Prayers and Meditations — §494

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 494 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

َتِكَ لِيَجِدَنَّ كُلٌّ رائِحَةَ قَمِيصِ أَمْرِكَ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ المُقْتَدِرُ عَلَى ما تُرِيدُ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا إِلهِي مَن شَرِبَ مِن كَأْسِ الَّتِيْ تَدُورُ بِهَا يَدُ رَحْمَتِكَ يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْ دُونِكَ وَيَنْجَذِبُ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ عِبادُكَ الَّذِينَ رَقَدُوا فِي مِهَادِ الغَفْلَةِ وَالنِّسْيَانِ، وَيَتَوَجَّهُونَ إِلى شَطْرِ آيَتِكَ الكُبْرَى وَلا يُرِيدُونَ مِنكَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَلا يَطْلُبُونَ إِلاَّ ما قَدَّرْتَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قَلَمِ قَضَائِكَ فِي لَوحِ تَقْدِيرِكَ إِذًا يا إِلهِي

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The power of Thy might beareth me witness! Whoso hath drunk of the cup which the hand of Thy mercy hath borne round will strip himself of all things except Thee, and will be able, through a word of his mouth, to enrapture the souls of such of Thy servants as have slumbered on the bed of forgetfulness and negligence, and to cause them to turn their faces toward Thy most Great Sign, and seek from Thee naught else except Thyself, and ask of Thee only what Thou hast determined for them by the pen of Thy judgment and hast prescribed in the Tablet of Thy decree.

Translation Notes

َتِكَ

atik ʿ-z-z

literal: mighty; might

SE rendered َتِكَ (atik), لِيَجِدَنَّ (líajidann), رائِحَةَ (ráʾiḥah) as “souls”

glory 36% all-glorious 15% almighty 9% swear 8% mighty 7% might 6% transcendent 6% exalted 5% most 4% gracious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: exalted and fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §134: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: one the-hidden-wordsHW §69: of wondrous glory will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy might

لِيَجِدَنَّ

líajidann w-j-d

literal: existence; find; existent

SE rendered لِيَجِدَنَّ (líajidann), رائِحَةَ (ráʾiḥah) as “souls”

may 67% inhale 17% attain 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §50: human fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §310: potentially kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §51: of all things tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: they found the-hidden-wordsHW §15: thou mayest find Me will-and-testamentW&T §4: the firm

رائِحَةَ

ráʾiḥah r-w-ḥ → “souls” Distinctive

literal: soul

This form usually rendered as “fragrance”, “sweet”, “breath” (20 occurrences)

fragrance 41% sweet 12% breath 12% odour 12% perfume 6% imperishable 6% savours 6% musk 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: He Who was the Spirit fire-tabletFire §30: the breezes gleaningsGWB §554: the spiritually minded kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: savours prayers-and-meditationsP&M §701: lie down to rest tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §46: thou mayest repose

قَمِيصِ

qamíṣ q-m-ṣ

literal: shirt, garment; shirt/garment

SE rendered رائِحَةَ (ráʾiḥah), قَمِيصِ (qamíṣ), أَمْرِكَ، (ʾamrika،) as “souls”

robe 37% raiment 30% garment 17% arrayed 3% all 3% smell 3% garments 3% robes 3%

fire-tabletFire §44: the garment gleaningsGWB §257: the robe kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: divers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: of the Raiment tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: robes the-hidden-wordsHW §1: and will-and-testamentW&T §10: my vesture gleaningsGWB §100: attire

أَمْرِكَ،

ʾamrika، ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause

SE rendered رائِحَةَ (ráʾiḥah), قَمِيصِ (qamíṣ), أَمْرِكَ، (ʾamrika،), المُقْتَدِرُ (al-muqtadir) as “souls, power of”

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 §166: the Cause fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §188: decree kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: to proclaim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §552: and bidden them tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: to its dwellers the-hidden-wordsHW §35: of power

المُقْتَدِرُ

al-muqtadir q-d-r → “power of” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “almighty”, “powerful”, “potent” (212 occurrences)

almighty 31% powerful 20% potent 16% most 10% all-powerful 9% omnipotent 4% god 4% lord 3% power 2% strength 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: the Almighty fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §636: of His own power kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: prize prayers-and-meditationsP&M §491: Thy hand tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

