Prayers and Meditations — §377

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 377 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

لَمْ أَدْرِ يا إِلهِي بِأَيِّ نارٍ أَوْقَدْتَ سِرَاجَ أَمْرِكَ وَبِأَيِّ زُجاجَةٍ حَفِظْتَهُ مِنْ أَعَادِي نَفْسِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ صِرْتُ مُتَحَيِّرًا فِي بَدائِعِ أَمْرِكَ وَظُهُوراتِ عَظَمَتِكَ، أَرى يا مَقْصُودِيْ بِأَنَّ النَّارَ لَوْ يَمَسُّها المَاءُ تَخْمُدُ فِي الحِينِ، وَهذِهِ النَّارُ لا تُخْمِدُها بُحُورُ العالَمِينَ، وَإِذا يُصَبُّ عَلَيْها المَاءُ تَنْقَلِبُهُ أَيْدِي قُدْرَتِكَ وَتَجْعَلُهُ دُهْنًا لَها بِما قُدِّرَ فِي أَلْواحِكَ، وَأَرَى

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I know not, O my God, what the Fire is with which Thou didst light the Lamp of Thy Cause, or what the Glass wherewith Thou didst preserve it from Thine enemies. By Thy might! I marvel at the wonders of Thy Revelation, and at the tokens of Thy glory. I recognize, O Thou Who art my heart’s Desire, that were fire to be touched by water it would instantly be extinguished, whereas the Fire which Thou didst kindle can never go out, though all the seas of the earth be poured upon it. Should water at any time touch it, the hands of Thy power would, as decreed in Thy Tablets, transmute that water into a fuel that would feed its flame.

Translation Notes

أَدْرِ

ʾadr d-r-y → “i know not”

literal: know; in

SE expanded to “I know not”

know 77% think 8% cheered 8% how 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: have come into gleaningsGWB §338: accomplishments prayers-and-meditationsP&M §666: ocean epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I know not prayers-and-meditationsP&M §378: think epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: possesseth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: the ocean epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: know not

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “o my god”

literal: God; divine; god

SE expanded to “O my God”

god 64% divine 22% god’s 5% lord 4% holy 2% mystic 1% heavenly 1% grace 1% god-given 1% pertaineth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: grace gleaningsGWB §563: Divine mercy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §212: of God’s prayers-and-meditationsP&M §205: and the God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: divine and celestial gleaningsGWB §668: set

بِأَيِّ

biʾayy ʾ-y-y → “what”

literal: sign; signs; which

what 38% sign 23% most 8% how 8% which 8% “wherefore 8% verse 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: For what gleaningsGWB §384: sign prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: for what reason epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Most Mighty Sign gleaningsGWB §537: verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: what epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: His signs gleaningsGWB §609: the verses

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 §132: fire gleaningsGWB §175: the flame 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 §118: the fire gleaningsGWB §312: hell fire

أَوْقَدْتَ

ʾawqadt w-q-d → “thou didst light”

literal: kindle; kindled; kindled, burning

SE expanded to “Thou didst light”

didst 50% thou 25% can 25%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: kindled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: kindle prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: didst kindle prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: Thou didst light prayers-and-meditationsP&M §87: didst light prayers-and-meditationsP&M §468: Thou didst kindle prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: Ignite, then prayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: can kindle

سِرَاجَ

siráj s-r-j → “lamp”

literal: lamp; lamps; lamp/light

lamp 70% light 11% lamps 5% extinguish 3% imparteth 3% deprive 3% flame 3% quencheth 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: lamp gleaningsGWB §684: Deprive not yourselves kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: light of Qur’ánic Revelation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: the light of Thy lamp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: a lamp gleaningsGWB §121: the lamp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: lamp of conscience and reason prayers-and-meditationsP&M §77: my lamp

أَمْرِكَ

ʾamrik ʾ-m-r → “of thy cause”

literal: command; cause

SE expanded to “of Thy Cause”

cause 59% revelation 16% behest 7% bidding 4% decree 4% faith 3% commandment 3% command 1% through 1% affairs 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: been commanded fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §592: at His own behest kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: Command,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: to Thy Cause tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: to its dwellers the-hidden-wordsHW §41: to Our command

زُجاجَةٍ

zujájahin z-j-j → “globe”

literal: glass; glass, globe; glass/globe

globe 67% glass 17% what 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: glass gleaningsGWB §40: globe of power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: what the Glass gleaningsGWB §684: globe

حَفِظْتَهُ

ḥafiẓtah ḥ-f-ẓ → “thou didst preserve”

literal: preserve

SE expanded to “Thou didst preserve”

thou 40% guard 20% have 20% didst 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: spared gleaningsGWB §300: guarded kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: safeguarding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: tighten prayers-and-meditationsP&M §450: will preserve me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Learn well will-and-testamentW&T §3: the protection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §99: preserveth

