Prayers and Meditations — §241

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 241 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

وَسَيِّدِيْ وَمالِكِي وَسُلْطانِي حِينَئِذٍ لَمَّا اعْتَرَفْتُ بِعَجْزِي وَعَجْزِ المُمْكِناتِ وَأَقْرَرْتُ بِفَقْرِي وَفَقْرِ المَوْجُوداتِ أُنادِيكَ بِلِسانِي وَأَلْسُنِ كُلِّ مَنْ فِي الأَرَضِينَ وَالسَّمَواتِ وَأَدْعُوكَ بِقَلْبِي وَقُلُوبِ كُلِّ مَنْ دَخَلَ فِي ظِلِّ الأَسْمآءِ وَالصِّفاتِ بِأَنْ لا تُغْلِقَ عَلَى وُجُوهِنا أَبْوابَ فَضْلِكَ وَإِفْضالِكَ وَلا تَقْطَعَ عَنْ أَرْواحِنا نَسَماتِ جُودِكَ وَأَلْطافِكَ وَلا تَشْتَغِلَ قُلوبُنا بِغَيْرِكَ وَلا أَفْئِدَتُنا بِذِكْرِ سِواكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا إِلهِي لَوْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God, my Master, my Possessor, my King. Now that I have confessed unto Thee my powerlessness and the powerlessness of all created things, and have acknowledged my poverty and the poverty of the entire creation, I call unto Thee with my tongue and the tongues of all that are in heaven and on earth, and beseech Thee with my heart and the hearts of all that have entered beneath the shadow of Thy names and Thine attributes, not to shut us from the doors of Thy loving-kindness and grace, nor to suffer the breeze of Thy bountiful care and favor to cease from being wafted over our souls, nor to permit that our hearts be occupied with any one except Thee, or our minds to be busied with any remembrance save remembrance of Thy Self.

Translation Notes

وَسَيِّدِيْ

wasayyidí s-w-d → “master”

literal: master; master, lord

master 27% prince 14% black 9% lord 9% siyyid 9% princes 9% turned 9% siyyids 5% afore-mentioned 5% much 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: Siyyid Javád gleaningsGWB §230: from afar prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: Master epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: princes gleaningsGWB §404: corrosion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §652: O my Master epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: afore-mentioned Siyyid gleaningsGWB §84: turned black

وَمالِكِي

wamálikí m-l-k → “my possessor”

literal: kingdom; king; owner

kingdom 34% lord 17% king 11% kings 9% kingdoms 7% possessor 5% angels 5% realm 5% sovereign 4% land 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: provinces gleaningsGWB §60: its Ruler.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: He Who tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: in the-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may be will-and-testamentW&T §48: of the

وَسُلْطانِي

wasulṭání s-l-ṭ → “my king”

literal: sovereignty; king

king 60% sovereignty 20% through 10% celestial 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: power gleaningsGWB §68: majesty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: of the earth 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 §33: His Majesty

حِينَئِذٍ

ḥínaʾidhin ḥ-y-n → “now that”

literal: time/moment; then

now 43% moment 29% render 14% then 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: moment gleaningsGWB §555: At that hour kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: season prayers-and-meditationsP&M §649: at a time the-hidden-wordsHW §154: now epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: day gleaningsGWB §393: unceasingly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: this very moment

اعْتَرَفْتُ

iʿtaraft ʿ-r-f → “i have confessed”

literal: knowledge; know

SE expanded to “I have confessed”

acknowledged 60% have 40%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: acquaint gleaningsGWB §219: faithful kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: obscure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §65: acknowledging tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §52: do thou observe it epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §232: seeking to know

بِعَجْزِي

biʿajzí ʿ-j-z → “my powerlessness”

literal: powerlessness

powerlessness 50% impotence 17% utter 17% helplessness 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: can gleaningsGWB §297: powerlessness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: wearied prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: are powerless to recount will-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: tree-stumps gleaningsGWB §14: incapable kitab-i-iqanKIQ §189: unable

المُمْكِناتِ

al-mumkinát m-k-n → “all created things”

literal: possible things

SE expanded to “all created things”

all 49% entire 21% created 14% creatures 5% creation 5% things 2% souls 2% every 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: be achieved fire-tabletFire §20: every creature gleaningsGWB §155: created things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: attachments prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: of all beings the-hidden-wordsHW §128: secure will-and-testamentW&T §17: subordination epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: attainable in

وَأَقْرَرْتُ

waʾaqrart q-r-r → “have acknowledged”

literal: abode; place; established

confessed 50% have 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: worthy of credence gleaningsGWB §120: made it kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: singled out kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: the retreats prayers-and-meditationsP&M §133: immovable constancy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: made the seat the-hidden-wordsHW §130: the court will-and-testamentW&T §17: decide

بِفَقْرِي

bifaqrí f-q-r → “my poverty”

literal: poverty

poor 46% poverty 29% paupers 6% destitute 6% passages 4% destitution 3% misery 3% matter 1% subject 1% perversity 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: matter gleaningsGWB §408: poor who kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: poor?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: the court the-hidden-wordsHW §132: of poverty epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: passages gleaningsGWB §471: have forsaken their all kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the lack

