Prayers and Meditations — §296

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 296 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

َحَدِيَّتِكَ أَرْياحُ النِّفَاقِ مِنْ كُلِّ الآفَاقِ أَيْنَ زُجَاجَةُ حِفْظِكَ وَإِكرامِكَ، فَيا إِلهِي تَرَى طَرْفَ هؤلآءِ الفُقَرآءِ إِلى أُفُقِ غَنَائِكَ وَأَفْئِدَةَ هؤُلآءِ الضُّعَفآءِ إِلى شَطْرِ قُدْرَتِكَ، أَسْئَلُكَ يا مَقْصُودَ العارِفِينَ وَإِلهَ العالَمِينَ لَمَّا اجْتَذَبْتَهُمْ بِكَلِمَتِكَ العُلْيا لا تُبْعِدْهُمْ عَنْ سُرَادِقِ الَّذِيْ رَفَعْتَهُ بِاسْمِكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou seest, O my God, how the eyes of these poor creatures are bent upon the horizon of Thy riches, how the hearts of these helpless ones are set in the direction of Thy might. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the sole Desire of them that have recognized Thee, and the Object of the adoration of the entire creation, not to suffer them, now that Thou hast attracted them by Thy most exalted Word, to be far removed from the Tabernacle which Thou hast reared up by Thy name, the All-Glorious.

Translation Notes

َحَدِيَّتِكَ

aḥadídatik ḥ-d-y

literal: sharp edge, boundary

1 occurrence in corpus

أَرْياحُ

ʾaryáḥ r-w-ḥ

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

winds 48% gentle 15% breezes 7% wind 7% contrary 4% tempest 4% breath 4% gales 4% subjected 4% tempests 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: may the souls fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §192: Spirit of Glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: that most pure Spirit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §698: repose tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §71: fragrances

النِّفَاقِ

an-nifáq n-f-q

literal: hypocrisy; spend; spending

sedition 29% malice 24% maliciously 10% discord 10% dissensions 10% malicious 5% stirrers 5% dissension 5% hearts 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §87: malicious fire-tabletFire §10: in malice gleaningsGWB §188: vowed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: sedition prayers-and-meditationsP&M §386: discord the-hidden-wordsHW §58: thou mayest draw will-and-testamentW&T §36: their craft epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: hath offered himself

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “horizon”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

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 §56: world fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §401: source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §399: dominions the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of the world gleaningsGWB §693: dayspring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §613: the whole world

زُجَاجَةُ

zujájah z-j-j

literal: glass; glass, globe; glass/globe

globe 67% glass 17% what 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: glass gleaningsGWB §684: globe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: what the Glass gleaningsGWB §40: globe of power

حِفْظِكَ

ḥifẓik ḥ-f-ẓ

literal: protection; protect

SE rendered حِفْظِكَ (ḥifẓik), وَإِكرامِكَ، (waʾikrámika،), فَيا (fayá), إِلهِي (ʾilhí) as “O my God”

care 57% protection 29% dost 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Commit it to memory gleaningsGWB §684: protect it kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: safeguarding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §249: “Guarded prayers-and-meditationsP&M §661: of Thy protection tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Learn well will-and-testamentW&T §38: for the protection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: spared

وَإِكرامِكَ،

waʾikrámika، k-r-m

literal: generous; generosity; bounty

SE rendered وَإِكرامِكَ، (waʾikrámika،), فَيا (fayá), إِلهِي (ʾilhí), تَرَى (tará), طَرْفَ (ṭarf) as “O my God, Thou seest, the eyes”

bounty 23% most 22% all-bountiful 13% generosity 12% favor 8% bountiful 8% generous 6% grace 2% glory 2% bounteousness 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: shadow of the court of Thy bounty fire-tabletFire §4: bestowal gleaningsGWB §282: My bounty kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: All-Powerful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §6: and generosity will-and-testamentW&T §50: Gracious epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: bounty

فَيا

fayá y-ʾ → “o ye”

literal: O; or

SE rendered فَيا (fayá), إِلهِي (ʾilhí), تَرَى (tará), طَرْفَ (ṭarf), هؤلآءِ (hʾláʾ) as “O my God, Thou seest, the eyes, of these”

ye 50% sought 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: O ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: sought epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: O

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “o my god”

literal: God; divine; god

SE expanded to “O my 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 §560: is kitab-i-iqanKIQ §232: divine Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §205: and the God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: divine and celestial gleaningsGWB §391: and pertaineth to God Himself

تَرَى

tará r-ʾ-y → “thou seest”

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 §132: beholdeth fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §77: have appeared prayers-and-meditationsP&M §654: Thou didst reveal unto me the-hidden-wordsHW §37: and to mirror forth will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Wert thou to look gleaningsGWB §78: they behold

طَرْفَ

ṭarf ṭ-r-f → “eyes”

literal: side; regions; sides

eyes 40% mine 20% some 10% gaze 10% brow 10% parts 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: eyes gleaningsGWB §70: in the daytime kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: both the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §725: mine eyes tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: with her brow will-and-testamentW&T §38: those parts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: regions gleaningsGWB §40: side

هؤلآءِ

hʾláʾ h-ʾ-l → “covenant-breakers”

literal: these

2 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: these will-and-testamentW&T §10: these Covenant-breakers

الفُقَرآءِ

al-fuqaráʾ f-q-r → “poor creatures”

literal: poor

poor 64% paupers 29% downtrodden 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: poor gleaningsGWB §520: the downtrodden kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the lack prayers-and-meditationsP&M §260: as destitute the-hidden-wordsHW §126: of the poor epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the poor gleaningsGWB §268: my poverty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: poor?”

