Prayers and Meditations — §308

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 308 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ يا إِلهِي أَسْئَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الكافِي بِأَنْ تَكفِيَ عَنَّا شَرَّ أَعْدائِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِبُرْهانِكَ وَاعْتَرَضُوا عَلَى جَمالِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ القاهِرِ بِأَنْ تَقْهَرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا عَلَى مَظْهَرِ نَفْسِكَ الأُولى الَّذِيْ ظَهَرَ بِاسْمِكَ الأَبْهی، وَبِاسْمِكَ الآخِذِ بِأَنْ تَأْخُذَ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا أَمْرَكَ سُخْرِيًّا وَيَلْعَبوُنَ بِالآياتِ الكُبْرى وَمُنِعُوا عَنْ هذا المَقامِ الأَسْنی، وَبِاسْمِكَ الغَالِبِ بِأَنْ تُغَلِّبَ أَحِبَّائَكَ عَلَى أَعَادِي نَفْسِكَ وَالكَفَرَةِ مِنْ بَرِيَّتِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الهاتِكِ بِأَنْ تَهْتِكَ سِتْرَ الَّذِينَ هَتَكُوا حُرْمَتَكَ وَضَيَّعُوا أَمْرَكَ بَيْنَ عِبادِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الجَبَّارِ بِأَنْ تَجْبِرَ قُلُوبَ أَحِبَّتِكَ وَتُصْلِحَ أُموُرَهُمْ بِعِنايَتِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ العَلاَّمِ بِأَنْ تُعَلِّمَهُمْ مِنْ بَدائِعِ عِلْمِكَ لِيَسْتَقِيْمُنَّ عَلَى أَمْرِكَ وَيَسْلُكُنَّ سُبُلَ رِضائِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ المَانِعِ بِأَنْ تَمْنَعَ عَنْهُم ظُلْمَ كُلِّ ظَالِمٍ وَبَغْيَ كُلِّ بَاغٍ وَضُرَّ كُلِّ مُضِرٍّ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الحَافِظِ بِأَنْ تَحْفَظَهُمْ فِي حِصْنِ قُدْرَتِكَ وَاقْتِدارِكَ لِئَلا يَرِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سِهَامُ الإِشَاراتِ مِنْ عُصَاةِ بَرِيَّتِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الَّذِيْ جَعَلْتَهُ مُبَارَكًا بَيْنَ أَسْمائِكَ وَاخْتَصَصْتَهُ بِنَفْسِكَ وَأَظْهَرْتَ بِهِ جَمَالَكَ بِأَنْ تُبَارِكَ عَلَى أَحِبَّتِكَ هذِهِ الأَيَّامِ الَّتِيْ رُقِمَتْ مِنْ قَلَمِ تَقْدِيرِكَ وَقُضِيَتْ فِي لَوْحِ الإِمْضآءِ بِعِلْمِكَ وَإِرادَتِكَ، وَبِاسْمِكَ السَّخَّارِ بِأَنْ تُسَخِّرَ أَهْلَ مَمْلَكَتِكَ لِيُقْبِلُنَّ كُلٌّ إِلى وَجْهِكَ وَيَنْقَطِعُنَّ عَمَّا عِنْدَهُمْ حُبًّا لِنَفسِكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Restrainer, to withhold from us the maleficence of Thine adversaries who have disbelieved in Thy testimony, and caviled at Thy beauty. Overpower by Thy Name, the All-Subduing, such as have wronged Thy Previous Manifestation Who hath now appeared invested with Thy title, the All-Glorious. Lay hold, by Thy name, the Chastiser, on them that have treated Thy Cause with scorn, have jested at Thy most mighty utterances, and were hindered from attaining this most exalted station. Enable Thy loved ones, by Thy Name, the Victorious, to prevail against Thine enemies and the infidels among Thy creatures. Rend asunder, by Thy Name, the Cleaver, the veil that hideth the doings of them that have besmirched Thine honor and undermined Thy Faith among Thy people. Bind, by Thy Name, the Restorer, the broken hearts of them that love Thee, and graciously bless them in their affairs. Teach them, by Thy Name, the All-Knowing, the wonders of Thy wisdom, that they may cleave steadfastly to Thy Faith and walk in the ways of Thy pleasure. Keep them safe, by Thy Name, the Withholder, from the tyranny of the oppressor and the wickedness of the evil-doers and the malice of the stirrers of mischief. Shield them, by Thy Name, the Preserver, within the stronghold of Thy might and power, that haply they may be protected from the darts of doubt that are hurled by such as have rebelled against Thee. Sanctify for Thy servants, by Thy Name which Thou hast blessed above all other names, which Thou hast singled out for Thy favor, and by which Thou didst reveal Thy beauty, these days of which the Pen of Thy decree hath distinctly written, and which, according to Thy will and wisdom, have been preordained in Thine irrevocable Tablet. Subject to Thy rule, by Thy Name, the Conqueror, the people of Thy realm, that all may turn towards Thy face and forsake their all for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy pleasure.

