Prayers and Meditations — §790
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 790 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
هِدُ بِأَنِّيْ لَوْ أَسْجُدُ لِكَفٍّ مِنَ التُّرابِ إِلى الآخِرِ الَّذِيْ لا آخِرَ لَهُ لِنِسْبَتِهِ إِلى اسْمِكَ الصَّانِعِ لأَجِدُ نَفْسِيْ بَعِيْدًا عَنِ التَّقَرُّبِ إِلَيْهِ وَأُشاهِدُ بِأَنَّ عَمَلِي لا يَنْبَغِيْ لَهُ بَلْ كانَ مَحْدُودًا بِحُدُوداتِ نَفْسِيْ، وَلَوْ أَخْدِمُ أَحَدًا مِنْ عِبادِكَ بِحَيْثُ أَقُومُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِدَوامِ مَلَكُوتِكَ وَبَقاءِ جَبَرُوتِكَ لِنِسْبَتِهِ إِلى اسْمِكَ الخالِقِ فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لأَجِدُ نَفْسِي مُقَصِّرًا عَنْ أَدآءِ خِدْمَتِهِ وَمَحْرُوْمًا عَمَّا يَلِيْقُ لَهُ، لأنَّ فِي هذا المَقامِ لا يُرى إِلاَّ نِسْبَتُهُمْ إِلى أَسْمائِكَ وَصِفاتِك، إِنَّ الَّذِيْ كانَ شَأْنُهُ ذلِكَ كَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَذْكُرَ الَّذِيْ بِإِشارَةٍ مِنْ إِصْبَعِهِ خُلِقَتِ الأَسْماءُ وَمَلَكُوتُها وَالصِّفاتُ وَجَبَرُوتُها، وَبِإِشارَةٍ أُخْرى رُكِّبَتِ الكافُ بِالنُّونِ وَظَهَرَ مِنْها ما عَجِزَ عَنْ عِرفانِهِ أَعْلى أَفْئِدَةِ المُقَرَّبِينَ مِنْ أَصْفِيائِكَ وَأَبْهى مَشاعِرِ المُخْلِصِينَ مِنْ أَوِدّائِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا مَحْبُوبِيْ
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Thy might beareth me witness! I am well aware that were I to bow myself before a handful of dust, from now until the end that hath no end, in acknowledgment of its relationship to Thy name, the Fashioner, I would still find myself far removed from that dust, and incapable of approaching it, and would discover that such an adoration can in no wise befit it, nor transcend the limitations to which I myself have been subjected. And were I to arise to serve one of Thy servants, and to wait at his door so long as Thine own kingdom endureth and Thine omnipotence will last, as a sign of my acknowledgment of the tie that bindeth him to Thy name, the Creator, I would, likewise,—and to this Thy glory beareth me witness—have to confess my complete failure to do him adequate service, and my deprivation of what can truly befit his station. And this for the reason that I recognize in them naught else except the bond that bindeth them to Thy names and Thine attributes. How can, then, such a man succeed in befittingly extolling the One through a motion of Whose finger all the names and their kingdom were called into being, and all the attributes and their dominion were created, and Who, through yet another motion of that same finger, hath united the letters B and E (Be) and knit them together, manifesting thereby what the highest thoughts of Thy chosen ones who enjoy near access to Thee are unable to grasp, and what the profoundest wisdom of those of Thy loved ones that are wholly devoted to Thee are powerless to fathom.
Translation Notes
This form usually rendered as “testify” (2 occurrences)
8 occurrences in corpus
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: prostrated themselves, before HimgleaningsGWB §613: worship and prostrate yourselveskitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: to worshipprayers-and-meditationsP&M §550: downcastthe-hidden-wordsHW §121: Ye bow the kneeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §246: bow down beforegleaningsGWB §313: bow downkitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: Mosque.”
