Prayers and Meditations — §790
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 790 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
فَوَعِزَّتِكَ أُشاهِدُ 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،
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
SE expanded to “Thy might beareth me witness”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glorygleaningsGWB §92: noblekitab-i-iqanKIQ §227: He is the Mightyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: and glorytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherishwill-and-testamentW&T §4: endearedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: All-Powerful, the
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: We gazed onfire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §467: will bear witnesskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §103: this worldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §414: proclaim Thee to betablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found themthe-hidden-wordsHW §45: and I within Myself may bear witness unto
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: bow downgleaningsGWB §3: adorethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: Mosque.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: worshipthe-hidden-wordsHW §121: Ye bow the kneeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: MasjidgleaningsGWB §668: bow the knee before Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: to worship
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: thine handsgleaningsGWB §15: the palm of a man’s handkitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: his handsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §179: abstainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §135: at the hands ofgleaningsGWB §637: as worthlesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: graspprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: before a handful
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: dustgleaningsGWB §488: the dustkitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: their resting-placeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the claythe-hidden-wordsHW §115: dust-heapepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earthgleaningsGWB §122: pertaining to the world of matterkitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dust
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: othergleaningsGWB §705: otherskitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: at lastprayers-and-meditationsP&M §226: northe-hidden-wordsHW §96: While there is yetwill-and-testamentW&T §42: of lateepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: anothergleaningsGWB §247: unto the rest of mankind
relationship 17% accused 13% ascribed 9% charges 9% have 9% denounced 9% pronounced 9% bear 9% impute 9% calumnies 9%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: the relativesgleaningsGWB §644: impute it tokitab-i-ahdAhd §10: My Kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §261: calumniesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §389: whom Thou hast caused to be relatedwill-and-testamentW&T §34: causing them to deem meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: chargesgleaningsGWB §43: bear allegiance to
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 §48: craftsmengleaningsGWB §118: Thine handiworkkitab-i-iqanKIQ §208: ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: sweet inventionthe-hidden-wordsHW §14: I made theewill-and-testamentW&T §6: forgingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: formethgleaningsGWB §154: the ablest hands
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: foundfire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathegleaningsGWB §350: existingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: realityprayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: I findtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §36: Shouldst thou inhalethe-hidden-wordsHW §11: that thou mayest find Mewill-and-testamentW&T §22: existent
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: some persongleaningsGWB §650: one of My followerskitab-i-iqanKIQ §63: the reprobateprayers-and-meditationsP&M §431: souls of all mentablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §9: unto Mewill-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincereepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: He, for Whose sake
far 31% remoteness 13% immeasurable 13% gone 6% late 6% removeth 6% gulf 6% distance 6% estranged 6% have 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: to followfire-tabletFire §3: distantgleaningsGWB §85: to be remote from youkitab-i-ahdAhd §15: time and againkitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: in due timeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and can help those who are far from Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: remotethe-hidden-wordsHW §97: Yet, notwithstanding
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §231: is at handfire-tabletFire §2: Those who are near unto TheegleaningsGWB §636: and enable them to draw nighkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: heavenlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §543: drawest towardtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Presencetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: the favoured of God
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: deedgleaningsGWB §409: observeth this dutykitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: wereprayers-and-meditationsP&M §180: the doings of mentablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: conformingthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: Walkwill-and-testamentW&T §39: bear upon daily transactionsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: in doing this
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: It behoovethgleaningsGWB §569: will have been made manifestkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: that which is meet and seemlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: would still be unseemlyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: beseemeth themgleaningsGWB §115: can claimkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: to do that which is meet and seemlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: and as beseemeth
This form usually rendered as “limited”, “petty-mindedness”, “petty-minded” (21 occurrences)
limited 21% petty-mindedness 14% petty-minded 14% confined 7% bounded 7% immeasurable 7% limitation 7% limitations 7% strivings 7% subjected 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §180: limitsgleaningsGWB §39: bearing the sequence of time in mindkitab-i-iqanKIQ §127: the thirdprayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: restricted by such limitationstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: ordinancestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: worldly limitationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: in My statutesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: confined
