Gleanings — §520

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 520 of 729.

Source (Arabic)

ثمّ استبصروا في أمرنا وتبيّنوا في ما ورد علينا ثمّ احكموا بيننا وبين أعدائنا بالعدل وكونوا من العادلين، وإن لن تمنعوا الظّالم عن ظلمه ولن تأخذوا حقّ المظلوم فبأيّ شيء تفتخرون بين العباد وتكوننّ من المفتخرين، أيكون افتخاركم بأن تأكلوا وتشربوا وتجتمعوا الزّخارف في خزائنكم أو ٱلتّزيّن بأحجار الحمر والصّفر أو لؤلؤ بيض ثمين ولو كان الافتخار بهذه الاشياء الفانية فينبغي للتّراب أن يفتخر عليكم لأنّه يبذل وينفق عليكم كلّ ذلك من مقدّر قدير وقدّر الله كلّ ذلك في بطنه ويخرج لكم من فضله إذا فانظروا في شأنكم وما تفتخرون به إن أنتم من النّاظرين،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Examine Our Cause, inquire into the things that have befallen Us, and decide justly between Us and Our enemies, and be ye of them that act equitably towards their neighbor. If ye stay not the hand of the oppressor, if ye fail to safeguard the rights of the downtrodden, what right have ye then to vaunt yourselves among men? What is it of which ye can rightly boast? Is it on your food and your drink that ye pride yourselves, on the riches ye lay up in your treasuries, on the diversity and the cost of the ornaments with which ye deck yourselves? If true glory were to consist in the possession of such perishable things, then the earth on which ye walk must needs vaunt itself over you, because it supplieth you, and bestoweth upon you, these very things, by the decree of the Almighty. In its bowels are contained, according to what God hath ordained, all that ye possess. From it, as a sign of His mercy, ye derive your riches. Behold then your state, the thing in which ye glory! Would that ye could perceive it!

Translation Notes

استبصروا

istbṣrúá b-ṣ-r → “examine our cause, inquire”

literal: sight; insight; eyes

SE expanded to “Examine Our Cause, inquire”

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 §135: an eye gleaningsGWB §96: perceived kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: whose sight prayers-and-meditationsP&M §492: with the eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: heart the-hidden-wordsHW §107: thy very sight epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: were ye to perceive it gleaningsGWB §36: with the eye

أمرنا

ʾamrná ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause

SE rendered استبصروا (istbṣrúá), أمرنا (ʾamrná), وتبيّنوا (wtbíbnúá), ورد (wrd), علينا (ʿlíná) as “Examine Our Cause, inquire, have befallen, Us”

cause 50% have 10% sufferings 10% bidding 10% “our 10% command 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: what fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §508: that which God hath bidden you observe kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: decreed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: mysteries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §175: before Thy Cause tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §35: of power

بيننا

bínná b-y-n → “between us”

literal: between

utterance 25% among 13% amidst 11% amongst 11% before 9% between 9% clear 6% utterances 6% unto 5% manifest 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: utterly fire-tabletFire §23: to speak forth gleaningsGWB §441: regard ye not kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: among My kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: The other language prayers-and-meditationsP&M §279: testimony tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: absolute the-hidden-wordsHW §120: see

ورد

wrd w-r-d → “have befallen”

literal: entering; come; came upon

hath 26% have 19% things 14% befallen 13% there 10% befell 6% what 5% suffered 4% result 1% lamenteth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: befalleth gleaningsGWB §619: that have come kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: related prayers-and-meditationsP&M §638: that hath befallen will-and-testamentW&T §5: dealt a epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: Upon Our arrival gleaningsGWB §217: lamenteth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: partaking

احكموا

iḥkmúá ḥ-k-m → “wisdom” Distinctive

literal: wisdom; judgment

This form usually rendered as “judge”, “decide” (3 occurrences)

judge 67% decide 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: rulest gleaningsGWB §628: of Thy laws kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: of authority kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: pronounce the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: in Thy behests tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: the Wise One the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §25: regulations

