Prayers and Meditations — §341

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 341 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

يَمْطُرُ عَلَينا مِنْ سَحابِ القَضآءِ سِهَامُ البَلآءِ ما نَجْزَعُ فِي حُبِّكَ وَنَشْكرُكَ فِي ذلِكَ لأنَّا عَرَفْنا وَأَيْقَنَّا بِأَنَّكَ ما قَدَّرْتَ لَنا إِلاَّ ما هُو خَيْرٌ لَنا، وَلَوْ تَجْزَعُ بِها فِي بَعْضِ الأَحْيانِ أَجْسامُنا تَسْتَبْشِرُ بِها أَرْواحُنا، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا مُنْيَةَ قُلُوبِنا وَفَرَحَ صُدُورِنا، كُلُّ نِقْمَةٍ فِي حُبِّكَ رَحْمَةٌ وَكُلُّ نارٍ نُورٌ وَكُلُّ عَذابٍ عَذْبٌ وَكُلُّ تَعَبٍ راحَةٌ وَكُلُّ حُزْنٍ فَرَحٌ، أَيْ رَبِّ مَنْ يَجْزَعُ مِنَ البَلايا فِي سَبِيلِكَ إِنَّهُ ما شَرِبَ كَأْسَ حُبِّكَ وَما ذاقَ حَلاوَةَ ذِكْرِكَ، أَسْئَلُكَ بِسُلْطانِ الأَسْمآءِ وَمَلِيكِها وَمَظْهَر

Shoghi Effendi Translation

As these tribulations, however, were sustained in Thy path and for love of Thee, they who were afflicted by them render thanks, under all conditions, unto Thee, and say: “O Thou Who art the Delight of our hearts and the Object of our adoration! Were the clouds of Thy decree to rain down upon us the darts of affliction, we would, in our love for Thee, refuse to be impatient. We would yield Thee praise and thanksgiving, for we have recognized and are persuaded that Thou hast ordained only that which will be best for us. If our bodies be, at times, weighed down by our troubles, yet our souls rejoice with exceeding gladness. We swear by Thy might, O Thou Who art the Desire of our hearts and the Exultation of our souls! Every trouble that toucheth us in our love for Thee is an evidence of Thy tender mercy, every fiery ordeal a sign of the brightness of Thy light, every woeful tribulation a cooling draught, every toil a blissful repose, every anguish a fountain of gladness.”

Translation Notes

يَمْطُرُ

yamṭur m-ṭ-r → “rain”

literal: rain; rains; to rain

showers 33% rain 30% rains 7% have 7% overflowing 7% rain-giving 4% send 4% outpourings 4% made 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: showers fire-tabletFire §4: rains gleaningsGWB §545: rain and floods kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: rain down stones prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: overflowing showers gleaningsGWB §282: the showers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §295: the rain-giving gleaningsGWB §35: showers of

عَلَينا

ʿalayná ʿ-l-y → “upon”

literal: upon; on

upon 33% trials 33% against 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: is gleaningsGWB §478: in thine affairs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: glorified is He prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: by the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: upon gleaningsGWB §66: from

سَحابِ

saḥáb s-ḥ-b → “clouds”

literal: cloud; clouds; the clouds

clouds 77% showers 6% thick 4% outpourings 4% which 2% clouded 2% intervening 2% showering 2% veil 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: thick clouds gleaningsGWB §447: which the clouds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: the showers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §79: the outpourings epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: the clouds gleaningsGWB §627: from the clouds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: its showering bounties prayers-and-meditationsP&M §261: veil

القَضآءِ

al-qaḍáʾ q-ḍ-y → “thy 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 §155: that have happened fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §261: ordain kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: Thine irrevocable decree the-hidden-wordsHW §46: for that which I ordain epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: fulfilled

