Prayers and Meditations — §601
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 601 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
سُبْحَانَكَ يا إِلهِي قَدِ اعْتَرَفَ عَبْدُكَ هذا بِأَنَّكَ لا تُوصَفُ بِسِواكَ وَلا تُذْكرُ بِدُونِكَ، كُلَّما يَعْرُجُ أَهْلُ الحَقِيقَةِ إِلى سَماءِ ذِكْرِكَ لا يَصِلُنَّ إِلاَّ إِلى المَقامِ الَّذِيْ خُلِقَ فِي أَفْئِدَتِهِمْ بِأَمْرِكَ وَتَقْدِيرِكَ، كَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ العَدَمُ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ القِدَمَ أَوْ يَصِفَهُ بِما يَنْبَغِيْ لِسُلْطانِهِ وَعَظَمَتِهِ وَكِبْرِيائِهِ، لا وَنَفْسِكَ يا مالِكَ الأُمَمِ قَدْ شَهِدَ الكُلُّ بِعَجْزِ نَفْسِهِ وَاقْتِدارِ نَفْسِكَ وَدُنُوِّ ذاتِهِ وَعُلُوِّ ذاتِكَ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Praised be Thou, O my God! This servant of Thine testifieth that naught else except Thee can ever express Thee, nor canst Thou be described by any one save Thyself. The thoughts of them that have recognized Thy reality, however much they may ascend towards the heaven of Thy praise, can never hope to pass beyond the bounds which, by Thy behest and decree, have been fixed within their own hearts. How can the creature who is as nothing comprehend Him Who is the Ancient of Days, or succeed in describing the full measure of His sovereignty, His glory, and His grandeur? Nay, and to this Thou Thyself dost witness, O Thou Who art the Governor of nations! Every created thing hath recognized its own impotence, and the power of Thy might, and hath confessed its own abasement and Thy great glory.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: celebrateth the praise offire-tabletFire §14: veiledgleaningsGWB §682: the All-Glorious Godkitab-i-iqanKIQ §291: Glorified beprayers-and-meditationsP&M §188: Thee be praisetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highwill-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: the things that are God’sfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §122: born of the substance of God Himselfkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: which God stirreth upprayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: He Whom all things worshiptablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “confessed”, “recognized” (26 occurrences)
hath 25% confessed 21% recognized 13% have 13% confessing 8% hast 4% confess 4% confesseth 4% borne 4% testifieth 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: Couldst thou but knowgleaningsGWB §236: to be unacquaintedkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §48: such knowledgeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §440: know Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thine own knowledgeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: Divine knowledge
SE expanded to “This servant of Thine”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: Adored Onefire-tabletFire §50: all the servantsgleaningsGWB §465: a servantkitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: the All-Gloriousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §359: are they whotablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicewill-and-testamentW&T §12: trusted servantsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: the servants of God
This form usually rendered as “describe”, “attribute”, “can” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: depict that placegleaningsGWB §91: praisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: traits and limitationsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §842: to describeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: describegleaningsGWB §5: attributekitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: unfold their mysteryprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: conception
SE rendered بِأَنَّكَ (biʾannak), تُوصَفُ (túṣaf), بِسِواكَ (bisiwák), تُذْكرُ (tudhkr), بِدُونِكَ، (bidúnika،) as “that naught else except Thee, express, described, save Thyself”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: mountedgleaningsGWB §616: and fashionedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §159: unto themprayers-and-meditationsP&M §351: except Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full heightthe-hidden-wordsHW §16: another than Meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §71: all else but HimgleaningsGWB §571: except His remembrance
This form usually rendered as “warning”, “names”, “aware” (7 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: the followinggleaningsGWB §345: expositionkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: of the wordsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §816: my praisetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: I may remember thee
This form usually rendered as “all”, “except”, “any” (65 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §75: any one but TheegleaningsGWB §535: all else but Mekitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the likeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §857: but Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §14: from anyone beside Mewill-and-testamentW&T §38: All othersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: withoutgleaningsGWB §621: every defilement
SE rendered بِدُونِكَ، (bidúnika،), كُلَّما (kullamá), يَعْرُجُ (yaʿruj), أَهْلُ (ʾahl), الحَقِيقَةِ (al-ḥaqíqah), سَماءِ (samáʾ) as “save Thyself, however, ascend, reality, heaven”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: unto all beingsfire-tabletFire §22: the SyriansgleaningsGWB §410: can such a man be said to have acted withkitab-i-ahdAhd §5: beholderskitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: followersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §267: kindredtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: them that are withinthe-hidden-wordsHW §92: children
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: of His Most Excellent Titlesfire-tabletFire §36: heavenlygleaningsGWB §46: with the ornament of the namekitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: “Heavenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: but onetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My saketablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes
This form usually rendered as “order”, “can” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: of His presencefire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §684: reachkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: of My presencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: to attainprayers-and-meditationsP&M §791: and Thy presencetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: reachedthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: obtained
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: itfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §106: selfkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: the Day of Resurrection?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: and standeth overtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: but a creationfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §584: human racekitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: endowedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §320: Fashionertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §83: creatorsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: of a goodly character
