Prayers and Meditations — §33

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 33 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

ُوا ظَنُّوا بِأَنَّهُمْ مُطْفِئُ نُورِكَ وَمُخْمِدُ نارِكَ وَمُرْكِدُ أَرْياحِ فَضْلِكَ، لا فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَوْ لَمْ يَكنِ البَلايا حامِلَ حِكْمَتِكَ وَالقَضايا وَعاءَ تَدْبِيرِكَ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَعْتَرِضَ عَلَيْنا وَلَوْ يَجْتَمِعُ أَهْلُ السَّمَواتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَإِنِّي لَوْ أَذْكُرُ ما أَرَى مِنْ بَدائِعِ حِكْمَتِكَ لَيُقْطَعُ أَكْبادُ أَعْدائِكَ، فَسُبْحَانَكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

They that are shut out as by a veil from Thee have imagined that they have the power to put out Thy light, and to quench Thy fire, and to still the winds of Thy grace. Nay, and to this Thy might beareth me witness! Had not every tribulation been made the bearer of Thy wisdom, and every ordeal the vehicle of Thy providence, no one would have dared oppose us, though the powers of earth and heaven were to be leagued against us. Were I to unravel the wondrous mysteries of Thy wisdom which are laid bare before me, the reins of Thine enemies would be cleft asunder.

Translation Notes

ُوا

úá w-ʾ-y

literal: by; by (oath particle)

SE rendered ُوا (úá), ظَنُّوا (ẓannúá), بِأَنَّهُمْ (biʾannahum), مُطْفِئُ (muṭfiʾ) as “imagined, that they, put out”

2 occurrences in corpus

tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: by

ظَنُّوا

ẓannúá ẓ-n-n → “imagined”

literal: conjecture; think; suppositions

thought 25% have 25% imagined 25% imagine 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: of your idle fancies fire-tabletFire §24: fancy gleaningsGWB §78: they fondly imagine kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: bear in mind prayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: my belief tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitions the-hidden-wordsHW §57: is thy fancy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: deemed

بِأَنَّهُمْ

biʾannahum ʾ-n-n → “verily” Distinctive

literal: indeed; verily

This form usually rendered as “indeed” (6 occurrences)

verily 20% indeed 10% knight 10% “for 10% truly 10% reported 10% say 10% who 10% how 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: He, verily gleaningsGWB §414: that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: how epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: He kitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: if this prayers-and-meditationsP&M §160: Who art epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §15: verily

مُطْفِئُ

muṭfiʾ ṭ-f-ʾ → “put out”

literal: extinguish; extinguishing; to extinguish

put 56% extinguish 13% putting 6% quench 6% quenched 6% must 6% stayed 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: put out gleaningsGWB §600: quench kitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: quenched prayers-and-meditationsP&M §378: must cease from burning will-and-testamentW&T §47: stayed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: put out His light gleaningsGWB §458: putting out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §185: extinguish

وَمُخْمِدُ

wamukhmid kh-m-d → “quench”

literal: extinguish; extinguished; extinguishing

quench 42% quenched 11% extinguish 11% extinguished 11% dispirited 5% quenching 5% cool 5% would 5% chilled 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: to quench gleaningsGWB §71: to cool down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §89: chilled epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: quenched gleaningsGWB §394: dispirited prayers-and-meditationsP&M §475: extinguish gleaningsGWB §36: to extinguish prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: extinguished

نارِكَ

nárik n-ʾ-r → “thy fire”

literal: fire; fire, flame

own 50% fire 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: the fire gleaningsGWB §558: without fire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: So fierce is prayers-and-meditationsP&M §748: the flaming fire the-hidden-wordsHW §143: the fire of will-and-testamentW&T §53: mischief-kindling epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: fires gleaningsGWB §312: hell fire

وَمُرْكِدُ

wamurkid r-k-d → “stilled”

literal: to be still/stagnate; be still; stiller

stilled 33% had 33% still 33%

fire-tabletFire §32: stilled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §33: still prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: had well-nigh been stilled

أَرْياحِ

ʾaryáḥ r-w-ḥ → “winds”

