Prayers and Meditations — §315
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 315 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ يا إِلهِي لَمْ أَدْرِ بِأَيِّ ذِكْرٍ أَذْكُرُكَ وَبِأَيِّ وَصْفٍ أُثْنِيكَ وَبِأَيِّ اسْمٍ أَدْعُوكَ، لَوْ أَدْعُوكَ بِاسْمِ المَالِكَ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّ مَالِكَ مَمالِكَ الإِبْداعِ وَالاخْتِراعِ مَمْلُوكٌ لَكَ وَمَخْلُوقٌ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَإِنْ أَذْكُرُكَ بِاسْمِ القَيُّومِ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّهُ كانَ ساجِدًا عَلَى كفٍّ مِنَ التُّرابِ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ وَسَلْطَنَتِكَ وَاقْتِدارِكَ، وَإِنْ أَصِفُكَ بِأَحَدِيَّةِ ذاتِكَ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّ هذا وَصْفٌ أَلْبَسَهُ ظَنِّي ثَوْبَ الوَصْفِيَّةِ وَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تَزَلْ كُنْتَ مُق
Shoghi Effendi Translation
All praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! I know not how to sing Thy praise, how to describe Thy glory, how to call upon Thy Name. If I call upon Thee by Thy Name, the All-Possessing, I am compelled to recognize that He Who holdeth in His hand the immediate destinies of all created things is but a vassal dependent upon Thee, and is the creation of but a word proceeding from Thy mouth. And if I proclaim Thee by the name of Him Who is the All-Compelling, I readily discover that He is but a suppliant fallen upon the dust, awe-stricken by Thy dreadful might, Thy sovereignty and power. And if I attempt to describe Thee by glorifying the oneness of Thy Being, I soon realize that such a conception is but a notion which mine own fancy hath woven, and that Thou hast ever been immeasurably exalted above the vain imaginations which the hearts of men have devised.
Translation Notes
سُبْحَانَكَ
literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise
This form usually rendered as “glorified”, “lauded”, “praised” (181 occurrences)
SE expanded to “All praise be to Thee”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: Everything celebratethgleaningsGWB §3: Exalted, immeasurably exaltedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: Praise be to Himprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: All praise be to Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: the mistsgleaningsGWB §80: clouds
SE usually renders this root as “god”, “divine”, “god’s”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: know notgleaningsGWB §338: accomplishmentsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: understanding heartepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: possessethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: the oceanepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: have come intoprayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: How mysteriousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I know not
This form usually rendered as “what”, “sign”, “most” (15 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: a signgleaningsGWB §384: signprayers-and-meditationsP&M §105: in Thy signsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: signsgleaningsGWB §609: the versesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §716: of Thine utterancesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Most Mighty SigngleaningsGWB §537: verses
remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: for ThygleaningsGWB §416: that callestkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: asked him sayingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: my remembrancetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeththe-hidden-wordsHW §44: I may remember thee
This form usually rendered as “description”, “praise”, “describing” (33 occurrences)
description 24% praise 24% describing 12% applicable 6% described 6% character 6% eulogy 6% extol 6% glory 6% notion 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: norgleaningsGWB §725: extolledkitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: characterprayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: ever expressepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: thatgleaningsGWB §702: adorn himselfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: clothed themselvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: description
SE rendered وَبِأَيِّ (wabiʾayy), وَصْفٍ (waṣfin), أُثْنِيكَ (ʾuthník), وَبِأَيِّ (wabiʾayy), اسْمٍ (ismin) as “how, glory, Name”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: glorifygleaningsGWB §205: that magnify His Namekitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondaryprayers-and-meditationsP&M §434: declare Thy virtuesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to glorify TheegleaningsGWB §117: praiseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: extol Thy virtuesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: second
8 occurrences in corpus
This form usually rendered as “lord”, “possessor”, “king” (124 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Lord of the DaygleaningsGWB §426: King of Kingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: worldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: the land wherein they dwelltablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdomtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §22: guardian angelsthe-hidden-wordsHW §116: this worldwill-and-testamentW&T §48: of the
SE expanded to “compelled to recognize”
This form usually rendered as “creation”, “entire”, “created” (35 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the worldgleaningsGWB §163: having unveiledkitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: beauteousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §108: the entire creationthe-hidden-wordsHW §65: have createdwill-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: this mightygleaningsGWB §432: created
This form usually rendered as “creation”, “created” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: chosengleaningsGWB §3: inventionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §142: Thy choicethe-hidden-wordsHW §93: Preferepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: (accredited to the ImperialgleaningsGWB §281: the Unconstrainedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §274: desiredthe-hidden-wordsHW §1: clothed it
5 occurrences in corpus
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: God created theefire-tabletFire §40: wert createdgleaningsGWB §449: hath created theekitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: “rebirth”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §114: andtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: how ye were createdepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: character
