Prayers and Meditations — §75

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 75 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

ثُمَّ عَرِّفْ يا إِلهِي عِبادَكَ الشَّمْسَ الَّتِيْ أَشْرَقَتْ عَنْ أُفُقِ قَضائِكَ وَتَقْدِيرِكَ وَلا تَجْعَلْهُمْ مَحْرُومِينَ عَنِ الجَنَّةِ الَّتِيْ خَلَقْتَها بِاسْمِكَ الأَبْهى فِيْ جَبَرُوتِكَ الأَعْلی، ثُمَّ أَسْمِعْهُمْ يا إِلهِي نِدائَكَ الأَحْلى لِيَسْرُعُنَّ كُلٌّ إِلى شَطْرِ فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ وَيَعْتَرِفُنَّ بِوَحْدانِيَّتِكَ يا حَبِيبَ قُلُوبِ المُشْتاقِينَ وَيا مَحْبُوبَ أفْئِدَةِ العارِفِينَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Enable, then, Thy servants, O my God, to recognize the Daystar that hath shone forth above the horizon of Thine irrevocable decree and purpose, and suffer them not to be deprived of the Paradise which Thou, by Thy name, the All-Glorious, hast called into being in the heavens of Thine exalted omnipotence. Cause them, moreover, O my God, to hearken to Thy most sweet voice, that they may all hasten to recognize Thy unity and acknowledge Thy oneness, O Thou Who art the Beloved of the hearts of all that yearn after Thee, and the Object of the adoration of such as have known Thee!

Translation Notes

عَرِّفْ

ʿarrif ʿ-r-f → “recognize” Distinctive

literal: knowledge; know; knower

This form usually rendered as “fragrance”, “hath”, “sweet” (64 occurrences)

fragrance 40% hath 15% sweet 13% recognized 12% known 6% have 4% perfume 4% recognize 2% breath 2% recognizeth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: is endued with insight gleaningsGWB §1: and knowledge kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §232: to know God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §769: make known unto me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thine own knowledge epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: maketh

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “my god, to”

literal: god; divine; o god

SE expanded to “my God, to”

god 82% divine 10% lord 3% god’s 2% holy 1% heavenly 1% god’s 0% sacred 0% divinely 0% thou 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: He fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §725: O my God”kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: these prayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: Who worshippeth no one tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

عِبادَكَ

ʿibádak ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 87% among 4% people 3% unto 1% upon 1% all 1% amidst 1% sincere 1% servants’ 1% ones 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: them that serve Him fire-tabletFire §50: all the servants gleaningsGWB §452: who kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: His people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: and the Object of their adoration tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §5: ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: of the servants of God

الشَّمْسَ

ash-shams sh-m-s → “daystar”

literal: sun; suns; the sun

sun 52% daystar 23% light 7% day-star 6% luminary 4% “sun” 4% sunlight 1% orb 1% terms 1% ‘sun’ 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: the sunlight gleaningsGWB §35: Sun of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: noon-tide sun prayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: one epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: Sun-like gleaningsGWB §378: light of My kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: this sun prayers-and-meditationsP&M §803: Day-Stars

أَشْرَقَتْ

ʾashraqat sh-r-q → “hath shone forth”

literal: shining; shine

SE expanded to “hath shone forth”

hath 29% shed 19% shineth 13% shine 6% shone 6% revealed 6% risen 6% caused 6% illumined 3% lighteth 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: shine fire-tabletFire §18: the emblems gleaningsGWB §383: of the glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: who proceed from prayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: and of the Daysprings tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §42: to illumine the-hidden-wordsHW §63: it may shine will-and-testamentW&T §4: of the world

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “horizon”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 8% heaven 3% realm 3% towards 3% orient 2% fountain 1% source 1% dawning-place 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: horizons fire-tabletFire §19: men gleaningsGWB §108: upon the world kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: dawning-place kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: the day-spring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §732: splendors tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §41: above will-and-testamentW&T §34: this world

قَضائِكَ

qaḍáʾik q-ḍ-y → “irrevocable”

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

decree 66% irrevocable 13% dispositions 3% decreed 3% judgment 3% purpose 3% appointments 3% irrevocably 3% through 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: passed fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §228: meet and seemly kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §39: requirements prayers-and-meditationsP&M §801: hast decided the-hidden-wordsHW §46: for that which I ordain will-and-testamentW&T §14: requirement

