Prayers and Meditations — §268

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 268 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

الَّذِيْ لا يُسْمَعُ مِنْ أَرْجاءِهِ إِلاَّ تَرجِيعُ الصَّدَى وَسُدَّتْ فِيهِ عَلَى وُجُوهِنا أَبْوابُ الرَّخاءِ وَنَكُونُ فِي ظاهِرِ الأَمْرِ فِي الظُّلُماتِ الدَّهْمآءِ، وَلكِنَّ نَفْسِي اشْتَعَلَتْ فِي حُبِّكَ عَلَى شَأْنٍ لا تَسْكُنُ نارُ حُبِّها وَلَهِيبُ شَوْقِها تَنْطِقُ بِأَعْلَى الصَّوْتِ بَيْنَ العِبادِ وَتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْكَ فِي كُلِّ الأَحْوالِ، أَسْئَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Though—as Thou beholdest me, O my God—I be dwelling in a place within whose walls no voice can be heard except the sound of the echo, though all the gates of ease and comfort be shut against us, and thick darkness appear to have compassed us on every side, yet my soul hath been so inflamed by its love for Thee, that nothing whatsoever can either quench the fire of its love or abate the consuming flame of its desire. Lifting up its voice, it crieth aloud amidst Thy servants, and calleth them, at all times and under all conditions, unto Thee.

Translation Notes

الَّذِيْ

l-dh-y → “which”

literal: who; which; that which; the one who

لا

l-ʾ → “or”

literal: no; not; negation particle

يُسْمَعُ

s-m-ʿ

literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention

مِنْ

m-n → “from”

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

أَرْجاءِهِ

r-j-w

literal: hope; hope, desire; hope/desire

إِلاَّ

ʾ-kh-r → “end”

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

تَرجِيعُ

r-j-ʿ → “return” Distinctive

literal: return; returning; to return

الصَّدَى

ṣ-d-y → “echo”

literal: echo

وَسُدَّتْ

s-d-d → “closed” Distinctive

literal: closed; barrier; blocked

عَلَى

ʿ-l-w → “exalted”

literal: highest; most high; supreme

وُجُوهِنا

w-j-h → “us”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

أَبْوابُ

b-w-b → “gates” Distinctive

literal: door; gate; chapter; way; manner

الرَّخاءِ

r-kh-y → “the affluence”

literal: ease; plenty; comfort; affluence

وَنَكُونُ

k-w-n → “been” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

فِي

f-y → “in”

literal: alas; woe; oh

ظاهِرِ

ẓ-h-r

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

الأَمْرِ

ʾ-m-r

literal: mother; to lead; to head; matter; affair; people; nation; community; female servant; handmaiden; umma

الظُّلُماتِ

ẓ-l-m → “darkness”

literal: wrongedness, oppression, meekness; state of being wronged or oppressed

الدَّهْمآءِ،

d-h-m → “thick”

literal: dark; darkness

وَلكِنَّ

l-k-n → “yet” Distinctive

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

نَفْسِي

n-f-s → “soul”

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

اشْتَعَلَتْ

sh-ʿ-l → “inflamed” Distinctive

literal: to kindle, burn, be inflamed; to blaze

حُبِّكَ

ḥ-b-b → “love for Thee”

literal: love; affection

شَأْنٍ

sh-ʾ-n

literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank

تَسْكُنُ

s-k-n → “quench”

literal: dwelling; inhabitants; dwell

نارُ

n-ʾ-r → “fire”

literal: light; illumination

وَلَهِيبُ

l-h-b → “undying” Distinctive

literal: blazing; flame/blaze; flaming

شَوْقِها

sh-w-q → “desire”

literal: to encourage; to incite; yearning; enthusiasm