Prayers and Meditations — §730

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 730 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

نْ خَشْيَتِكَ، وَلَوْ أُثْنِيكَ بِالصِّفاتِ أُشاهِدُ أَنَّها خَلْقُكَ وَفِي قَبْضَتِكَ وَلا يَنْبَغِيْ لِمَظاهِرِها أَنْ تَقُومَ تِلْقآءَ بَابِ مَدْيَنِ ظُهُورِكَ وَكَيْفَ المَقامِ الَّذِيْ فِيْهِ اسْتَوَيْتَ عَلَى عَرْشِ عَظَمَتِكَ، وَعِزَّتِكَ يا مالِكَ الأَسْمآءِ وَفَاطِرَ السَّمآءِ، كُلُّ ما تَزَيَّنَ بِقَمِيْصِ الأَلْفاظِ إِنَّهُ خُلِقَ فِي مَمْلَكَتِكَ وَذُوِّتَ بِإِرادَتِكَ وَلا يَنْبَغِيْ لِحَض

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I cannot think, O my God, of any words wherewith to make mention of Thee, and know not how to express or extol Thee. Were I to attempt to describe Thee by Thy names, I would readily recognize that the kingdom of these names is itself created through the movement of Thy fingers, and trembleth for fear of Thee. And were I to venture to extol Thine attributes, I would be forced to admit that these attributes are Thine own creation, and lie within Thy grasp. It behooveth not Them Who are the Manifestations of these names and attributes to stand before the gate of the city of Thy Revelation, how much less to scale the heights whereon Thou didst stablish the throne of Thy majesty.

Translation Notes

خَشْيَتِكَ،

khashyatika، kh-sh-y → “fear of thee”

literal: fear; fear, awe; fear/dread

SE expanded to “fear of Thee”

fear 50% dreadful 25% dread 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: of gleaningsGWB §76: dread of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: Thy fear will-and-testamentW&T §34: alarmed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: fear of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §550: dread prayers-and-meditationsP&M §730: fear of Thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: dreadful might

وَلَوْ

walaw 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

أُثْنِيكَ

ʾuthník th-n-y → “to extol”

literal: praise; second; praise, commendation

praise 45% extol 11% celebrate 8% virtues 8% second 6% glorify 6% extolling 5% celebrating 5% glory 4% magnify 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: Secondarily gleaningsGWB §396: magnify kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §106: Thy praise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: glorify gleaningsGWB §3: glory prayers-and-meditationsP&M §692: praise of Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to glorify Thee

بِالصِّفاتِ

biálṣṣifát ṣ-f-w → “thine attributes”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones; purity

attributes 86% exalted 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: sincerity fire-tabletFire §27: and gleaningsGWB §110: Messengers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: immaculate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: Thou hast singled out the-hidden-wordsHW §100: crystal pure will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: clear

أُشاهِدُ

ʾusháhid sh-h-d → “testify” Distinctive

literal: witness; observation; witnessed

This form usually rendered as “find”, “must”, “compelled” (14 occurrences)

find 10% must 10% compelled 10% readily 10% soon 10% recognize 10% due 10% discover 10% admit 10% would 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: hath borne witness fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §148: solemnly affirmed kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: and the invisible prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: no light may shine tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §46: Seek a martyr’s death

أَنَّها

ʾannahá null

literal: and; that; in

SE rendered أُثْنِيكَ (ʾuthník), بِالصِّفاتِ (biálṣṣifát), أُشاهِدُ (ʾusháhid), أَنَّها (ʾannahá), خَلْقُكَ (khalquk), وَفِي (wafí), قَبْضَتِكَ (qabḍatik) as “to extol, Thine attributes, admit that, own creation, within, Thy grasp”

“death” 17% tasted 17% quickened 8% “life” 8% “resurrection” 8% whosoever 8% “deprivation 8% unbelief 8% scriptures 8% chronicles 8%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: “life”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: death kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: is quickened kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: hath been pronounced kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: tasted not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: in kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: unbelief kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: blindness

خَلْقُكَ

khalquk kh-l-q → “own creation”

literal: creation; create; created

creatures 74% among 7% creation 6% own 3% created 2% servants 2% all 2% god 1% hath 1% creatures’ 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: the created things fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §669: hath called into being kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: grace prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: Create, moreover tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §12: have created thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: was created