وَتَقْدِيرِكَ

wataqdírik q-d-r → “decree and purpose”

literal: power; powerful; amount

SE expanded to “decree and purpose”

irrevocable 25% decree 19% purpose 13% ordinance 6% judgment 6% according 6% immutable 6% ruling 6% appointment 6% through 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §167: the aid fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §286: according to its capacity and kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: of His providence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: by Thine all-conquering power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not the-hidden-wordsHW §7: hath been destined

تَجْعَلْهُمْ

tajʿalhum j-ʿ-l → “suffer them”

literal: make; made; to make

suffer 60% deprive 20% numbered 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: made thee fire-tabletFire §44: We have made gleaningsGWB §428: prepared kitab-i-iqanKIQ §124: the abject beetle prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: have not tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §19: ordained the-hidden-wordsHW §33: I made will-and-testamentW&T §36: and grant that

مَحْرُومِينَ

maḥrúmín ḥ-r-m → “be deprived”

literal: deprived; deprive

deprived 42% deprive 18% sanctuary 13% withhold 8% deny 6% suffer 4% bereft 3% tabernacle 3% depriveth 2% sacred 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: Sacred gleaningsGWB §382: are deprived kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Holy Household kitab-i-iqanKIQ §78: garb of pilgrimage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §257: deprive me not the-hidden-wordsHW §38: forfeit will-and-testamentW&T §23: depriveth himself epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: debarred

الجَنَّةِ

al-jannah j-n-n → “paradise”

literal: paradise; garden; madness

paradise 72% garden 3% into 3% madness 3% heaven 3% unto 3% blissful 3% within 3% inmates 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: possessed gleaningsGWB §58: blissful abode kitab-i-iqanKIQ §239: lunatic”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §831: and the inmates of the all-highest Paradise tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: the highest paradise the-hidden-wordsHW §7: thy heavenly home will-and-testamentW&T §36: with all my heart epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: heavenly

خَلَقْتَها

khalaqtahá kh-l-q → “called into being” Distinctive

literal: creation; create; created

This form usually rendered as “hast” (2 occurrences)

SE expanded to “called into being”

creatures 34% creation 17% created 16% hath 8% among 5% men 4% people 4% creator 4% thou 4% all 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: conduct fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §267: among Thy creatures kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: His people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: creature tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §69: We created you all epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: of Makers

بِاسْمِكَ

biásmik s-m-w → “by thy name”

literal: name; names

SE expanded to “by Thy name”

name 85% most 6% whose 3% through 1% treasured 1% brightness 1% called 1% all-glorious 1% invested 1% bearer 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: most sublime fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §168: of their names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §46: heaven”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: Thy heaven tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My sake tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes

الأَبْهى

al-ʾabhى b-h-y → “all-glorious”

literal: most-glorious; most glorious; glory

all-glorious 72% most 8% abhá 6% glory 6% effulgent 3% everlasting 1% resplendent 1% glorious 1% what 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: honored fire-tabletFire §48: Bahá gleaningsGWB §234: and the brightness of His light kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §733: most luminous the-hidden-wordsHW §1: HE IS THE GLORY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: the Glory of God (Bahá)gleaningsGWB §288: of everlasting might

جَبَرُوتِكَ

jabarútik j-b-r → “heavens” Distinctive

literal: might/omnipotence; dominion

This form usually rendered as “dominion”, “realm”, “heavenly” (9 occurrences)

dominion 50% realm 13% heavenly 13% duration 13% omnipotence 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the heaven fire-tabletFire §37: the eternal realm gleaningsGWB §51: sovereignty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: oppression prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: heavenly realm tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §32: highest heaven the-hidden-wordsHW §104: My everlasting dominion will-and-testamentW&T §8: exhorted

الأَعْلی،

al-ʾaʿlí، ʿ-l-w → “exalted omnipotence” Distinctive

literal: highest; exalted; high

This form usually rendered as “most”, “high”, “glory” (291 occurrences)

most 47% high 15% glory 9% supreme 6% loftiest 5% exalted 5% celestial 4% aloud 3% highest 3% all-glorious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: exalted above fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §13: honor conferred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: celestial prayers-and-meditationsP&M §503: the exaltation of tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §20: THE WONDROUS will-and-testamentW&T §10: my glory

أَسْمِعْهُمْ

ʾasmiʿhum s-m-ʿ → “heard” Distinctive

literal: hear; hearing; heard

This form usually rendered as “incline”, “hearken” (2 occurrences)

incline 50% hearken 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: heard fire-tabletFire §48: I have heard gleaningsGWB §537: Heard it ye ever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: whose ears prayers-and-meditationsP&M §792: Thou givest ear tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard the-hidden-wordsHW §45: hear thou therewith will-and-testamentW&T §5: ears in all regions were inclined

