Prayers and Meditations — §258

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 258 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

يا إِلهِي تَرَى عَبْدَكَ جالِسًا فِي السِّجْنِ مُنْقَطِعًا عَنْ دُونِكَ وَناظِرًا إِلى أُفُقِ عِنايَتِكَ وَراجِيًا بَدائِعَ فَضْلِكَ، أَيْ رَبِّ أَنْتَ أَحْصَيْتَ ما وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَبِيلِكَ وَإِذًا تَراهُ بَيْنَ طُغاةِ خَلْقِكَ وَعُصاةِ بَرِيَّتِكَ الَّذِينَ حالُوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَحِبَّتِكَ وَحَبَسُونِيْ فِي هذِهِ الأَرْضِ ظُلْمًا عَلَيْكَ وَمَنَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou beholdest, O my God, Thy servant who dwelleth in this prison-house, wholly detached from any one but Thee, his eyes turned in the direction of the Dayspring of Thy mercy, his heart longing for the wondrous manifestations of Thy grace. Thou, O my Lord, hast reckoned up the ills that have afflicted him in Thy path. Thou seest him compassed about with such of Thy creatures as have transgressed and rebelled against Thee, who have come in between him and Thy loved ones, who have fixed his abode in this land and wronged Thee, and who have hindered Thy servants from turning towards Thee.

Translation Notes

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “god”

literal: God; divine; god

god 64% divine 22% god’s 5% lord 4% holy 2% mystic 1% heavenly 1% grace 1% god-given 1% pertaineth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: God gleaningsGWB §391: and pertaineth to God Himself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §198: the realm of Divinity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: my God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Holy Writ epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Divine gleaningsGWB §668: set

تَرَى

tará r-ʾ-y → “beholdest”

literal: see; to see; see/behold

thou 53% seest 16% beholdest 12% behold 6% wert 2% regard 2% seest?” 2% discover 2% dost 2% art 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: regard fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §49: discover prayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: settest my the-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtain will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: perceived gleaningsGWB §163: of the vision

عَبْدَكَ

ʿabdak ʿ-b-d → “servant”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servant 97% wronged 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: servants of God fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §388: the worshiper kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: His people?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §811: to worship Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §38: are servants

جالِسًا

jálisan j-l-s → “seated”

literal: sitting; sitting, seated

seated 33% sitting 17% established 17% occupants 8% associating 8% enshrined 8% dwelleth 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: assembly gleaningsGWB §461: occasions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: enshrined prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: establish me the-hidden-wordsHW §134: companionship epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: sitting gleaningsGWB §440: occupants kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: occupying

السِّجْنِ

as-sijn s-j-n → “prison-house”

literal: prison; imprisoned; imprisonment

prison 53% most 19% prison-city 7% dungeon 5% imprisonment 5% prison-house 5% prisoner 2% prison-cell 2% afflictive 2% shut 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: the Most Great Prison gleaningsGWB §225: captivity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §604: be cast into prison will-and-testamentW&T §8: imprisoned ones epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: of the prison-city gleaningsGWB §221: this Prison House prayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: a captive will-and-testamentW&T §51: this prisoner

مُنْقَطِعًا

munqaṭiʿan q-ṭ-ʿ → “wholly detached”

literal: detachment; detached

rid 24% detached 24% wholly 18% withheld 9% absolute 6% detach 6% completely 3% withdrew 3% must 3% complete 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: detached gleaningsGWB §4: fail kitab-i-iqanKIQ §197: is speechless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §852: will detach 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 §10: detachment

دُونِكَ

dúnik d-w-n → “any one but thee”

literal: besides

SE expanded to “any one but Thee”

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 §157: without gleaningsGWB §566: otherwise kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: but for prayers-and-meditationsP&M §60: to aught else except Thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §14: Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: All others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: all else beside Thee gleaningsGWB §298: through others

وَناظِرًا

wanáẓiran n-ẓ-r → “turned”

literal: look; looking

fix 24% turned 17% fixed 10% gaze 10% hast 7% consider 7% keep 7% guided 7% turn 7% looking 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: Meditate on fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §286: this kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: Most Sublime Vision kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: expect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §27: look upon tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: Most Great Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §20: OF

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “of the dayspring”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

SE expanded to “of the Dayspring”

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 5% heaven 5% realm 5% orient 3% supreme 1% works 1% created 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Supreme Horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §691: summit of transcendent glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §445: the Dayspring the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of the world gleaningsGWB §401: source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: the world

عِنايَتِكَ

ʿináyatik ʿ-n-y → “mercy” Distinctive

literal: care; meaning; meanings

This form usually rendered as “loving-kindness”, “bounty”, “grace” (65 occurrences)

loving-kindness 65% bounty 7% grace 7% gracious 5% tender 4% mercy 4% through 2% mercies 2% favor 2% love 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §207: Spiritual fire-tabletFire §26: grace gleaningsGWB §495: hath bestowed kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §20: of Thy loving-kindness the-hidden-wordsHW §85: that is will-and-testamentW&T §6: in the aforementioned manner

وَراجِيًا

warájiyan r-j-w → “longing”

literal: hope; hope, desire; hope/desire

longing 50% thee 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Desire fire-tabletFire §4: Longing gleaningsGWB §629: obtain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: our hopes were fixed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §444: wish the-hidden-wordsHW §50: yearneth will-and-testamentW&T §32: heart’s Desire epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: my supreme Aspiration

