Prayers and Meditations — §103

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 103 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

إِلى دُونِكَ وَنَكُونُ مِنَ المُقَرَّبِينَ بِتَقْدِيسِ ذاتِكَ عَنِ المِثْلِيَّةِ وَتَنْزِيهِ نَفْسِكَ عَنْ الشِّبْهِيَّةِ بِحَيْثُ نَنْطِقُ بَيْنَ عِبادِكَ بِأَعْلى النِّداءِ إِنَّهُ هُو الواحِدُ الفَرْدُ الصَّمَدُ المُقْتَدِرُ العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ، أَيْ رَبِّ قَوِّ قُلُوبَ أَحِبَّائِكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Cause us, then, to be so steadfast in our love towards Thee that we will turn to none except Thee, and will be reckoned amongst them that are brought nigh to Thee, and acknowledge Thee as One Who is exalted above every comparison and is holy beyond all likeness, and will lift up our voices amongst Thy servants and cry aloud that He is the one God, the Incomparable, the Ever-Abiding, the Most Powerful, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise.

Translation Notes

دُونِكَ

dúnik d-w-n → “thee, and” Distinctive

literal: besides

This form usually rendered as “all”, “any”, “except” (66 occurrences)

all 21% any 19% except 17% thee 11% aught 9% save 9% beside 6% besides 4% neighbor 2% none 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: for thy neighbor gleaningsGWB §457: nothing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: beside prayers-and-meditationsP&M §852: with all except Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §17: all save Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: All others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: except Himself gleaningsGWB §705: refuse to sanction it in

وَنَكُونُ

wanakún k-w-n → “will be”

literal: be; to be

will 67% shall 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: ye are fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §118: this most kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: ancient eternity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §312: I would still have failed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combine tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

المُقَرَّبِينَ

al-muqarrabín q-r-b → “them that are brought nigh”

literal: nearness; near; bring near

SE expanded to “them that are brought nigh”

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 §7: approaching fire-tabletFire §3: ocean gleaningsGWB §373: closer kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §249: well nigh prayers-and-meditationsP&M §158: O tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: favoured the-hidden-wordsHW §36: drawing near

بِتَقْدِيسِ

bitaqdís q-d-s → “holiness”

literal: holiness; sanctified

sanctity 50% holiness 12% exalted 8% sanctified 8% self 4% glory 4% purge 4% praise 4% acknowledge 4% purging 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: exalted above gleaningsGWB §6: the Holy of Holies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: God’s holy grace prayers-and-meditationsP&M §760: the Most Holy tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse the-hidden-wordsHW §151: purging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: hallowed gleaningsGWB §115: immeasurably above

ذاتِكَ

dhátik dh-w-t → “thee” Distinctive

literal: essence; essence, self; essence/self

This form usually rendered as “own”, “essence”, “self” (43 occurrences)

own 27% essence 23% self 17% thyself 13% thee 7% judgment 3% oneness 3% all-glorious 3% unto 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine Essence gleaningsGWB §461: judgment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: person prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: Thine own Being will-and-testamentW&T §36: my life epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy self gleaningsGWB §536: by My Self kitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: their own Selves

المِثْلِيَّةِ

al-mithlílah m-th-l → “like”

literal: like; likeness

likeness 29% peerless 29% equal 14% comparison 14% incomparable 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: such as are like thee gleaningsGWB §674: incorruptible kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: like unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: And prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: all peers or likeness the-hidden-wordsHW §4: image epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: as clear as gleaningsGWB §707: likenesses

وَتَنْزِيهِ

watanzíh n-z-h → “is holy” Distinctive

literal: exaltation; exalted; transcendence

This form usually rendered as “purity”, “description”, “sanctified” (18 occurrences)

purity 33% description 8% sanctified 8% indivisible 8% shall 8% detachment 8% ye 8% holy 8% detached 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: purity fire-tabletFire §31: Thy gleaningsGWB §115: exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: are immeasurably glorified prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: most exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thy freedom will-and-testamentW&T §21: detached epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: sanctified

نَفْسِكَ

nafsik n-f-s

literal: self; soul; souls

SE rendered المِثْلِيَّةِ (al-mithlílah), وَتَنْزِيهِ (watanzíh), نَفْسِكَ (nafsik), الشِّبْهِيَّةِ (ash-shibhíhah), بِحَيْثُ (biḥayth) as “comparison, is holy, likeness, and will”

thyself 28% own 26% self 19% thee 15% soul 3% himself 3% unto 2% inmost 2% spirit 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the faithful gleaningsGWB §461: thy kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: inclination prayers-and-meditationsP&M §505: Thy Godhead tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §32: thy deeds will-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere

الشِّبْهِيَّةِ

ash-shibhíhah sh-b-h → “likeness”

literal: likeness

likeness 50% peers 25% incomparable 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: as gleaningsGWB §387: comparison kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: so utterly unlike prayers-and-meditationsP&M §236: equal will-and-testamentW&T §14: days and nights epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: likewise gleaningsGWB §675: Night hath succeeded kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: this self-same Book

