Prayers and Meditations — §1

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 1 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحانَكَ يا إِلهي يَشْهَدُ كُلُّ ذِي بَصَرٍ بِسَلْطَنَتِكَ وَاقْتِدَارِكَ وَكُلُّ ذِي نَظَرٍ بِعَظَمَتِكَ وَاجْتِبارِكَ؛ لا تَمْنَعُ الْمُقَرَّبينَ أَرْياحُ الافْتِتانِ عَنِ التَّوَجُّهِ إِلى أُفُقِ عِزِّكَ. وَلا تَطْرُدُ المُخْلِصِينَ عَواصِفُ الامْتِحانِ عَنِ التَّقَرُّ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Every man of insight confesseth Thy sovereignty and Thy dominion, and every discerning eye perceiveth the greatness of Thy majesty and the compelling power of Thy might. The winds of tests are powerless to hold back them that enjoy near access to Thee from setting their faces towards the horizon of Thy glory, and the tempests of trials must fail to draw away and hinder such as are wholly devoted to Thy will from approaching Thy court.

Translation Notes

سُبْحانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “glorified”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

glorified 27% lauded 19% praised 14% glory 12% praise 10% magnified 6% exalted 5% all 3% unto 2% “glory 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: Gracious God gleaningsGWB §597: veils kitab-i-iqanKIQ §90: Great prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: Glorified, immeasurably glorified tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He that the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: laud gleaningsGWB §13: celebration

إِلهي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “o lord my god”

literal: God; divine; god

SE expanded to “O Lord my God”

god 64% divine 22% god’s 5% lord 4% holy 2% mystic 1% heavenly 1% grace 1% god-given 1% pertaineth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: of God gleaningsGWB §391: and pertaineth to God Himself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the mystic trumpet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Holy Writ epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Divinity gleaningsGWB §191: God’s

يَشْهَدُ

yashhad sh-h-d → “confesseth” Distinctive

literal: witness; witnessed

This form usually rendered as “testifieth”, “beareth”, “testify” (57 occurrences)

testifieth 22% beareth 22% testify 18% bear 13% witness 7% unto 4% will 4% confesseth 4% witnesseth 2% well 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: who fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §365: hath been found kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: fact prayers-and-meditationsP&M §311: to gaze on tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: dost witness the-hidden-wordsHW §46: Seek a martyr’s death

ذِي

dhí dh-w-y → “man”

literal: possessor; possessor of; possessor/owner

man 17% beings 17% word 17% discerning 17% any 17% one 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: man gleaningsGWB §484: its prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: their will-and-testamentW&T §32: my kinsmen gleaningsGWB §13: beings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: any gleaningsGWB §286: word prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: one

بَصَرٍ

baṣarin b-ṣ-r → “insight”

literal: sight; insight; eyes

eyes 24% insight 19% sight 17% eye 14% discerning 7% power 7% vision 5% uttered 2% hearing 2% blindness 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: insight gleaningsGWB §491: moment kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §492: with the eyes the-hidden-wordsHW §45: do thou see epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: a keen gleaningsGWB §118: eye

بِسَلْطَنَتِكَ

bisalṭanatik s-l-ṭ → “sovereignty”

literal: sovereignty

sovereignty 85% through 5% beseemeth 3% transcendent 3% ascendancy 3% power 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sovereigns gleaningsGWB §190: sovereign Potency kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: the Lord of all beings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §57: Author tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: of Thy sovereignty

وَاقْتِدَارِكَ

wáqtidárik q-d-r → “dominion” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “power”, “might”, “omnipotence” (64 occurrences)

power 34% might 32% omnipotence 9% dominion 8% through 4% potency 4% sovereign 4% overpowering 2% strength 2% hand 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: all power fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §118: multitude kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: measure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: rank prayers-and-meditationsP&M §138: Supreme Ordainer tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

وَكُلُّ

wakull k-l-l → “every”

literal: all; every; all, every

all 60% every 27% each 3% whole 3% whatsoever 1% unto 1% entire 1% everyone 1% whatever 1% one 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: with the crown gleaningsGWB §66: of all things kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: “All things prayers-and-meditationsP&M §412: and the determination tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: be the-hidden-wordsHW §49: For will-and-testamentW&T §36: whomsoever

نَظَرٍ

naẓarin n-ẓ-r → “eye” Distinctive

literal: look; looking; view

This form usually rendered as “observe”, “beholding”, “because” (98 occurrences)

observe 15% beholding 15% because 11% sight 11% owing 11% consider 7% ponder 7% considering 7% eye 7% reason 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: In view fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §337: keen-sighted kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: to turn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: still crieth out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: incline tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: resplendent Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §121: turn your eyes