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 §244: went fire-tabletFire §49: fragrance gleaningsGWB §307: the soul kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: of life prayers-and-meditationsP&M §698: repose tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §34: thou mayest live in peace

فَضْلِكَ،

faḍlika، f-ḍ-l → “thy grace”

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

grace 91% tender 2% dawning-places 1% hand 1% bounty 1% loving-kindness 1% horizon 1% bounteousness 1% favor 1% mercy 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: merit gleaningsGWB §548: share of kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: caused to excel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: known unto them tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §23: virtues

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “might”

literal: glory; mighty; might

swear 40% glory 38% might 15% power 4% own 2% would—i 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: the glory fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §148: everlasting glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: noble form of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: and the abased exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendor will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: Hath thy pomp

لَوْ

law l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

يَكنِ

yakn k-w-n

literal: be; was; to be

SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), لَوْ (law), يَكنِ (yakn), البَلايا (al-baláyá), حامِلَ (ḥámil), حِكْمَتِكَ (ḥikmatik) as “might, Had not every tribulation been, bearer, Thy wisdom”

hath 17% none 17% never 8% regarded 8% inherent 8% can 8% reside 8% held 8% there 8% whose 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: hath fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §475: be with kitab-i-iqanKIQ §37: that ye may prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: have expectantly awaited tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyself tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

البَلايا

al-baláyá b-l-w

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), لَوْ (law), يَكنِ (yakn), البَلايا (al-baláyá), حامِلَ (ḥámil), حِكْمَتِكَ (ḥikmatik), وَالقَضايا (wálqaḍáyá) as “might, Had not every tribulation been, bearer, Thy wisdom, ordeal”

tribulations 38% tribulation 15% adversities 12% trials 6% afflictions 6% every 6% manifold 6% woes 6% all 3% ills 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: perpetually afflicted fire-tabletFire §39: calamity gleaningsGWB §168: were sore tried kitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: been afflicted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: the ills the-hidden-wordsHW §154: tried will-and-testamentW&T §35: in my woes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: affliction

حامِلَ

ḥámil ḥ-m-l → “bearer”

literal: bearing

bearer 75% pregnant 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: hath endured gleaningsGWB §441: denounced kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sustaining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §225: hearing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §413: hath borne will-and-testamentW&T §47: endure epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: sustain gleaningsGWB §523: excessive burdens

حِكْمَتِكَ

ḥikmatik ḥ-k-m → “thy wisdom”

literal: wisdom

wisdom 93% essence 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: all sovereignty gleaningsGWB §696: the truth of the laws kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: rulership kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: impregnable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §668: Thy decree tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: shall be tested the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §6: into the hands

وَالقَضايا

wálqaḍáyá q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

This form usually rendered as “trials”, “tribulations”, “troubles” (9 occurrences)

trials 11% tribulations 11% troubles 11% vicissitudes 11% assaults 11% ordeal 11% divers 11% all 11% manifold 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: elapsed fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §264: fate kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §367: divers tribulations the-hidden-wordsHW §49: My decree epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: that have happened

وَعاءَ

waʿáʾ w-ʿ-y → “retentive” Distinctive

literal: retentive

This form usually rendered as “vehicle” (1 occurrences)

retentive 17% goblets 17% attentive 17% hearing 17% vehicle 17% receptacle 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: the goblets gleaningsGWB §726: hearing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §33: vehicle epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: retentive gleaningsGWB §26: attentive prayers-and-meditationsP&M §472: receptacle

تَدْبِيرِكَ

tadbírik d-b-r → “thy providence”

literal: management; scheme; reflect

take 13% ordereth 13% ordainer 13% selfish 13% providence 13% ruler 7% incompetent 7% machinations 7% devise 7% schemed 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: incompetent and lacking in understanding gleaningsGWB §458: devices kitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: led prayers-and-meditationsP&M §32: Thy providence the-hidden-wordsHW §47: reflect epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: machinations gleaningsGWB §362: selfish schemes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: strive to grasp

يَقْدِرَ

yaqdir q-d-r → “have dared”

literal: power; powerful

can 61% have 9% cannot 4% claim 4% transgress 4% aspire 4% hath 4% able 4% powerless 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Potent art fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §547: capacity kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §225: fixed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §438: potency of Thy might tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