أعدائنا

ʾaʿdáʾná ʿ-d-w → “enemies”

literal: enemy; enemies

enemies 60% adversaries 14% foes 5% enemy 5% mine 5% enmity 4% transgressor 2% aggressor 2% all 2% who 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: the enemy fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §567: of His enemies kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: enemy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §809: aggressor the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §58: whatsoever else

العادلين،

al-ʿádlín، ʿ-d-l → “justice” Distinctive

literal: justice; just

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

justice 75% just 10% can 3% moderation 3% excelleth 3% compare 1% unjust 1% fair 1% equitable 1% justly 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: with justice gleaningsGWB §438: moderation kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: priceless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: could never be compared with the-hidden-wordsHW §29: be just will-and-testamentW&T §28: the just sovereign epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: justice gleaningsGWB §70: excelleth

وكونوا

wkúnúá k-w-n → “and be ye”

literal: be; to be

SE expanded to “and be ye”

ye 85% prove 8% thou 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §99: be he gleaningsGWB §117: His unknowable Essence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: so that he should have been prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: We will 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

تمنعوا

tmnʿúá m-n-ʿ → “withhold”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

withhold 33% deprive 33% restrain 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: shut you out gleaningsGWB §571: may deter kitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: withhold the hand of Moses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §16: have hindered tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §157: goodly will-and-testamentW&T §56: hindrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: the All-Highest

الظّالم

aẓ-ẓálm ẓ-l-m → “oppressor”

literal: wronged; injustice; darkness

oppressor 67% oppressors 17% wrought 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: oppressive fire-tabletFire §2: the darkness gleaningsGWB §453: Your iniquity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §49: obscure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §573: been sore oppressed the-hidden-wordsHW §144: gloom will-and-testamentW&T §4: sorely wronged epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: others similarly wronged

تأخذوا

tʾakhdhúá ʾ-kh-dh → “seize” Distinctive

literal: seize

This form usually rendered as “safeguard”, “fail” (2 occurrences)

safeguard 50% fail 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §220: Take Thou fire-tabletFire §16: made captive gleaningsGWB §507: plundered kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: Grasp ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §111: will they take it prayers-and-meditationsP&M §496: encompassed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou

حقّ

ḥqq ḥ-q-q → “rights” Distinctive

literal: truth; true; right

This form usually rendered as “god”, “truth”, “one” (436 occurrences)

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 §184: true gleaningsGWB §424: By the one true God!kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: right kitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: of God?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §274: against me the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §38: is verily the Truth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: proven

الاشياء

ash-shíáʾ sh-y-ʾ → “things”

literal: thing; things

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: all created things gleaningsGWB §257: willeth not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: all”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §114: Thy pleasure 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

تفتخرون

tftkhrún f-kh-r → “vaunt yourselves”

literal: boast; pride; glory

ye 67% vaunt 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: We glory therein gleaningsGWB §471: to proudly scorn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: being honoured prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: and have been vaunting themselves the-hidden-wordsHW §69: should exalt himself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: pride gleaningsGWB §520: vaunt itself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §168: array thyself

العباد

al-ʿbád ʿ-b-d

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE rendered المظلوم (al-mẓlúm), فبأيّ (fbʾayy), شيء (shíʾ), تفتخرون (tftkhrún), العباد (al-ʿbád), وتكوننّ (wtkúnnn), المفتخرين، (al-mftkhrín،), أيكون (ʾaykún) as “downtrodden, what right have ye then, vaunt yourselves, Is it”

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 §231: adore fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §179: people kitab-i-iqanKIQ §111: the peoples of the world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §381: they who serve Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §10: servant of Thine epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: hapless creatures

تأكلوا

tʾaklúá ʾ-k-l → “eat” Distinctive

literal: eat; to eat; consume

This form usually rendered as “consume”, “food” (2 occurrences)

consume 50% food 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: thou wilt consume gleaningsGWB §523: ye subsist kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: shall devour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §44: consume not gleaningsGWB §353: share with them their food kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: eateth gleaningsGWB §520: food and