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

s-b-ḥ → “Glorified”

literal: glorified; the All-Praised; exalted; dawn; daybreak; morning

اللَّهُمَّ

ʾ-l-h → “O Lord my God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

يا

y-ʾ

literal: O; or

أَسْئَلُكَ

s-ʾ-l → “I beseech”

literal: ask; ask/request; ask/beseech

بِاسْمِكَ

s-m-w → “by Thy”

literal: to name, to nominate, to designate, to appoint; name; noun; to name, to appoint, to designate

الكافِي

k-f-y → “suffice” Distinctive

literal: to be content; to suffice; to be satisfied; to be satisfied with

بِأَنْ

ʾ-n-n → “that”

literal: that; those; he; she; it

عَنَّا

ʿ-n → “from us”

literal: from; about; concerning; away from

شَرَّ

sh-r-r → “ungodly” Distinctive

literal: evil; harm; wickedness

أَعْدائِكَ

ʿ-d-w → “of Thine adversaries”

literal: when; if; whenever; at that time

الَّذِينَ

l-dh-y → “which” Distinctive

literal: those who; the ones who (relative pronoun)

كَفَرُوا

k-f-r → “disbelieved”

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

بِبُرْهانِكَ

b-r-h-n → “in Thy testimony”

literal: proof, evidence, demonstration, argument

وَاعْتَرَضُوا

ʿ-r-ḍ → “caviled”

literal: objection, protest, denial; cavil

عَلَى

ʿ-l-w → “at” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

جَمالِكَ،

j-m-l → “Thy beauty”

literal: beauty; comeliness

القاهِرِ

q-h-r → “supreme”

literal: to overpower; to vanquish; wrath; might; force; compulsion; overwhelming

مَظْهَرِ

ẓ-h-r → “Thy Previous Manifestation”

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

الأُولى

ʾ-w-l

literal: first; beginning; at first; the first; former; possessors of; those who have; masters of

الأَبْهی،

b-h-w → “title, the All-Glorious”

literal: splendor; glory; magnificence; Bahá (Proper Name in Bahá’í texts)

الآخِذِ

ʾ-kh-dh → “laid hold” Distinctive

literal: to take; to seize; to affect; to grasp

اتَّخَذُوا

ʾ-kh-dh → “seized” Distinctive

literal: to take; to seize; to affect; to grasp

أَمْرَكَ

ʾ-m-r → “Thy Cause”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

سُخْرِيًّا

s-kh-r → “subdue” Distinctive

literal: subdue; mockery; to mock

وَيَلْعَبوُنَ

l-ʿ-b → “disportest” Distinctive

literal: to play; to sport; to jest

بِالآياتِ

ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: verse; sign; miracle; proof; sign, verse, miracle, token, indication; ayah; he; him; it

الكُبْرى

k-b-r

literal: great; grand; mighty; large; greatness; majesty; sovereignty; arrogance

وَمُنِعُوا

m-n-ʿ → “and were hindered”

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

هذا

h-dh-ʾ → “this”

literal: this; that

المَقامِ

q-w-m → “most exalted station”

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

الأَسْنی،

s-n-w

literal: most beautiful; finest; highest

الغَالِبِ

gh-l-b → “ascendancy” Distinctive

literal: to overcome, overpower, vanquish, prevail

أَحِبَّائَكَ

ḥ-b-b → “Thy loved ones”

literal: love; affection

مِنْ

m-n → “from”

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

بَرِيَّتِكَ،

b-r-ʾ → “Thy creatures”

literal: to create; to create anew; to be free from; innocent; free from; clear of; to cure; to heal; to clear

الهاتِكِ

h-t-k → “profaneth” Distinctive

literal: to tear, rend, violate, break; desecration

سِتْرَ

s-t-r → “veil”

literal: to veil; to conceal; to cover; veil; covering

حُرْمَتَكَ

ḥ-r-m → “deprived” Distinctive

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

وَضَيَّعُوا

ḍ-y-ʿ → “wasteth” Distinctive

literal: wasting; squandering; loss; harm

بَيْنَ

b-y-n → “among”

