Prayers and Meditations — §237

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 237 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا مَحْبُوبِي لا يَنْبَغِي ذِكْرُ المَوْجُوداتِ لِنَفْسِكَ الأَعْلى وَلا يَلِيقُ وَصْفُ المُمْكِناتِ لِبَهائِكَ الأَبْهى بَلْ ذِكْرُ دُونِكَ شِرْكٌ فِي ساحَةِ قَدْسِ رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ وَنَعْتُ غَيْرِكَ ذَنْبٌ عِنْدَ ظُهُورِ سُلْطانِ أُلُوهِيَّتِكَ لأَنَّ بِالذِّكْرِ يُثْبَتُ الوُجُودُ تِلْقآءَ مَدْيَنِ تَوْحِيدِكَ، وَهذا شِرْكٌ مَحْضٌ وَكفْرٌ صِرفٌ وَذَنْبٌ بَحْتٌ وَبَغْيٌ باتٌّ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I swear by Thy might, O my Beloved! To make mention of any created thing beseemeth not Thy most exalted Self, and to bestow any praise upon any one of Thy creatures would be wholly unworthy of Thy great glory. Nay, such a mention would be but blasphemy uttered within the court of Thy holiness, and such praise would amount to no less than a transgression in the face of the evidences of Thy Divine sovereignty. For the mere mention of any one of Thy creatures would in itself imply an assertion of their existence before the court of Thy singleness and unity. Such an assertion would be naught but open blasphemy, an act of impiety, the essence of profanity and a wanton crime.

Translation Notes

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “i swear by thy might”

literal: mighty; glory; might

SE expanded to “I swear by Thy might”

swear 44% glory 36% might 12% power 8% own 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: exalted and gleaningsGWB §374: and exalted be His glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: more glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: sublime tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendor will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glory

مَحْبُوبِي

maḥbúbí ḥ-b-b → “my beloved”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

beloved 62% best-beloved 17% well-beloved 11% thou 4% one 2% divine 2% delight 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §38: pleasing fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §251: and disdainfully reject His loved ones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: lovest most prayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: through the love I bear to Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §40: if thou lovest will-and-testamentW&T §38: that love

يَنْبَغِي

yanbaghí n-b-gh → “beseemeth”

literal: befit; befits; befitting

behooveth 38% beseemeth 23% must 8% befitteth 8% beseem 5% would 5% which 5% becometh 5% fit 3% behoove 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: It behooveth gleaningsGWB §620: would be unworthy kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: to do that which is meet and seemly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: the full measure epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: beseemeth them gleaningsGWB §428: must kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: that which is meet and seemly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §375: becometh

ذِكْرُ

dhikr dh-k-r → “mention”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

mention 23% remembrance 18% mentioned 16% praise 14% recorded 6% words 6% recount 5% referred 5% make 4% references 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: to mention gleaningsGWB §6: to extol kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: call to mind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: it is related prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: with any remembrance tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mention the-hidden-wordsHW §67: as they make mention of Me

المَوْجُوداتِ

al-mawjúdát w-j-d → “any created thing”

literal: existence; find; existent

SE expanded to “any created thing”

all 35% entire 19% any 11% creation 8% created 8% beings 8% every 3% creatures 3% universe 3% whole 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: could find fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §666: if We inhale kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: reality prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: of the entire creation tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §36: Shouldst thou inhale the-hidden-wordsHW §41: thou wouldst find will-and-testamentW&T §38: are to be found

لِنَفْسِكَ

linafsik n-f-s → “most exalted self” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; souls

This form usually rendered as “thyself”, “own”, “thee” (222 occurrences)

SE expanded to “most exalted Self”

thyself 27% own 22% thee 20% self 14% soul 3% unto 3% thou 3% most 3% godhead 3% himself 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: upon you gleaningsGWB §318: Soul of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §247: the faint-hearted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: of Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §71: for My Self will-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: thy passions

الأَعْلى

al-ʾaʿlى ʿ-l-w → “most exalted self”

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE expanded to “most exalted Self”

most 47% high 15% glory 9% supreme 6% loftiest 5% exalted 5% celestial 4% aloud 3% highest 3% all-glorious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: and exalt fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §616: above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: exalted are prayers-and-meditationsP&M §766: ringing tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §23: Noble will-and-testamentW&T §10: my glory