بِعَظَمَتِكَ

biʿaẓamatik ʿ-ẓ-m → “majesty”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

majesty 60% glory 14% greatness 14% grandeur 3% swear 2% great 2% might 2% whose 2% favors 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: Announcement gleaningsGWB §508: will be your kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: grave prayers-and-meditationsP&M §833: of Thy grandeur the-hidden-wordsHW §93: all-glorious will-and-testamentW&T §7: Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the Great gleaningsGWB §495: the Most Great Name

وَاجْتِبارِكَ؛

wájtibárika؛ j-б-r → “tyranny” Distinctive

literal: tyranny/compulsion; compulsion/might

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

tyranny 50% compelling 50%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: tyranny prayers-and-meditationsP&M §1: compelling power

تَمْنَعُ

tamnaʿ m-n-ʿ → “powerless to hold back” Distinctive

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

This form usually rendered as “debar”, “hinder”, “deter” (24 occurrences)

SE expanded to “powerless to hold back”

debar 14% hinder 14% deter 14% keep 14% can 7% powerless 7% refuse 7% still 7% deterred 7% withhold 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: was powerless to deter Me gleaningsGWB §80: can obscure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: mightiest and loftiest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §473: keep me back tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §89: be bereft will-and-testamentW&T §56: hindrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: forbad

الْمُقَرَّبينَ

al-muqarrabín q-r-b → “them that enjoy near access”

literal: nearness; near; bring near

SE expanded to “them that enjoy near access”

nigh 18% favored 18% enjoy 18% who 14% well-favored 11% near 7% well-favoured 4% favourites 4% brought 4% such 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: is at hand fire-tabletFire §3: ocean gleaningsGWB §132: The hour is approaching kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: offer a sacrifice prayers-and-meditationsP&M §669: hast failed to approach tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: favoured the-hidden-wordsHW §130: His presence

أَرْياحُ

ʾaryáḥ r-w-ḥ → “winds”

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

winds 48% gentle 15% breezes 7% wind 7% contrary 4% tempest 4% breath 4% gales 4% subjected 4% tempests 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: souls fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §718: gales kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: spirit.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: exultation and rapture tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: of the-hidden-wordsHW §46: thou mayest repose

الافْتِتانِ

al-áftitán f-t-n → “trials”

literal: trial

trials 75% tests 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: sedition gleaningsGWB §671: trials kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: and sedition prayers-and-meditationsP&M §32: the forces of mischief gleaningsGWB §718: dissension kitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: commotion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §777: The forces of dissension kitab-i-iqanKIQ §60: most great convulsion

التَّوَجُّهِ

at-tawajjuh w-j-h → “setting their faces”

literal: face; turning

SE expanded to “setting their faces”

turning 30% turn 17% set 13% turned 10% setting 9% hath 4% directed 4% proceeded 4% directing 4% visited 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: in such wise fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §29: directed towards me Thy steps kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §165: of Thy countenance tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §9: thyself

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “horizon”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 5% heaven 5% realm 5% orient 3% supreme 1% works 1% created 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: above the horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §611: Realm prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: orient the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the horizon gleaningsGWB §385: the realms prayers-and-meditationsP&M §613: the whole world

عِزِّكَ

ʿizzik ʿ-z-z → “glory”

literal: glory; mighty; might

glory 65% great 12% might 8% majesty 4% presence 4% omnipotence 4% one 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: blest fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §495: His glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §450: to the-hidden-wordsHW §1: realm of glory will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: precious in my estimation

تَطْرُدُ

taṭrud ṭ-r-d → “cast”

literal: expel; drive away; expelled

“thrust 50% cast 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: cast him out gleaningsGWB §464: reject Us prayers-and-meditationsP&M §449: the outcast epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: drive them gleaningsGWB §461: “Thrust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §400: drive them away epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: cast them out gleaningsGWB §243: justify Our banishment

المُخْلِصِينَ

al-mukhliṣín kh-l-ṣ → “devoted”

literal: sincere; pure; sincere ones

sincere 26% wholly 23% devoted 16% who 6% such 6% pure 6% faithful 6% souls 3% devout 3% lamentation 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: free thyself fire-tabletFire §1: the sincere gleaningsGWB §405: wholly kitab-i-iqanKIQ §254: true prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: and the faithful tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: sincere ones the-hidden-wordsHW §146: absolute epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: sincere

عَواصِفُ

ʿawáṣif ʿ-ṣ-f → “tempests”

literal: tempestuous

tempests 50% tempestuous 33% winds 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: tempestuous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §74: tempests of trials epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: winds prayers-and-meditationsP&M §1: tempests

الامْتِحانِ

al-ámtiḥán m-ḥ-n → “trials”

literal: test; trial; tested

tests 30% trials 20% commotions 10% test 10% touchstone 10% grievous 10% proveth 10%

gleaningsGWB §215: hath proved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §173: sore test prayers-and-meditationsP&M §328: try the-hidden-wordsHW §147: toil will-and-testamentW&T §35: the most grievous ordeal gleaningsGWB §45: trials kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: commotions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §38: of tests

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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17 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