Prayers and Meditations — §498

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 498 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

رَجَ فِي ظُلْمَتِها إِلى العَرآءِ وَحْدَهُ أَكَبَّ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَى التُّرابِ وَقالَ يا رَبِّي وَمَحْبُوبِي إِنْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّ هذِهِ الكَأْسَ فَأَرْجِعْها عَنِّي بِفَضْلِكَ وَإِحْسانِكَ، فَوَجَمالِكَ يا مالِكَ الأَسْمآءِ وَفاطِرَ السَّمآءِ إِنَّ البَهآءَ يَجِدُ نَفَحَاتِ كَلِماتِهِ الَّتِيْ خَرَجَتْ مِنْ فَمِهِ فِي حُبِّكَ وَيَجِدُ الالْتِهابَ الَّذِيْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

By Thy beauty, O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Creator of the heavens! I can smell the fragrance of the words which, in His love for Thee, His lips have uttered, and can feel the glow of the fire that had inflamed His soul in its longing to behold Thy face and in its yearning after the Dayspring of the light of Thy oneness, and the Dawning-Place of Thy transcendent unity.

Translation Notes

خَرَجَتْ

kharajat kh-r-j → “have uttered”

literal: go out; exit; outside

have 25% proceeded 25% abandoned 13% thou 13% departed 13% hath 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §34: release gleaningsGWB §210: thou art departed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: explain.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §677: have set out tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: hastened forth the-hidden-wordsHW §104: issue will-and-testamentW&T §43: out from epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: Draw it forth

ظُلْمَتِها

ẓulmatihá ẓ-l-m

literal: wronged; injustice; darkness

SE rendered ظُلْمَتِها (ẓulmatihá), العَرآءِ (al-ʿaráʾ), وَحْدَهُ (waḥdah) as “unity”

wronged 55% darkness 11% tyranny 9% cruelty 6% oppressors 4% oppressor 4% oppression 3% injustice 2% iniquity 2% have 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: indignities fire-tabletFire §33: the tyranny gleaningsGWB §452: your cruelty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: night prayers-and-meditationsP&M §505: the wrongs the-hidden-wordsHW §144: gloom will-and-testamentW&T §4: sorely wronged epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: oppressors before

العَرآءِ

al-ʿaráʾ ʿ-r-w

literal: handle; afflict, befall; naked

SE rendered ظُلْمَتِها (ẓulmatihá), العَرآءِ (al-ʿaráʾ), وَحْدَهُ (waḥdah), أَكَبَّ (ʾakabb), بِوَجْهِهِ (biwajhih) as “unity, face”

urvatu’l-vuthqá 18% cord 18% which 9% divest 9% hath 9% have 9% laid 9% handle 9% impair 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: which is afflicted gleaningsGWB §527: hath been afflicted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: Urvatu’l-Vuthqá of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §204: the handle gleaningsGWB §199: Divest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: the Urvatu’l-Vuthqá prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: to the cord prayers-and-meditationsP&M §174: and laid hold on

وَحْدَهُ

waḥdah w-ḥ-d → “unity” Distinctive

literal: unity; one; oneness

This form usually rendered as “alone”, “god”, “one” (11 occurrences)

alone 71% god 14% one 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: harmony fire-tabletFire §43: By Thine aloneness gleaningsGWB §99: is one kitab-i-iqanKIQ §181: one true prayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: of Thy unity tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone the-hidden-wordsHW §69: all from one same

أَكَبَّ

ʾakabb k-b-b

literal: fall-prostrate

SE rendered وَحْدَهُ (waḥdah), أَكَبَّ (ʾakabb), بِوَجْهِهِ (biwajhih) as “unity, face”

have 50% fallen 50%

gleaningsGWB §78: have fallen down will-and-testamentW&T §36: fallen upon my face

بِوَجْهِهِ

biwajhih w-j-h → “face”

literal: face; turning

face 68% countenance 13% faces 4% enveloping 2% eyes 2% before 2% vision 2% fixed 2% light 2% turn 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: the face fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §273: whose face kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §554: Whose countenance tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: the light of the the-hidden-wordsHW §16: thy face unto Mine

التُّرابِ

at-turáb t-r-b

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

SE rendered بِوَجْهِهِ (biwajhih), التُّرابِ (at-turáb) as “face”

dust 80% earth 7% clay 6% depths 2% upon 2% lowly 2% created 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: depths of the earth gleaningsGWB §122: physical kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the clay the-hidden-wordsHW §115: world epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: the earth gleaningsGWB §672: that dwell upon the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: clay

وَقالَ

waqál q-w-l

literal: say; said; saying

SE rendered بِوَجْهِهِ (biwajhih), التُّرابِ (at-turáb), وَقالَ (waqál) as “face”

said 57% hath 12% saith 10% say 7% have 3% answered 3% made 3% doth 2% reply 2% replied 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §263: is called gleaningsGWB §312: have testified kitab-i-iqanKIQ §270: answered saying prayers-and-meditationsP&M §106: hast said tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: Verily tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: ‘Call out to tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: And thus proclaimed the-hidden-wordsHW §153: by words

