 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: them who speak falsely gleaningsGWB §34: denied kitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: imposter tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: false ones will-and-testamentW&T §4: dealt falsely epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: is the false gleaningsGWB §451: will be his lie kitab-i-iqanKIQ §89: denying

مفتر

mftr f-r-y → “impostor”

literal: calumny; calumnies

impostor 67% calumniator 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: calumny fire-tabletFire §30: of slander gleaningsGWB §461: having slandered kitab-i-iqanKIQ §238: forged will-and-testamentW&T §7: slanderous charges epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: calumnies gleaningsGWB §466: to slander Us will-and-testamentW&T §41: calumniating

نسأل

nsʾal s-ʾ-l → “we pray”

literal: ask/beseech

beseech 63% pray 13% entreat 13% implore 6% grant 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I beseech Thee gleaningsGWB §157: shall not be asked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: questioners prayers-and-meditationsP&M §858: art not asked epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: beseech gleaningsGWB §629: I entreat Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: truths prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: I entreat

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h → “god”

literal: god; divine; o god

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 §69: Godhood fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §186: the Faith of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: God verily prayers-and-meditationsP&M §835: our God tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

یوفّقه

yúffqh w-f-q → “graciously assist” Distinctive

literal: agreement; grant success; grant-success

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

aid 28% assist 14% graciously 12% thou 9% concord 9% may 9% unity 7% unanimously 5% fellowship 4% unitedly 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: to graciously assist them gleaningsGWB §439: lamentably defective kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: hath recognized prayers-and-meditationsP&M §527: Assist Thou the-hidden-wordsHW §3: By its aid will-and-testamentW&T §19: unanimously epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: unity gleaningsGWB §441: union

الرّجوع

ar-rjúʿ r-j-ʿ → “retract and repudiate” Distinctive

literal: return; returning; to return

This form usually rendered as “return”, ““return””, “returned” (44 occurrences)

SE expanded to “retract and repudiate”

return 51% “return” 15% returned 7% hath 5% retract 5% contemplate 5% referred 5% “return” 2% retrace 2% “return 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: to address thee gleaningsGWB §468: send Us back kitab-i-iqanKIQ §36: returneth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: and returned unto Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §87: sink back to will-and-testamentW&T §25: must be referred epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: Our return gleaningsGWB §449: of them that have truly repented and returned

اصرّ

iṣrr ṣ-r-r → “persisteth”

literal: persist

urged 21% persisteth 21% shrill 14% shrilling 14% voice 7% persist 7% gross 7% persistently 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: voice gleaningsGWB §82: in their gross violation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: He urged prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: and persistently striven tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: shrilling voice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §148: shrill voice gleaningsGWB §168: urged gleaningsGWB §29: and the shrilling voice

قال

qál q-w-l → “say” Distinctive

literal: say; said; saying

This form usually rendered as “said”, “hath”, “saith” (92 occurrences)

said 48% hath 17% saith 9% say 6% made 5% have 3% stated 3% then 3% exclaimed 3% answered 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: crying out gleaningsGWB §575: words of his mouth kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: speaketh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §235: are their sayings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §465: Thy word tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: ‘Call out to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: And commanded her the-hidden-wordsHW §153: by words

یبعث

ybʿth b-ʿ-th → “send down”

literal: send

raise 29% send 29% will 29% shall 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: raise up gleaningsGWB §502: send down kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: reveal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: the Fashioner will-and-testamentW&T §9: shall have no pity on him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: they shall be raised again gleaningsGWB §122: commissioned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: sent forth

یرحمه

yrḥmh r-ḥ-m → “mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful

will 67% mercy 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: Compassionate fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §347: God kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §67: of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: Have pity, then, upon them tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: in token of His mercy

المقتدر

al-mqtdr q-d-r → “almighty”

literal: power; powerful

almighty 34% powerful 16% potent 16% most 10% all-powerful 10% lord 5% god 3% omnipotent 3% power 3% strength 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: We have decreed fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §689: each according to his ability kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: for a while prayers-and-meditationsP&M §447: energy tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §68: thy capacity

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Kitáb-i-'Ahd cover

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

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 ¶

Prayers and Meditations cover

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

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.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

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 cover

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 ¶