سِهَامُ

sihám s-h-m → “darts”

literal: arrows; arrow; arrow/dart

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

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

البَلآءِ

al-baláʾ b-l-w → “affliction” Distinctive

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

This form usually rendered as “tribulation”, “adversity”, “woe” (31 occurrences)

tribulation 42% adversity 13% woe 13% affliction 8% tribulations 8% troubles 4% trials 4% orient 4% afflictions 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: tested fire-tabletFire §48: of tribulation gleaningsGWB §410: afflictions kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: victims prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: with such trials the-hidden-wordsHW §154: tried will-and-testamentW&T §3: a new trial epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: trials

نَجْزَعُ

najzaʿ j-z-ʿ → “impatient”

literal: be-impatient; to be impatient/distressed

impatient 21% fear 14% lament 14% cast 7% dismay 7% feel 7% weighed 7% lamentations 7% empowereth 7% alarm 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: fear fire-tabletFire §40: Lament gleaningsGWB §590: impatient kitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: dismay prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: My lamentations gleaningsGWB §352: cast away prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: weighed down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §502: empowereth me to endure

حُبِّكَ

ḥubbik ḥ-b-b → “love for”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

love 92% thou 1% loveth 1% own 1% thee 1% whose 1% tenderness 1% have 1% bear 1% woe 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §38: pleasing fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §432: cherisheth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the Best-Beloved prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: of them that tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Day tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §3: best beloved

وَنَشْكرُكَ

wanashkruk sh-k-r → “yield thee praise”

literal: thank; thankful; thanks

SE expanded to “yield Thee praise”

render 29% thankful 24% thanks 9% give 9% yield 9% thank 6% magnify 6% thankful.… 3% gratitude 3% thou 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: be thankful fire-tabletFire §49: thank gleaningsGWB §319: the thankful prayers-and-meditationsP&M §312: render thanksgiving unto Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: those who are grateful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: give thanks the-hidden-wordsHW §46: and thankful epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: thanks be

لأنَّا

lʾanná ʾ-n → “have”

literal: that; indeed; that, to

have 13% behold 13% will 13% such 13% either 13% \‘verily 13% verily 13% truth 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: We have heard kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: that He the-hidden-wordsHW §120: moment epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: these epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §69: Either thou or someone else kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: \‘They

عَرَفْنا

ʿarafná ʿ-r-f → “have recognized”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

knowledge 34% understanding 12% recognize 9% know 9% fragrance 8% have 6% comprehend 6% known 5% recognized 5% hath 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: recognized gleaningsGWB §219: faithful kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: unrenowned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §228: have acknowledged tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thinkest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: of knowledge

وَأَيْقَنَّا

waʾayqanná y-q-n → “and are persuaded” Distinctive

literal: certainty; certitude

This form usually rendered as “know”, “well”, “thou” (8 occurrences)

SE expanded to “and are persuaded”

know 38% well 13% thou 13% certainty 13% persuaded 13% assured 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: be persuaded fire-tabletFire §24: Thy certitude gleaningsGWB §239: the undoubted truth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: absolute faith prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: and are persuaded tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: assured epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: them who are well assured gleaningsGWB §286: such power

بِأَنَّكَ

biʾannak ʾ-n-n → “that thou”

literal: that; indeed/verily

thee 43% thou 29% verily 14% since 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §698: They prayers-and-meditationsP&M §534: for Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: for they are gleaningsGWB §2: that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §126: Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: I call upon Thee gleaningsGWB §161: Were it

قَدَّرْتَ

qaddart q-d-r → “hast ordained” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “power”, “thou”, “might” (157 occurrences)

power 49% thou 18% might 8% decreed 5% didst 4% ordain 4% ordained 4% omnipotence 3% divine 2% have 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: power of God fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §300: preordained measure kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: omnipotence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §309: of Thy power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

