Prayers and Meditations — §745
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 745 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
عَلَى شَأْنٍ يَرَى اللِّسانَ عاجِزًا عَنِ الذِّكْرِ وَالبَيانِ وَالقَلْبَ قاصِرًا عَنِ العِرْفانِ، لأنَّهُ يَرى مَرَّةً يَجْرِيْ مِنْهُ مآءُ الحَيَوانِ فِي الإِمْكانِ وَسُمِّيَ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ بِالصُّورِ وَيَقُومُ بِهِ مَنْ فِي القُبُورِ وَطَوْرًا تَظْهَرُ مِنْهُ النَّارُ كأَنَّها أُوْقِدَتْ مِنْ نارِ الظُّهُورِ وَتَكَلَّمَ الكَلِيْمُ فِي الطُّورِ، فَما أَعْجَبَ شُئُوناتِ قُوَّتِكَ وَما أَعْظَمَ ظُهُوراتِ قُدْرَتِكَ، كُلُّ عَلِيمٍ اعْتَرَفَ بِالجَهْلِ عِنْدَ إِشْراقاتِ أَنْوارِ شَمْسِ عِلْمِكَ، وَكُلُّ قَوِيٍّ اعْتَرَفَ بِالعَجْزِ عِنْدَ أَمْواجِ بَحْرِ قُوَّتِكَ، وَكُلُّ غَنِيٍّ اعْتَرَفَ
Shoghi Effendi Translation
I swear by Thy glory and Thy sovereignty which overshadow the kingdoms of earth and of heaven! Were any of Thy chosen Ones and Thy Messengers to meditate on the manifold evidences of Thy most exalted Pen—a Pen which is driven by the fingers of Thy will—and were he to muse on its mysteries, and its tokens, and all that it showeth forth, he would be so perplexed that his tongue would fail to extol and describe Thee, and his heart would be utterly unable to understand Thee. For he would, at one time, discover that from this Pen there floweth out unto all created things the water that is life indeed, and that the Pen itself hath been named by Thee the trumpet whereby the dead speed out of their sepulchers. At another time he would find that there proceedeth from this Pen such fire as Thine own Revelation can kindle, and as He Who conversed with Thee (Moses) on Sinai hath perceived.
Translation Notes
SE rendered شَأْنٍ (shaʾanin), يَرَى (yará), اللِّسانَ (al-lisán), عاجِزًا (ʿájizan) as “he would be so perplexed, his tongue, fail”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: that neithergleaningsGWB §435: dignitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: concerningprayers-and-meditationsP&M §796: of the manifold tokensthe-hidden-wordsHW §68: My stateepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: My rankgleaningsGWB §408: honorprayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: of Thine exaltation
SE expanded to “he would be so perplexed”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: perceivedfire-tabletFire §26: seestgleaningsGWB §692: recognizeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: unconstrainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtainwill-and-testamentW&T §5: behold himepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thou seestgleaningsGWB §78: they behold
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: powerlessgleaningsGWB §297: powerlessnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the miracleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: and feeblenesswill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: frustrategleaningsGWB §449: to frustrate His Willkitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity
الذِّكْرِ
literal: mention; remembrance; mentioned
This form usually rendered as “remembrance”, “mention”, “praise” (252 occurrences)
SE expanded to “extol and describe”
remembrance 25% mention 22% praise 20% mentioned 8% recorded 4% describe 4% remember 4% remembering 4% referred 4% words 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: wherewith to remember and praise TheegleaningsGWB §725: stigmatizedkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §132: attribute unto Himprayers-and-meditationsP&M §185: extoltablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeththe-hidden-wordsHW §154: told
This form usually rendered as “utterance”, “bayán”, “eloquence” (65 occurrences)
utterance 53% bayán 17% eloquence 6% glorification 6% utterances 6% ornament 3% articulate 3% time 3% speak 3% give 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: heartgleaningsGWB §656: that I may turnkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: want of understandingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: the broken heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §120: mindwill-and-testamentW&T §48: with a heartepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: changed
This form usually rendered as “utterly” (10 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: their palacesgleaningsGWB §523: palaceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: only guiltprayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: powerlessnesstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: mansionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: conductgleaningsGWB §591: the Mansionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: brevity
This form usually rendered as “knowledge”, “understanding”, “recognition” (144 occurrences)
knowledge 34% understanding 26% recognition 8% recognize 8% comprehension 7% know 6% recognizing 4% insight 3% wisdom 2% visualize 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: sweet savorsgleaningsGWB §2: the All-Perceivingkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: testifyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §59: of Thy wisdomtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §57: thinkestepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: discern
SE rendered قاصِرًا (qáṣiran), العِرْفانِ، (al-ʿirfáni،), لأنَّهُ (lʾannah), يَرى (yarى), مَرَّةً (marrahan), يَجْرِيْ (yajrí) as “utterly unable, understand Thee., For, he would, at one time, floweth out”
SE expanded to “at one time”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: travelethgleaningsGWB §255: will it remainkitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: universally enforcedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §108: hath flowed down fromtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §33: maidenepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: flowedgleaningsGWB §662: gush out and flowkitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: is
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: its watersgleaningsGWB §395: the soft-flowing waterskitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: the watersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §573: by reason of whatthe-hidden-wordsHW §138: foul and mortalepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: what He willethgleaningsGWB §292: for the thingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §792: by reason of
SE expanded to “is life indeed”
SE expanded to “all created things”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: all created thingsfire-tabletFire §20: every creaturegleaningsGWB §118: thingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §167: Placelessprayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: all beingsthe-hidden-wordsHW §128: securewill-and-testamentW&T §17: subordinationepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: all creation
SE expanded to “hath been named”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: conferred upon theegleaningsGWB §101: a different namekitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: in the name ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: the sealepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: by Thy NamegleaningsGWB §670: through the potencyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §829: of all namesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: Thy Name
thee 38% thou 21% mouth 8% presence 8% possessions 5% possessest 5% possess 5% which 5% dost 3% things 3%
trumpet 31% trumpet-call 25% bugle 6% others 6% most 6% through 6% truths 6% trumpet-blast 6% mystic 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: of othersgleaningsGWB §321: establishethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: the trumpet-blastprayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: and the Quickenerwill-and-testamentW&T §17: in the garbepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: a picturegleaningsGWB §310: however smallkitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: truths
This form usually rendered as “arise”, “stand”, “may” (16 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: as a signfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §114: its high stationkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: pagesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §784: to make us steadfasttablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spottablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: own station