تُرِيدُ،

turídu، r-y-d

literal: desire; will

SE rendered المُقْتَدِرُ (al-muqtadir), تُرِيدُ، (turídu،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), إِلهِي (ʾilhí) as “power of”

thou 53% wish 5% days 5% pleaseth 5% pleasure 5% able 5% desire 5% seeketh 5% will 5% willest 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: desireth gleaningsGWB §188: resolved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: given prayers-and-meditationsP&M §299: seek tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §46: she did desire the-hidden-wordsHW §8: seekest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: pleaseth gleaningsGWB §246: My heart’s desire

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h

literal: God; divine; god

SE rendered إِلهِي (ʾilhí), شَرِبَ (sharib), كَأْسِ (kaʾas) as “hath drunk, the cup”

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 §168: Divinity gleaningsGWB §563: Divine mercy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §198: the realm of Divinity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: O my God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Divine gleaningsGWB §10: His

شَرِبَ

sharib sh-r-b → “hath drunk”

literal: drink; drank; to drink

hath 32% quaffed 16% drunk 11% drinketh 11% draught 5% quaffeth 5% drinking 5% drank 5% have 5% partaken 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: draught gleaningsGWB §57: quaff your fill. Drink kitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §484: partaken the-hidden-wordsHW §147: drinkest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: Drink your fill gleaningsGWB §200: drain it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: drinking

كَأْسِ

kaʾas k-ʾ-s → “cup”

literal: cup; cup/goblet; cup, chalice

cup 75% chalice 19% one 6%

gleaningsGWB §58: chalice kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: the one Cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §421: the cups gleaningsGWB §383: the cup kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: the wine gleaningsGWB §15: cup gleaningsGWB §58: cups

تَدُورُ

tadúr d-w-r → “hath borne round”

literal: in; far; lands

SE expanded to “hath borne round”

far 28% land 12% hath 12% countries 8% lands 8% cities 8% strayed 8% homes 8% hurried 4% paraded 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §220: Thy lands gleaningsGWB §622: Evil kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: would prayers-and-meditationsP&M §48: homes the-hidden-wordsHW §91: habitation will-and-testamentW&T §23: Dispensation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §39: His lands gleaningsGWB §117: cycle

يَدُ

yad y-d-y → “hand”

literal: hand; hands; by-hand

hand 61% hands 21% allowed 4% right 4% all 4% care 4% whose 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: Hand gleaningsGWB §448: I hold within My grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands prayers-and-meditationsP&M §256: in Whose hand tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: in Whose hand is tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: with their hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: with the hand gleaningsGWB §163: by the sword

رَحْمَتِكَ

raḥmatik r-ḥ-m → “of thy mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful

SE expanded to “of Thy mercy”

mercy 90% all-encompassing 2% transcendent 2% heaven 1% court 1% canopy 1% compassion 1% wondrous 1% mercies 1% tender 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: heaven of Thy mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §149: His irrefutable kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: divine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §88: Have pity upon me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §89: celestial

يَنْقَطِعُ

yanqaṭiʿ q-ṭ-ʿ → “will strip himself”

literal: detachment; detached

SE expanded to “will strip himself”

cease 20% will 20% detached 10% touch 10% absolute 10% may 10% extinguished 10% detach 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hath severed gleaningsGWB §202: may detach kitab-i-iqanKIQ §197: is speechless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: and be so detached tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: severed ones tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: They passed will-and-testamentW&T §11: decisive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: detach

دُونِكَ

dúnik d-w-n → “all things except thee”

literal: besides

SE expanded to “all things except Thee”

all 21% any 19% except 17% thee 11% aught 9% save 9% beside 6% besides 4% neighbor 2% none 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: except Himself gleaningsGWB §685: but kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the like prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: save Thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §14: Me will-and-testamentW&T §38: All others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: without gleaningsGWB §457: nothing

وَيَنْجَذِبُ

wayanjadhib j-dh-b → “attract” Distinctive

literal: attract; attraction; attract, draw

This form usually rendered as “drawn”, “will” (2 occurrences)

drawn 50% will 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: enraptured fire-tabletFire §3: Thy gleaningsGWB §458: hath attracted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: uplifting their transports prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and draw them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: enrapture gleaningsGWB §618: kindle kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: ecstasy