لَنا

laná l-n → “neither”

literal: will not

2 occurrences in corpus

gleaningsGWB §66: neither

خَيْرٌ

khayrun kh-y-r

literal: good; better

SE rendered قَدَّرْتَ (qaddart), لَنا (laná), خَيْرٌ (khayrun), لَنا، (laná،), وَلَوْ (walaw), تَجْزَعُ (tajzaʿ) as “hast ordained, for us, If, weighed down”

good 51% better 21% best 10% righteous 5% chosen 5% preferred 2% blessing 2% highest 2% manifest 2% virtue 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: blessing gleaningsGWB §509: manifest advantage kitab-i-iqanKIQ §41: godly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §208: good thing the-hidden-wordsHW §101: Ponder will-and-testamentW&T §36: Thy goodly gifts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §267: better gleaningsGWB §697: thorns

وَلَوْ

walaw 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

الأَحْيانِ

al-ʾaḥyán ḥ-y-n → “moment” Distinctive

literal: time; time/moment

This form usually rendered as “times”, “occasions”, “time” (22 occurrences)

times 50% occasions 8% time 8% continually 8% bodies 8% conditions 8% moment 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: thus far gleaningsGWB §295: in the Day kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: season prayers-and-meditationsP&M §409: of their lives the-hidden-wordsHW §154: now epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: soon gleaningsGWB §25: that when prayers-and-meditationsP&M §852: this hour

أَجْسامُنا

ʾajsámuná j-s-m → “our bodies”

literal: bodily; bodies (our)

body 25% bodies 25% physical 13% inmost 13% desires 13% solid 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My body gleaningsGWB §321: physical kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: desires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §594: solid thing gleaningsGWB §463: inmost being kitab-i-iqanKIQ §168: body prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: our bodies gleaningsGWB §630: bodies

تَسْتَبْشِرُ

tastabshir b-sh-r → “our souls rejoice”

literal: human; glad-tidings; herald

SE expanded to “our souls rejoice”

rejoiceth 50% souls 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: may announce gleaningsGWB §23: peoples kitab-i-iqanKIQ §215: enjoy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §227: Announcer the-hidden-wordsHW §22: OF MAN will-and-testamentW&T §35: rejoiced epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: Evangel gleaningsGWB §667: joyous and beaming with light

أَرْواحُنا،

ʾarwáḥuná، r-w-ḥ → “spirit” Distinctive

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

This form usually rendered as “souls” (4 occurrences)

spirit 50% souls 12% soul 8% winds 6% fragrance 6% holy 4% life 4% breath 4% spiritual 3% sweet 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: He Who was the Spirit fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §676: the holy and sanctified beings kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: imperishable fragrance of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: exultation and rapture tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: of the-hidden-wordsHW §17: with My spirit

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

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

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE expanded to “swear by Thy might”

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: Mighty fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §116: sanctity and glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: dignitaries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §450: to the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: By Thy glory

مُنْيَةَ

munyah m-n-y → “desire”

literal: wish/desire; desire; wish

desire 50% wish 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: \‘Wish ye, then gleaningsGWB §543: among kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: yearned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: and my Highest Wish prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: my Wish prayers-and-meditationsP&M §652: O my Hope prayers-and-meditationsP&M §711: the Wish prayers-and-meditationsP&M §318: he aspireth

قُلُوبِنا

qulúbiná q-l-b → “our hearts”

literal: heart; hearts

hearts 52% heart 39% souls 2% all 1% radiant 1% men’s 1% mine 1% whole 1% soul 1% human 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: the hearts gleaningsGWB §66: The inmost essence kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: upheaval prayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: of my heart the-hidden-wordsHW §120: mind will-and-testamentW&T §48: with a heart epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: the heart

وَفَرَحَ

wafaraḥ f-r-ḥ → “joy”

literal: rejoice; joy; joy, gladness

into 33% joy 17% rejoice 17% supreme 17% exultation 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: Exultest thou over fire-tabletFire §12: Delight gleaningsGWB §212: and filled with joy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: have been so filled will-and-testamentW&T §35: rejoicing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: “Rejoice with great joy gleaningsGWB §250: Delight not prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: a fountain of gladness.”