يَلِيقُ

yalíq l-y-q → “worthy”

literal: worthy; befit; befits

beseemeth 22% befitteth 17% worthy 17% unworthy 11% would 6% can 6% well 6% beseem 6% falleth 6% what 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: deserveth gleaningsGWB §481: is unworthy of kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: can befit the-hidden-wordsHW §157: have been and will ever be for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unseemly gleaningsGWB §72: well beseemeth its station prayers-and-meditationsP&M §424: beseem

وَصْفُ

waṣf w-ṣ-f → “praise” Distinctive

literal: attributes; description; attribute

This form usually rendered as “description”, “described”, “describing” (33 occurrences)

description 25% described 13% describing 13% conception 13% highest 6% such 6% portray 6% applicable 6% fathom 6% praise 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: described gleaningsGWB §5: attribute kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: clothed themselves prayers-and-meditationsP&M §350: my virtues epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the description gleaningsGWB §311: can never be described kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: eulogy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §825: the description of anyone

المُمْكِناتِ

al-mumkinát m-k-n → “any one of thy creatures” Distinctive

literal: possible things

This form usually rendered as “all”, “entire”, “created” (73 occurrences)

SE expanded to “any one of Thy creatures”

all 48% entire 15% created 10% creation 6% whole 5% beings 5% universe 3% creatures 3% every 3% earth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: imperturbability fire-tabletFire §20: every creature gleaningsGWB §683: the universe kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: they that are created prayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: of Thy creatures the-hidden-wordsHW §102: abode will-and-testamentW&T §23: earthly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: the world of being

لِبَهائِكَ

libaháʾik b-h-w → “thy great glory”

literal: glory

SE expanded to “Thy great glory”

all-glorious 29% bahá 27% glory 19% most 10% abhá 7% heart 2% soul 2% light 1% splendor 1% lights 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: most glorious gleaningsGWB §661: of Glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: among the people of Bahá prayers-and-meditationsP&M §502: soul the-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glory will-and-testamentW&T §56: of Glories epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Bahá gleaningsGWB §200: glorious

الأَبْهى

al-ʾabhى b-h-y → “thy great glory” Distinctive

literal: most-glorious; most glorious; glory

This form usually rendered as “all-glorious”, “most”, “abhá” (73 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Thy great glory”

all-glorious 72% most 8% abhá 6% glory 6% effulgent 3% everlasting 1% resplendent 1% glorious 1% what 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: All-Glorious fire-tabletFire §48: Bahá gleaningsGWB §48: effulgent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: splendour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: to pride himself the-hidden-wordsHW §1: HE IS THE GLORY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: the Glory of God (Bahá)gleaningsGWB §288: of everlasting might

دُونِكَ

dúnik d-w-n → “but”

literal: besides

SE rendered لِبَهائِكَ (libaháʾik), الأَبْهى (al-ʾabhى), ذِكْرُ (dhikr), دُونِكَ (dúnik), شِرْكٌ (shirkun), ساحَةِ (sáḥah), قَدْسِ (qads) as “Thy great glory, a mention, but, blasphemy, court, Thy holiness”

all 28% except 18% any 18% aught 12% beside 5% save 5% besides 3% none 3% anyone 3% naught 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: all else beside Thee gleaningsGWB §532: to your aid kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the like prayers-and-meditationsP&M §8: except Thine own Self the-hidden-wordsHW §18: none but Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: All others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: any one but Thee gleaningsGWB §543: Others

شِرْكٌ

shirkun sh-r-k → “blasphemy”

literal: polytheists; polytheist; partner

blasphemy 50% misbelief 33% act 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: O thou who hast joined partners gleaningsGWB §636: of the infidel kitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: common prayers-and-meditationsP&M §8: as have repudiated Thy truth the-hidden-wordsHW §153: are the property of will-and-testamentW&T §5: my partner epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: O thou who dost associate a partner with God gleaningsGWB §113: hath indeed disbelieved

ساحَةِ

sáḥah s-w-ḥ → “court”

literal: court; court, arena

court 89% sanctuary 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §267: shore gleaningsGWB §210: the court kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: sanctuary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: into the court the-hidden-wordsHW §146: at the court epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: to this Holy Court kitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: presence the-hidden-wordsHW §147: the realm

