Prayers and Meditations — §264

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 264 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ يا إِلهِي تَعْلَمُ بِأَنِّي ما أَرَدْتُ فِي أَمْرِكَ نَفْسِيْ بَل نَفْسَكَ وَلا إِظْهارَ شَأْنِي بَلْ إِظْهارَ شَأْنِكَ وَما قَصَدْتُ راحَتِي وَسُرُورِي وَبَهْجَتِي فِي سَبِيلِكَ وَرِضائِكَ، وَكُنْتُ فِي كُلِّ الأَحْوالِ ناظِرًا إِلى أَوامِرِكَ وَمُتَوَجِّهًا إِلى ما أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ فِي أَلْواحِكَ، وَما أَصْبَحْتُ إِلاَّ بِذِكْرِكَ وَثَنائِكَ وَما أَمْسَيْتُ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ مُسْتَنْشِقًا نَفَحاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou knowest that my sole aim in revealing Thy Cause hath been to reveal Thee and not my self, and to manifest Thy glory rather than my glory. In Thy path, and to attain Thy pleasure, I have scorned rest, joy, delight. At all times and under all conditions my gaze hath been fixed on Thy precepts, and mine eyes bent upon the things Thou hast bidden me observe in Thy Tablets. I have wakened every morning to the light of Thy praise and Thy remembrance, and reached every evening inhaling the fragrances of Thy mercy.

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “glorified”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

glorified 28% lauded 17% praised 13% glory 9% praise 8% immeasurably 8% magnified 6% exalted 4% all 4% far 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: the veils fire-tabletFire §14: veiled gleaningsGWB §4: Far kitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: Immeasurably high prayers-and-meditationsP&M §15: the veil tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He that the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high will-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “my god”

literal: god; divine; o god

god 82% divine 10% lord 3% god’s 2% holy 1% heavenly 1% god’s 0% sacred 0% divinely 0% thou 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: By God fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §293: from the Lord kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §232: divine Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: to Thee, O my God tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

أَرَدْتُ

ʾaradt r-w-d → “in”

literal: will

SE rendered إِلهِي (ʾilhí), تَعْلَمُ (taʿlam), بِأَنِّي (biʾanní), أَرَدْتُ (ʾaradt), أَمْرِكَ (ʾamrik), نَفْسِيْ (nafsí) as “my God, Thou knowest, that my sole aim, in, Cause, my”

thou 26% have 22% hast 9% what 9% wish 9% purpose 9% shouldst 4% who 4% will 4% achieving 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: desired gleaningsGWB §267: nor Thy Will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: whatsoever He pleaseth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: but Thy will the-hidden-wordsHW §57: dost wish for will-and-testamentW&T §38: the Purpose epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §180: purpose gleaningsGWB §505: by virtue of the

أَمْرِكَ

ʾamrik ʾ-m-r → “cause”

literal: command; cause

cause 62% revelation 14% behest 6% faith 4% bidding 4% commandment 3% decree 2% affairs 2% through 2% command 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: bidding fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §724: this Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: hath prescribed for him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: Who will bid prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: in their affairs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §43: of My cause

نَفْسِيْ

nafsí n-f-s → “my self, and to” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; souls

This form usually rendered as “myself”, “one”, “soul” (224 occurrences)

SE expanded to “my self, and to”

myself 32% one 11% soul 10% anyone 9% any 8% man 7% whoso 6% whosoever 6% mine 5% every 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: He, for Whose sake gleaningsGWB §683: corrupt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §7: His followers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §413: their lives tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §142: passion will-and-testamentW&T §27: the people epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: He Who

إِظْهارَ

ʾiẓhár ẓ-h-r → “hath” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest

This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “may”, “proclaim” (69 occurrences)

manifest 16% may 16% proclaim 13% demonstrate 10% breathed 10% unveil 10% revealed 6% reveal 6% show 6% revealing 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: Thy Revelation fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §618: exercise its influence kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: daysprings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §90: claim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §63: as a sign tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §99: guise

شَأْنِي

shaʾaní sh-ʾ-n → “such”

literal: manner; affair; affairs

such 40% each 10% whatsoever 10% glory 10% befit 10% who 10% state 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: The changes and chances fire-tabletFire §27: the signs gleaningsGWB §516: your station kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: attention prayers-and-meditationsP&M §737: that they the-hidden-wordsHW §68: My state will-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly things epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: distinction

قَصَدْتُ

qaṣadt q-ṣ-d → “purpose” Distinctive

literal: purpose

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

purpose 26% desire 25% meant 17% goal 9% who 4% object 4% aim 4% thou 4% direct 3% meaning 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: That which is meant gleaningsGWB §63: O Thou the Desire kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: object and purpose prayers-and-meditationsP&M §328: Thou hadst no other purpose the-hidden-wordsHW §76: seeketh will-and-testamentW&T §47: my heart’s Desire epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: my Desire

راحَتِي

ráḥatí r-w-ḥ → “rest”

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

tranquillity 50% rest 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §26: of the spirit fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §712: the wind kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: bread of heaven prayers-and-meditationsP&M §110: all created things were tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: of heaven the-hidden-wordsHW §68: By My spirit

وَسُرُورِي

wasurúrí s-r-r → “joy”

literal: secret; secrets; secret, mystery

mysteries 54% mystery 11% joy 8% secret 6% secrets 5% privily 4% throne 3% hidden 3% heads 3% inner 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: heads gleaningsGWB §550: sanctuary kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: inmost being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §503: delight tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: inmost the-hidden-wordsHW §89: the inner mysteries will-and-testamentW&T §42: darkly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: surreptitiously

