Prayers and Meditations — §521

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 521 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

الآفاقِ، أَيْ رَبِّ فَاخْرُقْ حُجُباتِهِمْ لِيَرَوْكَ مُشْرِقًا عَنْ أُفُقِ أَحَدِيَّتِكَ وَطالِعًا عَنْ فَجْرِ رُبوبِيَّتِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَوْ وَجَدُوا حَلاوَةَ ذِكْرِكَ وَما يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَنْ يَمِينِ عَرْشِ عَظَمَتِكَ لَيَضَعُونَ ما عِنْدَهُمْ وَيُسْرِعُونَ فِي بَيدآءِ الاشْتِياقِ لِيَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ لَحَظاتُ أَعْيُنِ مَرْحَمَتِكَ وَيَتَجَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ شَمْسُ جَمالِكَ، أَيْ رَبِّ فَاجْذِبْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Cleave asunder, O my Lord, the veils that shut them out from Thee, that they may behold Thee shining above the horizon of Thy oneness and shedding Thy radiance from the dawning-place of Thy sovereignty. By Thy glory! Were they to discover the sweetness of Thy remembrance and apprehend the excellence of the things that are sent down upon them from the right hand of the throne of Thy majesty, they would cast away all that they possess, and would rush forth into the wilderness of their longing after Thee, that the glance of Thy loving-kindness may be directed towards them and the radiance of the Daystar of Thy beauty may be shed upon them.

Translation Notes

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “horizon”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 5% heaven 5% realm 5% orient 3% supreme 1% works 1% created 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §63: of the earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: of the Dayspring the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: world gleaningsGWB §401: source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: all the world

رَبِّ

rabb r-b-b → “my lord”

literal: Lord; lord

lord 93% god 3% creator 1% one 1% art 1% none 1% ruler 1% thou 1% ‘lord 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: might gleaningsGWB §370: His revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: celestial prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: of Thy tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: the All-Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §25: of thy God will-and-testamentW&T §47: O epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: educated

فَاخْرُقْ

fákhruq kh-r-q → “rend”

literal: tear; tear/rend

rend 33% cleave 33% tear 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: rent asunder gleaningsGWB §536: Tear ye asunder kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: rend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §211: so vehemently rent epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: tear away gleaningsGWB §640: completely dissipated prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: Cleave asunder epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: rent the veils asunder

حُجُباتِهِمْ

ḥujubátihim ḥ-j-b → “veils”

literal: veil; veiled; veils

veils 30% veil 27% veiled 17% shut 9% wrapt 4% unveiled 4% have 3% deprived 3% obscure 3% concealment 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: curtains gleaningsGWB §673: naked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: this densest of all veils prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: obstacle the-hidden-wordsHW §150: the epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: veiled gleaningsGWB §676: every mortal veil kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: that are wrapt

لِيَرَوْكَ

líarawk r-ʾ-y → “behold thee” Distinctive

literal: see; to see; see/behold

This form usually rendered as “may” (3 occurrences)

thou 47% seest 11% behold 10% see 9% beholdest 7% may 4% regard 3% beheld 3% recognize 3% seen 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: regard fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §49: discover prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: Thou dost consider the-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtain will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: seeth gleaningsGWB §432: eclipseth

مُشْرِقًا

mushriqan sh-r-q → “shining”

literal: shining; east; shine

dayspring 41% dawning-place 15% shining 14% shineth 11% east 6% shine 4% shone 2% horizon 2% realms 2% source 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: brightness fire-tabletFire §41: Thy dawning gleaningsGWB §383: of the glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: luminous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: by the splendors tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: beamed the-hidden-wordsHW §103: realms epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §224: illumined

أَحَدِيَّتِكَ

ʾaḥadídatik ʾ-ḥ-d → “of thy oneness”

literal: one; oneness

SE expanded to “of Thy oneness”

oneness 42% transcendent 17% glory 13% own 4% holy 4% divine 4% most 4% incomparable 4% billowing 4% spirit 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Incomparable gleaningsGWB §510: king kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the everlasting and goodly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §74: transcendent unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §69: himself over the other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: one gleaningsGWB §441: no man

وَطالِعًا

waṭáliʿan ṭ-l-ʿ → “dayspring” Distinctive

literal: dawning-place

This form usually rendered as “rise”, “shine”, “hath” (15 occurrences)

rise 18% shine 18% hath 9% made 9% dawn 9% resplendent 9% dawning 9% risen 9% shedding 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: the Dawning-Place fire-tabletFire §12: Revealer gleaningsGWB §685: apprehend kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: can never hope to recognize prayers-and-meditationsP&M §359: Fountainhead tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §17: May know the-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance will-and-testamentW&T §5: the angelic company