world 42% next 32% concluding 3% culmination 3% can 3% another 3% “life 3% other 3% others 3% end 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: the worldgleaningsGWB §280: anotherkitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: again.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §366: the life to comeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: concludinggleaningsGWB §629: the nextprayers-and-meditationsP&M §428: restepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §28: next
لِنِسْبَتِهِ
literal: attribution; relation; attributed
SE expanded to “in acknowledgment of its relationship”
relationship 21% ascribed 11% charges 11% have 11% calumnies 11% regarded 11% accused 11% charge 5% accusation 5% against 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: of His Namefire-tabletFire §36: heavenlygleaningsGWB §279: their nameskitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: The term “heaven”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §623: Thy most excellent titlestablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §9: in thine own
This form usually rendered as “hands”, “craftsman”, “author” (5 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: craftsmengleaningsGWB §707: workkitab-i-iqanKIQ §179: “creationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §855: of Thine everlasting handiworkthe-hidden-wordsHW §13: madewill-and-testamentW&T §6: forgingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: formethgleaningsGWB §321: handiwork
SE expanded to “I would still find myself”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: nothingfire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathegleaningsGWB §474: disbelievethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: come to existprayers-and-meditationsP&M §342: Creatortablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: may findthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: OFwill-and-testamentW&T §38: are to be found
نَفْسِيْ
literal: self; soul; souls
This form usually rendered as “myself”, “soul”, “one” (224 occurrences)
SE expanded to “my acknowledgment of the tie that bindeth him”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: thine own selfgleaningsGWB §383: beingskitab-i-ahdAhd §8: thosekitab-i-iqanKIQ §238: their own fanciesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §840: to Thee belongtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §71: for My Selfwill-and-testamentW&T §25: believers
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: since thenfire-tabletFire §3: sandsgleaningsGWB §320: after the lapsekitab-i-ahdAhd §3: Henceforwardkitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: ere they happenedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §208: to be far removedwill-and-testamentW&T §19: successorepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: in the end
SE expanded to “incapable of approaching”
SE rendered بَعِيْدًا (baʿídan), التَّقَرُّبِ (at-taqarrub), إِلَيْهِ (ʾilayh), وَأُشاهِدُ (waʾusháhid), عَمَلِي (ʿamalí) as “far removed, incapable of approaching, it, and would discover, such an adoration”
This form usually rendered as “act”, “deeds”, “what” (8 occurrences)
SE expanded to “such an adoration”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: it behoovegleaningsGWB §492: as befitteth thy stationkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: meetprayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: ofepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: beseemethgleaningsGWB §702: must needskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: meet and seemlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: would still be unseemly
This form usually rendered as “limited”, “confined”, “infinite” (21 occurrences)
limited 25% confined 8% infinite 8% petty-mindedness 8% petty-minded 8% bounded 8% transitory 8% immeasurable 8% limitation 8% limitations 8%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: capacitygleaningsGWB §720: boundskitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: comparisonprayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: his own limitationstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: ordinancestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: worldly limitationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: in My statutesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: that have been set
SE expanded to “arise to serve”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: of My servantsgleaningsGWB §419: promote the welfarekitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: servantprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: arise to servewill-and-testamentW&T §19: important servicesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: to serve HimgleaningsGWB §205: seek diligently to servekitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: went
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: any onegleaningsGWB §116: and all-pervasivekitab-i-iqanKIQ §73: the divineprayers-and-meditationsP&M §288: of Thy onenesstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §28: othersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: anyonegleaningsGWB §441: no man
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: the oppressedfire-tabletFire §49: AdoredgleaningsGWB §578: Our faithful servantskitab-i-iqanKIQ §1: No manprayers-and-meditationsP&M §611: among Thy servantstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicethe-hidden-wordsHW §56: Our servantswill-and-testamentW&T §23: of the servants
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: inasmuchgleaningsGWB §480: so thatprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: and to waitepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: in such wise thatprayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: that I will ceaseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §103: and willprayers-and-meditationsP&M §840: They are such thatprayers-and-meditationsP&M §199: with such
