Prayers and Meditations — §336

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 336 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحانَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ يا مَنْ بِيَدِكَ مَلَكُوتُ مُلْكَ السَّمَواتِ وَالأَرَضِينَ يا مَنْ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ انْصَعَقَتِ المُمْكِناتُ وَتَفَرَّقَتْ أَرْكانُها وَبِكَلِمَةٍ أُخْرى اجْتَمَعَتْ وَرُكِّبَ كُلُّ جُزْءٍ بِالْجُزْءِ الآخَرِ، سُبْحَانَكَ يا مَنْ كُنْتَ قادِرًا عَلَى مَنْ فِي السَّمَواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمُقْتَدِرًا عَلَى مَنْ فِي جَبَرُوتِ الأَمْرِ وَالْخَلْقِ، لَيْسَ لَكَ شِبْهٌ فِي الإِبْداعِ وَلا مِثْلٌ فِي الاخْتِراعِ، ما عَرَفَكَ نَفْسٌ وَما بَلَغَ إِلَيْكَ أَحَدٌ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَوْ يَطِيرُ أَحَدٌ بِأَجْنِحَةِ الغَيْبِ وَالشُّهُودِ فِي هَوآءِ عِرْفانِكَ بِدَوامِ نَفْسِكَ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ أَنْ يَتَجاوَزَ مِنَ الحُدُوداتِ الكَوْنِيَّةِ، مَنْ كانَ شَأْنُهُ هذا كَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَطِيرَ فِي هَوآءِ عِزِّ اَحَدِيَّتِكَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Glorified, immeasurably glorified art Thou, in Whose hands is the empire of whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on earth, Thou, Who through but one word of Thy mouth, caused all things to expire and dissolve asunder, and Who, by yet another word, caused whatever had been separated to be combined and reunited! Magnified be Thy name, O Thou Who hast power over all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth, Whose dominion embraceth whatsoever is in the heaven of Thy Revelation and the kingdom of Thy creation. None can equal Thee in Thy created realms; none can compare with Thee in the universe Thou hast fashioned. The mind of no one hath comprehended Thee, and the aspiration of no soul hath reached Thee. I swear by Thy might! Were any one to soar, on whatever wings, as long as Thine own Being endureth, throughout the immensity of Thy knowledge, he would still be powerless to transgress the bounds which the contingent world hath set for him. How can, then, such a man aspire to wing his flight into the atmosphere of Thy most exalted presence?

Translation Notes

سُبْحانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “glorified, immeasurably glorified”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

SE expanded to “Glorified, immeasurably glorified”

glorified 28% lauded 17% praised 13% glory 9% praise 8% immeasurably 8% magnified 6% exalted 4% all 4% far 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: All-Glorious fire-tabletFire §14: veiled gleaningsGWB §3: Exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the “veils prayers-and-meditationsP&M §34: Glorified be Thou, then,tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He that the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high will-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God

بِيَدِكَ

bíadik y-d-y → “in whose hands”

literal: hand; hands; by-hand

SE expanded to “in Whose hands”

whose 58% hand 17% hands 13% thou 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: hands gleaningsGWB §167: hold within My grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §719: my hands will-and-testamentW&T §13: Hands (pillars)epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: the hands gleaningsGWB §476: designs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: with their hands

مَلَكُوتُ

malakút m-l-k → “empire” Distinctive

literal: kingdom; king

This form usually rendered as “kingdom”, “kingdoms”, “heaven” (152 occurrences)

kingdom 74% kingdoms 10% heaven 6% empire 4% into 1% all 1% glory 1% realm 1% whole 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: “The Kingdom gleaningsGWB §465: in His angels kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: worldly dominion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §304: O Thou the King tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worlds the-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may be will-and-testamentW&T §15: far epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Who layeth low