قَدْسِ

qads q-d-s → “thy holiness”

literal: holiness; holy; sanctified

holiness 40% holy 35% most 6% sacred 4% hallowed 4% sanctified 4% eternal 1% god’s 1% sanctify 1% divine 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: exalted above gleaningsGWB §359: Manifestations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: sanctified themselves prayers-and-meditationsP&M §96: the sacredness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §120: pure will-and-testamentW&T §5: angelic epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: the Holy City

رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ

rubúbíbatik r-b-b

literal: lord; divine; lordship

SE rendered شِرْكٌ (shirkun), ساحَةِ (sáḥah), قَدْسِ (qads), رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ (rubúbíbatik), وَنَعْتُ (wanaʿt), غَيْرِكَ (ghayrik) as “blasphemy, court, Thy holiness, such praise, a transgression”

sovereignty 27% lordship 18% divine 18% omnipotence 9% before 9% supremacy 9% overruling 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Godhead gleaningsGWB §302: with no one to adore Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: All-Glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §727: springtime tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: be my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §10: O Lord my God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §74: Godhood

وَنَعْتُ

wanaʿt n-ʿ-t → “glorifier” Distinctive

literal: attribution/praise; description; description/attribute

This form usually rendered as “such” (2 occurrences)

glorifier 25% such 25% voice 25% extol 25%

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §726: the voice that proclaimeth Thy virtues prayers-and-meditationsP&M §230: glorifier prayers-and-meditationsP&M §843: and extol prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: such praise

غَيْرِكَ

ghayrik gh-y-r → “any”

literal: other; other than; change

any 35% all 15% aught 15% anyone 8% except 8% unto 4% turned 4% who 4% none 4% beside 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: none fire-tabletFire §27: of Thine avenging wrath gleaningsGWB §370: the defilement kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: changeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: unequivocal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §172: who else except Thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §12: other than Me will-and-testamentW&T §19: dissenting

ذَنْبٌ

dhanbun dh-n-b

literal: sin; sinner; sins

SE rendered وَنَعْتُ (wanaʿt), غَيْرِكَ (ghayrik), ذَنْبٌ (dhanbun), ظُهُورِ (ẓuhúr), سُلْطانِ (sulṭán) as “such praise, a transgression, Divine sovereignty”

sin 21% crime 21% sins 14% committed 7% transgressions 7% sin?’ 7% transgression 7% sinfulness 7% blasphemous 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: his trespasses gleaningsGWB §468: crime kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: his sin?’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: the perverse the-hidden-wordsHW §50: sinful epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: sin gleaningsGWB §655: of such as transgress against Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: mistake

ظُهُورِ

ẓuhúr ẓ-h-r → “divine sovereignty” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “revelation”, “manifestation”, “dispensation” (397 occurrences)

revelation 59% manifestation 16% dispensation 8% advent 4% appearance 3% made 3% through 2% divine 2% every 2% unveiled 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: appear fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §260: fulfill kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: Seen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §217: Thy Manifestation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §99: guise

سُلْطانِ

sulṭán s-l-ṭ → “divine sovereignty”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 42% sovereignty 19% sháh 12% sovereign 11% through 5% lord 4% power 2% majesty 2% virtue 2% excelleth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy sovereignty gleaningsGWB §275: might kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the worldly dominion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §747: and my King tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §54: the Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: the Sháh

أُلُوهِيَّتِكَ

ʾulúhíhatik ʾ-l-h

literal: god; divine

SE rendered ظُهُورِ (ẓuhúr), سُلْطانِ (sulṭán), أُلُوهِيَّتِكَ (ʾulúhíhatik), بِالذِّكْرِ (biáldhdhikr), يُثْبَتُ (yuthbat) as “Divine sovereignty, mere mention, would in itself imply”

divinity 56% divine 22% godhead 11% holiness 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Divinity fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §234: He, Himself,kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §715: O Thou the Lord tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