رَبِّي

rabbí r-b-b

literal: Lord; lord

lord 94% exalted 3% all-glorious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: Exalted gleaningsGWB §149: of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: Voice prayers-and-meditationsP&M §221: my tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §26: O Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: and

حُبِّكَ

ḥubbik ḥ-b-b → “his love for thee”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

SE expanded to “His love for Thee”

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 §163: grain fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §556: his Beloved kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: of His love prayers-and-meditationsP&M §732: love towards Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: I long tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §67: loving Me

تُرِيدُ

turíd r-y-d

literal: desire; will

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 §135: of the will gleaningsGWB §270: decided kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: He pleaseth,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §250: Thou didst purpose tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §46: she did desire the-hidden-wordsHW §8: seekest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: desire gleaningsGWB §249: asketh

تَرُدَّ

tarudd r-d-d

literal: rejection; rejected; refutation

inflicting 50% thou 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: outcast gleaningsGWB §190: He contemplates kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: repudiation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §117: annul will-and-testamentW&T §6: confuted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: refutation gleaningsGWB §689: attacked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: reject or accept

الكَأْسَ

al-kaʾas k-ʾ-s

literal: cup; cup/goblet; cup, chalice

cup 75% chalice 19% one 6%

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

فَأَرْجِعْها

faʾarjiʿhá r-j-ʿ

literal: return; returning; to return

return 47% “return” 14% returned 9% applicable 5% turn 4% shall 4% come 4% refer 4% return.” 4% “return 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: to turn aside gleaningsGWB §506: Ye shall kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: shall we return.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: cause me to return tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: repaired to the-hidden-wordsHW §14: Turn thy sight will-and-testamentW&T §27: to be offered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: to return

عَنِّي

ʿanní ʿ-n

literal: from; from, about; about

concerning 10% whatsoever 10% beyond 10% well 10% fear 10% all 10% entering 10% behind 10% recognizing 10% above 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: to gleaningsGWB §572: of all attachment to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: from recognizing Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: concerning gleaningsGWB §155: from the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: above epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: from whatsoever gleaningsGWB §28: and beyond

بِفَضْلِكَ

bifaḍlik f-ḍ-l

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

SE rendered بِفَضْلِكَ (bifaḍlik), وَإِحْسانِكَ، (waʾiḥsánika،), فَوَجَمالِكَ (fawajamálik) as “By Thy beauty”

grace 71% through 24% mercy 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: better gleaningsGWB §10: favors kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: caused to excel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §359: bounteousness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: bounties the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §23: virtues

وَإِحْسانِكَ،

waʾiḥsánika، ḥ-s-n

literal: best; Husayn; beautiful

SE rendered وَإِحْسانِكَ، (waʾiḥsánika،), فَوَجَمالِكَ (fawajamálik), مالِكَ (málik) as “By Thy beauty, Lord”

bounty 29% bountiful 21% through 14% favor 14% favors 7% providence 7% gracious 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: whether man gleaningsGWB §712: receive his reward kitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: profit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §546: gracious the-hidden-wordsHW §2: kindly will-and-testamentW&T §21: improve epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: or woman gleaningsGWB §588: most melodious

فَوَجَمالِكَ

fawajamálik j-m-l → “by thy beauty”

literal: beauty; beautiful

SE expanded to “By Thy beauty”

beauty 85% countenance 3% ancient 3% among 2% glory 2% beneficent 1% beauteous 1% ornament 1% seemly 1% promised 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: among whom gleaningsGWB §20: within kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: beauty, of the Moon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §248: for Thy glory tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: countenances the-hidden-wordsHW §51: for My beauty will-and-testamentW&T §5: the most holy Abhá Beauty

مالِكَ

málik m-l-k → “lord”

literal: kingdom; king

lord 48% possessor 14% king 13% who 5% ruler 5% sovereign 4% thou 4% all-possessing 3% layeth 2% eternal 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the King gleaningsGWB §511: rulers and kings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: worldly dominion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §518: Who art tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: in the-hidden-wordsHW §2: Possess will-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous

الأَسْمآءِ

as-smáʾ s-m-w → “names”

literal: name; names

names 72% all 22% name 2% amongst 1% most 1% whose 1% holy 1% names.’ 1% lord 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: in his name fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §59: His most excellent names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: day prayers-and-meditationsP&M §42: unspeakable majesty tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §146: unto the heaven

وَفاطِرَ

wafáṭir f-ṭ-r → “creator”

literal: creator

creator 63% maker 25% fashioner 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §170: true nature gleaningsGWB §696: be cleft kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: cleaving prayers-and-meditationsP&M §218: have broken my fast tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: Fashioner epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: would cleave asunder gleaningsGWB §300: regarding the creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: cloven asunder

البَهآءَ

al-baháʾ b-h-w

literal: glory

SE rendered وَفاطِرَ (wafáṭir), السَّمآءِ (as-samáʾ), البَهآءَ (al-baháʾ), يَجِدُ (yajid), نَفَحَاتِ (nafaḥát), كَلِماتِهِ (kalimátih) as “Creator, heavens, can smell, fragrance, words”