نِدائَكَ

nidáʾak n-d-y → “voice”

literal: call; called; call/voice

call 40% voice 20% most 10% cry 5% before 5% didst 5% whose 5% summons 5% enthralling 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: a Voice cried to Him fire-tabletFire §48: Thy Call gleaningsGWB §182: summoned kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: call of the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §761: by Thy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: she thus exclaimed tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §30: raised the call epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: cry out

الأَحْلى

al-ʾaḥlى ḥ-l-w → “most sweet”

literal: sweetness; sweetest; sweet

most 47% how 16% sweet 11% sweetest 5% exquisite 5% enthralling 5% honeyed 5% sweeter 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: Most Sweet fire-tabletFire §41: How sweet was gleaningsGWB §591: the sweetest prayers-and-meditationsP&M §781: enthralling tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §72: Sweeter gleaningsGWB §622: exquisite beauty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §531: of the sweetness

لِيَسْرُعُنَّ

líasruʿunn s-r-ʿ → “hasten” Distinctive

literal: hasten; hastened; hasten/hurry

This form usually rendered as “may”, “all” (4 occurrences)

may 75% all 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: Haste ye gleaningsGWB §656: I have made haste kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: “Swift prayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: may haste away the-hidden-wordsHW §41: traverse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: hastened gleaningsGWB §77: They hasten kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: hasten unto Him

شَطْرِ

shaṭr sh-ṭ-r → “direction”

literal: direction; direction/side; direction, side

direction 36% towards 30% court 8% toward 7% capital 3% proceeding 3% upon 3% land 3% turning 3% source 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: to their Capital gleaningsGWB §78: to attain the court of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: land prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: towards the seat of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: chamber gleaningsGWB §282: the presence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §444: Whose abode epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §257: towards Him

فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ

fardánínatik f-r-d → “unity”

literal: oneness; singleness

unity 43% oneness 39% singleness 7% own 4% sovereignty 4% transcendent 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: the Peerless fire-tabletFire §17: lonely gleaningsGWB §163: helplessness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §191: essential prayers-and-meditationsP&M §781: unity,—I tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlorn will-and-testamentW&T §2: unique epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy oneness

بِوَحْدانِيَّتِكَ

biwaḥdánínatik w-ḥ-d → “oneness”

literal: unity; one; oneness

unity 74% oneness 16% unto 5% singleness 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: one universal fire-tabletFire §43: By Thine aloneness gleaningsGWB §99: One.”kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: unifying influence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: one and the same prayers-and-meditationsP&M §747: have recognized Thy oneness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone

حَبِيبَ

ḥabíb ḥ-b-b → “beloved”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

lover 31% beloved 19% friend 19% well-beloved 6% who 6% exultation 6% thou 6% most 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: grain fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §676: Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §100: affectionate prayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: for love of Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §20: My lover will-and-testamentW&T §48: Beloved One

قُلُوبِ

qulúb q-l-b → “hearts”

literal: heart; hearts

hearts 78% souls 5% heart 4% men’s 2% all 2% men’s 2% breasts 2% whole 2% human 2% “hearts 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: hearts gleaningsGWB §439: chaos kitab-i-iqanKIQ §128: of the spirit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §776: were shaken tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: and their own hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §67: nor hearts will-and-testamentW&T §35: heart-rending epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: the hearts

المُشْتاقِينَ

al-mushtáqín sh-w-q → “all that yearn after”

literal: longing; yearning; longing, yearning

SE expanded to “all that yearn after”

long 24% all 24% who 14% yearn 10% however 5% thirst 5% longing 5% such 5% souls 5% whose 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: fervor fire-tabletFire §41: Thy yearning gleaningsGWB §38: bereavement kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: fervour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §214: such as yearn to behold Thy face the-hidden-wordsHW §51: thy longing will-and-testamentW&T §14: urging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: I yearn after

أفْئِدَةِ

ʾafʾidah f-ʾ-d → “hearts”

literal: heart; hearts; heart/mind

hearts 46% souls 18% heart 15% minds 8% men’s 4% human 3% men’s 1% true 1% quickened 1% into 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thine heart gleaningsGWB §506: your souls kitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: true understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §522: their hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heart will-and-testamentW&T §48: They have epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: Fu’ad gleaningsGWB §1: the human heart

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 ¶

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Fire Tablet

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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 ¶