Prayers and Meditations — §273

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 273 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

الكُلَّ بِإِذْنِكَ اعْتَرَضَ عَلَيَّ عِبادُكَ الغافِلُونَ، مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَعْرَضَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَفَرَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ تَوَقَّفَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ تَحَيَّرَ بَعْدَ الَّذِيْ ظَهَرَ بُرْهانُكَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَدْيانِ وَلاحَتْ حُجَّتُكَ بَيْنَ مَلإِ الأَكْوانِ وَظَهَرَتْ آياتُ قُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى شَأْنٍ أَحَاطَتْ مَنْ فِي العالَمينَ، وَعَنْ وَرآءِ هؤلآءِ اعْتَرَضَ عَلَيَّ ذَوُو

Shoghi Effendi Translation

And when, as bidden by Thee, I arose and called out, by Thy leave, all Thy creatures, the wayward among Thy servants opposed me. Some turned away from me, others disowned my claim, a few hesitated, while others were sore perplexed, notwithstanding that Thy testimony was set forth before the followers of all religions, and Thy proof demonstrated unto all the peoples of the earth, and the signs of Thy might so powerfully manifested as to encompass the entire creation.

Translation Notes

الكُلَّ

k-l-l → “all”

literal: for us; to us

بِإِذْنِكَ

ʾ-dh-n → “by Thy leave”

literal: ear; permission; leave; to permit; to allow; to listen

اعْتَرَضَ

ʿ-r-ḍ → “opposed”

literal: to object, to protest, to interrupt, to stand in the way

عَلَيَّ

ʿ-l-w → “me” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

عِبادُكَ

ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

الغافِلُونَ،

gh-f-l → “wayward”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

مِنْهُمْ

m-n → “from” Distinctive

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

كَفَرَ

k-f-r → “repudiated”

literal: to disbelieve, reject; unbelief, ingratitude; to deny, to disbelieve, to reject

تَوَقَّفَ

w-q-f → “hesitated”

literal: to stop; to halt; to pause; to hesitate

تَحَيَّرَ

ḥ-y-r → “perplexed” Distinctive

literal: bewildered; perplexed; confused; astounded; amazed; bewilderment; perplexity; wonder; amazement

بَعْدَ

b-ʿ-d → “notwithstanding” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

الَّذِيْ

l-dh-y → “that” Distinctive

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

ظَهَرَ

ẓ-h-r → “set forth” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

بُرْهانُكَ

b-r-h → “proof”

literal: proof, evidence, demonstration, argument

أَهْلِ

ʾ-h-l → “people”

literal: people; inhabitants; family; kin; worthy; deserving; my family; my people; my kin

الأَدْيانِ

d-y-n → “religions”

literal: religion; faith; creed; belief

وَلاحَتْ

l-w-ḥ → “Tablet” Distinctive

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

حُجَّتُكَ

ḥ-j-j → “proof”

literal: path, way; clear path

بَيْنَ

b-y-n → “unto” Distinctive

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

مَلإِ

m-l-ʾ → “peoples” Distinctive

literal: assembly; multitude; chiefs; to fill; people of rank; fullness, assembly

الأَكْوانِ

k-w-n → “be” Distinctive

literal: be; was; to be

آياتُ

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: verse; sign; miracle; proof

قُدْرَتِكَ

q-d-r → “might”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

شَأْنٍ

sh-ʾ-n → “in such wise”

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

أَحَاطَتْ

ḥ-w-ṭ → “encompassed”

literal: to encompass, surround, envelop, embrace

فِي

f-y

literal: in; in-it; in it

العالَمينَ،

ʿ-l-m → “creation” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

وَعَنْ

ʿ-n

literal: from; about; concerning; away from