Prayers and Meditations — §242

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 242 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

تَجْعَلُنِي سُلْطانًا فِي مَمْلَكَتِكَ وَتُجْلِسُنِي عَلَى عَرْشِ فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ وَتَضَعُ زِمامَ كُلِّ الوُجُودِ فِي قَبْضَتِي بِاقْتِدارِكَ وَتَجْعَلُنِي فِي أَقَلِّ ما يُحْصى مَشْغُولاً بِذلِكَ وَغافِلاً عَنْ بَدائِعِ ذِكْرِكَ الأَعْلى فِي اسْمِكَ الأَعْظَمِ الأَتَمِّ العَلِيِّ الأَعْلی، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَنْ تَرضى نَفْسِيْ وَلَنْ يَسْكُنَ قَلْبِي بَلْ أَجِدُ ذاتِي فِي تِلْكَ الحالَةِ أَذَلَّ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَلِيلٍ وَأَفْقَرَ مِنْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

By the glory of Thy might, O my God! Wert Thou to set me king over Thy realms, and to establish me upon the throne of Thy sovereignty, and to deliver, through Thy power, the reins of the entire creation into my hands, and wert Thou to cause me, though it be for less than a moment, to be occupied with these things and be oblivious of the wondrous memories associated with Thy most mighty, most perfect, and most exalted Name, my soul would still remain unsatisfied, and the pangs of my heart unstilled. Nay, I would, in that very state, recognize myself as the poorest of the poor, and the most wretched of the wretched.

Translation Notes

تَجْعَلُنِي

tajʿaluní j-ʿ-l → “set me”

literal: make; to make

number 28% suffer 11% set 11% deny 11% enable 11% reckon 6% deprived 6% steadfast 6% reckoned 6% cause 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: to make fire-tabletFire §44: We have made gleaningsGWB §699: put kitab-i-iqanKIQ §202: fashioned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: as decreed the-hidden-wordsHW §12: have bountifully shed will-and-testamentW&T §36: and grant that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: Make

سُلْطانًا

sulṭánan s-l-ṭ → “king”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: the King gleaningsGWB §537: with manifest and transcendent sovereignty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: the Ancient of Days prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: by the power 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 §6: my King

مَمْلَكَتِكَ

mamlakatik m-l-k

literal: kingdom; king

SE rendered تَجْعَلُنِي (tajʿaluní), سُلْطانًا (sulṭánan), مَمْلَكَتِكَ (mamlakatik), وَتُجْلِسُنِي (watujlisuní), عَرْشِ (ʿarsh) as “set me, king, establish me, the throne”

realm 52% land 30% among 7% kingdom 7% majesty 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: unto the King gleaningsGWB §189: had allowed me to possess kitab-i-iqanKIQ §43: the angels descend.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: He Who tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: in the-hidden-wordsHW §7: Our kingdom will-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous

وَتُجْلِسُنِي

watujlisuní j-l-s → “seated” Distinctive

literal: sitting, seated

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

seated 21% sitting 16% established 16% assembly 11% leadership 11% convene 5% council 5% tribunals 5% closely 5% occupants 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: by the tribunals gleaningsGWB §337: so closely associated kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: enshrined prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: dwelleth the-hidden-wordsHW §134: companionship epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: council gleaningsGWB §461: occasions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: occupying

عَرْشِ

ʿarsh ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: throne; the Throne

throne 84% mighty 3% seat 3% pillar 2% presence 1% celestial 1% desires 1% throne.” 1% “behind 1% exalted 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: its mighty throne gleaningsGWB §609: His seat of glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: Thy throne the-hidden-wordsHW §120: OF MY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: the Mighty gleaningsGWB §210: of My presence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: the Celestial Throne

فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ

fardánínatik f-r-d → “oneness”

literal: oneness; singleness

oneness 38% unity 33% singleness 8% transcendent 8% own 4% sovereignty 4% recognize 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy oneness fire-tabletFire §17: lonely gleaningsGWB §429: subsequent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §191: essential prayers-and-meditationsP&M §153: Thy singleness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Peerless tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlorn will-and-testamentW&T §12: Holy

