Prayers and Meditations — §558

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 558 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ يا إِلهِي لَمْ أَدْرِ أَيَّ نارٍ اشْتَعَلْتَ فِي صَدْرِيْ بِحَيْثُ يُسْمَعُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَرْكانِي زَفِيرُها وَيُشْهَدُ لَهِيبُها، لَوْ يَذْكُرُكَ لِسانِي بِأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ كُنْتَ قادِرًا فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي قُدْرَةٍ يُخاطِبُنِي لِسانُ قَلْبِي "هذِهِ كَلِمَةٌ تَرْجِعُ إِلى شَكْلِها وَمِثْلِها وَإِنَّهُ لَهُوَ المُقَدَّسُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ العالَمِينَ" فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا مَحْبُوبِي أَجِدُ فِي كُلِّ أَرْكانِيْ لِسانًا وَيَكُونُ ناطِقًا

Shoghi Effendi Translation

All praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! How mysterious the Fire which Thou hast enkindled within my heart! My very limbs testify to the intensity of its heat, and evince the consuming power of its flame. Should my bodily tongue ever attempt to describe Thee as the One Whose strength hath ever excelled the strength of the most mighty amongst men, the tongue of my heart would address me, saying: “These are but words which can only be adequate to such things as are of the same likeness and nature as themselves. But He, of a truth, is infinitely exalted above the mention of all His creatures.”

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “all praise be to thee” Distinctive

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

This form usually rendered as “glorified”, “lauded”, “praised” (181 occurrences)

SE expanded to “All praise be to Thee”

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 §233: “Glorified gleaningsGWB §48: the impediments kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: veils of glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §695: Glorified, immensely glorified tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He that the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: glorified be He gleaningsGWB §597: veils

اللَّهُمَّ

al-lahumm ʾ-l-h → “o lord” Distinctive

literal: God; divine; god

SE usually renders this root as “god”, “divine”, “god’s”

god 67% divine 18% god’s 4% lord 4% divinity 3% holy 1% other 1% mystic 1% heavenly 1% godhead 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: divine and celestial gleaningsGWB §10: His kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: heavenly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §205: and the God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §53: the Holy Writ epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Godhead gleaningsGWB §191: God’s

أَدْرِ

ʾadr d-r-y → “know”

literal: know; in

know 77% think 8% cheered 8% how 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: have come into gleaningsGWB §338: accomplishments prayers-and-meditationsP&M §462: were cheered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: possesseth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: know epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I know not prayers-and-meditationsP&M §646: the ocean epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: know not

اشْتَعَلْتَ

ishtaʿalt sh-ʿ-l → “which thou hast enkindled”

literal: kindled; flame

SE expanded to “which Thou hast enkindled”

kindled 29% grew 14% hath 14% set 14% inflamed 14% which 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: grew fiercer fire-tabletFire §50: that shall set aflame gleaningsGWB §588: hath been kindled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: self prayers-and-meditationsP&M §386: hath lit tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: a flame of fire the-hidden-wordsHW §110: torch epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: burned

صَدْرِيْ

ṣadrí ṣ-d-r → “my heart”

literal: breast

heart 43% breast 29% soul’s 14% soul 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: My breast gleaningsGWB §192: bosom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: Leader prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: my soul’s adoration the-hidden-wordsHW §93: souls will-and-testamentW&T §34: the hearts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sources gleaningsGWB §684: radiant

بِحَيْثُ

biḥayth ḥ-y-th → “such”

literal: such that; such-that

such 73% will 13% inasmuch 7% wait 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: inasmuch gleaningsGWB §480: so that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: that I will cease epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: in such wise that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: and to wait prayers-and-meditationsP&M §840: They are such that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §103: and will

يُسْمَعُ

yusmaʿ s-m-ʿ

literal: hear; hearing; heard

SE rendered صَدْرِيْ (ṣadrí), بِحَيْثُ (biḥayth), يُسْمَعُ (yusmaʿ), أَرْكانِي (ʾarkání), زَفِيرُها (zafíruhá) as “my heart, such, My very limbs, heat”

hear 25% heareth 17% will 8% heedeth 8% can 8% voice 8% intoned 8% share 8% hearken 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: hearing fire-tabletFire §37: Give Thou ear gleaningsGWB §506: that ye might hear kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sight kitab-i-iqanKIQ §240: ear prayers-and-meditationsP&M §73: to incline their ears tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hearken to Thy call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard

أَرْكانِي

ʾarkání r-k-n → “my very limbs”

literal: pillar; pillars; pillar/foundation

SE expanded to “My very limbs”

limbs 35% foundations 30% pillars 10% member 5% members 5% whole 5% entire 5% every 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: your limbs gleaningsGWB §70: every pillar prayers-and-meditationsP&M §487: limbs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: member gleaningsGWB §476: with thy whole being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: My very limbs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: our limbs gleaningsGWB §571: your entire being

