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Prayers and Meditations — §520

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 520 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

كُبْرى الَّتِيْ سَبَقَتِ الأَشْيآءَ بِاسْمِكَ العَلِيِّ الأَبْهی، لَمْ أَدْرِ يا إِلهِي إِلى مَتى يَرْقُدُونَ بَرِيَّتُكَ عَلَى فِراشِ الغَفْلَةِ وَالهَوی، وَإِلى مَتى يَنامُونَ عَلَى بِساطِ البُعْدِ وَالنَّوی، قَرِّبْهُمْ يا إِلهِي إِلى المَنْظَرِ الأَعْلى وَاجْتَذِبْهُمْ مِنْ نَفَحاتِ وَحْيِكَ الَّتِيْ بِها طارَ المُوَحِّدُونَ إِلى هَوآءِ الاشْتِياقِ وَالْمُخْلِصُونَ إِلى مَطْلَعِ نَيِّرِ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I know not, O my God, how long will Thy creatures continue to slumber on the bed of forgetfulness and evil desires, and remain far removed from Thee and shut out from Thy presence. Draw them nearer, O my God, unto the scene of Thine effulgent glory, and enrapture their hearts with the sweet savors of Thine inspiration, through which they who adore Thy unity have soared on the wings of desire towards Thee, and they who are devoted to Thee have reached unto Him Who is the Dawning-Place of the Daystar of Thy creation.

Translation Notes

كُبْرى
k-b-r

literal: great; grand; mighty; large; greatness; majesty; sovereignty; arrogance

الَّتِيْ
ʾ-l-l → “which”

literal: who; which/that; which

سَبَقَتِ
s-b-q

literal: to precede; to surpass; to excel

الأَشْيآءَ
sh-y-ʾ → “will” Distinctive

literal: thing; something; to will; to wish; to desire; to open; to unfold; to reveal

بِاسْمِكَ
s-m-w

literal: to name, to nominate, to designate, to appoint; name; noun; to name, to appoint, to designate

لَمْ
l-y-s → “I know not” Distinctive

literal: to reproach; blame; censure

أَدْرِ
d-r-y

literal: know; in; sea

يا
y-ʾ → “O”

literal: O; or

إِلهِي
ʾ-l-h → “my God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

إِلى
ʾ-l-y → “towards”

literal: except; but; if not; lo; now; at this time; save; only; unless

يَرْقُدُونَ
r-q-d → “slumber”

literal: to sleep; to slumber; sleeping

بَرِيَّتُكَ
b-r-ʾ → “creatures”

literal: to create; to create anew; to be free from; innocent; free from; clear of; to cure; to heal; to clear

عَلَى
ʿ-l-w → “on” Distinctive

literal: highest; most high; supreme

فِراشِ
f-r-sh → “bed”

literal: to raise; to spread; to erect

الغَفْلَةِ
gh-f-l → “forgetfulness”

literal: heedlessness; negligence; inattention

وَالهَوی،
h-w-y → “evil desires”

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

وَإِلى
w-l-y → “Lord” Distinctive

literal: guardian; protector; friend; ally; lord; helper; first; primary; original

يَنامُونَ
n-w-m

literal: sleep; sleeping; name

بِساطِ
b-s-ṭ

literal: carpet; mat; carpet of realm; expanse; table; surface

البُعْدِ
b-ʿ-d → “far removed” Distinctive

literal: after; behind; distance

وَالنَّوی،
n-w-y → “melody” Distinctive

literal: melody; remoteness

قَرِّبْهُمْ
q-r-b → “Draw them nearer”

literal: place of sacrifice; altar

المَنْظَرِ
n-ẓ-r → “Consider” Distinctive

literal: sight; view; spectacle; appearance

وَاجْتَذِبْهُمْ
j-dh-b → “enrapture”

literal: attract; attraction; attract, draw

مِنْ
m-n

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

نَفَحاتِ
n-f-ḥ → “sweet savors” Distinctive

literal: breeze; fragrance; whiff; breath; emanation

وَحْيِكَ
w-ḥ-y → “Thine inspiration” Distinctive

literal: revelation; inspiration; divine communication

بِها
b-h-w → “All-Glorious” Distinctive

literal: splendor; glory; magnificence; Bahá (Proper Name in Bahá’í texts)

طارَ
ṭ-y-r → “soared”

literal: the letter Ṭá; refers to Ṭihrán (also spelled Ṭehran)

المُوَحِّدُونَ
w-ḥ-d → “adore Thy unity”

literal: Divine unity; monotheism; belief in the oneness of God

الاشْتِياقِ
sh-w-q → “desire” Distinctive

literal: peace; reconciliation; amity

وَالْمُخْلِصُونَ
kh-l-ṣ → “devoted to Thee” Distinctive

literal: sincere; devoted; pure one

مَطْلَعِ
ṭ-l-ʿ → “Dawning-Place”

literal: rising; appearance; countenance; manifestation

نَيِّرِ
n-w-r → “Daystar”

literal: fires; blazes

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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