وَتَضَعُ

wataḍaʿ w-ḍ-ʿ → “low” Distinctive

literal: lowly

This form usually rendered as “abandoning”, “deliver” (2 occurrences)

abandoning 50% deliver 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: forsake gleaningsGWB §163: of the perverse and faithless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: instances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §247: to fall before the-hidden-wordsHW §41: humbleness will-and-testamentW&T §39: enact epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: lay gleaningsGWB §63: will cast away

زِمامَ

zimám z-m-m → “reins”

literal: rein; reins; rein/control

reins 93% restrain 4% empire 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: the reins kitab-i-iqanKIQ §78: restrain Our prayers-and-meditationsP&M §777: the empire epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: are the reins prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: that the reins epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: reins

أَجِدُ

ʾajid w-j-d → “all” Distinctive

literal: find

This form usually rendered as “find”, “perceive”, “discover” (20 occurrences)

find 41% perceive 12% discover 12% would 12% recognize 6% can 6% cannot 6% within 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: existence fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §312: existence is kitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: be found prayers-and-meditationsP&M §51: of all things tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: may find the-hidden-wordsHW §21: has made will-and-testamentW&T §16: grown

قَبْضَتِي

qabḍatí q-b-ḍ

literal: grasp; grasp/grip; grasped

SE rendered زِمامَ (zimám), الوُجُودِ (al-wujúd), قَبْضَتِي (qabḍatí), بِاقْتِدارِكَ (biáqtidárik), وَتَجْعَلُنِي (watajʿaluní) as “the reins, through Thy power, cause me”

grasp 66% whose 7% hollow 5% handful 5% within 5% holdeth 5% relief 2% yield 2% mighty 2% breath 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy grasp gleaningsGWB §657: the mighty grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: holdeth within His grasp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: grasp gleaningsGWB §78: His grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: the hollow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: holdeth in His grasp

بِاقْتِدارِكَ

biáqtidárik q-d-r → “through thy power”

literal: power; powerful

SE expanded to “through Thy power”

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 §204: ordained fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §286: wondrous kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: least prayers-and-meditationsP&M §279: and ordain tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

أَقَلِّ

ʾaqall q-l-l → “less than a moment”

literal: less; little

SE expanded to “less than a moment”

less 53% one 11% exceedeth 5% fraction 5% even 5% little 5% least 5% imperceptible 5% smallest 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: exceedeth fire-tabletFire §42: independence gleaningsGWB §533: for less kitab-i-iqanKIQ §256: a few prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: less than a moment the-hidden-wordsHW §91: smallest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: the summit fire-tabletFire §47: fewness

يُحْصى

yuḥṣى ḥ-ṣ-y

literal: count; enumerate; enumeration

SE rendered وَتَجْعَلُنِي (watajʿaluní), أَقَلِّ (ʾaqall), يُحْصى (yuḥṣى), مَشْغُولاً (mashghúláan), بِذلِكَ (bidhlik), وَغافِلاً (wagháfiláan) as “cause me, less than a moment, be occupied, with these things, be oblivious”

reckon 40% search 20% number 20% measure 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: count gleaningsGWB §135: reckon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §41: reckoned the-hidden-wordsHW §66: recount will-and-testamentW&T §11: boundless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: number gleaningsGWB §684: innumerable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: concentrate

مَشْغُولاً

mashghúláan sh-gh-l → “be occupied”

literal: occupied; busy; occupy

busied 33% occupied 28% busy 8% immersed 8% engaged 6% busying 6% occupy 3% have 3% stained 3% endeavor 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §184: they gleaningsGWB §697: “Address yourselves kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: are engaged prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: be occupied the-hidden-wordsHW §157: engage will-and-testamentW&T §14: hath spent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: been busied gleaningsGWB §675: consented to detach himself from

بِذلِكَ

bidhlik dh-l-k → “thus” Distinctive

literal: thus

This form usually rendered as “thereupon”, “wherefore”, “unto” (75 occurrences)

thereupon 33% wherefore 13% unto 7% yet 7% purpose 7% such 7% schemings 7% lám 7% “such 7% mine 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: for this purpose gleaningsGWB §188: Such kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: Lám prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: I have, thereby the-hidden-wordsHW §160: In this wise will-and-testamentW&T §34: as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: Unto this gleaningsGWB §30: that most exalted Spot