المَوْجُوداتِ

al-mawjúdát w-j-d → “the entire creation”

literal: existence; find; existent

SE expanded to “the entire creation”

all 40% entire 20% creation 7% things 7% creatures 7% beings 7% every 3% created 3% universe 3% any 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of creation fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §129: things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: whosoever prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: that I am tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: they found the-hidden-wordsHW §69: that ye may obtain will-and-testamentW&T §4: the firm

أُنادِيكَ

ʾunádík n-d-y → “i call unto”

literal: call; called; call, voice

SE expanded to “I call unto”

cry 67% call 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: didst supplicate fire-tabletFire §37: Thy most sweet call gleaningsGWB §405: Divine Herald kitab-i-iqanKIQ §7: cried aloud prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: who tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: calling aloud tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §30: raised epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: calling aloud saying

بِلِسانِي

bilisání l-s-n → “with my tongue”

literal: tongue; tongue, language; tongues

SE expanded to “with my tongue”

tongue 75% language 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: in the language gleaningsGWB §167: Call kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: speech prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: eloquence the-hidden-wordsHW §101: IN epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: My tongue gleaningsGWB §464: mouths kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: mouth

الأَرَضِينَ

ar-raḍín ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; earth, land

earth 76% all 14% heaven 5% earth.” 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: city gleaningsGWB §192: earth.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: earth”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and the earth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: My earth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: and gleaningsGWB §437: thereof kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: field

وَالسَّمَواتِ

wálssamawát s-m-w → “heaven and on”

literal: heaven

SE expanded to “heaven and on”

heaven 48% heavens 46% heaven!” 2% earth 1% into 1% exalted 1% denizens 1% realms 1% guidance 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: in the Most Great Name fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §719: hath kitab-i-iqanKIQ §276: glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §296: by Thy name, the All-Glorious tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §29: he bear My name

وَأَدْعُوكَ

waʾadʿúk d-ʿ-w → “and beseech”

literal: call

call 43% beseech 29% extol 14% summon 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: call gleaningsGWB §36: He summoned kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: Pray kitab-i-iqanKIQ §7: summoned them prayers-and-meditationsP&M §311: and called me to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: idle claimants the-hidden-wordsHW §99: guise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §238: summoned, and art still summoning

بِقَلْبِي

biqalbí q-l-b → “with my heart”

literal: heart; hearts

SE expanded to “with my heart”

heart 83% within 10% mine 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: radiant hearts gleaningsGWB §439: convulsions kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: whose inner being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §543: stirrest up the-hidden-wordsHW §102: human heart will-and-testamentW&T §30: agitated epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: receptive hearts

دَخَلَ

dakhal d-kh-l → “have entered”

literal: enter; entered; entering

have 38% entereth 25% city 13% hath 13% gained 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: in no wise connected gleaningsGWB §43: refused to embrace kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: have refused to embrace prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: Grant him admission within the-hidden-wordsHW §61: Put will-and-testamentW&T §42: leading part epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: At gleaningsGWB §320: above all

ظِلِّ

ẓill ẓ-l-l → “shadow”

literal: shadow; shade; shadow/shade

shadow 63% shelter 11% beneath 7% shade 7% through 2% sheltered 2% unto 2% overshadowed 2% most 2% under 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the clouds gleaningsGWB §550: ephemeral kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the shelter of the shadow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §313: beneath the-hidden-wordsHW §104: shade will-and-testamentW&T §5: under the shadow epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: overshadowed gleaningsGWB §607: unto them.…

وَالصِّفاتِ

wálṣṣifát w-ṣ-f → “and thine attributes”

literal: attributes; attribute

SE expanded to “and Thine attributes”

attributes 94% all 5% human 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: Attributes gleaningsGWB §627: and of Thine attributes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: clothed themselves prayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: every trace epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: that gleaningsGWB §702: adorn himself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: ascribe to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: praise upon

تُغْلِقَ

tughliq gh-l-q → “locked” Distinctive

literal: to lock/close; to be shut, closed

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

locked 25% could 25% have 25% shut 25%

fire-tabletFire §33: locked gleaningsGWB §211: could have closed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §15: have been shut prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: shut

وُجُوهِنا

wujúhiná w-j-h → “face”

literal: face

face 35% faces 12% countenance 10% set 10% sake 9% turn 8% turning 7% turned 4% setting 3% have 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: in no wise fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §637: fasten your eyes kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: meanings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §858: our faces tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §9: thyself

أَبْوابَ

ʾabwáb b-w-b → “doors”

literal: door; doors; door/gate

doors 45% portals 29% gates 21% door 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: door gleaningsGWB §210: its door kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: door thereof prayers-and-meditationsP&M §829: at the door epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: doorstep gleaningsGWB §118: portals kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: door that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §208: the door of Thy

فَضْلِكَ

faḍlik f-ḍ-l → “thy loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

This form usually rendered as “grace”, “tender”, “dawning-places” (118 occurrences)

grace 91% tender 2% dawning-places 1% hand 1% bounty 1% loving-kindness 1% horizon 1% bounteousness 1% favor 1% mercy 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: of the grace gleaningsGWB §10: favors kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: learned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §222: and loving-kindness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom

