Prayers and Meditations — §304

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 304 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ يا مَنْ بِيَدِكَ مَلَكُوتُ الاَسْمآءِ وَفِي قَبْضَةِ قُدْرَتِكَ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَالسَّمآءِ، أَسْئَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الأَبْهَى الَّذِيْ جَعَلْتَهُ هَدَفًا لِسِهَامِ القَضآءِ فِي سَبِيلِكَ يا مَلِيكَ البَقآءِ بِاَنْ تَخْرُقَ أَحْجَابَ الَّتِيْ مَنَعَتْ بَرِيَّتَكَ عَنْ أُفُقِ أَحَدِيَّتِكَ لَعَلَّ يَتَوَجَّهُونَ إِلى شَطْرِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَيَتَقَرَّبوُنَ إِلى أُفُقِ عِنايَتِكَ، اَيْ رَبِّ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Lauded be Thy name, O Thou in Whose hands is the kingdom of all names, and in the grasp of Whose might are all that are in heaven and all that are on earth! I entreat Thee, by Him Who is Thy Most Effulgent Name Whom Thou hast made a target for the darts of Thy decree in Thy path, O Thou the King of eternity, to rend asunder the veils that have shut off Thy creatures from the horizon of Thy glory, that haply they may turn their faces in the direction of Thy mercy, and draw nigh unto the Dayspring of Thy loving-kindness.

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “lauded”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

glorified 27% lauded 19% praised 14% glory 12% praise 10% magnified 6% exalted 5% all 3% unto 2% “glory 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: glorified be He gleaningsGWB §4: Far, far kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: Immensely exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: Lauded and glorified tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: Gracious gleaningsGWB §597: veils

بِيَدِكَ

bíadik y-d-y → “in whose hands”

literal: hand; hands; by-hand

SE expanded to “in Whose hands”

whose 40% hand 35% hands 15% holdest 5% whom 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: thy hand gleaningsGWB §466: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: in Whose hands tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: in Whose hand is tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: with their hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: Hand gleaningsGWB §482: assaults

مَلَكُوتُ

malakút m-l-k → “kingdom”

literal: kingdom; king

kingdom 73% kingdoms 13% heaven 4% empire 4% heavens 2% glory 1% realm 1% whole 1% realms 1% dominion 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: sovereignty gleaningsGWB §425: of the earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: Thou Who art the King tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: in the-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may be will-and-testamentW&T §48: of the

الاَسْمآءِ

as-smáʾ s-m-w → “of all names”

literal: name; names

SE expanded to “of all names”

names 72% all 22% name 2% amongst 1% most 1% whose 1% holy 1% names.’ 1% lord 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: of His fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §380: the Unity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: guidance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: all other names tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §146: unto the heaven

وَفِي

wafí f-y → “in the”

literal: in

SE rendered بِيَدِكَ (bíadik), مَلَكُوتُ (malakút), الاَسْمآءِ (as-smáʾ), وَفِي (wafí), قَبْضَةِ (qabḍah), قُدْرَتِكَ (qudratik) as “in Whose hands, the kingdom, of all names, in the, grasp, might”

within 29% under 14% acts 7% throughout 7% upon 7% mortal 7% over 7% hearts 7% prosperity 7% fair 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: throughout gleaningsGWB §594: Be fair in thy judgment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: by will-and-testamentW&T §10: through my love for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: with gleaningsGWB §594: in prosperity, and thankful in prayers-and-meditationsP&M §652: within me will-and-testamentW&T §10: in the

قَبْضَةِ

qabḍah q-b-ḍ → “grasp”

literal: grasp; grasp/grip; grasped

grasp 59% relief 6% yield 6% breath 6% hollow 6% turned 6% within 6% days 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: grasp gleaningsGWB §627: Whose grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: within the grasp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: the grasp gleaningsGWB §78: His grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: the hollow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §199: but a handful

قُدْرَتِكَ

qudratik q-d-r → “might”

literal: power; powerful

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 §90: of fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §6: the Omnipotent kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: for a while prayers-and-meditationsP&M §491: honored tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

الأَرْضِ

ar-rḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; earth/land; land

earth 72% land 12% world 6% whole 2% men 2% all 2% heaven 2% upon 1% desolate 1% plain 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: of earth fire-tabletFire §3: on gleaningsGWB §711: the powers of earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: heaven the-hidden-wordsHW §98: realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: upon earth fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §234: land of the heart’s desire

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “entreat”

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 §5: the suppliant gleaningsGWB §112: I beseech kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: Deal epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Ask, that gleaningsGWB §656: Grant, I beseech Thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §762: God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: pray

الأَبْهَى

al-ʾabhá b-h-w → “most effulgent”

literal: glory; most glorious; most-glorious

all-glorious 63% most 12% glorious 7% abhá 7% effulgent 5% immortality 2% glory 2% brightest 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: the glory gleaningsGWB §200: of Immortality prayers-and-meditationsP&M §765: Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glory will-and-testamentW&T §14: Abhá epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: Thy most glorious light gleaningsGWB §273: My glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: of Thy great glory