SE expanded to “their own hearts”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: of the heartsgleaningsGWB §537: the mindskitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: conscienceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: thoughtsthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heartwill-and-testamentW&T §48: They haveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thine heartgleaningsGWB §506: your souls
cause 62% revelation 14% behest 6% faith 4% bidding 4% commandment 3% decree 2% affairs 2% through 2% command 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: things such as thesefire-tabletFire §17: CommandgleaningsGWB §352: God’s Revelationkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Willkitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: His Faithprayers-and-meditationsP&M §850: Thou hast prescribed unto themtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commandsthe-hidden-wordsHW §52: My command unto thee
irrevocable 25% decree 19% purpose 13% ordinance 6% judgment 6% according 6% immutable 6% ruling 6% appointment 6% through 6%
lack 25% evanescent 17% nothingness 17% ignorance 8% failure 8% want 8% none 4% innocence 4% utter 4% destitute 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: evanescentgleaningsGWB §119: utter nothingnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §236: neverprayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: the creature who is as nothingwill-and-testamentW&T §5: towards destructionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: The evanescentgleaningsGWB §588: Let them be reduced to nothingnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: non-existent
SE expanded to “Ancient of Days”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: by the footstepsfire-tabletFire §1: the Most AncientgleaningsGWB §537: of His everlastingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: steppedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §658: the pasttablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: with Thy footstepsthe-hidden-wordsHW §82: enterwill-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: behoovethgleaningsGWB §544: paramount duty iskitab-i-ahdAhd §13: to do that which is meet and seemlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: would still be unseemlyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: fit forgleaningsGWB §507: is it not your clear dutykitab-i-ahdAhd §3: that which is meet and seemlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §375: becometh
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: of Thy sovereigntygleaningsGWB §567: the sovereigntykitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: undisputed sovereigntyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §156: through the power of Thy sovereigntytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §7: power of the Crownepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: King
This form usually rendered as “majesty”, “greatness”, “dominion” (31 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the greatness of Thy majestygleaningsGWB §628: the glory of Thy majestykitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categoricallykitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: graveprayers-and-meditationsP&M §729: most gloriousthe-hidden-wordsHW §42: Magnifywill-and-testamentW&T §5: bitterepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: so great
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: grandeurgleaningsGWB §501: sorelykitab-i-iqanKIQ §235: Vain and haughtyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §749: and Thy grandeurtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: showeth pridetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: entirethe-hidden-wordsHW §123: haughtinesswill-and-testamentW&T §34: wondrous
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: By HimgleaningsGWB §149: Beingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: each personprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: of Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §1: in their liveswill-and-testamentW&T §44: souls such as theseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §67: for thine own sake
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: SovereigngleaningsGWB §48: truthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: creationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §12: Supreme Rulertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §7: Our kingdomwill-and-testamentW&T §13: every landepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: Czar
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: before thefire-tabletFire §13: the peoples of the earthgleaningsGWB §170: its peopleskitab-i-ahdAhd §16: peoples and kindreds of the earthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: communitiesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: among the nationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: mother’swill-and-testamentW&T §5: following
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “have”, “testified” (26 occurrences)
hath 32% have 18% testified 9% borne 9% testifieth 9% witnesseth 5% pronounced 5% detected 5% sweetness 5% pleasant 5%
all 62% every 25% each 3% whole 2% whatsoever 2% entire 1% everyone 1% continually 1% whatever 1% one 1%
powerlessness 44% impotence 15% helplessness 11% none 7% tearful 4% can 4% failure 4% failed 4% man 4% futility 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: capablegleaningsGWB §327: failkitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the miracleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: nonewill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: none can producegleaningsGWB §259: are powerlesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity
This form usually rendered as “abasement” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: this worldgleaningsGWB §115: however inconsiderablekitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: sordidprayers-and-meditationsP&M §575: the life that now isthe-hidden-wordsHW §23: abasedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: this world’sgleaningsGWB §370: earthlykitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: or low
This form usually rendered as “essence”, “person”, “self” (48 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine EssencegleaningsGWB §92: unchangeable Beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: their own Selvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §731: begottenwill-and-testamentW&T §36: my lifeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: beinggleaningsGWB §536: by My Selfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: the unchangeable Being
This form usually rendered as “loftiness”, “transcendent”, “exalted” (43 occurrences)
loftiness 30% transcendent 15% exalted 11% heights 11% sublime 7% lofty 7% excellence 7% glory 4% all-glorious 4% high-minded 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: exaltedfire-tabletFire §42: highestgleaningsGWB §364: Gloriouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: the most exalted—mayprayers-and-meditationsP&M §512: for the purpose of furtheringtablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising highthe-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on highwill-and-testamentW&T §17: the Exalted One