وَغافِلاً

wagháfiláan gh-f-l → “be oblivious”

literal: heedless; heedlessness; neglect

heedless 33% oblivious 26% unaware 14% who 5% one 5% erred 5% forgetful 5% hath 2% strayed 2% disregard 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §49: the heedless gleaningsGWB §655: from Thy path kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: knew not, however prayers-and-meditationsP&M §737: so grievously the-hidden-wordsHW §122: neglected epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: heedless one gleaningsGWB §36: oblivious of

بَدائِعِ

badáʾiʿ b-d-ʿ → “wondrous”

literal: wondrous; wonders

wondrous 43% wonders 41% marvelous 3% having 2% majesty 2% melodious 2% over 2% bountiful 2% evidence 2% matchless 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Makers gleaningsGWB §206: so wondrous kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: melodious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: things the-hidden-wordsHW §65: have created will-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the First gleaningsGWB §286: through

ذِكْرِكَ

dhikrik dh-k-r → “remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

remembrance 37% praise 24% remember 8% name 7% remembering 7% mention 4% glorification 4% virtues 4% whose 3% remembered 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy praise gleaningsGWB §694: tongue kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: informed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §280: the Beloved tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

الأَعْلى

al-ʾaʿlى ʿ-l-w → “most”

literal: highest; exalted

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 §161: Most Exalted fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §311: loftiest mansions kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: with prayers-and-meditationsP&M §725: and greatness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on high

اسْمِكَ

ismik s-m-w → “with thy”

literal: name; names

SE rendered بَدائِعِ (badáʾiʿ), ذِكْرِكَ (dhikrik), الأَعْلى (al-ʾaʿlى), اسْمِكَ (ismik), الأَعْظَمِ (al-ʾaʿẓam), الأَتَمِّ (at-tamm), العَلِيِّ (al-ʿalíl) as “the wondrous, memories, associated, with Thy, most mighty, most perfect, most exalted”

name 87% most 4% through 2% whose 2% called 1% all-glorious 1% beareth 1% friend 1% shadowing 1% have 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: of His fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §584: the denizens of heaven kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: heaven”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: any one tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §9: in thine own

الأَعْظَمِ

al-ʾaʿẓam ʿ-ẓ-m → “most mighty”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

most 61% greater 10% greatest 6% great 5% more 5% supreme 4% mightier 4% transcendeth 2% potency 2% mightiest 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: highly-honored gleaningsGWB §66: “The glory of all greatness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §231: greater than prayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: and Whose majesty the-hidden-wordsHW §42: of My greatness will-and-testamentW&T §40: greatest and most epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: the greatness gleaningsGWB §504: inconceivably mighty

الأَتَمِّ

at-tamm t-m-m → “most perfect”

literal: complete; completed

perfect 20% consummate 20% mightiest 20% most 20% complete 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: fully gleaningsGWB §539: hath been filled up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: exhausted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §839: be made incomplete the-hidden-wordsHW §131: only will-and-testamentW&T §45: I have declared conclusively epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: wholly gleaningsGWB §196: fulfilled

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “glory”

literal: glory; mighty; might

swear 40% glory 38% might 15% power 4% own 2% would—i 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: the Mighty fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §10: exaltation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of celestial glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §309: effulgent the-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselves will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: on thy glory

تَرضى

tarḍى r-ḍ-y → “remain unsatisfied”

literal: pleasure; pleasure/satisfaction; pleasure, satisfaction

remain 20% what 20% pleasure 20% desirest 20% acceptable 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: content fire-tabletFire §48: Thy pleasure gleaningsGWB §656: Thy Will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: and favour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §594: of Thy will the-hidden-wordsHW §119: his own will will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted to His Will epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: Be not willing

نَفْسِيْ

nafsí n-f-s → “my soul”

literal: self; soul; souls

myself 28% soul 15% one 14% man 10% anyone 8% any 8% mine 5% self 5% life 3% souls 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: gazeth gleaningsGWB §305: thy proper self kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: Spirits prayers-and-meditationsP&M §226: our evil tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §71: OF HIS SELF will-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere

وَلَنْ

walan l-n

literal: will not

SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), تَرضى (tarḍى), نَفْسِيْ (nafsí), وَلَنْ (walan), يَسْكُنَ (yaskun), قَلْبِي (qalbí), أَجِدُ (ʾajid) as “glory, remain unsatisfied, my soul, unstilled, heart, recognize”