Prayers and Meditations — §508

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 508 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

يا إِلهِي وَمَحْبُوبِيْ لا مَفَرَّ لأَحَدٍ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ أَحْكامِكَ وَلا مَهْرَبَ لِنَفْسٍ لَدى صُدُورِ أَوامِرِكَ، أَوْحَيْتَ القَلَمَ أَسْرارَ القِدَمِ وَأَمَرْتَهُ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَ الإِنْسَانَ ما لَمْ يَعْلَمْ وَيُشْرِبَهُمْ كَوْثَرَ المَعَانِي مِنْ كَأْسِ وَحْيِكَ وَإِلْهامِكَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

My God, my Well-Beloved! No place is there for any one to flee to when once Thy laws have been sent down, and no refuge can be found by any soul after the revelation of Thy commandments. Thou hast inspired the Pen with the mysteries of Thine eternity, and bidden it teach man that which he knoweth not, and caused him to partake of the living waters of truth from the cup of Thy Revelation and Thine inspiration.

Translation Notes

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “my god”

literal: god; divine; o god

god 82% divine 10% lord 3% god’s 2% holy 1% heavenly 1% god’s 0% sacred 0% divinely 0% thou 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: God possesseth fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §347: Sacred kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: Supreme Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §36: Lord my God tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

وَمَحْبُوبِيْ

wamaḥbúbí ḥ-b-b → “my well-beloved”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

beloved 62% best-beloved 17% well-beloved 11% thou 4% one 2% divine 2% delight 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: their love for Thee fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §513: who loveth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: those who profess to be Our friends prayers-and-meditationsP&M §626: and Thy loved ones tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §24: Our desire will-and-testamentW&T §3: O ye beloved of

مَفَرَّ

mafarr f-r-r

literal: flee; flight; fled

SE rendered إِلهِي (ʾilhí), وَمَحْبُوبِيْ (wamaḥbúbí), مَفَرَّ (mafarr), لأَحَدٍ (lʾaḥadin), نُزُولِ (nuzúl) as “My God, my Well-Beloved, one, sent down”

flee 30% fled 20% flight 15% thou 5% would 5% flieth 5% refuge 5% wouldst 5% alternative 5% overlook 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: fled away gleaningsGWB §665: Flee not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: And I fled prayers-and-meditationsP&M §511: fled epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: thou wouldst flee gleaningsGWB §152: flieth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: overlook prayers-and-meditationsP&M §388: fleeth

لأَحَدٍ

lʾaḥadin ʾ-ḥ-d → “one”

literal: anyone; one; oneness

one 27% any 22% man 18% anyone 14% none 6% others 3% neighbor 3% who 2% incomparable 2% other 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: unto one gleaningsGWB §327: Living God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: celestial prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: glorifying the oneness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §69: over the other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Incomparable gleaningsGWB §570: a man

نُزُولِ

nuzúl n-z-l → “sent down” Distinctive

literal: descending; descend

This form usually rendered as “revelation”, “revealed”, “descent” (15 occurrences)

revelation 40% revealed 20% descent 20% heard 10% sent 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thou didst send down gleaningsGWB §31: descended kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: that which We have revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: heard prayers-and-meditationsP&M §228: have descended tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: Haste thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: grades the-hidden-wordsHW §129: have enshrined

أَحْكامِكَ

ʾaḥkámik ḥ-k-m → “thy laws”

literal: wisdom; wise; judgment

laws 67% commandments 22% precepts 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: will rule gleaningsGWB §98: as the Exponents of kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: of authority kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: of divine wisdom prayers-and-meditationsP&M §675: Supreme Ordainer tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: the Wise One the-hidden-wordsHW §13: My command will-and-testamentW&T §22: conclusively

مَهْرَبَ

mahrab h-r-b → “refuge”

literal: flee; fleeing; fled

refuge 57% place 29% any 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: any refuge gleaningsGWB §411: place to flee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: and the sincere have fled gleaningsGWB §534: place of refuge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §222: refuge gleaningsGWB §83: will fly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §854: I have fled gleaningsGWB §195: flee

لِنَفْسٍ

linafsin n-f-s → “soul”

literal: self; soul; souls

own 19% self 19% soul 17% himself 16% evil 8% corrupt 5% one 5% souls 4% breath 4% man 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: by Myself gleaningsGWB §128: spirit kitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: person prayers-and-meditationsP&M §267: I swear tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyself the-hidden-wordsHW §71: for My Self will-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: self

لَدى

ladى l-d-y → “before”

literal: at; with; near

before 29% when 24% sight 18% face 12% through 6% after 6% beside 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: in the sight of gleaningsGWB §11: in Our sight prayers-and-meditationsP&M §125: in the face epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: from gleaningsGWB §719: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §746: beside epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: by gleaningsGWB §279: before

صُدُورِ

ṣudúr ṣ-d-r → “breasts”

literal: breast

breasts 41% hearts 12% men’s 6% men’s 6% bosoms 6% bosom 6% pronounced 6% sores 6% sicknesses 6% revelation 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: breast gleaningsGWB §192: bosom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: heart prayers-and-meditationsP&M §335: sicknesses of the-hidden-wordsHW §93: souls will-and-testamentW&T §34: the hearts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: Source gleaningsGWB §684: radiant

