Prayers and Meditations — §664

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 664 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

الها معبودا مقصودا كريما رحيما جانها از تو و اقتدارها در قبضه قدرت تو، هر كه را بلند كنى از مَلَك بگذرد و بمقام وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكانًا عَلِيًّا رسد، و هر كه را بياندازى از خاك پست‌ تر بلكه هيچ از او بهتر،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

My God, the Object of my adoration, the Goal of my desire, the All-Bountiful, the Most Compassionate! All life is of Thee and all power lieth within the grasp of Thine omnipotence. Whosoever Thou exaltest is raised above the angels, and attaineth the station: “Verily, We uplifted him to a place on high!”; and whosoever Thou dost abase is made lower than dust, nay, less than nothing.

Translation Notes

معبودا

mʿbúdá ʿ-b-d → “object of my adoration”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE expanded to “Object of my adoration”

adored 45% object 25% adore 15% all-glorious 5% true 5% adoration 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: man fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §465: a servant kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: peoples of the world prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: servants’tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service the-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servants will-and-testamentW&T §36: this Thy servant

مقصودا

mqṣúdá q-ṣ-d → “goal of my desire”

literal: intended; purpose; desired

SE expanded to “Goal of my desire”

purpose 34% desire 28% meant 18% goal 5% object 4% desired 3% intended 2% aim 2% heart’s 2% meaning 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: the Desire gleaningsGWB §596: My object kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The object kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: primarily intended prayers-and-meditationsP&M §698: the Goal of my desire the-hidden-wordsHW §76: the charm will-and-testamentW&T §7: purposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Desire

كريما

krímá k-r-m → “all-bountiful”

literal: generous; generosity; bounty

most 41% all-bountiful 23% generous 13% bountiful 5% god 5% goodness 3% noble 3% all-powerful 3% bounteousness 3% wisdom 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: bounty fire-tabletFire §4: bestowal gleaningsGWB §234: and goodness kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: All-Powerful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: praise prayers-and-meditationsP&M §291: Thy grace will-and-testamentW&T §50: Gracious epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Generous

رحيما

rḥímá r-ḥ-m → “most compassionate”

literal: mercy; merciful; the Merciful

most 48% compassionate 16% merciful 12% all-merciful 12% wonders 4% mercy 4% who 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: of My mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §40: plenteous mercies kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: mercies prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: tender mercies tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy the-hidden-wordsHW §89: celestial

جانها

jánhá j-ʾ-n → “all life”

literal: soul; life

soul 33% lives 33% all 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: his spirit gleaningsGWB §672: of His beauty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: His life prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: All life the-hidden-wordsHW §91: the loved one will-and-testamentW&T §3: precious lives epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §118: their lives gleaningsGWB §672: the Best-Beloved

از

iz ʾ-z → “amongst”

literal: from

23 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: Amongst kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: at kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: from

تو

tú t-w-w → “thou”

literal: you

2 occurrences in corpus

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: thou

اقتدارها

iqtdárhá q-d-r → “all power”

literal: power

power 33% almighty 16% might 13% powerful 8% potent 6% most 6% all-powerful 5% ordain 5% ordained 4% thou 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: could fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §587: Our power kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: measure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: all-subduing power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: through Thy power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: of His might

قبضه

qbḍh q-b-ḍ → “grasp”

literal: grasp; grasp/grip; grasped

grasp 59% relief 6% yield 6% breath 6% hollow 6% turned 6% within 6% days 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: relief gleaningsGWB §627: Whose grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: the hollow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: holdeth within His grasp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: the grasp gleaningsGWB §303: yield up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: turned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: within the grasp

هر

hr h-r → “whosoever” Distinctive

literal: every; every/each; each

This form usually rendered as “every”, “whatsoever”, “each” (23 occurrences)

every 62% whatsoever 8% each 8% whosoever 8% although 8% both 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: every nineteen gleaningsGWB §512: whatsoever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §262: Both epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: every gleaningsGWB §429: Every age kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: he kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: Whosoever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: Although

بلند

blnd b-l-n-d → “lofty”

literal: high, lofty

lofty 29% thou 14% glory 14% transcendent 14% lifted 14% exalted 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: Thou exaltest gleaningsGWB §417: lofty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: lifted up will-and-testamentW&T §4: exalted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: glory and sublimity gleaningsGWB §9: transcendent gleaningsGWB §147: Success