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: tombskitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: gravesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §151: sepulcherstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §29: mortal gravesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: their tombskitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: the tombepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §178: sepulchreskitab-i-iqanKIQ §231: speed out
SE expanded to “At another time”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: anothergleaningsGWB §557: rustlingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §506: and soaredtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: soaredwill-and-testamentW&T §42: machinationsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: the behaviorgleaningsGWB §683: mysterious and transcendentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: At another time
This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “appear”, “raise” (24 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: arisenfire-tabletFire §23: springgleaningsGWB §107: have declaredkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: have We graciously revealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §61: emanatedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: may show forthtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assisttablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Revelation—a Revelation
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: thine own firegleaningsGWB §551: is a smoldering firekitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: undying firesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §33: Thy firethe-hidden-wordsHW §143: the fire ofwill-and-testamentW&T §53: mischief-kindlingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §37: afiregleaningsGWB §36: the flames
This form usually rendered as “didst”, “thou”, “can” (4 occurrences)
kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: kindledprayers-and-meditationsP&M §87: didst lightprayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: didst kindleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: can kindleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §185: hath litprayers-and-meditationsP&M §468: Thou didst kindleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: kindleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: Ignite, then
This form usually rendered as “spoke”, “breathe”, “conversing” (17 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My wordsfire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining wordgleaningsGWB §132: idle talkkitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: of His divine utteranceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: utterethtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: to one mystic wordwill-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistlesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy words “Despair not
SE rendered الطُّورِ، (aṭ-ṭúri،), أَعْجَبَ (ʾaʿjab) as “Sinai”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: strangegleaningsGWB §523: How strange, how very strangekitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: surprisedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §46: wondrousthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: behold and wonderepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: How very strangegleaningsGWB §363: marvelouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: marvel
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: mightgleaningsGWB §63: to the thingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: power and strengthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §677: and Thy mightthe-hidden-wordsHW §68: of mightwill-and-testamentW&T §53: the powerepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: strengthgleaningsGWB §246: and His might
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy grandeurgleaningsGWB §721: gloriouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: denseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thy majesty and greatnessthe-hidden-wordsHW §42: Magnifywill-and-testamentW&T §7: Crownepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: Most Great RevelationgleaningsGWB §93: dominion
power 45% might 30% strength 7% almighty 7% through 4% authority 3% transcendent 1% all-conquering 1% omnipotent 1% sovereign 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My powerfire-tabletFire §48: OrdainergleaningsGWB §151: Ponder awhilekitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate powerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: for a whileprayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: irrevocable decreetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerfultablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful
all-knowing 73% omniscient 8% knower 5% knoweth 3% god 3% aware 2% understanding 2% discerning 2% himself 2% all-wise 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: comprehendedfire-tabletFire §3: EnchantergleaningsGWB §450: the divines amongst youkitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: learningsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: and the knowledgetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worldstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught theethe-hidden-wordsHW §99: TO BE WISE
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: manifest ignorancegleaningsGWB §703: depths of ignorancekitab-i-ahdAhd §5: foolish oneskitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: ignorantprayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: his own ignorancethe-hidden-wordsHW §85: empty thyselfepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: ignorant onegleaningsGWB §155: ignorance
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §221: hath arisen and shone forthfire-tabletFire §14: Dawning PlacegleaningsGWB §686: resplendentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: revelationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §733: the effulgent lighttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: beamedthe-hidden-wordsHW §42: shine upon theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: brightness
SE rendered أَنْوارِ (ʾanwár), شَمْسِ (shams), عِلْمِكَ، (ʿilmika،), وَكُلُّ (wakull) as “all”
light 40% splendors 25% lights 15% brightness 6% effulgence 3% radiance 3% luminaries 3% dawning 2% effulgent 2% splendor 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: radiancefire-tabletFire §22: Thy dawning lightgleaningsGWB §27: envelopedkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: shining and resplendentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: Theirprayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: by the lighttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: exalted and gloriousthe-hidden-wordsHW §109: the flame
SE rendered شَمْسِ (shams), عِلْمِكَ، (ʿilmika،), وَكُلُّ (wakull) as “all”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: Sun of TruthgleaningsGWB §59: the luminarieskitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: meaningsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: oneepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: the OrbgleaningsGWB §484: as the sunkitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: visible sunprayers-and-meditationsP&M §824: and the Daystar
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: the Most Great Oceanfire-tabletFire §25: a seagleaningsGWB §684: an oceankitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: billowsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §74: most great Oceantablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: the ancient seawill-and-testamentW&T §2: Twinepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the ocean of knowledge
all-possessing 37% rich 33% dispense 7% afford 3% self-sufficient 3% all 3% can 3% independent 3% truth 3% enrich 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the richgleaningsGWB §66: crieth outkitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: ‘riches’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: in truth, art the All-Possessingtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: singethtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: eternal wealththe-hidden-wordsHW §130: his richesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy riches