قَبْضَتِكَ

qabḍatik q-b-ḍ → “thy grasp”

literal: grasp; grasp/grip; grasped

grasp 63% whose 19% holdeth 6% hollow 6% within 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: the grasp gleaningsGWB §78: His grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: handful prayers-and-meditationsP&M §491: within Thy grasp epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: grasp gleaningsGWB §657: the mighty grasp kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: the breath prayers-and-meditationsP&M §231: holdeth within His grasp

يَنْبَغِيْ

yanbaghí n-b-gh → “behooveth”

literal: befit; befits

behooveth 38% beseemeth 21% befitteth 10% becometh 7% meet 7% aid 3% behoove 3% adequately 3% all 3% well 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: aid gleaningsGWB §620: becometh kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: meet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: behooveth gleaningsGWB §570: it beseem kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: meet and seemly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: would still be unseemly

لِمَظاهِرِها

limaẓáhirihá ẓ-h-r → “them who are the manifestations”

literal: manifestation; manifest

SE expanded to “Them Who are the Manifestations”

symbol 50% who 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: perpetrated fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §612: its subsequent Revelation kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: daysprings of authority and sources kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: fall down upon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: in revealing tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation

تَقُومَ

taqúm q-w-m → “stand”

literal: station; people; place

thou 50% mayest 25% stand 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: standing fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §641: honor kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §267: argument prayers-and-meditationsP&M §474: abode tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place

تِلْقآءَ

tilqáʾ l-q-y → “before”

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

before 63% brought 11% when 11% set 5% face 5% faced 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: meeteth fire-tabletFire §33: to the Divine Presence gleaningsGWB §285: entrusted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: attainment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §364: to look upon tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: the Kingdom of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §97: of Him will-and-testamentW&T §41: kindling

بَابِ

báb b-w-b → “gate”

literal: door; doors; door/gate

door 74% gate 7% portals 5% words 5% doorstep 2% chapter 2% gates 2% portal 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: door of Thy favor gleaningsGWB §34: the portals kitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: words prayers-and-meditationsP&M §449: Cast me not from epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: door gleaningsGWB §176: the doors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: door of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §313: to Thy door

مَدْيَنِ

madyan m-d-n → “city”

literal: city; cities

city 82% cities 5% great 4% habitation 4% persian 2% word 2% tabernacle 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: Persian gleaningsGWB §73: of the city prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: the everlasting Cities epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: cities gleaningsGWB §438: civilization prayers-and-meditationsP&M §844: the Tabernacle epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: of the Cities gleaningsGWB §555: from the City

وَكَيْفَ

wakayf k-y-f → “how much less”

literal: how

SE expanded to “how much less”

how 57% why 14% wherefore 11% “how 3% pleaseth 3% much 3% “what 3% into 3% pen 3% whithersoever 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: as He pleaseth gleaningsGWB §453: Why, then kitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: “What of the sign prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: How can I ever befittingly the-hidden-wordsHW §15: wherefore epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: “How gleaningsGWB §528: much less recognize prayers-and-meditationsP&M §795: whithersoever

اسْتَوَيْتَ

istawayt s-w-y → “except” Distinctive

literal: other than; other-than; besides

This form usually rendered as “hast”, “shalt”, “didst” (4 occurrences)

hast 25% shalt 25% didst 25% established 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: besides Thyself gleaningsGWB §118: imprinted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: been established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: of Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full height the-hidden-wordsHW §20: other than Me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: mounted gleaningsGWB §697: well-being and tranquillity

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 §56: throne on high gleaningsGWB §118: realities of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: desires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: Thy throne the-hidden-wordsHW §120: OF MY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: its mighty throne gleaningsGWB §594: a pillar kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat

عَظَمَتِكَ،

ʿaẓamatika، ʿ-ẓ-m → “thy majesty”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

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 §122: grievous gleaningsGWB §404: transcendeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: the most prayers-and-meditationsP&M §831: Tongue of Grandeur the-hidden-wordsHW §21: plenteous will-and-testamentW&T §40: greatest and most epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: of the Grandeur gleaningsGWB §317: His majesty

وَعِزَّتِكَ

waʿizzatik ʿ-z-z

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE rendered عَرْشِ (ʿarsh), عَظَمَتِكَ، (ʿaẓamatika،), وَعِزَّتِكَ (waʿizzatik), مالِكَ (málik), الأَسْمآءِ (as-smáʾ) as “the throne, Thy majesty, these names”