أَحَدٌ

ʾaḥadun ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: one; anyone; oneness

SE rendered تَدْبِيرِكَ (tadbírik), يَقْدِرَ (yaqdir), أَحَدٌ (ʾaḥadun), يَعْتَرِضَ (yaʿtariḍ), عَلَيْنا (ʿalayná) as “Thy providence, have dared, oppose, against”

one 28% any 17% anyone 15% none 13% man 13% neighbor 4% incomparable 2% alone 2% another’s 2% king 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: one gleaningsGWB §488: man on earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the everlasting and goodly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §83: of Thy unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §28: others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Incomparable gleaningsGWB §667: the undying Fire

يَعْتَرِضَ

yaʿtariḍ ʿ-r-ḍ → “oppose”

literal: turn away; turning away; objection

protest 25% oppose 25% question 13% would 13% may 13% cavil 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: hast turned away gleaningsGWB §689: too critical kitab-i-iqanKIQ §183: turned their back prayers-and-meditationsP&M §405: such as have repudiated tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: turns away the-hidden-wordsHW §22: hast thou turned away will-and-testamentW&T §17: oppose and protest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: such as have turned aside

عَلَيْنا

ʿalayná ʿ-l-y → “against”

literal: upon; on

upon 33% trials 33% against 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: Me at the hands gleaningsGWB §234: thee in His name kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §320: upon me the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to exalt gleaningsGWB §101: the

يَجْتَمِعُ

yajtamiʿ j-m-ʿ → “leagued”

literal: all; all, entire

leagued 25% rise 13% ye 13% all 13% band 13% compass 13% can 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: Gather ye around gleaningsGWB §170: your gathering together kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: certain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: Thy manifold tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: They all gathered the-hidden-wordsHW §92: wisdom will-and-testamentW&T §23: unto all

أَهْلُ

ʾahl ʾ-h-l

literal: people; people, folk; people/inhabitants

SE rendered عَلَيْنا (ʿalayná), وَلَوْ (walaw), يَجْتَمِعُ (yajtamiʿ), أَهْلُ (ʾahl), السَّمَواتِ (as-samawát), وَالأَرْضِ، (wálʾarḍi،) as “against, were, leagued, heaven, earth and”

people 41% peoples 29% dwellers 5% men 4% mankind 4% ye 4% concourse 4% infidel 4% inhabitants 3% denizens 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: of the people gleaningsGWB §458: them kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: beholders of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §212: into the divine mysteries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: the denizens the-hidden-wordsHW §109: DWELLERS will-and-testamentW&T §34: devoted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: wicked

السَّمَواتِ

as-samawát s-m-w → “heaven”

literal: heaven

heaven 48% heavens 46% heaven!” 2% earth 1% into 1% exalted 1% denizens 1% realms 1% guidance 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: by the name fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §279: their names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: His prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: heaven and on tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §121: call

وَالأَرْضِ،

wálʾarḍi، ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth and”

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 §155: the land fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §218: Land prayers-and-meditationsP&M §428: Thine earth the-hidden-wordsHW §98: realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: all that is on earth fire-tabletFire §3: on gleaningsGWB §234: land of the heart’s desire

وَإِنِّي

waʾinní ʾ-n-n → “thee” Distinctive

literal: that; indeed/verily; indeed

This form usually rendered as “call” (6 occurrences)

thee 21% verily 14% thou 14% now 7% moment 7% admit 7% recognize 7% “there 7% “verily 7% such 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §698: They prayers-and-meditationsP&M §378: likewise, recognize will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §2: as prayers-and-meditationsP&M §430: I will-and-testamentW&T §36: I call upon Thee gleaningsGWB §698: Such

أَذْكُرُ

ʾadhkur dh-k-r

literal: mention; mentioned

SE rendered وَالأَرْضِ، (wálʾarḍi،), وَإِنِّي (waʾinní), لَوْ (law), أَذْكُرُ (ʾadhkur), أَرَى (ʾará), بَدائِعِ (badáʾiʿ) as “earth and, Were I, to unravel, laid bare, wondrous”