Prayers and Meditations — §400
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 400 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
َقُونَ فِي دُمُوعِهِمْ، وَلَوْلا دُمُوعُهُمْ لَتُحْرِقُهُمْ نارُ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَحَرَارَةُ نُفُوسِهِمْ، كَأَنَّهُمْ مَلائِكَةُ الَّتِيْ خَلَقْتَهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَالثَّلْجِ، أَتَرَى يا إِلهِي بِأَنْ تَمْنَعَهُمْ بَعْدَ هذا الاشْتِياقِ عَنْ لِقائِكَ أَوْ تَطْرُدَهُمْ بَعْدَ هذا الاشْتِعالِ عَنْ بابِ رَحْمَتِكَ يا إِلهِي يَكادُ أَنْ يَنْقَطِعَ الرَّجاءُ عَنْ قُلُوبِ الأَصْْفِيآءِ أَيْنَ نَسَائِمُ فَضْلِكَ، قَدْ أَحَاطَتْهُمْ الأَعْدآءُ مِنْ كُلِّ الأَطْرافِ
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Thou hast Thyself, O my God, protected them, by Thy sovereign might, from both extremities. But for the burning of their souls and the sighing of their hearts, they would be drowned in the midst of their tears, and but for the flood of their tears they would be burnt up by the fire of their hearts and the heat of their souls. Methinks, they are like the angels which Thou hast created of snow and of fire. Wilt Thou, despite such vehement longing, O my God, debar them from Thy presence, or drive them away, notwithstanding such fervor, from the door of Thy mercy? All hope is ready to be extinguished in the hearts of Thy chosen ones, O my God! Where are the breezes of Thy grace? They are hemmed in on all sides by their enemies; where are the ensigns of Thy triumph which Thou didst promise in Thy Tablets?
Translation Notes
عَنْ
ʿ-n → “from both extremities. But for the burning of their souls and the sighing of their hearts, they would be”
literal: from; about; concerning; away from