صُدُورِنا،

ṣudúriná، ṣ-d-r → “of our souls”

literal: breast

SE expanded to “of our souls”

souls 50% breasts 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: My breast gleaningsGWB §192: bosom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: bosoms prayers-and-meditationsP&M §149: the Fountainhead the-hidden-wordsHW §120: thy thoughts will-and-testamentW&T §34: the hearts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sources gleaningsGWB §684: radiant

نِقْمَةٍ

niqmahin n-q-m → “vengeance” Distinctive

literal: vengeance

This form usually rendered as “incurred”, “evil”, “evidence” (7 occurrences)

incurred 14% evil 14% evidence 14% well-beseeming 14% trials 14% fire 14% vengeance 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: revenger fire-tabletFire §10: of Thy vengeance gleaningsGWB §189: incurred His malediction kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: Avenger prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: is an evidence the-hidden-wordsHW §52: fire and vengeance will-and-testamentW&T §17: vengeance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: chastisement

رَحْمَةٌ

raḥmahun r-ḥ-m → “thy tender mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful

SE expanded to “Thy tender mercy”

mercy 72% have 7% tender 7% pity 3% god’s 3% compassion 3% tenderness 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: heaven of Thy mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §548: eternal kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: of His loving-kindness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: to Thy mercy tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §89: celestial

وَكُلُّ

wakull k-l-l → “every”

literal: all; every; all, every

all 60% every 27% each 3% whole 3% whatsoever 1% unto 1% entire 1% everyone 1% whatever 1% one 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: the multitudes gleaningsGWB §15: whole kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: “All things prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: Every created thing tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: be the-hidden-wordsHW §13: naught will-and-testamentW&T §36: with all the ardour

نارٍ

nárin n-ʾ-r → “fire”

literal: fire; fire, flame

fire 67% flame 16% flames 4% hell 3% afire 1% utter 1% fires 1% “hell 1% “fire” 1% “hell.” 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: fires gleaningsGWB §36: the flames kitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: “hell.”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 §37: afire gleaningsGWB §36: of

نُورٌ

núrun n-w-r → “light”

literal: light; lights; luminous

light 80% illumine 5% radiance 4% brightness 2% illuminate 1% luminary 1% into 1% glory 1% source 1% splendour 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: Luminous fire-tabletFire §9: the brightness gleaningsGWB §684: hearts kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: shining and resplendent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: shining light prayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: by the light tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: exalted and glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §13: of My light

عَذابٍ

ʿadhábin ʿ-dh-b → “chastisement”

literal: punishment; torment; tormented

chastisement 42% punishment 11% torment 11% tormented 5% terror 5% afflictions 5% painful 5% mercy 5% death 5% suffering 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: punishment gleaningsGWB §614: refresh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: a painful punishment.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: a cooling draught epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: afflictions gleaningsGWB §242: persecution kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §339: Thou chastisest us

تَعَبٍ

taʿabin t-ʿ-b → “toil”

literal: toil; fatigue/toil

2 occurrences in corpus

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: toil

حُزْنٍ

ḥuznin ḥ-z-n → “anguish” Distinctive

literal: grieve; sorrow; grief

This form usually rendered as “sorrow”, “grief”, “sadness” (22 occurrences)

sorrow 28% grief 17% sadness 11% sorrows 11% saddened 6% would 6% sadden 6% tribulation 6% despondency 6% anguish 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: grief fire-tabletFire §12: Sorrows gleaningsGWB §263: Let not thine heart grieve kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: despondency prayers-and-meditationsP&M §422: that tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: affliction the-hidden-wordsHW §35: dost thou grieve epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: sadness

رَبِّ

rabb r-b-b

literal: Lord; lord

SE rendered وَكُلُّ (wakull), حُزْنٍ (ḥuznin), فَرَحٌ، (faraḥun،), رَبِّ (rabb), يَجْزَعُ (yajzaʿ), البَلايا (al-baláyá) as “every, anguish, a fountain of gladness.”, these tribulations”