وتشربوا

wtshrbúá sh-r-b → “drink”

literal: drink; to drink

drink 23% give 17% quaffed 15% quaff 12% hath 7% have 7% make 6% draught 4% drunk 4% hast 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Let me quaff gleaningsGWB §520: your drink kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: drink then your fill kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: have drunk from prayers-and-meditationsP&M §692: my drink the-hidden-wordsHW §147: drinkest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: the draught gleaningsGWB §25: and drink in

وتجتمعوا

wtjtmʿúá j-m-ʿ → “ye lay up”

literal: all; all, entire; group

SE expanded to “ye lay up”

all 75% every 9% whole 4% gather 3% number 2% one 2% each 2% have 2% great 1% many 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: gathered gleaningsGWB §248: amassing kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: these verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §267: to be leagued—as the-hidden-wordsHW §89: ye will all will-and-testamentW&T §32: flock epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: a considerable number of people

الزّخارف

az-zkhárf z-kh-r-f → “riches”

literal: ornament; adornment; absurdities

vanities 27% riches 27% treasures 13% wealth 7% corruptible 7% things 7% specious 7% emoluments 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: treasures gleaningsGWB §406: the riches of this world kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: absurd and foolish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the treasures gleaningsGWB §418: riches kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: these preposterous statements epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: your treasures gleaningsGWB §70: the vanities of this

خزائنكم

khzáʾnkm kh-z-n → “your treasuries”

literal: treasury; treasuries

treasures 67% treasuries 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: all the possessions gleaningsGWB §32: lay concealed kitab-i-ahdAhd §1: the treasury kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: depository prayers-and-meditationsP&M §453: out of the treasuries the-hidden-wordsHW §66: I have preserved it epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: smolder gleaningsGWB §520: your treasuries

ٱلتّزيّن

lttzízn z-y-n → “deck yourselves”

literal: adorn; adorned; adornment

adorned 38% adorn 13% deck 13% hath 13% attired 13% adorneth 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: adorn fire-tabletFire §31: Adorner gleaningsGWB §243: its vanities kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: is invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: adornment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §748: hath adorned the-hidden-wordsHW §126: adorneth himself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: have been adorned

بأحجار

bʾaḥjár ḥ-j-r → “stones”

literal: stones; stone; stone/rock

stones 60% rocks 20% gems 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: these stones gleaningsGWB §556: stone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: stones prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: pebble gleaningsGWB §281: the rocks gleaningsGWB §540: gems gleaningsGWB §36: of the stones

الحمر

al-ḥmr ḥ-m-r

literal: red; crimson; red/crimson

SE rendered خزائنكم (khzáʾnkm), ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr) as “your treasuries, deck yourselves, ornaments”

crimson 78% asses 6% dye 6% tinge 6% dyed 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: Crimson kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: asses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §284: tinge tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §6: of the crimson seas will-and-testamentW&T §10: dyed crimson epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: and crimson prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: dye prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: with me

والصّفر

wálṣṣfr ṣ-f-r

literal: the-empty

SE rendered ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú) as “deck yourselves, ornaments”

trumpet 29% yellowed 14% empty 14% faded 14% tawny 14% have 14%

fire-tabletFire §34: yellowed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §422: tawny kitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: empty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §516: have withered away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: a trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §295: Faded

لؤلؤ

lʾlʾ l-ʾ-l

literal: gems

SE rendered ٱلتّزيّن (lttzízn), بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár) as “deck yourselves, ornaments, true glory”

pearls 68% gems 16% gem 11% treasures 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §17: pearls gleaningsGWB §99: the gems kitab-i-iqanKIQ §211: gems epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: the pearls gleaningsGWB §556: gem epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: by the pearls gleaningsGWB §684: treasures

بيض

bíḍ b-y-ḍ

literal: white

SE rendered بأحجار (bʾaḥjár), الحمر (al-ḥmr), والصّفر (wálṣṣfr), لؤلؤ (lʾlʾ), بيض (bíḍ), ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh) as “ornaments, true glory, such perishable things”

snow-white 42% white 17% shining 13% have 8% whose 4% beaming 4% hand 4% splendors 4% luminous 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: white gleaningsGWB §594: a shining light kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: white hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §591: have turned white will-and-testamentW&T §1: Luminous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: whose whiteness gleaningsGWB §36: with the white hand kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: the hand