زَفِيرُها

zafíruhá z-f-r → “sighs” Distinctive

literal: sighs; sigh; sighing

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

sighs 50% sigh 10% groans 10% cries 10% unity 5% flame 5% sighing 5% tears 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: the cries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: by the sighing tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: tears epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: unity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §3: by the sighs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: sigh prayers-and-meditationsP&M §166: The sighs epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: sighs

وَيُشْهَدُ

wayushhad sh-h-d → “testify”

literal: witness; witnessed

testifieth 22% beareth 22% testify 18% bear 13% witness 7% unto 4% will 4% confesseth 4% witnesseth 2% well 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: indubitable fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §148: solemnly affirmed kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: which he may see prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: proclaim tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §3: see

لَهِيبُها،

lahíbuhá، l-h-b → “undying” Distinctive

literal: blazing; flame/blaze; flaming

This form usually rendered as “hotter”, “consuming” (2 occurrences)

hotter 50% consuming 50%

gleaningsGWB §71: undying prayers-and-meditationsP&M §268: flame prayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: hotter and hotter prayers-and-meditationsP&M §208: rageth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: the consuming power

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

يَذْكُرُكَ

yadhkuruk dh-k-r → “attempt to describe” Distinctive

literal: remembrance

This form usually rendered as “remember”, “ṭá”, “express” (11 occurrences)

SE expanded to “attempt to describe”

remember 18% ṭá 9% express 9% doth 9% calleth 9% glorified 9% praiseth 9% adequately 9% attempt 9% make 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: remember Thee gleaningsGWB §102: referred kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §3: been recorded prayers-and-meditationsP&M §90: with tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His call tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeth the-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me

لِسانِي

lisání l-s-n → “my bodily tongue”

literal: tongue; tongue, language; tongues

SE expanded to “my bodily tongue”

tongue 56% language 11% call 11% bodily 11% speech 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: My tongue gleaningsGWB §167: and My tongue kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: mouth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: with my tongue the-hidden-wordsHW §101: IN epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: its tongue gleaningsGWB §167: Call kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: speech

بِأَنَّكَ

biʾannak ʾ-n-n

literal: indeed/verily

SE rendered لَوْ (law), يَذْكُرُكَ (yadhkuruk), لِسانِي (lisání), بِأَنَّكَ (biʾannak), قادِرًا (qádiran) as “Should, attempt to describe, my bodily tongue, strength”

thee 43% thou 29% verily 14% since 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §235: “There prayers-and-meditationsP&M §126: Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: for they are gleaningsGWB §2: to admit that prayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: Since Thou hast will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §698: They

قادِرًا

qádiran q-d-r → “strength” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “almighty”, “potent”, “can” (38 occurrences)

almighty 12% potent 12% can 12% all-powerful 12% able 12% powerless 12% power 8% could 8% powerful 8% capable 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: in thee fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §139: had been clearly foreordained kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: rank prayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: to Whose power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

ذِي

dhí dh-w-y → “man”

literal: possessor; possessor of; possessor/owner

man 17% beings 17% word 17% discerning 17% any 17% one 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: man gleaningsGWB §13: beings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: any will-and-testamentW&T §32: my kinsmen gleaningsGWB §286: word prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: their gleaningsGWB §217: and prayers-and-meditationsP&M §754: one

يُخاطِبُنِي

yukháṭibuní kh-ṭ-b → “addressed” Distinctive

literal: address; addressing; addresses

This form usually rendered as “saith”, “addresseth”, “would” (3 occurrences)

saith 33% addresseth 33% would 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: addressing gleaningsGWB §696: decisive decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: upon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §107: saith unto me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: betrothed gleaningsGWB §694: addressed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: discourses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: would address me

قَلْبِي

qalbí q-l-b → “of my heart”

literal: heart; hearts

SE expanded to “of my heart”

heart 83% within 10% mine 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: troublous gleaningsGWB §344: changes kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: “Hearts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §265: was stirred up the-hidden-wordsHW §120: mind will-and-testamentW&T §30: agitated epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: heart

كَلِمَةٌ

kalimahun k-l-m → “words”

literal: word; words

word 54% words 21% through 8% most 3% every 3% one 3% hath 2% sayings 2% third 2% divinity 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: His Word fire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining word gleaningsGWB §668: Word of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: writings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: crieth out tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: gave utterance will-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: speak forth

تَرْجِعُ

tarjiʿ r-j-ʿ → “return” Distinctive

literal: return; returning; to return

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

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 §245: turn gleaningsGWB §486: Return, then kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: “return”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §709: enable me to return tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: repaired to the-hidden-wordsHW §120: repair will-and-testamentW&T §16: unto whom epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: returned

شَكْلِها

shaklihá sh-k-l

literal: difficult; formation, constitution; difficult, problem

SE rendered كَلِمَةٌ (kalimahun), تَرْجِعُ (tarjiʿ), شَكْلِها (shaklihá), وَمِثْلِها (wamithlihá), وَإِنَّهُ (waʾinnah), لَهُوَ (lahú) as “words, adequate, the same likeness, He”