أَعَادِي

ʾaʿádí ʿ-d-w → “thine enemies”

literal: enemy; enemies

adversaries 50% enemies 33% challenge 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: of the transgressors fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §567: Mine enemies kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: the capacity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §559: them that are against Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §5: the utmost enmity

نَفْسِكَ،

nafsika، n-f-s

literal: self; soul; souls

SE rendered حَفِظْتَهُ (ḥafiẓtah), أَعَادِي (ʾaʿádí), نَفْسِكَ، (nafsika،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), صِرْتُ (ṣirt) as “Thou didst preserve, Thine enemies, By Thy might, I marvel”

thyself 28% own 26% self 19% thee 15% soul 3% himself 3% unto 2% inmost 2% spirit 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: someone gleaningsGWB §534: for you kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: Spirits prayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: unto mine own self tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §121: pure breath will-and-testamentW&T §27: the people

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “by thy might”

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE expanded to “By Thy might”

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: your glory fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §640: honor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: more glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: of Thy transcendent Essence the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glory

صِرْتُ

ṣirt ṣ-y-r → “am”

literal: became

am 50% marvel 25% fell 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: interposed themselves gleaningsGWB §27: assume prayers-and-meditationsP&M §55: I fell gleaningsGWB §720: prove prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: I marvel gleaningsGWB §522: have ye prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: that I am made prayers-and-meditationsP&M §795: I am bewildered

مُتَحَيِّرًا

mutaḥayyiran ḥ-y-r

literal: perplexed; bewilderment; bewildered

SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), صِرْتُ (ṣirt), مُتَحَيِّرًا (mutaḥayyiran), بَدائِعِ (badáʾiʿ), أَمْرِكَ (ʾamrik) as “By Thy might, I marvel, the wonders, of Thy Revelation”

perplexed 30% sore 10% bewildering 10% marveled 10% marvelled 10% stand 10% bewildered 10% am 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: perplexed gleaningsGWB §361: marveled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: How strange prayers-and-meditationsP&M §791: bewildered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: sore perplexed gleaningsGWB §159: perplexity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: bewilderment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: stand aghast

بَدائِعِ

badáʾiʿ b-d-ʿ → “wonders”

literal: wondrous; wonders

wondrous 43% wonders 41% marvelous 3% having 2% majesty 2% melodious 2% over 2% bountiful 2% evidence 2% matchless 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Makers gleaningsGWB §548: creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: all the universe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §170: bountiful favors the-hidden-wordsHW §65: have created will-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the First gleaningsGWB §286: truth

وَظُهُوراتِ

waẓuhúrát ẓ-h-r → “and at the tokens” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest

This form usually rendered as “revelations”, “manifestations”, “revelation” (95 occurrences)

SE expanded to “and at the tokens”

revelations 34% manifestations 16% revelation 13% evidences 13% manifold 10% tokens 5% all 3% first 2% signs 2% testimonies 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: displayed fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §470: hath spoken kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: have We graciously revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: dawn of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: and tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

عَظَمَتِكَ،

ʿaẓamatika، ʿ-ẓ-m → “of thy glory”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE expanded to “of Thy glory”

majesty 60% glory 14% greatness 14% grandeur 3% swear 2% great 2% might 2% whose 2% favors 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: glory gleaningsGWB §66: “The glory of all greatness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: too vast prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: How bewilderingly mysterious the-hidden-wordsHW §42: Magnify will-and-testamentW&T §25: distinguished epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: the Most Great Prison gleaningsGWB §174: Grandeur

أَرى

ʾarى r-ʾ-y → “i recognize”

literal: see; to see; see/behold

recognize 33% appear 17% find 17% perceive 17% regard 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: behold fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §260: seest?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §15: may see Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtain will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Wert thou to look gleaningsGWB §77: We point out

مَقْصُودِيْ

maqṣúdí q-ṣ-d → “desire”

literal: purpose; desired

desire 57% purpose 21% ambition 7% aim 7% goal 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: of the goal gleaningsGWB §426: the Desire of all nations kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: By the term prayers-and-meditationsP&M §157: my Aim the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: goal excelleth every other goal

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

يَمَسُّها

yamassuhá m-s-s → “to be touched”

literal: touch; touch/afflict; touched

SE expanded to “to be touched”

touch 17% have 17% touched 17% hath 8% hands 8% thou 8% trials 8% come 8% overtake 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: touch gleaningsGWB §509: have tried prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: to be touched tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: if thou art overtaken the-hidden-wordsHW §53: come gleaningsGWB §636: the hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: touched me the-hidden-wordsHW §51: trials afflict thee

المَاءُ

al-máʾ m-w-h → “by water”

literal: water; what

waters 43% water 38% such 5% rivers 5% what 5% foul 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: its waters gleaningsGWB §292: for the things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: the waters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §742: what the-hidden-wordsHW §138: foul and mortal epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: with the waters gleaningsGWB §395: the soft-flowing waters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: waters of