جَعَلْتَهُ

jaʿaltah j-ʿ-l → “hast made”

literal: made

thou 36% hast 24% made 9% ordained 7% hath 7% ordain 4% didst 4% have 4% keep 2% appointed 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: maketh fire-tabletFire §44: We have made gleaningsGWB §457: and joined you with kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: fanciful images prayers-and-meditationsP&M §303: make them the-hidden-wordsHW §33: I made will-and-testamentW&T §36: and grant that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: “Consecrate

هَدَفًا

hadafan h-d-f → “target”

literal: target; target/aim

6 occurrences in corpus

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: a target prayers-and-meditationsP&M §304: target

لِسِهَامِ

lisihám s-h-m → “for the darts”

literal: arrows; arrow; arrow/dart

SE expanded to “for the darts”

darts 60% arrows 20% shafts 15% dart 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: the shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §387: the arrows epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: darts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §304: for the darts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: the darts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: arrows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: dart

القَضآءِ

al-qaḍáʾ q-ḍ-y → “decree”

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

decree 52% irrevocable 14% destiny 5% decreed 5% ruling 5% tribulations 5% meet 5% irrevocably 5% fate 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: hath it been decreed fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §489: He hath ordained kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: didst ordain the-hidden-wordsHW §49: My decree epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: elapsed

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 §144: Thy path gleaningsGWB §472: right course kitab-i-iqanKIQ §215: ways prayers-and-meditationsP&M §223: Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §51: My path will-and-testamentW&T §3: shed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: the path gleaningsGWB §599: systems

البَقآءِ

al-baqáʾ b-q-y → “eternity”

literal: remaining; permanence; remain

eternity 35% immortality 22% everlasting 19% long 5% eternal 5% throughout 3% establishment 3% duration 3% continuance 3% discovered 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: Eternity fire-tabletFire §36: is gleaningsGWB §311: its survival kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: abiding testimony prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: must endure tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remained the-hidden-wordsHW §152: gone epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: remained

تَخْرُقَ

takhruq kh-r-q → “rend asunder”

literal: tear/rend

rend 37% rent 21% tear 16% whole 5% miracles 5% completely 5% vehemently 5% cleave 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: rent the veils asunder gleaningsGWB §640: completely dissipated kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: rend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: tear asunder epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: rent asunder gleaningsGWB §536: Tear ye asunder prayers-and-meditationsP&M §211: so vehemently rent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: tear away

أَحْجَابَ

ʾaḥjáb ḥ-j-b → “veils”

literal: veil; veiled; veils

veils 50% curtains 17% veil 17% obstacle 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: shut you out gleaningsGWB §324: deprived kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: obscure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §543: be veiled the-hidden-wordsHW §150: the epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: covering cast over mine honor gleaningsGWB §563: concealment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: deeds

مَنَعَتْ

manaʿat m-n-ʿ → “have shut off” Distinctive

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “thou”, “hindered” (12 occurrences)

SE expanded to “have shut off”

hath 20% thou 10% hindered 10% strove 10% powerless 10% withhold 10% have 10% prevented 10% deprived 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: withheld gleaningsGWB §127: exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: withhold the hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: may keep them back tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §89: no longer will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: thou hast forbidden

بَرِيَّتَكَ

baríratak 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 §9: creation fire-tabletFire §7: mankind gleaningsGWB §584: of their Creator prayers-and-meditationsP&M §328: people epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: men gleaningsGWB §693: creatures prayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: of Thy people epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: clear of them

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 §135: the horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §280: Our realm prayers-and-meditationsP&M §567: Thy Revelation the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: above the horizon gleaningsGWB §198: above the dayspring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: of Thy glory

أَحَدِيَّتِكَ

ʾaḥadídatik ʾ-ḥ-d → “glory”

literal: one; oneness

oneness 42% transcendent 17% glory 13% own 4% holy 4% divine 4% most 4% incomparable 4% billowing 4% spirit 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: one gleaningsGWB §103: Divine Being kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: Lamp prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: holy and transcendent unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §69: himself over the other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: anyone gleaningsGWB §98: God

لَعَلَّ

laʿall l-ʿ-l → “haply”

literal: perhaps; perhaps/may

haply 83% perchance 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: that haply kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: “Haply kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: perchance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §254: that haply thou mayest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: haply

يَتَوَجَّهُونَ

yatawajjahún w-j-h → “turn their faces”

literal: face; turning

SE expanded to “turn their faces”

turn 71% set 14% cause 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Advance fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §28: the countenance kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: from turning their faces towards tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §16: thy face unto Mine

شَطْرِ

shaṭr sh-ṭ-r

literal: direction; direction/side; direction, side

SE rendered لَعَلَّ (laʿall), يَتَوَجَّهُونَ (yatawajjahún), شَطْرِ (shaṭr), رَحْمَتِكَ (raḥmatik), وَيَتَقَرَّبوُنَ (wayataqarrabwun) as “haply, turn their faces, mercy, draw nigh unto”