بَدائِعَ

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 §142: Incomparable gleaningsGWB §286: through kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: over the wonders the-hidden-wordsHW §38: from will-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: new gleaningsGWB §432: created

فَضْلِكَ،

faḍlika، f-ḍ-l → “grace”

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

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 §133: grace gleaningsGWB §464: and of His grace kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: learning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom

رَبِّ

rabb r-b-b → “lord”

literal: Lord; lord

lord 93% god 3% creator 1% one 1% art 1% none 1% ruler 1% thou 1% ‘lord 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: thy Lord gleaningsGWB §389: Lord of all men kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: eye prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: of Thy tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §2: Holy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: its Lord

أَحْصَيْتَ

ʾaḥṣayt ḥ-ṣ-y → “hast reckoned up”

literal: count; enumerate; enumeration

SE expanded to “hast reckoned up”

canst 33% hast 33% set 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: stone gleaningsGWB §684: innumerable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §850: set down the-hidden-wordsHW §66: recount will-and-testamentW&T §11: boundless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: have We set down gleaningsGWB §163: canst estimate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: hast reckoned up

عَلَيْهِ

ʿalayh ʿ-l-y → “upon”

literal: upon; on; exalted

upon 40% against 18% hands 8% - 8% unto 8% over 8% above 5% hath 3% overshadoweth 3% body 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: glorified gleaningsGWB §188: against Me kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §320: upon me the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: Our gleaningsGWB §466: against Us

سَبِيلِكَ

sabílik s-b-l → “path”

literal: path; way; path/way

path 87% sake 5% way 2% thee 2% path.” 2% path!” 2% ways 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: path gleaningsGWB §394: of its kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Thy sake prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: Thy path!”the-hidden-wordsHW §51: My path will-and-testamentW&T §3: shed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: thy way gleaningsGWB §623: sake of

وَإِذًا

waʾidhan ʾ-dh-n → “leave”

literal: permission; ear; ears

leave 27% ears 23% permission 23% hearing 5% ear 5% ordained 5% fixed 5% ears.” 5% mine 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: permission gleaningsGWB §251: by His leave kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: ears.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: by Thy leave will-and-testamentW&T §28: leave epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: ear gleaningsGWB §622: fixed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: His permission

طُغاةِ

ṭugháh ṭ-gh-y → “oppressors”

literal: rebellion; tyrants; tyranny

oppressors 43% such 29% have 14% mischief 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of My oppressors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: error prayers-and-meditationsP&M §364: the oppressors will-and-testamentW&T §48: misbelieved prayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: such will-and-testamentW&T §47: rebelliousness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: Such of Thy servants prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: have transgressed

خَلْقِكَ

khalqik kh-l-q → “creatures”

literal: creation; create; created

creatures 74% among 7% creation 6% own 3% created 2% servants 2% all 2% god 1% hath 1% creatures’ 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: amongst His creatures fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §669: hath brought into being kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: peoples prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: Thou hast created me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §14: I created thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: hast created me

وَعُصاةِ

waʿuṣáh ʿ-ṣ-y → “and rebelled”

literal: disobedience; disobey; disobedient

wicked 20% among 20% rebelled 20% such 20% have 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hath darkened fire-tabletFire §35: sin gleaningsGWB §552: sinful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: grievous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and trespasses will-and-testamentW&T §58: obeyeth him not epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: my rebelliousness gleaningsGWB §656: of his evil doings

بَرِيَّتِكَ

baríratik b-r-ʾ → “creatures”

literal: creation; creatures; creation, creatures

people 47% creatures 41% among 6% against 3% creation 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: clear of them fire-tabletFire §7: mankind gleaningsGWB §195: Creator prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: of Thy creatures epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: creation gleaningsGWB §621: His creatures prayers-and-meditationsP&M §681: of all men epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: men

الَّذِينَ

adh-dhín l-dh-y → “who” Distinctive

literal: those who; who

This form usually rendered as “doubters”, “dependents”, “generations” (13 occurrences)

doubters 17% dependents 17% generations 17% unto 17% such 17% who 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: He Who gleaningsGWB §412: and caused kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: Who prayers-and-meditationsP&M §302: Him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: which gleaningsGWB §524: that of your dependents kitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: those prayers-and-meditationsP&M §76: by them

حالُوا

ḥálúá ḥ-w-l → “have come in”

literal: state; now; around

SE expanded to “have come in”

now 40% round 13% consider 8% around 8% state 6% present 5% times 5% power 5% come 4% under 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: It is now gleaningsGWB §657: His strength kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: Were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: in that very state tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: become veils tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §109: now that will-and-testamentW&T §30: untouched

بَيْنِي

bayní b-y-n → “between” Distinctive

literal: between

This form usually rendered as “behold”, “thou”, “witness” (8 occurrences)

behold 50% thou 17% witness 17% eyes 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: between gleaningsGWB §164: among kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: proofs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: of Our statement the-hidden-wordsHW §111: findeth will-and-testamentW&T §4: manifest verses epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §148: of Thine utterance gleaningsGWB §345: explanation would be required

وَبَيْنَ

wabayn b-y-n → “compassed about with”

literal: between; utterance; clear

SE rendered الَّذِينَ (adh-dhín), حالُوا (ḥálúá), بَيْنِي (bayní), وَبَيْنَ (wabayn), أَحِبَّتِكَ (ʾaḥibbatik), وَحَبَسُونِيْ (waḥabasúní) as “who, have come in, between, and, Thy loved ones, have fixed”