Prayers and Meditations — §523

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 523 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ يا إِلهِي تَرَى كَيْفَ ابْتُلِيْتُ بَيْنَ عِبادِكَ وَما وَرَد عَلَيَّ فِي سَبِيلِكَ، أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ بِأَنِّي ما تَكَلَّمْتُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِكَ وَما يُفَكُّ شَفَتَائِي إِلاَّ بِأمْرِكَ وَإِرادَتِكَ، وَما تَنَفَّسْتُ إِلاَّ بِذِكْرِكَ وَثَنائِكَ وَما دَعَوْتُ الكُلَّ إِلاَّ إِلى ما دَعَا بِهِ أَصْفِيائُكَ فِي أَزَلِ الآزالِ، وَمَا أَمَرْتُهُمْ إِلاَّ بِما يُقَرِّبُهُمْ إِلى مَشْرِقِ عِنايَتِكَ وَمَطْلَعِ أَلْطافِكَ وَأُفُقِ غَنائِكَ وَمَظْهَرِ وَحْيِكَ وَإِلْهامِكَ، وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ يا إِلهِي بِأَنِّي ما قَصَّرْتُ فِي أَمْرِكَ، أَرْسَلْتُ فِي كُلِّ الأَحْيانِ نَفَحَاتِ وَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Thou seest how I have been sorely vexed among Thy servants, and beholdest the things that have befallen me in Thy path. Thou knowest full well that I have not spoken a word but by Thy leave, that my lips have never been opened except at Thy bidding and in accordance with Thy pleasure, that every breath I have breathed hath been animated with Thy praise and Thy remembrance, that I have summoned all men to naught else except that whereunto Thy chosen ones have through all eternity been summoned, and that I have bidden them observe only the things that would draw them nearer unto the Dayspring of Thy loving-kindness, and the Dawning-Place of Thy favors, and the Horizon of Thy riches, and the Manifestation of Thine inspiration and Thy revelation.

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “lauded be thy name”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

SE expanded to “Lauded be Thy name”

glorified 27% lauded 19% praised 14% glory 12% praise 10% magnified 6% exalted 5% all 3% unto 2% “glory 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: Gracious God gleaningsGWB §1: Lauded and glorified art Thou kitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: Immeasurably high prayers-and-meditationsP&M §354: Magnified tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: the veils gleaningsGWB §122: praise

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “o my god”

literal: God; divine; god

SE expanded to “O my God”

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 §245: grace gleaningsGWB §204: her God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: God but their own desire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: of Thy Divinity the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §23: is of God epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: God gleaningsGWB §391: and pertaineth to God Himself

تَرَى

tará r-ʾ-y → “thou seest”

literal: see; to see; see/behold

thou 53% seest 16% beholdest 12% behold 6% wert 2% regard 2% seest?” 2% discover 2% dost 2% art 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: beholdeth fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §279: ye claim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: I recognize the-hidden-wordsHW §37: and to mirror forth will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou seest me gleaningsGWB §692: recognize

ابْتُلِيْتُ

ibtulít b-l-w → “i have been sorely vexed”

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

SE expanded to “I have been sorely vexed”

tribulations 20% tribulation 18% afflictions 17% trials 10% affliction 7% afflicted 7% woes 6% woe 6% calamity 5% adversities 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: affliction fire-tabletFire §48: of tribulation gleaningsGWB §255: trials and tribulations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: was condemned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §401: woe the-hidden-wordsHW §49: My trials will-and-testamentW&T §3: rest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: tribulations

عِبادِكَ

ʿibádik 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 §40: the servants fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §153: of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: have gathered and preyed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §374: the comprehension of Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §38: are servants

سَبِيلِكَ،

sabílika، s-b-l → “in thy path”

literal: path; way; path/way

SE expanded to “in Thy path”

path 87% sake 5% way 2% thee 2% path.” 2% path!” 2% ways 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy path gleaningsGWB §599: systems kitab-i-iqanKIQ §215: ways prayers-and-meditationsP&M §267: and in Thy path.”the-hidden-wordsHW §51: My path will-and-testamentW&T §3: shed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §258: a road leading gleaningsGWB §317: means of admittance

تَعْلَمُ

taʿlam ʿ-l-m → “beholdest” Distinctive

literal: knowledge

This form usually rendered as “knowest”, “thou”, “art” (54 occurrences)

knowest 42% thou 15% art 12% knowing 6% well 6% beholdest 6% what 3% learned 3% studied 3% testifieth 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: all learning fire-tabletFire §3: Enchanter gleaningsGWB §163: through Thine all-encompassing knowledge kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: studies prayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: the ensigns of Thy guidance tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §14: seekest thou enlightenment

بِأَنِّي

biʾanní ʾ-n-n → “that”

literal: that; indeed; moment

SE rendered سَبِيلِكَ، (sabílika،), تَعْلَمُ (taʿlam), بِأَنِّي (biʾanní), تَكَلَّمْتُ (takallamt) as “in Thy path, beholdest, that, I have not spoken”

moment 29% such 14% just 14% truly 14% should 14% how 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: is gleaningsGWB §694: He prayers-and-meditationsP&M §117: truly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §53: that gleaningsGWB §242: such as to justify prayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: that should epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: a moment gleaningsGWB §353: that just as thou