تَخْمُدُ

takhmud kh-m-d → “would instantly be extinguished”

literal: extinguish; extinguished

SE expanded to “would instantly be extinguished”

quench 50% would 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: quenched gleaningsGWB §394: dispirited prayers-and-meditationsP&M §475: extinguish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: to quench gleaningsGWB §458: quenching prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: would instantly be extinguished gleaningsGWB §71: to cool down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §89: chilled

الحِينِ،

al-ḥíni، ḥ-y-n → “time”

literal: time; time/moment

moment 40% hour 14% time 12% day 7% when 7% continually 7% while 5% times 5% soon 2% late 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: late gleaningsGWB §160: the moment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: season prayers-and-meditationsP&M §649: at a time the-hidden-wordsHW §154: now epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: moment gleaningsGWB §347: while prayers-and-meditationsP&M §843: then

وَهذِهِ

wahdhih h-dh-ʾ

literal: this; this (masculine); this (feminine)

SE rendered المَاءُ (al-máʾ), تَخْمُدُ (takhmud), الحِينِ، (al-ḥíni،), وَهذِهِ (wahdhih), النَّارُ (an-nár) as “by water, would instantly be extinguished, time, whereas the Fire”

world 22% who 11% such 11% verily 11% things 11% wherein 11% land 11% troubled 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: This gleaningsGWB §305: the world tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: these tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: Wherein will-and-testamentW&T §36: in these troubled times epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: For this gleaningsGWB §305: this world tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: and this

بُحُورُ

buḥúr b-ḥ-r → “all the seas”

literal: sea; ocean; sea, ocean

SE expanded to “all the seas”

oceans 39% seas 28% waters 11% ocean 11% all 6% floods 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: billowing ocean of Thy favor fire-tabletFire §3: Where gleaningsGWB §128: of the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: billows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §162: and the ocean tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: the ancient sea will-and-testamentW&T §2: Twin epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: sea

العالَمِينَ،

al-ʿálamína، ʿ-l-m → “of the earth” Distinctive

literal: world; worlds

This form usually rendered as “worlds”, “all”, “world” (214 occurrences)

SE expanded to “of the earth”

worlds 53% all 31% world 5% whole 3% earth 2% men 2% creation 2% entire 1% people 1% peoples 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: of Knowledge fire-tabletFire §13: ensigns gleaningsGWB §412: of His knowledge reflecteth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: evident that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §283: art well aware tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §49: a sign

وَإِذا

waʾidhá ʾ-dh-n → “leave”

literal: permission; ear; ears

leave 27% ears 23% permission 23% hearing 5% ear 5% ordained 5% fixed 5% ears.” 5% mine 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: ear gleaningsGWB §622: fixed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: by the permission prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: mine ear will-and-testamentW&T §28: leave epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: as ordained gleaningsGWB §251: by His leave kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: ears.”

يُصَبُّ

yuṣabb ṣ-b-b → “poured”

literal: pour

1 occurrence in corpus

prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: be poured

عَلَيْها

ʿalayhá ʿ-l-y → “upon it” Distinctive

literal: upon; on

This form usually rendered as “aid”, “convulsed” (5 occurrences)

aid 50% convulsed 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: that gleaningsGWB §615: at your hands kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: aloud the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: - peace be upon him gleaningsGWB §101: the

تَنْقَلِبُهُ

tanqalibuh q-l-b → “hearts” Distinctive

literal: heart; hearts

This form usually rendered as “changed”, “transmute” (2 occurrences)

changed 50% transmute 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: fraudulent gleaningsGWB §439: convulsions kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: transmuteth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §515: hearts of Thy dear ones the-hidden-wordsHW §120: mind will-and-testamentW&T §23: the spirit of love epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: fearful heart

أَيْدِي

ʾaydí y-d-y → “hands”

literal: hand; hands; by-hand

hands 70% hand 9% sword 4% mercy 4% designs 4% assaults 4% into 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: hands gleaningsGWB §475: to the mercy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: hands of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: in Whose hand is tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: with their hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: The hand gleaningsGWB §465: your mercy

قُدْرَتِكَ

qudratik q-d-r → “of thy power”

literal: power; powerful

SE expanded to “of Thy power”

power 45% might 30% strength 7% almighty 7% through 4% authority 3% transcendent 1% all-conquering 1% omnipotent 1% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: Strong fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §503: how kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: able prayers-and-meditationsP&M §404: Thy sovereign might tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

وَتَجْعَلُهُ

watajʿaluh j-ʿ-l

literal: make; to make

SE rendered أَيْدِي (ʾaydí), قُدْرَتِكَ (qudratik), وَتَجْعَلُهُ (watajʿaluh), دُهْنًا (duhnan), قُدِّرَ (quddir) as “the hands, of Thy power, into a fuel, decreed”