غَنَائِكَ

ghanáʾik gh-n-y → “of thy riches”

literal: rich; wealth; riches

SE expanded to “of Thy riches”

riches 44% wealth 41% self-sufficiency 4% plenteousness 4% there 4% poor 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: notes gleaningsGWB §153: afford to dispense kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: ‘riches’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §347: chanteth tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: singeth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: eternal wealth the-hidden-wordsHW §130: being rich epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: sung

وَأَفْئِدَةَ

waʾafʾidah f-ʾ-d → “hearts”

literal: heart; hearts; hearts, souls

hearts 48% souls 21% minds 9% heart 7% men’s 4% understanding 4% men’s 2% illuminated 2% illumined 2% pure 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: souls gleaningsGWB §506: your souls kitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §430: soul the-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heart will-and-testamentW&T §48: They have epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: the hearts gleaningsGWB §91: illuminated heart

الضُّعَفآءِ

aḍ-ḍuʿafáʾ ḍ-ʿ-f → “weakness”

literal: weak; weakness; weaken

all 33% weak 33% impotent 17% helpless 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: powerless to weaken gleaningsGWB §125: weakness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: their limited understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: and from all weakness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: double gleaningsGWB §404: dying kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: were brought low prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: uttermost weakness

شَطْرِ

shaṭr sh-ṭ-r → “direction”

literal: direction; direction/side; direction, side

direction 47% towards 20% court 16% seat 4% prison 2% north 2% upper 2% capital 2% persia 2% constantinople 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: faces towards gleaningsGWB §282: the presence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §806: courts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: to Constantinople gleaningsGWB §411: on anything except prayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: of Thy mercy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: towards gleaningsGWB §638: your

قُدْرَتِكَ،

qudratika، q-d-r → “of thy might”

literal: power; powerful

SE expanded to “of Thy might”

power 45% might 30% strength 7% almighty 7% through 4% authority 3% transcendent 1% all-conquering 1% omnipotent 1% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: Almighty fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §618: been decreed kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: measure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: mighty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §801: through Thine irrevocable appointment tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “i beseech”

literal: ask; ask/request; ask/beseech

beseech 46% implore 24% entreat 18% beg 5% pray 4% destroy 1% ask 1% deal 1% god 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: beseech gleaningsGWB §656: Grant, I beseech Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: Deal epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the suppliant gleaningsGWB §323: to question his Lord prayers-and-meditationsP&M §835: we beseech Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: ask

مَقْصُودَ

maqṣúd q-ṣ-d → “sole desire”

literal: intended; purpose; desired

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: repaired gleaningsGWB §233: that directeth his steps kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: sought prayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: and the Desire the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: meant

العارِفِينَ

al-ʿárifín ʿ-r-f → “recognized thee” Distinctive

literal: knowledge; know; knower

This form usually rendered as “have”, “comprehend”, “all” (76 occurrences)

have 17% comprehend 15% all 15% know 12% such 10% understanding 7% understand 7% perceive 7% who 5% every 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: know Him gleaningsGWB §267: testified kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: meaning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: recognized Him not tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §6: Know this epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: that thou mayest be

وَإِلهَ

waʾilh ʾ-l-h → “god”

literal: God; god

god 85% lord 6% divine 3% other 1% divinity 1% two 1% almighty 1% worship 1% thee 1% there 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: my God gleaningsGWB §385: two Gods kitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: Almighty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: O my God gleaningsGWB §127: God in kitab-i-iqanKIQ §192: divine wisdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: O Lord my God

العالَمِينَ

al-ʿálamín ʿ-l-m → “the entire creation” Distinctive

literal: world; worlds

This form usually rendered as “worlds”, “all”, “world” (214 occurrences)

SE expanded to “the entire creation”

worlds 53% all 31% world 5% whole 3% earth 2% men 2% creation 2% entire 1% people 1% peoples 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: all learning fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §437: religious leaders kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: their religious leaders prayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: knowest full well tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: existence

اجْتَذَبْتَهُمْ

ijtadhabtahum j-dh-b → “hast attracted them”

literal: attract

SE expanded to “hast attracted them”

attract 17% draw 17% attracted 14% carried 11% enrapture 8% have 8% drawn 8% rapture 6% enraptured 6% ecstasies 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: enraptured fire-tabletFire §3: Thy gleaningsGWB §603: the lodestone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: uplifting their transports prayers-and-meditationsP&M §317: Draw them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: enrapture gleaningsGWB §233: to draw nigh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: ecstasy

بِكَلِمَتِكَ

bikalimatik k-l-m → “by thy most exalted word”

literal: word; words

SE expanded to “by Thy most exalted Word”

word 86% most 7% shining 3% message 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: speak forth fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §537: speak ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: a fool—which prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: but a word tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: to one mystic word will-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: conversed

العُلْيا

al-ʿulyá ʿ-l-w

literal: highest; upon; exalted

SE rendered اجْتَذَبْتَهُمْ (ijtadhabtahum), بِكَلِمَتِكَ (bikalimatik), العُلْيا (al-ʿulyá), تُبْعِدْهُمْ (tubʿidhum), سُرَادِقِ (surádiq) as “hast attracted them, by Thy most exalted Word, to be far removed, the Tabernacle”