SE expanded to “but a word”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: His Wordfire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining wordgleaningsGWB §697: Willkitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: a fool—whichprayers-and-meditationsP&M §352: Speak Thoutablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: to one mystic wordwill-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistlesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: these exalted words
thee 38% thou 21% mouth 8% presence 8% possessions 5% possessest 5% possess 5% which 5% dost 3% things 3%
This form usually rendered as “self-subsisting”, “self-subsisting!””, “self-subsisting.”” (34 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: have stood upfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §101: other stationkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath thatkitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: arise toprayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: arisen totablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spottablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: she rose
This form usually rendered as “suppliant”, “downcast”, “hath” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: The MosquegleaningsGWB §668: bow the kneekitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: Mosque.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §338: instantly prostratedthe-hidden-wordsHW §121: Ye bow the kneeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: prostrated themselves, before HimgleaningsGWB §70: prostratekitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: to worship
SE rendered بِأَنَّهُ (biʾannah), ساجِدًا (sájidan), كفٍّ (kffin), التُّرابِ (at-turáb), خَشْيَتِكَ (khashyatik) as “that, suppliant fallen upon, the dust, dreadful might”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: dustgleaningsGWB §665: in the dustkitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: Godprayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the claythe-hidden-wordsHW §69: created you allepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: depths of the earthgleaningsGWB §122: physicalkitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dust
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: fear ofgleaningsGWB §76: dread ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: Thy fearwill-and-testamentW&T §34: alarmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §730: fear of Theeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §550: dreadprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: dreadful might
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the powergleaningsGWB §628: Rulerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: ascendencyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §365: by Thy sovereign mighttablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §98: chiefwill-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just kingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sovereign
power 34% might 32% omnipotence 9% dominion 8% through 4% potency 4% sovereign 4% overpowering 2% strength 2% hand 2%
SE expanded to “glorifying the oneness”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: anyonegleaningsGWB §620: neighborkitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: Not oneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §167: othertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: himself over the otherepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the IncomparablegleaningsGWB §383: of Divine Unity
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: in His EssencegleaningsGWB §97: of the Ancient Beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Beingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §236: Thywill-and-testamentW&T §36: my lifeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine EssencegleaningsGWB §303: Ancient Beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: the unchangeable Being
This form usually rendered as “doubt”, “pomp”, “woven” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: clothesgleaningsGWB §699: with the robekitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: attireprayers-and-meditationsP&M §60: attire meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: with the raimentgleaningsGWB §588: Drape thyselfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: dissemblingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: of appearing
SE expanded to “mine own fancy”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: idle imaginingsfire-tabletFire §24: fancygleaningsGWB §450: imagine about Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: it as certainprayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: my belieftablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitionsthe-hidden-wordsHW §63: thy fanciesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: vain imaginings
SE rendered وَصْفٌ (waṣfun), أَلْبَسَهُ (ʾalbasah), ظَنِّي (ẓanní), ثَوْبَ (thawb), الوَصْفِيَّةِ (al-waṣfífah), وَإِنَّكَ (waʾinnak) as “notion, woven, mine own fancy, describe, and that”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: raimentgleaningsGWB §312: rewardprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: in the guisetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: their garmentsthe-hidden-wordsHW §123: attireepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: the recompensegleaningsGWB §625: the mantleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §421: the raiment
SE expanded to “and that Thou hast”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: everlastingly continuegleaningsGWB §595: ceasedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: pass away.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: eternitythe-hidden-wordsHW §115: passingwill-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanishepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §266: eventidegleaningsGWB §93: can never fade.…
SE expanded to “immeasurably exalted above”
holiness 29% holy 24% sanctified 14% exalted 7% most 7% sanctity 6% sacred 5% immeasurably 3% sanctify 3% blessed 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: cleansed and sanctifiedgleaningsGWB §122: sanctifyingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: heavenly graceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §444: such as devoutly worshiptablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concoursethe-hidden-wordsHW §135: theepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: sanctitygleaningsGWB §679: inviolable