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: ministergleaningsGWB §513: promote the best interestskitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the servant of His thresholdprayers-and-meditationsP&M §464: servantswill-and-testamentW&T §48: might serveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: Our servantsgleaningsGWB §711: thy dutykitab-i-iqanKIQ §108: esteemed and honoured friend
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: any one of themgleaningsGWB §302: No peer or partnerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: Not oneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: Thy majestytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: thy neighborepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: onegleaningsGWB §684: no one be
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: manfire-tabletFire §49: AdoredgleaningsGWB §122: Servants.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: of all mankindprayers-and-meditationsP&M §222: Thy sincere servantstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicewill-and-testamentW&T §38: are servantsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: one
SE rendered أَحَدًا (ʾaḥadan), عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik), بِحَيْثُ (biḥayth), أَقُومُ (ʾaqúm), يَدَيْهِ (yadayh) as “one, servants, arise, door”
This form usually rendered as “consummate”, “clearest”, “surest” (12 occurrences)
consummate 10% clearest 10% surest 10% true 10% may 10% infallible 10% arise 10% wait 10% should 10% most 10%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: sublime retreatfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §513: dedicateth himselfkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §150: senseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: their estatetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: remaineth motionless
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: graspgleaningsGWB §184: at the handskitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: with their handsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: hands ofwill-and-testamentW&T §10: by themepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: with the handsgleaningsGWB §459: your handskitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: between His hands
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: EverlastinggleaningsGWB §311: as long askitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: for everprayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: throughout the length ofthe-hidden-wordsHW §16: perisheth notwill-and-testamentW&T §22: continuallyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: enduregleaningsGWB §189: throughout the eternity
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: thosegleaningsGWB §468: sovereign Lord of allkitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: the earthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: the majestytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may bewill-and-testamentW&T §13: every landepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Who layeth low
This form usually rendered as “eternity”, “immortality”, “everlasting” (57 occurrences)
eternity 32% immortality 23% everlasting 17% long 6% immortal 6% eternal 4% throughout 4% incorruptible 2% unfading 2% establishment 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: can there remainfire-tabletFire §30: hiddengleaningsGWB §566: throughout the eternitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: everlasting realmprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: must enduretablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: life eternaltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: deathlessthe-hidden-wordsHW §148: remaineth
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: a tyrantfire-tabletFire §37: the eternal realmgleaningsGWB §311: His dominionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: tyrannyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §669: sourcetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §32: highest heaventhe-hidden-wordsHW §104: My everlasting dominionwill-and-testamentW&T §53: Divine
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: createdfire-tabletFire §40: wert createdgleaningsGWB §417: of creatureskitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: are created of Theeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §284: the eyes of Thy creaturestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: We created you allepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: of Makers
This form usually rendered as “transgressed”, “innocent”, “complete” (3 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: guiltgleaningsGWB §220: darekitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: for the sake of brevityprayers-and-meditationsP&M §584: falleth shorttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: within her most lofty mansionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: conductgleaningsGWB §523: palaceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: mansions
This form usually rendered as “serve”, “do” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: deprivegleaningsGWB §214: sanctitykitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Holy Householdkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: preventedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: Thine honorthe-hidden-wordsHW §38: forfeitwill-and-testamentW&T §23: depriveth himselfepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: mine honor
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unseemlygleaningsGWB §72: well beseemeth its stationkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befitprayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: can befitthe-hidden-wordsHW §157: have been and will ever be forepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: unworthygleaningsGWB §411: beseemethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §782: however much they fall short of
This form usually rendered as “perceiveth”, “seen”, “seeth” (21 occurrences)
perceiveth 17% seen 17% seeth 8% reflecting 8% beholding 8% can 8% unseen 8% doth 8% maketh 8% assigneth 8%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou seest mefire-tabletFire §28: Canst Thou seegleaningsGWB §703: findkitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: the Mirrors reflecting the sun ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §15: may see Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §146: hypocrisywill-and-testamentW&T §32: seest meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: His advice