فَجْرِ

fajr f-j-r → “dawning-place”

literal: dawn

dayspring 38% morning 13% dawn 13% daybreak 6% dawning-light 6% break 6% dawning-place 6% daystar 6% dawning 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: Dayspring of gleaningsGWB §27: morning kitab-i-iqanKIQ §81: wicked,—they prayers-and-meditationsP&M §661: of the Dayspring epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: daybreak gleaningsGWB §44: wicked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: break prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the dawning-place

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “by thy glory”

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE expanded to “By Thy glory”

swear 40% glory 38% might 15% power 4% own 2% would—i 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: the glory fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §244: the All-Glorious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §492: of Thy great glory the-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselves will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: Hath thy pomp

لَوْ

law l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

وَجَدُوا

wajadúá w-j-d → “discover”

literal: existence; find; existent

discover 50% could 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: find fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §350: all that existed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: be found prayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: have tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: may find the-hidden-wordsHW §21: has made will-and-testamentW&T §4: despite

حَلاوَةَ

ḥaláwah ḥ-l-w → “sweetness”

literal: sweetness; sweetest; sweet

sweetness 63% most 13% sweet 13% sweetest 4% beauty 4% sweeter 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: Most Sweet fire-tabletFire §41: sweet gleaningsGWB §591: in the sweetest of languages prayers-and-meditationsP&M §531: of the sweetness the-hidden-wordsHW §72: Sweeter gleaningsGWB §152: sweetness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §292: the sweetness gleaningsGWB §622: beauty

ذِكْرِكَ

dhikrik dh-k-r → “of thy remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

SE expanded to “of Thy remembrance”

remembrance 37% praise 24% remember 8% name 7% remembering 7% mention 4% glorification 4% virtues 4% whose 3% remembered 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: remember Him gleaningsGWB §37: foretold kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: attribute unto Him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §326: call tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

يَنْزِلُ

yanzil n-z-l → “are sent down” Distinctive

literal: send down

This form usually rendered as “would”, “abaseth”, “showered” (9 occurrences)

SE expanded to “are sent down”

would 11% abaseth 11% showered 11% shall 11% may 11% sendeth 11% sent 11% cause 11% visit 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: would fall gleaningsGWB §198: hath it been sent down kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: have already been revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: hath descended prayers-and-meditationsP&M §29: to send down tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: ‘Haste thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: “Descend the-hidden-wordsHW §54: visit

عَلَيْهِمْ

ʿalayhim ʿ-l-y → “upon them”

literal: upon; on

rest 20% wronged 20% upon 20% unto 20% fall 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: is gleaningsGWB §615: unto them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: by the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: Me at the hands of gleaningsGWB §451: on him

يَمِينِ

yamín y-m-n → “right hand”

literal: right; right hand; right-hand

right 85% right-hand 7% draw 4% hand 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: right side gleaningsGWB §537: on his right hand prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: His right hand epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §220: Thy right hand gleaningsGWB §198: the right side prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: to my right epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: the right hand gleaningsGWB §192: my right hand

عَرْشِ

ʿarsh ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: throne; the Throne

throne 84% mighty 3% seat 3% pillar 2% presence 1% celestial 1% desires 1% throne.” 1% “behind 1% exalted 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: the Throne gleaningsGWB §707: of the Throne above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: the Celestial Throne prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: Thy throne the-hidden-wordsHW §120: OF MY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: of the Mighty Throne gleaningsGWB §51: the seat kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat

عَظَمَتِكَ

ʿaẓamatik ʿ-ẓ-m → “of thy majesty”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE expanded to “of Thy majesty”

majesty 60% glory 14% greatness 14% grandeur 3% swear 2% great 2% might 2% whose 2% favors 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: Mighty gleaningsGWB §495: the Most Great Name kitab-i-iqanKIQ §252: the greatest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: Thy glory the-hidden-wordsHW §21: plenteous will-and-testamentW&T §7: Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: great a bounty gleaningsGWB §66: “The glory of all greatness

لَيَضَعُونَ

layaḍaʿún w-ḍ-ʿ → “cast away”

literal: place; lowly; put down

press 50% cast 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: press it gleaningsGWB §242: reject kitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: instances prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: to deliver the-hidden-wordsHW §41: humbleness will-and-testamentW&T §39: enact epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: abandoning gleaningsGWB §163: of the perverse and faithless