ثمين

thmín th-m-n

literal: eighty; eight; eighth

SE rendered ثمين (thmín), ولو (wlú), الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh), الاشياء (ash-shíáʾ) as “true glory, such perishable things, possession of”

precious 50% cost 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: eighth gleaningsGWB §176: twenty years later kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: eighty epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: eight gleaningsGWB §520: cost kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: price epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: precious

الفانية

al-fáníh f-n-y

literal: mortal; perishing

SE rendered الافتخار (al-áftkhár), بهذه (bhdhh), الاشياء (ash-shíáʾ), الفانية (al-fáníh), فينبغي (fínbghí), للتّراب (llttráb), يفتخر (yftkhr), عليكم (ʿlíkm) as “true glory, such perishable things, possession of, must needs, earth, vaunt itself, you”

evanescent 29% transitory 14% perishable 14% temporal 14% am 14% mortal 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: perish gleaningsGWB §520: perishable kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: vain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §719: surviveth the-hidden-wordsHW §15: thy perishing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: pass away gleaningsGWB §267: can never perish kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: humble

للتّراب

llttráb t-r-b → “earth”

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

dust 75% earth 12% clay 8% upon 2% lowly 2% ground 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earth gleaningsGWB §672: that dwell upon the dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §497: ground the-hidden-wordsHW §104: the clay epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: the dust thereof gleaningsGWB §13: of dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the lowly dust

يبذل

ybdhl b-dh-l → “confer” Distinctive

literal: bestowed; expended; granted

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

confer 23% all-bountiful 15% exert 8% bend 8% supplieth 8% most 8% dedicated 8% have 8% conferring 8% lay 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: exert gleaningsGWB §17: Bend your kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: lay down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §451: All-Bountiful the-hidden-wordsHW §138: shed will-and-testamentW&T §4: showered gleaningsGWB §555: confer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: breathed

وينفق

wínfq n-f-q → “sacrificed” Distinctive

literal: hypocrisy; spend; spending

This form usually rendered as “generous”, “showered”, “bestoweth” (4 occurrences)

generous 25% showered 25% bestoweth 25% renounce 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §87: malicious fire-tabletFire §34: of sedition gleaningsGWB §520: and bestoweth upon you kitab-i-iqanKIQ §261: renounce prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: the dissensions the-hidden-wordsHW §58: thou mayest draw will-and-testamentW&T §10: their malice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: wouldst expend

مقدّر

mqddr q-d-r → “by the decree”

literal: power; powerful; amount

SE expanded to “by the decree”

destined 23% decree 15% ordainer 8% hath 8% preordained 8% implied 8% bestowed 8% divine 8% predestined 8% provided 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §1: the All-Powerful fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §519: its settled measure kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §184: divine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: and decree tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §9: There is

الله

al-lh ʾ-l-h

literal: god; divine; o god

SE rendered مقدّر (mqddr), قدير (qdír), وقدّر (wqddr), الله (al-lh), بطنه (bṭnh), ويخرج (wíkhrj), لكم (lkm) as “by the decree, the Almighty, what God hath ordained, bowels, From, it”

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 §103: of God fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §302: there was no creature to know Him kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: Supreme Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §559: I swear by Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

بطنه

bṭnh b-ṭ-n → “inwardly” Distinctive

literal: inward

This form usually rendered as “womb”, “bowels” (3 occurrences)

womb 67% bowels 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: inwardly gleaningsGWB §285: is hidden kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: the hidden prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thine own Concealment the-hidden-wordsHW §104: womb epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: secretly gleaningsGWB §324: spiritual perceptions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “hidden,”

ويخرج

wíkhrj kh-r-j → “from”

literal: go out

SE rendered وقدّر (wqddr), الله (al-lh), بطنه (bṭnh), ويخرج (wíkhrj), لكم (lkm), فضله (fḍlh), فانظروا (fánẓrúá) as “what God hath ordained, bowels, From, it, of His mercy, Behold”