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

عِبادِكَ،

ʿ-b-d → “Thy people” Distinctive

literal: servant; slave; worshipper

الجَبَّارِ

j-b-r → “dominion” Distinctive

literal: compelled; forced; constrained

قُلُوبَ

q-l-b → “broken hearts”

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

وَتُصْلِحَ

ṣ-l-ḥ → “graciously bless”

literal: reform; peace; Salih

أُموُرَهُمْ

ʾ-m-r → “in their affairs”

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

بِعِنايَتِكَ،

ʿ-n-y

literal: to concern; to mean; to turn away from; bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention; meaning; significance; inner sense

العَلاَّمِ

ʿ-l-m → “Name, the All-Knowing”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

بَدائِعِ

b-d-ʿ → “wonders”

literal: to create; most wondrous; excel

وَيَسْلُكُنَّ

s-l-k → “and walk”

literal: conduct; walk; traveler

سُبُلَ

s-b-l → “in the ways”

literal: path; way; road; cause; means

رِضائِكَ،

r-ḍ-y → “of Thy pleasure”

literal: good-pleasure, consent, satisfaction; satisfaction; pleasure; approval; contentment

عَنْهُم

ʿ-n-d → “Thee”

literal: vessel; container; circumstance; adroitness

ظُلْمَ

ẓ-l-m → “tyranny”

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

كُلِّ

k-l-l

literal: for us; to us

وَبَغْيَ

b-gh-y → “becometh” Distinctive

literal: to seek; to desire; to rebel; to transgress

وَضُرَّ

ḍ-r-r → “harm”

literal: harm; damage; injury; detriment

الحَافِظِ

ḥ-f-ẓ → “Name, the Preserver”

literal: guardian; preserver; keeper

فِي

f-y → “within”

literal: in; in-it; in it

حِصْنِ

ḥ-ṣ-n → “stronghold”

literal: fortress, stronghold, fortified place

قُدْرَتِكَ

q-d-r → “of Thy might”

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

لِئَلا

l-y-l → “night”

literal: night; darkness

يَرِدَ

w-r-d

literal: hand; power; strength; (plural) hands; agents; helpers; to assist, to support, to aid, to strengthen

عَلَيْهِمْ

ʿ-l-y

literal: exalted; highest; supreme; most high; upon you; on; over; Ali (name); upon

سِهَامُ

s-h-m → “darts”

literal: arrow; dart; shaft; portion; share

الإِشَاراتِ

sh-y-r → “allusions”

literal: explanation; commentary; to explain; to open

عُصَاةِ

ʿ-ṣ-y → “such as have rebelled” Distinctive

literal: disobey; transgress; rebel

جَعَلْتَهُ

j-ʿ-l → “hast blessed” Distinctive

literal: to make; to cause; to render; to appoint

وَاخْتَصَصْتَهُ

kh-ṣ-ṣ → “singled out”

literal: special; particular; specific

بِنَفْسِكَ

n-f-s → “souls” Distinctive

literal: self; soul; psyche; person; essence

بِهِ

b-h → “as”

literal: by it; by him; with it

تُبَارِكَ

b-r-k → “blessed”

literal: blessed; auspicious; fruitful; blest; blessed word

الأَيَّامِ

y-w-m → “these days”

literal: day; age; period; era

الَّتِيْ

ʾ-l-l → “of which”

literal: who; which/that; which

رُقِمَتْ

r-q-m → “written”

literal: written; inscribe; inscribed

قَلَمِ

q-l-m → “Pen”

literal: pen; writing instrument

وَقُضِيَتْ

q-ḍ-y → “preordained” Distinctive

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

لَوْحِ

l-w-ḥ → “Thine irrevocable Tablet”

literal: tablet; panel; divine decree; revelation

الإِمْضآءِ

m-ḍ-y → “passed” Distinctive

literal: pass; execution; past

وَإِرادَتِكَ،

r-w-d → “desire” Distinctive

literal: to intend; to will; to desire

أَهْلَ

ʾ-h-l → “people”

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

مَمْلَكَتِكَ

m-l-k → “of Thy realm”

literal: kingdom; dominion; realm; sovereignty

لِيُقْبِلُنَّ

q-b-l → “that all may turn”

literal: before; acceptance; approach

إِلى

ʾ-l-y → “towards”

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

وَجْهِكَ

w-j-h → “Thy face”

literal: face; countenance; direction; aspect

وَيَنْقَطِعُنَّ

q-ṭ-ʿ → “detachment” Distinctive

literal: detachment; detached; severed

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