تَكَلَّمْتُ

takallamt k-l-m → “i have not spoken”

literal: word; words; speak

SE expanded to “I have not spoken”

utter 17% spoke 17% thou 17% spoken 17% have 17% gave 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: pronounce fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §564: all-compelling name kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: of His divine utterance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §523: I have not spoken tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: to one mystic word will-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: He Who conversed with God

بِإِذْنِكَ

biʾidhnik ʾ-dh-n → “by thy leave”

literal: ear; permission/leave

SE expanded to “by Thy leave”

leave 40% command 20% judgment 20% ears 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: ear gleaningsGWB §619: his ear prayers-and-meditationsP&M §195: by Thy leave will-and-testamentW&T §34: the minds epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §53: with attentive ears gleaningsGWB §132: your ears prayers-and-meditationsP&M §356: mine ear epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: leave

يُفَكُّ

yufakk f-k-k → “have never been opened”

literal: open

SE expanded to “have never been opened”

opened 40% separation 20% hath 20% have 20%

gleaningsGWB §47: opened the seal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §632: were opened gleaningsGWB §559: separation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: hath been loosed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §523: have never been opened

شَفَتَائِي

shafatáʾí sh-f-h → “my lips”

literal: lips; lip

lips 80% mouth 20%

gleaningsGWB §299: thy lips prayers-and-meditationsP&M §523: my lips gleaningsGWB §583: lips prayers-and-meditationsP&M §28: mouth

بِأمْرِكَ

biʾamrik ʾ-m-r → “at thy bidding” Distinctive

literal: command; cause

This form usually rendered as “cause”, “revelation”, “behest” (179 occurrences)

SE expanded to “at Thy bidding”

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 §13: His behest fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §455: design kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: all acts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §362: Thy decree tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §33: summoned the-hidden-wordsHW §52: My command unto thee

وَإِرادَتِكَ،

waʾirádatika، r-w-d → “will”

literal: will; desire

will 62% purpose 15% through 8% desire 8% wisdom 4% conformity 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: hast gone gleaningsGWB §550: determineth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §250: one aim in life prayers-and-meditationsP&M §247: of Thy Desire tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: have purposed the-hidden-wordsHW §57: dost wish for will-and-testamentW&T §38: meant that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: desireth

تَنَفَّسْتُ

tanaffast n-f-s → “every breath i have breathed”

literal: self; soul; souls

SE expanded to “every breath I have breathed”

own 21% souls 16% self 14% soul 13% thyself 9% myself 7% himself 6% one 5% thee 5% yourselves 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: whom gleaningsGWB §287: My Self,”kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §76: selfish desire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: Whose nature tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §97: of self will-and-testamentW&T §25: believers

بِذِكْرِكَ

bidhikrik dh-k-r → “thy praise and thy remembrance”

literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned

SE expanded to “Thy praise and 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 §206: That which gleaningsGWB §3: the holiest of saints kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: ignore prayers-and-meditationsP&M §149: and of remembrance of Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §154: told

وَثَنائِكَ

wathanáʾik th-n-y

literal: praise; praise, commendation

SE rendered تَنَفَّسْتُ (tanaffast), بِذِكْرِكَ (bidhikrik), وَثَنائِكَ (wathanáʾik), دَعَوْتُ (daʿawt), الكُلَّ (al-kull) as “every breath I have breathed, Thy praise and Thy remembrance, I have summoned, all men”

praise 46% celebrate 9% virtues 9% extol 9% celebrating 7% glorify 6% extolling 6% magnifying 4% muse 2% whose 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy celebration gleaningsGWB §205: that magnify His Name kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §167: Thy virtues epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: second gleaningsGWB §396: magnify prayers-and-meditationsP&M §434: declare Thy virtues epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to glorify Thee

دَعَوْتُ

daʿawt d-ʿ-w → “i have summoned”

literal: call; invitation

SE expanded to “I have summoned”

summoned 42% summon 19% have 12% called 8% hath 4% summoning 4% invited 4% empowered 4% caused 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: summoned gleaningsGWB §671: profess kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: Pray kitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: summoning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §529: who call on tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: idle claimants the-hidden-wordsHW §24: I call thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: call

الكُلَّ

al-kull k-l-l → “all men”

literal: all; every; all, every

all 60% every 27% each 3% whole 3% whatsoever 1% unto 1% entire 1% everyone 1% whatever 1% one 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: all that gleaningsGWB §377: every created kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: His all-embracing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §114: and tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: be the-hidden-wordsHW §49: For will-and-testamentW&T §40: utterly

أَصْفِيائُكَ

ʾaṣfíáʾuk ṣ-f-w → “thy chosen ones”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones

SE expanded to “Thy chosen ones”

chosen 92% ones 3% thou 3% holy 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: sincerity fire-tabletFire §27: and gleaningsGWB §126: exalted Attributes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: ones prayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: Whom Thou hast chosen the-hidden-wordsHW §100: crystal pure will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: His chosen ones

أَزَلِ

ʾazal ʾ-z-l → “through all eternity”

literal: eternity; eternities; eternal

SE expanded to “through all eternity”

eternity 45% everlasting 27% before 9% forever 9% through 9%

gleaningsGWB §550: abiding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §258: eternal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §694: Thine everlasting sovereignty the-hidden-wordsHW §4: ancient eternity gleaningsGWB §124: everlasting kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: immortal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: eternity gleaningsGWB §6: forever

يُقَرِّبُهُمْ

yuqarribuhum q-r-b → “would draw them nearer”

literal: near

SE expanded to “would draw them nearer”

draw 45% will 18% may 9% can 9% help 9% would 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: the well-favored and sincere ones fire-tabletFire §3: ocean gleaningsGWB §506: to draw nigh kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §249: well nigh prayers-and-meditationsP&M §761: draw me ever nearer tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: favoured the-hidden-wordsHW §11: near unto thee

مَشْرِقِ

mashriq sh-r-q → “dayspring”

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 §157: daysprings fire-tabletFire §18: the emblems gleaningsGWB §666: manifest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: will arise prayers-and-meditationsP&M §195: be illumined tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: beamed the-hidden-wordsHW §103: realms epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §224: illumined

عِنايَتِكَ

ʿináyatik ʿ-n-y → “of thy loving-kindness”

literal: care; meaning; meanings

SE expanded to “of Thy loving-kindness”

loving-kindness 65% bounty 7% grace 7% gracious 5% tender 4% mercy 4% through 2% mercies 2% favor 2% love 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: in thought fire-tabletFire §15: Thy bounty gleaningsGWB §693: care kitab-i-ahdAhd §6: invested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §225: implication prayers-and-meditationsP&M §20: of Thy loving-kindness the-hidden-wordsHW §85: that is will-and-testamentW&T §6: in the aforementioned manner

أَلْطافِكَ

ʾalṭáfik l-ṭ-f → “of thy favors”

literal: kindness; kindness, grace

SE expanded to “of Thy favors”

favors 34% gifts 13% loving-kindness 11% tender 11% bounties 9% favor 7% bounty 5% bountiful 5% manifold 4% fragrance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: Subtile gleaningsGWB §655: the fragrance of Thy loving-kindness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: irreproachable and purest Symbols prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: Thy loving-kindness the-hidden-wordsHW §160: divine favor will-and-testamentW&T §27: as a sign epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: most sanctified gleaningsGWB §657: sweetness

وَأُفُقِ

waʾufuq 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: Supreme Horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §401: source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §293: horizon of Thy grace the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: above the horizon gleaningsGWB §286: works prayers-and-meditationsP&M §208: the world of creation

غَنائِكَ

ghanáʾik gh-n-y → “of thy riches”

literal: rich; wealth; riches

SE expanded to “of Thy riches”

riches 44% wealth 41% self-sufficiency 4% plenteousness 4% there 4% poor 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: possessest shall profit gleaningsGWB §284: all creatures kitab-i-iqanKIQ §212: melodies prayers-and-meditationsP&M §347: chanteth tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: singeth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: eternal wealth the-hidden-wordsHW §130: wealthy man epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: sung

وَمَظْهَرِ

wamaẓhar ẓ-h-r → “manifestation”

literal: manifestation; manifest

manifestation 63% revealer 18% who 5% manifest 4% dayspring 3% supreme 3% revelation 3% revealest 1% symbol 1% exponent 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: disclosed fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §29: unveiling kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: have We graciously revealed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: letter prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: the tokens tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

وَحْيِكَ

waḥyik w-ḥ-y → “thy revelation”

literal: revelation; revelation/inspiration; revelation, inspiration

revelation 78% inspiration 14% horizon 3% purpose 3% most 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: Thy revelation gleaningsGWB §290: sent down prayers-and-meditationsP&M §567: the horizon epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: Divine Revelation gleaningsGWB §656: of Thy Revelation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §738: Thy most sweet remembrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: Revelation gleaningsGWB §583: inspiration

وَإِلْهامِكَ،

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

literal: inspiration; inspired; inspire

inspiration 76% inspire 12% will 3% divine 3% verses 3% didst 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §141: inspiration gleaningsGWB §635: will inspire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §198: didst inspire epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thine Inspiration gleaningsGWB §691: Divine inspiration prayers-and-meditationsP&M §255: of Thine inspiration gleaningsGWB §662: inspire

وَأَنْتَ

waʾant ʾ-n-t → “thou”

literal: you

SE rendered وَحْيِكَ (waḥyik), وَإِلْهامِكَ، (waʾilhámika،), وَأَنْتَ (waʾant), تَعْلَمُ (taʿlam), إِلهِي (ʾilhí), بِأَنِّي (biʾanní) as “Thy revelation, Thine inspiration, that”