السَّمَواتِ

as-samawát s-m-w → “heavens”

literal: heaven

heavens 43% heaven 41% all 12% heaven!” 1% into 1% denizens 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of the heavens fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §200: of His names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §116: heaven.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: arrayed with tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My sake tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes

وَالأَرَضِينَ

wálʾaraḍín ʾ-r-ḍ → “on earth”

literal: earth; earth, land

earth 72% all 27% earth.” 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: in the land fire-tabletFire §36: a desolate land gleaningsGWB §435: in every land kitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: tidings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §816: and all who are on earth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §43: the lands the-hidden-wordsHW §1: in the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: country

بِكَلِمَةٍ

bikalimahin k-l-m → “one word”

literal: word; words

word 54% words 23% through 10% one 6% statement 2% single 2% sayings 1% idle 1% certain 1% divinity 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: converse fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §292: from the lips kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: single utterance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: that term prayers-and-meditationsP&M §518: through Whose word tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: gave utterance the-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith

عِنْدِكَ

ʿindik ʿ-n-d → “thy mouth” Distinctive

literal: at

This form usually rendered as “thee”, “thou”, “which” (55 occurrences)

thee 34% thou 24% which 10% things 7% presence 7% what 5% mouth 5% possessions 2% all 2% before 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: that which is yours gleaningsGWB §282: My grace kitab-i-iqanKIQ §188: with prayers-and-meditationsP&M §746: when confronted with tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: on Our part the-hidden-wordsHW §3: in My sight will-and-testamentW&T §34: stubbornness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: possess

انْصَعَقَتِ

inṣaʿaqat ṣ-ʿ-q → “dumbfounded”

literal: dumbfounded

seized 33% dumbfounded 33% caused 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: swooned away gleaningsGWB §64: would swoon away and die prayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: caused all things to expire gleaningsGWB §354: would be dumbfounded gleaningsGWB §135: seized with violent commotion gleaningsGWB §117: thunderstruck gleaningsGWB §395: to be dumbfounded gleaningsGWB §22: dumbfounded

المُمْكِناتُ

al-mumkinát m-k-n → “all”

literal: possible things

all 48% entire 15% created 10% creation 6% whole 5% beings 5% universe 3% creatures 3% every 3% earth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: imperturbability fire-tabletFire §20: every creature gleaningsGWB §278: eye of creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §123: universe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: of Thy creatures the-hidden-wordsHW §104: in existence will-and-testamentW&T §17: submissiveness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: the world of being

وَتَفَرَّقَتْ

watafarraqat f-r-q → “separation” Distinctive

literal: separation

This form usually rendered as “scattered”, “have”, “dissolve” (5 occurrences)

scattered 40% have 20% dissolve 20% shaken 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: discern not between fire-tabletFire §1: of separation gleaningsGWB §410: to sow the seeds of dissension kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: Muslim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §3: their separation from Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: shall be tested the-hidden-wordsHW §100: differ will-and-testamentW&T §17: separateth himself

أَرْكانُها

ʾarkánuhá r-k-n

literal: pillar; pillars; corner, limb

SE rendered المُمْكِناتُ (al-mumkinát), وَتَفَرَّقَتْ (watafarraqat), أَرْكانُها (ʾarkánuhá), وَبِكَلِمَةٍ (wabikalimahin) as “all, dissolve asunder, another word”

limbs 26% foundations 26% pillars 15% members 7% whole 7% member 4% entire 4% every 4% pillar 4% limb 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the foundations gleaningsGWB §163: My limbs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: Pillar prayers-and-meditationsP&M §559: limb of my body epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: member gleaningsGWB §244: the limbs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: whole character prayers-and-meditationsP&M §487: limbs