تَقْطَعَ

taqṭaʿ q-ṭ-ʿ → “cease” Distinctive

literal: detachment; detached; severed

This form usually rendered as “separated”, “wilt” (4 occurrences)

separated 50% wilt 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hath severed gleaningsGWB §641: complete detachment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: falleth short prayers-and-meditationsP&M §468: wholly rid tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: severed ones tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: They passed will-and-testamentW&T §11: decisive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: fade

أَرْواحِنا

ʾarwáḥiná r-w-ḥ → “our souls”

literal: soul

spirit 50% souls 12% soul 8% winds 6% fragrance 6% holy 4% life 4% breath 4% spiritual 3% sweet 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: spirit fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §154: breath kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: spirit.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: the winds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §1: of Divine virtue

نَسَماتِ

nasamát n-s-m → “breeze”

literal: breeze; breezes; breeze/breath

breeze 29% gentle 24% breezes 18% sweet 12% breath 6% holy 6% fragrances 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: the breezes gleaningsGWB §674: sweet kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: the musk-laden breeze prayers-and-meditationsP&M §852: the fragrances epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: breeze gleaningsGWB §692: breath of the breeze kitab-i-iqanKIQ §206: one breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §311: and the gentle winds

جُودِكَ

júdik j-w-d → “thy bountiful care” Distinctive

literal: generosity; bounty; generosity, bounty

This form usually rendered as “bounty”, “bounteousness”, “generosity” (63 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Thy bountiful care”

bounty 45% bounteousness 12% generosity 12% through 10% grace 6% favor 4% bountiful 4% billowing 2% bestowal 2% graciousness 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of Thy bounteousness fire-tabletFire §34: Giver gleaningsGWB §569: Thy favor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: grace prayers-and-meditationsP&M §409: through Thy providence the-hidden-wordsHW §126: to be generous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: billowing ocean of Thy favor fire-tabletFire §33: Thy bestowal

وَأَلْطافِكَ

waʾalṭáfik l-ṭ-f → “and favor” Distinctive

literal: kindness; kindness, grace

This form usually rendered as “favors”, “gifts”, “loving-kindness” (65 occurrences)

favors 34% gifts 13% loving-kindness 11% tender 11% bounties 9% favor 7% bounty 5% bountiful 5% manifold 4% fragrance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: loving-kindness gleaningsGWB §119: honor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: irreproachable and purest Symbols prayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: of Thy gifts the-hidden-wordsHW §109: loving and kindness will-and-testamentW&T §27: as a sign epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: bounty gleaningsGWB §358: most excellent

تَشْتَغِلَ

tashtaghil sh-gh-l → “busied” Distinctive

literal: occupied; busy; occupy

This form usually rendered as “engross”, “dost” (4 occurrences)

engross 50% dost 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: been occupied gleaningsGWB §106: to be busied kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: busy himself prayers-and-meditationsP&M §429: will keep them back the-hidden-wordsHW §27: and busy will-and-testamentW&T §14: hath spent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: busied themselves gleaningsGWB §423: have drawn

بِغَيْرِكَ

bighayrik gh-y-r → “with any one except”

literal: other; other than

SE expanded to “with any one except”

any 17% except 17% save 13% thee 13% besides 9% aught 9% anyone 9% other 4% all 4% beside 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: but fire-tabletFire §27: honor gleaningsGWB §39: differ kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: with anyone prayers-and-meditationsP&M §306: any one but Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §101: stranger will-and-testamentW&T §19: dissenting epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: any one else

أَفْئِدَتُنا

ʾafʾidatuná f-ʾ-d → “our minds”

literal: heart; hearts; hearts, souls

hearts 44% souls 18% heart 17% minds 8% men’s 3% understanding 3% soul 3% men’s 1% illuminated 1% illumined 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: the hearts gleaningsGWB §506: your souls kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: mind prayers-and-meditationsP&M §522: their hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heart will-and-testamentW&T §48: They have epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: men’s hearts gleaningsGWB §91: illuminated heart

بِذِكْرِ

bidhikr dh-k-r → “with any remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

SE expanded to “with any remembrance”

remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: through thy remembrance gleaningsGWB §416: that callest kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: whispering prayers-and-meditationsP&M §605: Am I to recite tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

سِواكَ،

siwáka، s-w-y → “save remembrance of thy self” Distinctive

literal: other than; other-than; besides

This form usually rendered as “except”, “all”, “any” (61 occurrences)

SE expanded to “save remembrance of Thy Self”

except 29% all 15% any 12% aught 10% save 10% thee 10% beside 5% naught 5% besides 2% everything 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: besides Thyself gleaningsGWB §358: else besides these kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: been established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §280: the Source tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full height the-hidden-wordsHW §85: save epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: stablished gleaningsGWB §246: of no one except Him

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE rendered أَفْئِدَتُنا (ʾafʾidatuná), بِذِكْرِ (bidhikr), سِواكَ، (siwáka،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), إِلهِي (ʾilhí) as “our minds, with any remembrance, save remembrance of Thy Self, God”