وَبَهْجَتِي

wabahjatí b-h-j → “joy” Distinctive

literal: gladness; rejoice; rejoicing

This form usually rendered as “delight”, “increased” (2 occurrences)

delight 50% increased 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: All-Glorious fire-tabletFire §13: gladness gleaningsGWB §46: blissfulness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: undying Fire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: delight the-hidden-wordsHW §76: most effulgent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: rejoice gleaningsGWB §46: Blissful

سَبِيلِكَ

sabílik s-b-l → “path”

literal: path; way; path/way

path 88% sake 5% way 1% thee 1% path.” 1% path!” 1% ways 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: in Thy path gleaningsGWB §659: for My sake kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Thy sake prayers-and-meditationsP&M §223: Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: in My path the-hidden-wordsHW §46: My path will-and-testamentW&T §3: in this path epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: way

وَرِضائِكَ،

wariḍáʾika، r-ḍ-y → “pleasure”

literal: pleasure; pleasure/satisfaction

pleasure 30% good 21% good-pleasure 13% sake 13% will 6% thee 6% unto 4% content 2% please 2% pleasure!” 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: and acceptable fire-tabletFire §48: Thy pleasure gleaningsGWB §611: am well pleased kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: have found favour with God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: Whom Thou hast been pleased the-hidden-wordsHW §119: his own will will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted to His Will epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: contentment

الأَحْوالِ

al-ʾaḥwál ḥ-w-l → “conditions”

literal: state

times 31% conditions 28% circumstances 14% all 8% ever 6% condition 3% state 3% may 3% conduct 3% continually 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: Now, too gleaningsGWB §216: around thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: the way prayers-and-meditationsP&M §702: through Thy power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: shall not waver tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her state the-hidden-wordsHW §26: plight will-and-testamentW&T §52: at such a time

ناظِرًا

náẓiran n-ẓ-r → “gaze” Distinctive

literal: look; looking

This form usually rendered as “fix”, “fixed”, “thou” (63 occurrences)

fix 25% fixed 19% thou 8% turned 8% keep 8% turn 8% eyes 6% gaze 6% consider 6% guided 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: Gaze fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §622: turn his gaze towards anyone kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: to turn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: still waiteth in expectation of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §719: are fixed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §60: My place of revelation

وَمُتَوَجِّهًا

wamutawajjihan w-j-h → “face”

literal: face; turning

set 44% face 11% directed 6% fled 6% fastened 6% proceeding 6% mine 6% fix 6% turn 6% towards 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: Wert thou to incline fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §629: are set kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: to turn prayers-and-meditationsP&M §492: to turn towards Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy steps the-hidden-wordsHW §9: not in thyself

أَلْواحِكَ،

ʾalwáḥika، l-w-ḥ → “tablets”

literal: tablet; tablets

tablets 90% scriptures 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: Tablet gleaningsGWB §66: the Incomparable kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: allusions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §273: demonstrated tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Books will-and-testamentW&T §7: a document epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: communications gleaningsGWB §423: My

أَصْبَحْتُ

ʾaṣbaḥt ṣ-b-ḥ → “morn” Distinctive

literal: morning

This form usually rendered as “have”, “wakened”, “every” (5 occurrences)

have 60% wakened 20% every 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: day fire-tabletFire §27: lamps gleaningsGWB §712: the Dawn of Divine Guidance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: Source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §709: I have risen this morning the-hidden-wordsHW §12: My light epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: was fire-tabletFire §22: Light

بِذِكْرِكَ

bidhikrik dh-k-r → “remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

remembrance 37% praise 20% remember 9% remembering 9% glorification 5% name 5% whose 5% make 4% mention 3% through 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: Concerning gleaningsGWB §247: testimony kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: dwell upon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: to recount 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

وَثَنائِكَ

wathanáʾik th-n-y → “praise”

literal: praise; praise, commendation

praise 45% extol 16% celebrate 8% glorify 6% virtues 6% celebrating 6% extolling 5% magnifying 3% glory 3% praises 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: Secondarily gleaningsGWB §654: Thy praises kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §482: celebrating Thy praise will-and-testamentW&T §39: another epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: to celebrate His praise gleaningsGWB §321: created kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: the latter

أَمْسَيْتُ

ʾamsayt m-s-y → “reached”

literal: became-evening; become-evening

reached 50% every 50%

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: every night, when I lie down to rest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: reached every evening

مُسْتَنْشِقًا

mustanshiqan n-sh-q → “inhale” Distinctive

literal: inhale, breathe in; inhaling; inhale

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

inhale 17% may 17% have 17% hath 17% inhaling 17% sought 17%

gleaningsGWB §214: inhale prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: have so deeply inhaled tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §45: sought to inhale gleaningsGWB §407: may be smelled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: hath inhaled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: inhaling

نَفَحاتِ

nafaḥát n-f-ḥ → “fragrances”

literal: fragrance; breeze; breath

sweet 28% breezes 20% fragrances 16% breaths 13% breath 9% fragrance 9% ecstasy 1% vitalizing 1% assail 1% breeze 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: breezes gleaningsGWB §151: the ecstasy of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: the perfume prayers-and-meditationsP&M §630: gentle winds will-and-testamentW&T §27: the Fragrances of God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: breaths gleaningsGWB §116: a breath kitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: sweet savours

رَحْمَتِكَ

raḥmatik r-ḥ-m → “mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful; the merciful

mercy 90% transcendent 2% shadowing 2% all-encompassing 2% compassion 1% merciful 1% wondrous 1% virtue 1% mercies 1% tender 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: to have mercy upon me fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §124: blessing kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: of His loving-kindness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §375: by Thy mercy tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: in token of His mercy

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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