أُخْرى

ʾukhrى ʾ-kh-r

literal: end; other

SE rendered وَبِكَلِمَةٍ (wabikalimahin), أُخْرى (ʾukhrى), اجْتَمَعَتْ (ijtamaʿat), وَرُكِّبَ (warukkib) as “another word, combined, reunited”

another 19% again 19% other 14% yet 10% rest 10% latter 10% ensuing 5% new 5% future 5% more 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: new gleaningsGWB §70: heaven kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: the “End prayers-and-meditationsP&M §20: and of the world to come the-hidden-wordsHW §96: While there is yet will-and-testamentW&T §42: of late epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: postponed gleaningsGWB §295: last

اجْتَمَعَتْ

ijtamaʿat j-m-ʿ → “all” Distinctive

literal: all; all, entire

This form usually rendered as “reunited” (2 occurrences)

all 75% every 9% whole 4% gather 3% number 2% one 2% each 2% have 2% great 1% many 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: many gleaningsGWB §361: their all kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: in the plural prayers-and-meditationsP&M §128: have been arrayed the-hidden-wordsHW §57: accord with will-and-testamentW&T §36: for all epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: meet

وَرُكِّبَ

warukkib r-k-b → “committed” Distinctive

literal: commit; commit, perpetrate; to commit

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

committed 24% commit 21% have 18% perpetrated 15% gave 6% hath 6% rideth 3% riding 3% things 3% mounted 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: They have committed gleaningsGWB §227: followeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: hath compiled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: been so harassed the-hidden-wordsHW §142: charger epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: mounted gleaningsGWB §621: They that follow kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: steed

جُزْءٍ

juzʾin j-z-ʾ → “joined”

literal: part; part, portion; parts

joined 50% member 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: joined gleaningsGWB §404: constituent elements kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: trivial prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: member epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §96: sections kitab-i-iqanKIQ §187: small

قادِرًا

qádiran q-d-r → “power over” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “powerless”, “almighty”, “can” (39 occurrences)

powerless 15% almighty 12% can 12% all-powerful 12% able 12% powerful 12% potent 8% power 8% could 8% bear 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: hath power fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §300: hath been prescribed kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: power have prayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: and the overpowering greatness of Thy might tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §22: I have hung

الأَمْرِ

al-ʾamr ʾ-m-r → “revelation”

literal: command; matter; cause

cause 57% revelation 17% faith 6% command 3% behest 3% divine 3% bidding 3% decree 3% ordainer 2% bidden 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: topics fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §510: Our Cause kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: else prayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: Thy bidding given us tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thine

وَالْخَلْقِ،

wálkhalqi، kh-l-q → “creation”

literal: creation; create; created

creation 26% creatures 19% hath 15% created 12% men 9% people 7% all 4% called 3% mankind 3% creature 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: created fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §441: were made kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: peoples prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: Thou hast created me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §23: thou wast created epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: hath created

شِبْهٌ

shibhun sh-b-h → “equal” Distinctive

literal: resemblance; likeness

This form usually rendered as “like”, “peer”, “such” (20 occurrences)

like 24% peer 18% such 12% comparison 12% compare 6% equal 6% parallel 6% resemble 6% can 6% peers 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: distrust gleaningsGWB §107: doubt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: misgiving prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: similitude will-and-testamentW&T §5: of doubt epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: peer gleaningsGWB §314: doubts and fancies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: unlike

الإِبْداعِ

al-ʾibdáʿ b-d-ʿ → “created”

literal: creation

creation 25% entire 25% created 13% whole 8% all 8% world 4% universe 4% eye 4% uttermost 4% east 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: wondrous gleaningsGWB §682: wondrous works kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: sweet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §490: through the wondrous potency tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: in His Name the-hidden-wordsHW §65: have created epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the world gleaningsGWB §176: this wondrous favor

مِثْلٌ

mithlun m-th-l → “like”

literal: like; likeness; example

instance 18% like 14% even 12% consider 12% such 10% same 10% equal 8% what 8% one 6% peerless 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: such as are like him gleaningsGWB §689: violence kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: like unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: and the like prayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: and likeness the-hidden-wordsHW §4: Mine image will-and-testamentW&T §17: the days epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: as