كنى

knى k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: do; to do; do, make

This form usually rendered as “discover” (6 occurrences)

made 21% have 16% do 16% conduct 11% hath 11% arisen 5% ordered 5% done 5% reflect 5% hast 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: arisen gleaningsGWB §334: righteousness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: lead the-hidden-wordsHW §93: sanctify will-and-testamentW&T §15: proved self-sacrificing epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: have made gleaningsGWB §429: prescribeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: misconstrued

مَلَك

malak m-l-k → “angels” Distinctive

literal: kingdom; king

This form usually rendered as “kingdom”, “king”, “sovereign” (99 occurrences)

kingdom 28% king 23% sovereign 12% dominion 8% kingdoms 8% earth 5% world 5% land 3% angels 3% sovereignty 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: the kingdoms gleaningsGWB §219: His Kingdom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: angel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §815: Earth and heaven tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worlds the-hidden-wordsHW §2: Possess will-and-testamentW&T §48: of the

بگذرد

bgdhrd g-dh-r → “renounced” Distinctive

literal: pass; passed

This form usually rendered as “pass”, “have”, “above” (9 occurrences)

pass 50% have 25% above 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: leave gleaningsGWB §673: Abandon not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: keep himself aloof prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: above the-hidden-wordsHW §121: ye have passed by epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: abandon gleaningsGWB §364: relinquish kitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: forsaken

وَرَفَعْنَاهُ

warafaʿnáh r-f-ʿ → “uplifted”

literal: raise; raised; elevation

\‘verily 50% uplifted 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: Lift it up fire-tabletFire §4: uplifted gleaningsGWB §410: was spread abroad on kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: serveth to exalt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §41: firmly established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: may be unfurled tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: dispel the-hidden-wordsHW §61: that I may rise

مَكانًا

makánan k-w-n → “thou” Distinctive

literal: be; was; to be

This form usually rendered as “place” (1 occurrences)

thou 28% ye 15% hath 11% all 8% have 8% will 6% may 6% essence 6% lay 6% had 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: dwelt fire-tabletFire §35: universe gleaningsGWB §284: can well dispense with kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: art thou to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: place tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyself tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: thou hesitate tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart hath

عَلِيًّا

ʿaliyyan ʿ-l-w → “high!”” Distinctive

literal: highest; upon; exalted

This form usually rendered as “most”, “exalted”, “upon” (345 occurrences)

most 40% exalted 21% upon 16% do 5% unto 4% over 3% against 2% around 2% inaccessible 2% all 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: in fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §133: loftiness kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: the most exalted—may prayers-and-meditationsP&M §565: Almighty tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §98: celestial

رسد،

rsd، r-s-d → “attaineth”

literal: reach; to reach; arrive

how 30% attaineth 20% ended 10% much 10% unto 10% offereth 10% more 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: reached gleaningsGWB §622: much less kitab-i-iqanKIQ §167: reach the-hidden-wordsHW §97: didst attain will-and-testamentW&T §5: aloft epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: ended gleaningsGWB §687: cometh kitab-i-iqanKIQ §89: naught but dross

بياندازى

bíándázى ʾ-n-d-z → “cast”

literal: cast

1 occurrence in corpus

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: cast

خاك

khák kh-ʾ-k → “dust”

literal: dust

dust 78% dust-made 11% world 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §31: Dust-made gleaningsGWB §203: dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: world the-hidden-wordsHW §125: to dust

پست‌

pst‌ p-s-t → “failure” Distinctive

literal: low

This form usually rendered as “meanest”, “lower” (3 occurrences)

meanest 50% lower 50%

gleaningsGWB §147: failure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: meanest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §664: lower the-hidden-wordsHW §158: basest

تر

tr t-r-r → “less than”

literal: more (comparative suffix)

2 occurrences in corpus

بلكه

blkh b-l-k → “nay”

literal: rather/nay

nay 71% practised—nay 14% yea 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: but kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: yea kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: practised—nay kitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: Nay

هيچ

hích h-y-ch → “any”

literal: any

5 occurrences in corpus

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: No kitab-i-iqanKIQ §252: any

بهتر،

bhtr، b-h-t-r

literal: better

SE rendered خاك (khák), پست‌ (pst‌), تر (tr), بلكه (blkh), هيچ (hích), از (iz), بهتر، (bhtr،) as “dust, lower, less than, nay, nothing, than”

1 occurrence in corpus

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings cover

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-'Ahd cover

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel cover

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament cover

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