SE rendered عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik), بِحَيْثُ (biḥayth), أَقُومُ (ʾaqúm), يَدَيْهِ (yadayh), بِدَوامِ (bidawám) as “Thy servants, and to wait, his door, so long as”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: comefire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §78: arisingkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath thatkitab-i-iqanKIQ §194: station—the stationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thy transcendent sovereigntytablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spottablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: The handgleaningsGWB §619: thekitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own handsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §239: of Thy Handtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: in Whose hand istablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: with their handsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hand of Thy loving-kindnessgleaningsGWB §636: to the care
SE expanded to “so long as”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: EverlastinggleaningsGWB §189: throughout the eternitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: eternalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §161: as long aswill-and-testamentW&T §22: continuallyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: enduregleaningsGWB §144: secondkitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: this everlasting
SE expanded to “Thine own kingdom endureth”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the landgleaningsGWB §60: its Ruler.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: angelprayers-and-meditationsP&M §143: Thou Who art the Kingtablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdomtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: inthe-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may bewill-and-testamentW&T §48: of the
وَبَقاءِ
literal: remaining; permanence; remain
This form usually rendered as “eternity”, “immortality”, “everlasting” (56 occurrences)
SE expanded to “and Thine omnipotence will last”
eternity 35% immortality 22% everlasting 19% long 5% eternal 5% throughout 3% establishment 3% duration 3% continuance 3% discovered 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: life would havefire-tabletFire §30: hiddengleaningsGWB §279: endurekitab-i-iqanKIQ §10: of everlasting lifeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: as long astablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: hath remainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §151: imperishableepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: Eternity
SE expanded to “and their dominion”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §224: the Realm of Gloryfire-tabletFire §37: the eternal realmgleaningsGWB §612: and their dominionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: oppressionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §42: glorytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §16: the realmthe-hidden-wordsHW §1: fromwill-and-testamentW&T §53: Divine
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: His creaturesfire-tabletFire §40: wert createdgleaningsGWB §35: peoplekitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: endowedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: of Thy creationtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §83: creatorsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: of Makers
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: exaltedfire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishmentgleaningsGWB §387: His mightkitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: noble form ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: of Thy transcendent Essencethe-hidden-wordsHW §125: Pride not yourselveswill-and-testamentW&T §4: endearedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: is the Almighty
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: fallen shortgleaningsGWB §523: palaceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: brevityprayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: failuretablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: mansionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: conductgleaningsGWB §466: against himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: only guilt
2 occurrences in corpus
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: be deprivedgleaningsGWB §214: sanctitykitab-i-ahdAhd §15: members of the Holy Householdkitab-i-iqanKIQ §239: spiritually destituteprayers-and-meditationsP&M §562: Deprive methe-hidden-wordsHW §31: Denywill-and-testamentW&T §23: depriveth himself of God’s graceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: utterly deprived
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: worthygleaningsGWB §411: beseemethkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befitprayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: and beseemed notepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unseemlygleaningsGWB §486: befittethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: what can truly befitepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: fit
This form usually rendered as “would”, “seeth”, “beholding” (16 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: beholdethfire-tabletFire §26: seestgleaningsGWB §692: recognizeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §164: is putthe-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtainwill-and-testamentW&T §5: behold himepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou beholdestgleaningsGWB §163: of the vision
SE expanded to “and Thine attributes”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: describegleaningsGWB §94: the bearerskitab-i-iqanKIQ §277: reputedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: recountepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: AttributesgleaningsGWB §387: the descriptionskitab-i-iqanKIQ §191: is characterizedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: describe Thee
state 20% station 13% glory 13% excellence 13% distinction 7% rank 7% powerless 7% magnified 7% concerning 7% way 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: distinctiongleaningsGWB §418: His glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: concerning Himprayers-and-meditationsP&M §343: and of the tokenswill-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly thingsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: The changes and chancesgleaningsGWB §48: the glorieskitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: these