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: depict that placegleaningsGWB §689: describe its splendorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: be magnifiedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: to bestow any praise uponepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: describedgleaningsGWB §702: with the ornament of an upright and praiseworthy characterkitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: eulogyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: express
such 41% station 18% state 8% glory 8% honor 8% through 5% excellence 5% distinction 3% neither 3% people 3%
This form usually rendered as “can”, “hath”, “have” (33 occurrences)
This form usually rendered as “describe”, “remembered”, “remember” (25 occurrences)
describe 29% remembered 14% remember 7% others 7% reveal 7% commemorated 7% numbered 7% admonish 7% vaunted 7% recounted 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: thisgleaningsGWB §105: utteranceskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: mentioningkitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: referred toprayers-and-meditationsP&M §222: Thy remembrancetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §67: as they make mention of Me
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: can allude unto Himfire-tabletFire §14: evil suggestionsgleaningsGWB §3: hintkitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: thingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: all suggestionsthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: milkepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: the descriptiongleaningsGWB §387: pen or tongue
This form usually rendered as “hast”, “hath” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §194: perpetratedgleaningsGWB §186: have involved themselves inkitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: hath compiledprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: hath unitedthe-hidden-wordsHW §29: committethepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: committed thatgleaningsGWB §621: They that followkitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: accomplish
This form usually rendered as “self-sufficing” (1 occurrences)
suffice 28% sufficient 25% content 13% can 6% full 6% all-sufficing 6% would 6% insufficient 3% will 3% sufficiently 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: sufficientgleaningsGWB §582: Let God be all-sufficientkitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: surely sufficethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: to withhold from usthe-hidden-wordsHW §18: suffice theewill-and-testamentW&T §4: contentepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: sufficegleaningsGWB §35: full measure
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “appeared”, “manifested” (106 occurrences)
hath 44% appeared 16% manifested 11% revealed 8% made 5% have 5% uncovered 5% come 3% defender 2% perpetrated 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: be manifestedfire-tabletFire §23: springgleaningsGWB §136: demonstratedkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstratingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: the adventprayers-and-meditationsP&M §217: Thy Manifestationtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assistthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: may be made manifest
This form usually rendered as “powerlessness”, “impotence”, “helplessness” (37 occurrences)
powerlessness 44% impotence 15% helplessness 11% none 7% tearful 4% can 4% failure 4% failed 4% man 4% futility 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thy powerlessnessgleaningsGWB §260: can frustratekitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: miracleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §317: impotencewill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: with tearful eyesgleaningsGWB §327: failkitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: wearied
This form usually rendered as “knowledge”, “understanding”, “recognize” (144 occurrences)
knowledge 32% understanding 23% recognize 8% recognition 7% comprehension 7% know 6% divine 5% recognizing 4% wisdom 3% insight 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: recognizegleaningsGWB §312: to the truthkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: certaintyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: Thou hast enabled us to recognizetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §4: knewepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: man of judgment
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: for the sake of the exaltation offire-tabletFire §42: highestgleaningsGWB §562: meridiankitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: the heightsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: hast remained far abovetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising highthe-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on highwill-and-testamentW&T §17: the Exalted One
SE rendered المُقَرَّبِينَ (al-muqarrabín), أَصْفِيائِكَ (ʾaṣfíáʾik), وَأَبْهى (waʾabhى), مَشاعِرِ (masháʿir) as “chosen, profoundest, wisdom”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: of the All-GloriousgleaningsGWB §207: glory ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §8: among the people of Baháprayers-and-meditationsP&M §718: The firethe-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glorywill-and-testamentW&T §56: of Gloriesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: lightsgleaningsGWB §200: glorious
This form usually rendered as “mental”, “wisdom” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: understand notgleaningsGWB §77: recognize them notkitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: foolishlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: wisdomwill-and-testamentW&T §5: a hair’sepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: indicatinggleaningsGWB §456: failed to realizekitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: bear witness to
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: sincerefire-tabletFire §1: the sinceregleaningsGWB §233: the sincere lovers of Godkitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: with the sincere in heartprayers-and-meditationsP&M §207: wholly detachedthe-hidden-wordsHW §146: absolutewill-and-testamentW&T §34: Thy devotedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: free
This form usually rendered as “loved” (1 occurrences)
loving 20% fellowship 20% friendliness 13% loving!” 7% mercy 7% tenderness 7% generosity 7% all-loving 7% god 7% loved 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: friendlinessgleaningsGWB §402: Loving!”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §282: All-Lovingwill-and-testamentW&T §35: affectionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §65: fellowshipgleaningsGWB §60: and of mercyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: God of mercyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Loving