بِحَيْثُ

biḥayth ḥ-y-th → “and will”

literal: such that; such-that

such 73% will 13% inasmuch 7% wait 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: inasmuch gleaningsGWB §480: so that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §199: with such epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: in such wise that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: and to wait prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: Such is Thy greatness that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: that I will cease prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: that

نَنْطِقُ

nanṭiq n-ṭ-q → “hath” Distinctive

literal: speak; speaking; spoke

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

hath 21% speak 17% spoken 14% speaketh 11% uttering 8% crieth 8% have 6% caused 5% proclaimeth 5% proclaimed 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: spoken fire-tabletFire §37: uttereth gleaningsGWB §96: testify kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: words kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: eloquent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §280: the Inspirer will-and-testamentW&T §2: declared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: speech

عِبادِكَ

ʿibádik ʿ-b-d → “thy servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 89% people 4% creatures 1% unto 1% all 1% sincere 1% servants’ 1% such 1% comprehension 1% who 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: the people fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §706: complete servitude kitab-i-iqanKIQ §53: the peoples of the world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §611: among Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §23: of the servants

بِأَعْلى

biʾaʿlى ʿ-l-w → “exalted” Distinctive

literal: highest; exalted

This form usually rendered as “most”, “high”, “glory” (286 occurrences)

most 45% high 18% glory 10% loftiest 6% exalted 6% highest 5% supreme 4% all-glorious 3% heights 2% one 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: upon him fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §548: and all honor kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §129: word prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: Thy great tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §148: concourse on high

النِّداءِ

an-nidáʾ n-d-y → “our voices”

literal: call; called; call, voice

voice 52% call 17% cried 7% cry 7% divine 3% aloud 3% prayer 3% clamor 3% proclaiming 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: the Divine Voice fire-tabletFire §48: Thy Call gleaningsGWB §168: O kitab-i-iqanKIQ §7: cried aloud prayers-and-meditationsP&M §379: crieth out to Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: calling aloud tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §49: And raised the call epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: the voice

الواحِدُ

al-wáḥid w-ḥ-d → “the one”

literal: one; oneness

one 50% incomparable 14% vahid 7% creature 7% sixth 7% single 7% nineteen 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §95: a fire-tabletFire §43: of Oneness gleaningsGWB §246: God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §193: divine Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §462: of the inmates tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone the-hidden-wordsHW §69: dust

الفَرْدُ

al-fard f-r-d → “the incomparable”

literal: oneness

one 47% incomparable 47% peerless 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: oneness fire-tabletFire §17: lonely gleaningsGWB §273: Paradise kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: unity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: the one God, the Incomparable tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Peerless tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlorn will-and-testamentW&T §2: unique

الصَّمَدُ

aṣ-ṣamad ṣ-m-d → “the ever-abiding”

literal: eternal; eternal, absolute; eternal, everlasting

everlasting 24% eternal 21% celestial 14% eternity 14% ever-abiding 7% immortal 7% ethereal 3% sovereign 3% all-abiding 3% divine 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Ever-Abiding gleaningsGWB §327: All-Abiding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: eternal glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §652: eternity gleaningsGWB §684: Divine glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: eternal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §838: Thine eternal gleaningsGWB §163: Thy sovereign and everlasting power

المُقْتَدِرُ

al-muqtadir q-d-r → “the most powerful”

literal: power; powerful

SE expanded to “the Most Powerful”

almighty 31% powerful 20% potent 16% most 10% all-powerful 9% omnipotent 4% god 4% lord 3% power 2% strength 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: strength and of might fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §205: of Divine power kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: would be powerless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §246: Unconstrained tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

العَزِيزُ

al-ʿazíz ʿ-z-z → “the all-glorious”

literal: glory; mighty; might

all-glorious 39% almighty 23% mighty 16% gracious 7% glorious 4% all-powerful 2% exalted 2% god 2% hard 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: on thy glory fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §481: noble and worthy of honor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §458: will exalt the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: “Better is it

الحَكِيمُ،

al-ḥakímu، ḥ-k-m → “the all-wise”

literal: wisdom; wise

all-wise 79% wisdom 5% all-wise.” 3% wise 3% sages 2% embodiments 2% ḥakím 2% name 2% shall 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: wise gleaningsGWB §686: consummate power and wisdom kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: rulership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: ordinances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §588: the Ordainer tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: shall be tested the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §25: regulations

رَبِّ

rabb r-b-b

literal: Lord; lord

SE rendered العَزِيزُ (al-ʿazíz), الحَكِيمُ، (al-ḥakímu،), رَبِّ (rabb), قَوِّ (qaww), قُلُوبَ (qulúb), أَحِبَّائِكَ (ʾaḥibbáʾik) as “the All-Glorious, the All-Wise, love”