Prayers and Meditations — §233
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 233 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
ُودِكَ وَإِحسانِكَ قائِمًا عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَتَكُونُ أَقْرَبَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ إِلَيْهِ، فَسُبْحَانَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يُنْظَرَ بَدِيعُ جَمَالِكَ إِلاَّ بِلَحَظاتِ عَيْنِ فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ أَوْ يُسْمَعَ نَغَماتُ عِزِّ سَلْطَنتِكَ إِلاَّ بِبَدائِعِ سَمْعِ أَحَدِيَّتِكَ، فَسُبْحَانَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى جَمَالِكَ عَيْنُ أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوْ أَنْ يَصْعَدَ إِلى هَوآءِ عِزِّ عِرفانِكَ فُؤادُ نَفْسٍ مِنْ بَرِيَّتِكَ، لأنَّ أَطْيارَ قُلوبِ المُقَرَّبِينَ لَوْ تَطيرُ بِدَوامِ سُلْطانِ قَيُّومِيَّتِكَ أَوْ تَتَعارَجُ بِبَقآءِ قُدْسِ أُلُوهِيَّتِكَ لا تَخْرُجُ عَنْ حَدِّ الإِمْكانِ وَحُدُودِ الأَكْوانِ فَكَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ مَنْ خُلِقَ بِحُدُودِ الإِبْداعِ أَنْ يَصِلَ إِلى مَلِيكِ مَلَكُوتِ
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Far be it, then, from Thy glory that anyone should gaze on Thy wondrous beauty with any eye save Thine own eye, or hear the melodies proclaiming Thine almighty sovereignty with any ear except Thine own ear. Too high art Thou exalted for the eye of any creature to behold Thy beauty, or for the understanding of any heart to scale the heights of Thine immeasurable knowledge. For should the birds of the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee be ever enabled to soar as long as Thine own overpowering sovereignty can endure, or to ascend as long as the empire of Thy Divine holiness can last, they shall, in no wise, be able to transcend the limitations which a contingent world hath imposed upon them, nor pass beyond its confines. How, then, can he whose very creation is restricted by such limitations, attain unto Him Who is the Lord of the Kingdom of all created things, or ascend into the heaven of Him Who ruleth the realms of loftiness and grandeur?
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §65: fellowshipgleaningsGWB §259: the Lovingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: those of Thy loved oneswill-and-testamentW&T §35: affectionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: friendlinessgleaningsGWB §402: Loving!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §2: of Thy tendernessepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Loving
SE rendered وَإِحسانِكَ (waʾiḥsánik), قائِمًا (qáʾiman), شَيْءٍ (shayʾin) as “things”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the most excellent titlesgleaningsGWB §473: that act generouslykitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: profitprayers-and-meditationsP&M §72: and bountiful gracethe-hidden-wordsHW §2: kindlywill-and-testamentW&T §21: improveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: preferablegleaningsGWB §227: most comely
This form usually rendered as “transcendent”, “authority”, “power” (10 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: arosefire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §13: the honorkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath thatkitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: Day of Judgmentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: and standethtablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spottablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §19: that state
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: My willgleaningsGWB §285: wishkitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: the potencyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §635: Thou hast willedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desirethtablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §69: substanceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: and through whatsoever
SE rendered شَيْءٍ (shayʾin), وَمُهَيْمِنًا (wamuhayminan) as “things”
help 41% omnipotent 16% supreme 13% sovereign 9% ruler 6% transcendent 3% protector 3% transcendeth 3% pervadeth 3% all-subduing 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: transcendentgleaningsGWB §579: Supreme Protectorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: thisprayers-and-meditationsP&M §750: and the Sovereign ProtectorgleaningsGWB §278: the omnipotent protectorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: soprayers-and-meditationsP&M §648: and supremegleaningsGWB §268: the Supreme Protector
SE rendered وَتَكُونُ (watakún), أَقْرَبَ (ʾaqrab), بِكُلِّ (bikull), شَيْءٍ (shayʾin) as “all”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: all that hath beenfire-tabletFire §35: universegleaningsGWB §238: behoovethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: like thoseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §838: “Be,”tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combinetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitatetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath
SE expanded to “nigh unto Thee”
nigh 18% favored 18% enjoy 18% who 14% well-favored 11% near 7% well-favoured 4% favourites 4% brought 4% such 4%
This form usually rendered as “own”, “self”, “soul” (324 occurrences)
SE rendered بِكُلِّ (bikull), شَيْءٍ (shayʾin), نَفْسِهِ (nafsih), إِلَيْهِ، (ʾilayhi،), فَسُبْحَانَكَ (fasubḥának) as “all, Far be it”
فَسُبْحَانَكَ
literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise
This form usually rendered as “glorified”, “lauded”, “praised” (181 occurrences)
SE expanded to “Far be it”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: Gracious GodgleaningsGWB §122: praisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: celebrateprayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: Magnified be Thy nametablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: the veilsgleaningsGWB §387: Immeasurably exalted