عِنْدَهُمْ

ʿindahum ʿ-n-d → “they possess”

literal: with; at; with/at

possess 38% possessed 15% all 15% earthly 8% may 8% pertaineth 8% themselves 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: possessest gleaningsGWB §576: In the sight of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: God,’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §346: when faced the-hidden-wordsHW §3: in My sight will-and-testamentW&T §34: stubbornness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: current amongst men gleaningsGWB §279: the earthly things

وَيُسْرِعُونَ

wayusriʿún s-r-ʿ → “would rush forth”

literal: hasten; hastened; hasten/hurry

SE expanded to “would rush forth”

hasten 67% would 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: Haste ye gleaningsGWB §77: They hasten kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: “Swift prayers-and-meditationsP&M §207: hasted the-hidden-wordsHW §41: traverse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: hastened gleaningsGWB §31: Hasten prayers-and-meditationsP&M §261: all may haste

بَيدآءِ

baydáʾ b-y-d → “wilderness”

literal: must; must, should; awake

must 39% incumbent 17% should 9% wilderness 9% awake 4% behooveth 4% quickened 4% awaken 4% hands 4% more 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: incumbent upon gleaningsGWB §334: quickened kitab-i-iqanKIQ §199: must needs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the wilderness the-hidden-wordsHW §109: With the hands will-and-testamentW&T §17: watchful epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: is incumbent gleaningsGWB §564: should

الاشْتِياقِ

ash-shtíáq sh-w-q → “of their longing”

literal: longing; yearning; longing, yearning

SE expanded to “of their longing”

longing 54% bereavement 15% yearning 15% vehement 8% desire 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: longing fire-tabletFire §41: Thy yearning gleaningsGWB §424: in longing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: yearning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §501: quencheth my thirst the-hidden-wordsHW §51: thy longing will-and-testamentW&T §14: urging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: I yearn after

لِيَرْتَدَّ

líartadd r-d-d → “reject” Distinctive

literal: rejection; rejected

This form usually rendered as “contemplates”, “directed” (2 occurrences)

contemplates 50% directed 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: reject gleaningsGWB §469: hast inflicted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: reject or accept prayers-and-meditationsP&M §672: divert will-and-testamentW&T §6: confuted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: rejected gleaningsGWB §469: from inflicting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: rejected.”

إِلَيْهِمْ

ʾilayhim ʾ-l-y → “until”

literal: to, until

until 23% towards 23% unto 15% further 8% upon 8% such 8% need 8% turn 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: towards gleaningsGWB §156: towards Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: to an prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: unto Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: unto gleaningsGWB §227: Such a one kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: in need prayers-and-meditationsP&M §99: to turn

لَحَظاتُ

laḥaẓát l-ḥ-ẓ → “glance”

literal: observation; observe; observation, consideration

eyes 33% glance 33% eye 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: found out gleaningsGWB §683: contemplate kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: regard kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: peruse prayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the glance will-and-testamentW&T §30: observed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: behold gleaningsGWB §609: have beheld

أَعْيُنِ

ʾaʿyun ʿ-y-n

literal: eye; eyes

SE rendered لِيَرْتَدَّ (líartadd), إِلَيْهِمْ (ʾilayhim), لَحَظاتُ (laḥaẓát), أَعْيُنِ (ʾaʿyun), مَرْحَمَتِكَ (marḥamatik) as “directed towards, them, the glance, of Thy loving-kindness”

eyes 75% eye 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: eye gleaningsGWB §609: His eyes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: waters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §462: Revelation tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: those of all creation the-hidden-wordsHW §102: have made will-and-testamentW&T §12: watchful eye

مَرْحَمَتِكَ

marḥamatik r-ḥ-m → “of thy loving-kindness”

literal: mercy; merciful; the Merciful

SE expanded to “of Thy loving-kindness”

tender 67% loving-kindness 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: His mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §688: heavenly kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §240: mercy of the All-Bountiful prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: mercy the most merciful tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §109: My tender grace

وَيَتَجَلَّى

wayatajallá j-l-w

literal: manifestation; manifest; manifested

SE rendered مَرْحَمَتِكَ (marḥamatik), وَيَتَجَلَّى (wayatajallá), عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim), شَمْسُ (shams), جَمالِكَ، (jamálika،) as “of Thy loving-kindness, upon them, the Daystar, of Thy beauty”