SE rendered شَأْنُهُ (shaʾanuh), كَيْفَ (kayf), يَقْدِرُ (yaqdir), يَذْكُرَ (yadhkur) as “in befittingly, extolling”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: HowgleaningsGWB §453: Why, thenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: “What of the signprayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: How can I ever befittinglythe-hidden-wordsHW §15: whereforeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: how couldgleaningsGWB §242: why is it, thenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §729: Pen,—how much more
SE rendered شَأْنُهُ (shaʾanuh), كَيْفَ (kayf), يَقْدِرُ (yaqdir), يَذْكُرَ (yadhkur) as “in befittingly, extolling”
This form usually rendered as “remember”, “remembered”, “describe” (25 occurrences)
remember 15% remembered 15% describe 15% commemorated 8% numbered 8% admonish 8% vaunted 8% recounted 8% mention 8% claim 8%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: the descriptiongleaningsGWB §66: degree describekitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: referencesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §676: suggestionsthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: milkgleaningsGWB §635: vain allusionskitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: and blasphemous whisperingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §39: evil suggestions
This form usually rendered as “hast”, “hath” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: commitgleaningsGWB §452: ye have perpetratedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: have wroughtprayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: been so harassedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §3: let the angelic spirits enterthe-hidden-wordsHW §29: committethepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: gave full reingleaningsGWB §633: hast entered
suffice 27% content 13% all-sufficing 13% insufficient 7% ever 7% will 7% verily 7% sufficing 7% himself 7% let 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: sufficegleaningsGWB §259: is insufficientkitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Sufficientprayers-and-meditationsP&M §820: it would sufficethe-hidden-wordsHW §18: Be thou contentwill-and-testamentW&T §34: Not contentgleaningsGWB §510: be Thy sufficingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §82: content ourselves
SE expanded to “and E (Be)”
2 occurrences in corpus
وَظَهَرَ
literal: manifestation; manifest; appear
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “appeared”, “manifested” (105 occurrences)
SE expanded to “and knit them together, manifesting”
hath 42% appeared 17% manifested 9% revealed 9% made 8% have 4% fulfilled 4% uncovered 4% perpetrated 2% back 2%
This form usually rendered as “powerlessness”, “helplessness”, “none” (37 occurrences)
SE expanded to “unable to grasp”
powerlessness 38% helplessness 14% none 10% impotence 10% failed 5% futility 5% incapacity 5% impotent 5% pen 5% weakness 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: tree-stumpsgleaningsGWB §14: incapablekitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the miracleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: are powerless to recountwill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thy powerlessnessgleaningsGWB §260: can frustratekitab-i-iqanKIQ §189: unable
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 §162: integritygleaningsGWB §161: of human understandingkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: testifyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: that he may apprehendtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §6: Know thisepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: hath enlightened
hearts 48% souls 21% minds 9% heart 7% men’s 4% understanding 4% men’s 2% illuminated 2% illumined 2% pure 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §197: men’s heartsgleaningsGWB §506: your soulskitab-i-iqanKIQ §22: pure in heartprayers-and-meditationsP&M §737: of the worldthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heartwill-and-testamentW&T §48: They haveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: of the heartsgleaningsGWB §117: heart
SE expanded to “Thy chosen ones”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: purityfire-tabletFire §27: andgleaningsGWB §451: hath chosenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: pureprayers-and-meditationsP&M §301: Thy chosen Onesthe-hidden-wordsHW §100: crystal purewill-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Onesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: His chosen ones
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: of the All-GloriousgleaningsGWB §201: all-gloriousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §123: most effulgentthe-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glorywill-and-testamentW&T §14: Abháepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: lightsgleaningsGWB §661: of Gloryprayers-and-meditationsP&M §217: Thine
This form usually rendered as “mental”, “wisdom” (2 occurrences)
SE expanded to “that are wholly devoted”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: such as are devotedfire-tabletFire §1: the sinceregleaningsGWB §31: pure in heartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: deliveredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §771: and such as aretablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: sincere onesthe-hidden-wordsHW §146: absoluteepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: sincere
This form usually rendered as “loved” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: LovinggleaningsGWB §259: the Lovingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §2: of Thy tendernesswill-and-testamentW&T §35: affectionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: friendlinessgleaningsGWB §402: Loving!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: those of Thy loved onesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §65: fellowship
SE rendered أَوِدّائِكَ، (ʾawiddáʾika،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), مَحْبُوبِيْ (maḥbúbí) as “those of Thy loved ones, Thy might”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy lovefire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §640: them that love Him,”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the Best-Belovedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §401: they who love Theetablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Daytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §40: if thou lovest