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: “Considerfire-tabletFire §48: looking towardgleaningsGWB §78: are gazing around themkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: fix his gaze uponkitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: owing toprayers-and-meditationsP&M §520: scenetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: Most Great Beautythe-hidden-wordsHW §121: turn your eyes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: this mightygleaningsGWB §281: created thingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: originalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §570: a firethe-hidden-wordsHW §160: mysticwill-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: to creategleaningsGWB §206: so wondrous
beauty 86% countenance 3% radiant 1% revelation 1% glory 1% whose 1% most 1% through 1% exalted 1% meditating 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: seemlygleaningsGWB §39: everlasting Beautykitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Graciouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §6: briefprayers-and-meditationsP&M §248: for Thy glorytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: countenancesthe-hidden-wordsHW §88: a beautywill-and-testamentW&T §3: Abhá Beauty
SE rendered بَدِيعُ (badíʿ), جَمَالِكَ (jamálik), بِلَحَظاتِ (bilaḥaẓát), عَيْنِ (ʿayn), فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ (fardánínatik) as “wondrous, beauty, eye, Thine own eye”
eye 51% spring 14% eyes 14% well-spring 3% identical 3% aynu’l-baqar 3% damsels 3% acute 3% before 3% face 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the eyesgleaningsGWB §119: elementskitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: watersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: of justicetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyestablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: those of all creationthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: through the eyeswill-and-testamentW&T §12: watchful eye
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: thine inner earfire-tabletFire §37: Give Thou eargleaningsGWB §325: the sense of hearingkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sightkitab-i-iqanKIQ §290: that inclineth his earprayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: inner eartablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hearken to Thy calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: songfire-tabletFire §23: Thy melodiesgleaningsGWB §106: melodykitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: myriad songsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §73: to the rustlingtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: His Melodyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: melodiesgleaningsGWB §588: voice, the anthem
This form usually rendered as “glory”, “transcendent”, “exalted” (190 occurrences)
glory 49% transcendent 20% exalted 10% glorified 4% honor 4% all-glorious 3% mighty 3% most 3% almighty 3% might 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: glory offire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishmentgleaningsGWB §471: highkitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friendprayers-and-meditationsP&M §218: Thy transcendentthe-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselveswill-and-testamentW&T §10: my prideepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: is the Almighty
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: authoritygleaningsGWB §482: a benignant sovereignkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: of the Kingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §27: Thy most ancient sovereigntytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §41: warrantepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: kings
oneness 42% transcendent 17% glory 13% own 4% holy 4% divine 4% most 4% incomparable 4% billowing 4% spirit 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: one ofgleaningsGWB §620: neighborkitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the everlasting and goodlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: soultablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §28: othersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: any onegleaningsGWB §441: no man
This form usually rendered as “behold” (1 occurrences)
have 19% fell 15% occurred 15% come 12% brought 8% repositories 8% recipients 8% hath 8% actually 4% episode 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: fellgleaningsGWB §137: have afflictedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: Recipientsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §236: fallentablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: shonethe-hidden-wordsHW §148: situatewill-and-testamentW&T §39: have causedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: “Anticipate
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: of Makersfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §669: have come to existkitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: the first creationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: of the understanding oftablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §12: have created theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: amongst His creatures
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Get thee upgleaningsGWB §319: ascensionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §789: reach uptablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: shedthe-hidden-wordsHW §23: Risewill-and-testamentW&T §58: Day of Ascensionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: are raisedgleaningsGWB §337: separation from the body
atmosphere 38% heights 19% heaven 10% firmament 5% immensity 5% limitless 5% heavens 5% wisdom 5% sublimities 5% wings 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: desirefire-tabletFire §21: passiongleaningsGWB §593: and desireskitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: heavenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: prompted by their desiresthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: thou desirestwill-and-testamentW&T §36: my spiritepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: promptings of thine own passions
SE expanded to “Thine immeasurable knowledge”
