Tablet of Aḥmad — §8

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 8 of 17.

Source (Arabic)

لَا فَوَ ٱلَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَنْ يَقْدِرُوْا وَلَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُوْا وَلَوْ يَكُوْنُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Nay, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, they are not, and never shall be able to do this, even should they combine to assist one another.

Translation Notes

لَا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

فَوَ

w-ʾ-y → “by”

literal: by; by (oath particle)

ٱلَّذِي

l-dh-y → “which”

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

نَفْسِي

n-f-s → “my soul”

literal: soul; self; person; essence

بِيَدِهِ

y-d-y → “in Whose hand is”

literal: hand; power; control

لَنْ

l-n → “neither”

literal: will not (negation of future)

يَقْدِرُوْا

q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

يَسْتَطِيعُوْا

ṭ-w-ʿ → “obey” Distinctive

literal: obedience; obeyed; obedient

وَلَوْ

l-w → “If”

literal: were it not for; if not for; save for

يَكُوْنُ

k-w-n → “be”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

بَعْضُهُمْ

b-ʿ-ḍ → “some”

literal: part; some; portion

ظَهِيرًا

ẓ-h-r → “Revelation” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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