بِكَلِمَةٍ

bikalimahin k-l-m → “through a word”

literal: word; words

SE expanded to “through a word”

word 54% words 21% through 8% most 3% every 3% one 3% hath 2% sayings 2% third 2% divinity 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: pronounce fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §441: a word kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: of His divine utterance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §798: through yet another word tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: to one mystic word will-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: these exalted words

عِبادُكَ

ʿibáduk ʿ-b-d → “thy servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 89% people 4% creatures 1% unto 1% all 1% sincere 1% servants’ 1% such 1% comprehension 1% who 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: man fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §74: the hearts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: true One, the Adored prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: servants’tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §38: are servants

الَّذِينَ

adh-dhín l-dh-y → “as”

literal: those who; who

SE rendered بِكَلِمَةٍ (bikalimahin), عِبادُكَ (ʿibáduk), الَّذِينَ (adh-dhín), رَقَدُوا (raqadúá), مِهَادِ (mihád) as “through a word, Thy servants, as, have slumbered, the bed”

doubters 17% dependents 17% generations 17% unto 17% such 17% who 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: doubters gleaningsGWB §207: one who kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: Who prayers-and-meditationsP&M §302: Him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: which gleaningsGWB §109: that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: those prayers-and-meditationsP&M §73: and by Him Whom

رَقَدُوا

raqadúá r-q-d → “have slumbered”

literal: sleeping; sleep; sleeping ones

asleep 24% slumber 24% fast 12% others 6% off 6% beds 6% all 6% have 6% bed 6% suffer 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: asleep kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: slumber prayers-and-meditationsP&M §494: have slumbered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: fast asleep kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: beds prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: suffer me to sleep epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: off the slumber prayers-and-meditationsP&M §55: the bed

مِهَادِ

mihád m-h-d → “couch”

literal: couch

couch 50% upon 17% cradle 17% bed 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: upon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §494: the bed will-and-testamentW&T §9: schemes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: couch epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: cradle

الغَفْلَةِ

al-ghaflah gh-f-l → “forgetfulness”

literal: heedless; heedlessness; neglect

waywardness 27% wayward 13% forgetfulness 13% strayed 7% careless 7% path 7% turneth 7% hath 7% failed 7% grievously 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: heedless gleaningsGWB §415: careless kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: ignored prayers-and-meditationsP&M §564: failed to apprehend the-hidden-wordsHW §142: negligent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: they are oblivious gleaningsGWB §73: the human heart

وَالنِّسْيَانِ،

wálnnisyáni، n-s-y → “forget” Distinctive

literal: forget; forgot; forgetfulness

This form usually rendered as “oblivion”, “negligence” (3 occurrences)

oblivion 50% negligence 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: Have ye forgotten gleaningsGWB §250: forget not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: oblivion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §440: its forgetfulness the-hidden-wordsHW §27: couldst thou forget gleaningsGWB §492: forgetful prayers-and-meditationsP&M §494: and negligence gleaningsGWB §357: forget

وَيَتَوَجَّهُونَ

wayatawajjahún w-j-h → “and to cause them”

literal: turning

SE expanded to “and to cause them”

turn 71% set 14% cause 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: turn aside fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §55: directed His kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: meanings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §372: and set her face tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §16: thy face unto Mine

شَطْرِ

shaṭr sh-ṭ-r → “direction”

literal: direction; direction/side; direction, side

direction 47% towards 20% court 16% seat 4% prison 2% north 2% upper 2% capital 2% persia 2% constantinople 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: towards gleaningsGWB §621: towards the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §580: retreats on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: the seat gleaningsGWB §726: direction prayers-and-meditationsP&M §211: in the direction epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: the direction gleaningsGWB §579: God’s sacred Court

آيَتِكَ

áyatik ʾ-y-y → “thy most great sign”

literal: sign; signs

SE expanded to “Thy most Great Sign”

most 50% signs 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy signs gleaningsGWB §537: verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: or what the epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: a sign gleaningsGWB §384: sign prayers-and-meditationsP&M §468: or what epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: signs gleaningsGWB §609: the verses

الكُبْرَى

al-kubrá k-b-r

literal: greatest; greater; grandeur

SE rendered وَيَتَوَجَّهُونَ (wayatawajjahún), شَطْرِ (shaṭr), آيَتِكَ (áyatik), الكُبْرَى (al-kubrá), يُرِيدُونَ (yurídún), مِنكَ (mink) as “and to cause them, toward, Thy most Great Sign, from”