الاخْتِراعِ،

al-ákhtiráʿi، kh-r-ʿ → “creation”

literal: invention/creation; creation

creation 21% all 14% universe 14% devised 7% eye 7% uttermost 7% world 7% fashioned 7% whole 7% realm 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: been devised gleaningsGWB §548: the eye of creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: world of creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: and fashioned the-hidden-wordsHW §65: have wrought gleaningsGWB §281: creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §614: the whole universe gleaningsGWB §556: uttermost ends

عَرَفَكَ

ʿarafak ʿ-r-f → “hath comprehended”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

hath 38% who 13% sweetness 13% comprehended 13% knowledge 13% recognized 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: better acquainted gleaningsGWB §127: know his kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: ignorance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: learned tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §4: knew epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: the fragrance

بَلَغَ

balagh b-l-gh → “reached thee”

literal: reach; reached; attainment

proclaim 38% reached 15% culminated 8% attained 8% attain 8% hath 8% have 8% delivered 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: Such are fire-tabletFire §11: reached gleaningsGWB §490: So great have been kitab-i-iqanKIQ §172: to understand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §232: hath been able to touch tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: message tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: she reached the-hidden-wordsHW §12: bountifully

أَحَدٌ،

ʾaḥadun، ʾ-ḥ-d → “one”

literal: anyone; one; oneness

one 27% any 22% man 18% anyone 14% none 6% others 3% neighbor 3% who 2% incomparable 2% other 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §208: none gleaningsGWB §486: unity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: divine Revelation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §85: to equal or rival tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §69: over the other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: anyone gleaningsGWB §383: of Divine Unity

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “swear by thy might”

literal: mighty; glory; might

SE expanded to “swear by Thy might”

swear 44% glory 36% might 12% power 8% own 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glory gleaningsGWB §65: the Most Excellent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: more glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: The glory of Thy might beareth me witness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §38: dearly beloved epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy glory

يَطِيرُ

yaṭír ṭ-y-r → “soar”

literal: bird; fly; flight

soar 83% wing 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: soared fire-tabletFire §46: fly gleaningsGWB §387: The birds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: that haply thou mayest soar prayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: wing his flight tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: have never attained epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: soar ye gleaningsGWB §685: that bird

بِأَجْنِحَةِ

biʾajniḥah j-n-ḥ → “wings”

literal: wing; wings

wings 78% full 11% whatever 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the wings gleaningsGWB §251: humbly kitab-i-iqanKIQ §209: humility prayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: whatever wings epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: wings gleaningsGWB §63: on the wings gleaningsGWB §685: with the full force of its mighty wings

الغَيْبِ

al-ghayb gh-y-b → “as”

literal: unseen; unseen/hidden; invisible

SE rendered يَطِيرُ (yaṭír), أَحَدٌ (ʾaḥadun), بِأَجْنِحَةِ (biʾajniḥah), الغَيْبِ (al-ghayb), وَالشُّهُودِ (wálshshuhúd), هَوآءِ (hawáʾ) as “soar, one, wings, as, atmosphere”

invisible 53% unseen 28% unknowable 5% concealment 3% hidden 3% seen 3% secrets 1% things 1% whom 1% impenetrable 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: invisible gleaningsGWB §122: the spiritual kitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: veiled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: of the seen tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: while I am absent the-hidden-wordsHW §143: with detraction epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Unseen, the Unknowable gleaningsGWB §550: inner

وَالشُّهُودِ

wálshshuhúd sh-h-d

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

SE rendered أَحَدٌ (ʾaḥadun), بِأَجْنِحَةِ (biʾajniḥah), الغَيْبِ (al-ghayb), وَالشُّهُودِ (wálshshuhúd), هَوآءِ (hawáʾ), عِرْفانِكَ (ʿirfánik) as “one, wings, as, atmosphere, knowledge”