أَوامِرِكَ،

ʾawámirika، ʾ-m-r → “commandments”

literal: command

commandments 64% laws 18% precepts 18%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: Our decree fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §37: such events kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: decreed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: The Cause of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §218: precepts tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §57: My way

أَوْحَيْتَ

ʾawḥayt w-ḥ-y → “revelation” Distinctive

literal: revelation; revelation/inspiration; revelation, inspiration

This form usually rendered as “thou” (1 occurrences)

revelation 81% inspiration 9% revealed 1% shall 1% sent 1% divine 1% voice 1% thou 1% purpose 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: is revealed gleaningsGWB §583: Divine inspiration kitab-i-iqanKIQ §123: the Voice of Inspiration prayers-and-meditationsP&M §524: of Thine inspiration epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: of His Revelation gleaningsGWB §290: is being sent down unto thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: inspiration epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: Thy revelation

القَلَمَ

al-qalam q-l-m → “the pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

pen 96% finger 1% written 1% whose 1% any 1% appear 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: by Thy Pen gleaningsGWB §59: O Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by the Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: any pen will-and-testamentW&T §54: to appear as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: pens gleaningsGWB §281: of Whose Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: the realms

أَسْرارَ

ʾasrár s-r-r → “mysteries”

literal: secret; secrets; secret, mystery

mysteries 85% secrets 5% hidden 2% through 1% verities 1% mystic 1% mystery 1% divine 1% secret 1% discover 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: Rejoicest thou in gleaningsGWB §305: innermost reality kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: a couch prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: of my heart tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: of their hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §95: self-satisfied will-and-testamentW&T §42: darkly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: contentment

القِدَمِ

al-qidam q-d-m → “eternity”

literal: ancient; eternity; step

ancient 50% eternity 11% everlasting 9% who 7% step 6% eternal 5% feet 5% steps 2% entered 2% advance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: Him Who is the Ever-Abiding fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §120: so enduring kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: placed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §245: Most Ancient tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: by His presence the-hidden-wordsHW §81: pace will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

يُعَلِّمَ

yuʿallim ʿ-l-m → “teach” Distinctive

literal: knowledge

This form usually rendered as “knoweth”, “man”, “can” (14 occurrences)

knoweth 64% man 7% can 7% fathom 7% know 7% teach 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: Who knoweth fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §655: can proclaim kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: such signs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: comprehension tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught

الإِنْسَانَ

an-nsán ʾ-n-s → “man”

literal: human; man

man 85% men 5% human 2% all 1% unto 1% soul 1% man’s 1% “man 1% mortal 1% two 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: all men gleaningsGWB §9: man’s kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: eternal reunion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §77: be my companion the-hidden-wordsHW §96: I desire communion with thee will-and-testamentW&T §42: plotted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: perceive gleaningsGWB §118: Thy Presence

وَيُشْرِبَهُمْ

wayushribahum sh-r-b → “drink” Distinctive

literal: drink; to drink

This form usually rendered as “caused” (1 occurrences)

drink 23% give 17% quaffed 15% quaff 12% hath 7% have 7% make 6% draught 4% drunk 4% hast 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: drunk gleaningsGWB §353: and their drink kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: drink then your fill kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: hast drunk prayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: Give us, then, to drink the-hidden-wordsHW §139: wine epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: draught gleaningsGWB §78: They drink

كَوْثَرَ

kawthar k-w-th-r → “living waters”

literal: abundance/fountain; abundance, fountain in paradise

living 56% waters 9% river 9% through 6% stream 3% cup 3% life-giving 3% everlasting 3% plenteous 3% after 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the living waters gleaningsGWB §435: stream prayers-and-meditationsP&M §455: the living fountain epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: living waters gleaningsGWB §57: cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §5: the river epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: through the living waters gleaningsGWB §60: the life-giving waters

المَعَانِي

al-maʿání ʿ-n-y → “truth” Distinctive

literal: meaning; meanings

This form usually rendered as “meaning”, “inner”, “divine” (79 occurrences)

meaning 21% inner 19% divine 13% mystic 11% understanding 9% mysteries 6% truth 6% spirit 6% ma’ani 4% revelation 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: My loving-kindness fire-tabletFire §15: Thy bounty gleaningsGWB §708: meant kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: disdainfully rejected prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §155: divine mystery will-and-testamentW&T §4: through His loving-kindness

كَأْسِ

kaʾas k-ʾ-s → “cup”

literal: cup; cup/goblet; cup, chalice

cup 77% chalice 16% one 6%

gleaningsGWB §299: the Cup kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: from the cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: cups of gleaningsGWB §15: a cup kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: the wine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §732: this Cup gleaningsGWB §360: cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §421: the cups

وَإِلْهامِكَ،

waʾilhámika، l-h-m → “thine inspiration”

literal: inspiration; inspire; inspired

inspiration 74% inspire 13% will 5% inspired 3% divine 3% didst 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: inspiration gleaningsGWB §691: Divine inspiration prayers-and-meditationsP&M §255: of Thine inspiration epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thine Inspiration gleaningsGWB §163: inspired me prayers-and-meditationsP&M §198: didst inspire gleaningsGWB §635: will inspire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §223: Inspire then my soul

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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729 ¶

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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17 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