hakeem

I have recently started learning Arabic and am currently attempting to learn 'Tablet of Ahmad' (لوح أحمد)

Anyone with knowledge of arabic able to tell me what the arabic word for nightingale is in the first sentence?

'Lo, the Nightingale of Paradise'

هذه ورقة الفردوس

I think this reads 'hathihi waraqah al-firdoos'

I know al-firdoos means 'Paradise', so I'm guessing waraqah means nightingale. So far my search for a dictionary translation from waraqah to nightingale has been fruitless.

If anyone could help me that would be great!

cire perdue

Consider reading LEARN WELL THIS TABLET by Richard Gurinsky. It was his only work and published after his untimely death. It is a beautiful work that examines every word and line in the prayer with wonderful insight. Though not an arabic scholar he came up with some memorable ideas......... I treasure the book!

BruceDLimber

Quote:

Originally Posted by hakeem I have recently started learning Arabic and am currently attempting to learn 'Tablet of Ahmad' (لوح أحمد) Anyone with knowledge of arabic able to tell me what the arabic word for nightingale is in the first sentence? 'Lo, the Nightingale of Paradise' هذه ورقة الفردوس I think this reads 'hathihi waraqah al-firdoos' I know al-firdoos means 'Paradise', so I'm guessing waraqah means nightingale.

While I'm no lingual expert, it's my understanding that when he translated this tablet, Shoghi Effendi altered the words and substituted the word "nightingale" because he felt this more accurately conveyed the sense and beauty of the original!

The original term was something like "pigeon"--which, for Westerners at least, clearly doesn't have the same esthetic tone as "nightingale."

Regards, :-)

Bruce

cire perdue

The Pigeon of Paradise........oh, thank you, Shoghi Effendi........

Sen McGlinn

Waraqah means a leaf: it is literally a leaf on the twigs of the tree that has a melody: a singing tree!

hakeem

Thank you all for your input!