يُثْبَتُ

yuthbat th-b-t → “established” Distinctive

literal: established; establish

This form usually rendered as “revealed”, “demonstrated”, “canst” (17 occurrences)

revealed 17% demonstrated 17% canst 8% maintained 8% establish 8% might 8% confirm 8% order 8% will 8% would 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: established gleaningsGWB §238: have written down kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: of His confirmation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §129: waxed relentless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: strengthen the-hidden-wordsHW §124: writ and recorded will-and-testamentW&T §9: supported epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: canst thou vindicate

تِلْقآءَ

tilqáʾ l-q-y → “before the court”

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

SE expanded to “before the court”

before 57% when 21% own 4% court 4% presence 4% set 4% face 4% faced 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: to convey fire-tabletFire §1: of Thy Countenance gleaningsGWB §233: of reunion kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: We imparted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §805: unto the presence tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §37: to meet Me will-and-testamentW&T §5: in

مَدْيَنِ

madyan m-d-n

literal: city; cities

SE rendered يُثْبَتُ (yuthbat), الوُجُودُ (al-wujúd), تِلْقآءَ (tilqáʾ), مَدْيَنِ (madyan), تَوْحِيدِكَ، (tawḥídika،), وَهذا (wahdhá), شِرْكٌ (shirkun), مَحْضٌ (maḥḍun) as “would in itself imply, before the court, singleness and unity, Such, open”

city 84% habitation 4% cities 3% great 1% inhabitants 1% one 1% infinite 1% tabernacle 1% each 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: the citadels gleaningsGWB §31: its cities kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: In these cities prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: the habitation tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: each one will-and-testamentW&T §3: to the Great City epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §260: a city gleaningsGWB §438: civilization

تَوْحِيدِكَ،

tawḥídika، w-ḥ-d → “singleness and unity”

literal: unity; one; oneness

SE expanded to “singleness and unity”

unity 47% oneness 42% singleness 5% divine 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: one universal fire-tabletFire §43: By Thine aloneness gleaningsGWB §287: your belief in the unity of God kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: single kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §105: His loneliness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone

مَحْضٌ

maḥḍun m-ḥ-ḍ → “utter”

literal: pure; mere; pure, merely

utter 33% essence 13% token 13% wholly 7% sole 7% sheer 7% open 7% grievous 7% sign 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: As a token gleaningsGWB §97: token of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: sheer prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: open will-and-testamentW&T §27: as a sign of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: wholly gleaningsGWB §116: utter will-and-testamentW&T §17: grievous

وَكفْرٌ

wakfrun k-f-r → “blasphemy” Distinctive

literal: disbelieve; disbelieved; disbelief

This form usually rendered as “unbelief”, “infidel”, “misbelief” (41 occurrences)

unbelief 24% infidel 17% misbelief 14% repudiated 10% infidels 10% rejected 7% cancel 7% impiety 3% denounced 3% disbelieveth 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: denied gleaningsGWB §150: denounced Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: infidel?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §226: such as have denied Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: if ye deny epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: O ye unbelievers!gleaningsGWB §612: ye have rejected kitab-i-iqanKIQ §41: at the camphor fountain

صِرفٌ

ṣirfun ṣ-r-f

literal: pure

SE rendered وَهذا (wahdhá), شِرْكٌ (shirkun), مَحْضٌ (maḥḍun), وَكفْرٌ (wakfrun), صِرفٌ (ṣirfun), وَذَنْبٌ (wadhanbun), بَحْتٌ (baḥtun), وَبَغْيٌ (wabaghyun) as “Such, open, blasphemy, wanton”

utter 31% pure 15% absolute 12% utterly 8% sheer 8% out 8% essence 8% spent 4% supreme 4% nothing 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: Assayer gleaningsGWB §104: absolute kitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: potency prayers-and-meditationsP&M §813: meddling the-hidden-wordsHW §104: Out of will-and-testamentW&T §27: be expended for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: spent gleaningsGWB §543: will lay hands

بَحْتٌ

baḥtun b-ḥ-t

literal: pure; absolute; absolute (with ـه)

SE rendered شِرْكٌ (shirkun), مَحْضٌ (maḥḍun), وَكفْرٌ (wakfrun), صِرفٌ (ṣirfun), وَذَنْبٌ (wadhanbun), بَحْتٌ (baḥtun), وَبَغْيٌ (wabaghyun), باتٌّ، (báttun،) as “open, blasphemy, wanton, crime”