knowledge 74% wisdom 6% recognize 3% comprehend 3% immeasurable 3% sublime 3% known 3% witness 3% know 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: reputegleaningsGWB §135: discoverkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: well-knownprayers-and-meditationsP&M §404: may all recognizetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §52: do thou observe itepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: Knowledge
SE rendered عِرفانِكَ (ʿirfánik), فُؤادُ (fuʾád), نَفْسٍ (nafsin), بَرِيَّتِكَ، (baríratika،), أَطْيارَ (ʾaṭyár), قُلوبِ (qulúb) as “Thine immeasurable knowledge, heart, any, birds, hearts”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: menfire-tabletFire §7: mankindgleaningsGWB §690: your Lord, the Creatorprayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: of Thy creaturesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: clear of themgleaningsGWB §584: of their Creatorprayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: are healedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: creation
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §57: soulsgleaningsGWB §281: revolutionizedkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: inner hearingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §502: to my heartthe-hidden-wordsHW §102: human heartwill-and-testamentW&T §30: agitatedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: thrown into confusion
8 occurrences in corpus
SE expanded to “as long as”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: enduregleaningsGWB §189: throughout the eternitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: eternalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: Thine own sovereignty endurethwill-and-testamentW&T §22: continuallyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: EverlastinggleaningsGWB §144: secondkitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: this everlasting
This form usually rendered as “eternity”, “immortality”, “everlasting” (56 occurrences)
SE expanded to “as long as”
eternity 35% immortality 22% everlasting 19% long 5% eternal 5% throughout 3% establishment 3% duration 3% continuance 3% discovered 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: remainfire-tabletFire §30: hiddengleaningsGWB §344: nowkitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Remnant of Godprayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: naught may remaintablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §154: immortal Beingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: remained
holiness 45% holy 34% most 6% sanctified 5% eternal 3% sacred 2% hallowed 2% divine 2% sanctity 2% unknowable 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: of holinessgleaningsGWB §330: transcendethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: God’s holy graceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §855: of Thy holy sovereigntytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concoursethe-hidden-wordsHW §120: pureepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: sanctified be HisgleaningsGWB §546: is exalted
This form usually rendered as “ye”, “following”, “derogating” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: took Us forthgleaningsGWB §471: will We bring you forthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §211: spring forthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §476: Unsealtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: looked outthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: issuewill-and-testamentW&T §43: out fromepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: foreign countries
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: steelgleaningsGWB §36: of discernmentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: earthly limitationsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: his own limitationstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: ordinancestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: worldly limitationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: in My statutesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: that have been set
الإِمْكانِ
literal: possibility; possible; possible things
This form usually rendered as “all”, “creation”, “entire” (49 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: be achievedfire-tabletFire §20: every creaturegleaningsGWB §627: of the entire creationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §167: Placelessprayers-and-meditationsP&M §153: the whole of creationthe-hidden-wordsHW §128: securewill-and-testamentW&T §17: subordinationepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: attainable in
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: the naturegleaningsGWB §374: how much lesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: “What of the signprayers-and-meditationsP&M §795: whithersoeverthe-hidden-wordsHW §15: whereforeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: asgleaningsGWB §528: much less recognizeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: how much more when
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: Potentfire-tabletFire §48: OrdainergleaningsGWB §307: might and powerkitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate powerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: powerful isprayers-and-meditationsP&M §805: Thy dominiontablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerfultablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: majestyfire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §122: Servants.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §167: reachprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: attain the retreatstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: may attainthe-hidden-wordsHW §7: reunion with Meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: brought face to face
king 24% angels 20% lord 16% ruler 12% sovereign 8% kingship 4% transcendent 4% overruling 4% all-sufficient 4% supremacy 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: layeth lowgleaningsGWB §60: “The Kingdomkitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: angelprayers-and-meditationsP&M §161: Thine own kingdomtablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdomtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §116: this worldwill-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous
