Prayers and Meditations — §791
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 791 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا مَحْبُوبِيْ صِرْتُ مُتَحَيِّرًا فِي مَظاهِرِ صُنْعِكَ وَمَطالِعِ قُدْرَتِكَ وَأُشاهِدُ نَفْسِي عاجِزًا عَنْ عِرْفانِ أَدْنى آيَتِكَ وَكَيْفَ عِرْفانِ نَفْسِكَ، إِذًا أَسْئَلُكَ يا إِلهِي بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِيْ بِهِ طَيَّرْتَ العاشِقِينَ فِي هَواءِ إِرادَتِكَ وَهَدَيْتَ بِهِ المُشْتاقِينَ إِلى رِضْوانِ قُرْبِكَ وَوِصَالِكَ، بِأَنْ تُهِبَّ مِنْ رِضْوانِ عِنايَتِكَ رَوائِحَ الاطْمِئْنانِ عَلَى المُضْطَرِّيْنَ مِنْ أَحِبَّائِكَ فِي هذِهِ الأَيَّامِ الَّتِيْ أَحاطَتْهُمْ أَرْياحُ الافْتِتانِ مِنْ كُلِّ الجِهاتِ، بِحَيْثُ اضْطَرَبَتِ النُّفُوسُ مِنْ سَطْوَةِ قَضائِكَ وَتَزَلْزَلَتْ أَرْكانُ الوُجُودِ عَمَّا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سَمآءِ تَقْدِيْرِكَ، وَبَلَغَ اضْطِرابُهُمْ إِلى مَقامٍ يَكادُ أَنْ يَخْمُدَ فِي مِشْكاةِ قُلُوبِهِمْ سِراجُ حُبِّكَ وَذِكْرِكَ، وَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ المُقْتَدِرُ عَلَى ما تَشاءُ وَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الغَفُورُ الكَرِيْمُ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
I swear by Thy glory, O Beloved of my soul! I am bewildered when I contemplate the tokens of Thy handiwork, and the evidences of Thy might, and find myself completely unable to unravel the mystery of the least of Thy signs, how much more to apprehend Thine own Self. I beseech Thee, therefore, O my God, by Thy Name through which Thou hast caused all such as love Thee to soar in the atmosphere of Thy will, and hast guided all them that yearn after Thee into the Paradise of Thy nearness and Thy presence, to waft from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness the fragrance of certainty upon the needy among Thy loved ones, in these days when the tempests of trials have compassed them on every side, and so grievously assailed them that the souls of men have been troubled and the foundations of all beings have trembled at what hath been sent down unto them from the heaven of Thine irrevocable Purpose. They were so shaken that the lamp of their love for Thee and of their remembrance of Thee was ready to be extinguished in the recess of their hearts. Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, in truth, art the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
Translation Notes
SE expanded to “swear by Thy glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: “Better is itgleaningsGWB §1: of Thy majestykitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: more gloriousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thy glory beareth me witnesstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendorwill-and-testamentW&T §3: preciousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the power of Thy might
SE expanded to “Beloved of my soul”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy lovefire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §467: is loathkitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: tender affectionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §62: of them that lovetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §6: that I may love theewill-and-testamentW&T §38: that love
مُتَحَيِّرًا
literal: perplexed; bewilderment; bewildered
This form usually rendered as “perplexed”, “sore”, “bewildering” (15 occurrences)
perplexed 20% sore 20% bewildering 13% bewildered 13% marveled 7% marvelled 7% afflicted 7% stand 7% marvel 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: astonishedgleaningsGWB §321: wonder and amazementkitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: afflictedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: he would be so perplexedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: perplexedgleaningsGWB §47: bewilderedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: bewildermentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §723: was bewildered
This form usually rendered as “manifestations”, “exponents”, “manifestation” (124 occurrences)
SE expanded to “I contemplate the tokens”
manifestations 67% exponents 11% manifestation 5% who 4% embodiments 4% emblems 3% through 3% symbols 2% revealers 2% person 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: too evidentfire-tabletFire §38: prevailgleaningsGWB §103: is made manifestkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §83: the letterprayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: through Him Who is the Revealertablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assistthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: may be made manifest
This form usually rendered as “daysprings”, “dawning-places”, “exponents” (58 occurrences)
daysprings 43% dawning-places 13% exponents 11% revealers 9% day-springs 9% revealed 4% manifestations 4% embodiments 2% wellsprings 2% instigators 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: Dayspringfire-tabletFire §16: embodimentsgleaningsGWB §197: shinekitab-i-ahdAhd §8: sourceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §47: Revealers of the divine Beautyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: of Thy facetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: may understandthe-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance
power 44% might 24% through 13% almighty 5% strength 4% omnipotence 3% whose 3% authority 2% greatness 1% transcendent 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §177: witness untofire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §320: testimonykitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: which he may seeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §223: scenetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found themthe-hidden-wordsHW §46: Seek a martyr’s death
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: namegleaningsGWB §687: earthly desireskitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: by their own selfishprayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: mighttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §32: thy deedswill-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincereepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §254: for thyself
This form usually rendered as “incapable”, “fail”, “impotent” (25 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: incapablegleaningsGWB §112: their helplessnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: weariedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §317: impotencewill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thy powerlessnessgleaningsGWB §685: impotentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: miracle
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 §80: have knowngleaningsGWB §387: His unknowable Essencekitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: teachingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §262: those who have recognizedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §3: shalt knowepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: that ye may be made aware of
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: The life of the present worldgleaningsGWB §227: on things of the earthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: sordidprayers-and-meditationsP&M §20: of this worldthe-hidden-wordsHW §23: abasedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: By the worldgleaningsGWB §571: worldly thingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: or low
SE expanded to “how much more”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: praygleaningsGWB §466: Enquire for thyselfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: the intricaciesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §705: seekepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: askethgleaningsGWB §112: I beseechkitab-i-iqanKIQ §200: was questionedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §828: to beg of Thee
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: “Godfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §568: of the Creatorkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: All these thingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §815: are God’stablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial
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 §144: by the heavenfire-tabletFire §36: heavenlygleaningsGWB §10: whose nameskitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: every nameprayers-and-meditationsP&M §839: of Thy names andtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My saketablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes
SE rendered بِاسْمِكَ (biásmik), طَيَّرْتَ (ṭayyart), العاشِقِينَ (al-ʿáshiqín), هَواءِ (hawáʾ) as “by Thy Name, all such as love, atmosphere”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: to soarfire-tabletFire §46: flygleaningsGWB §337: their aspirationskitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: that haply thou mayest soarprayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: from soaringtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: riseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: soaredgleaningsGWB §496: flown
SE expanded to “all such as love”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: of Lovefire-tabletFire §41: LovegleaningsGWB §271: the lovers of Godkitab-i-iqanKIQ §65: his heart’s desireprayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: Thy loversthe-hidden-wordsHW §91: lovers’will-and-testamentW&T §13: Divine loveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy true lovers
atmosphere 48% heights 16% immensity 6% heavens 6% heaven 6% desire 3% firmament 3% limitless 3% precincts 3% sublimities 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: the promptings of thine own desiresfire-tabletFire §21: passiongleaningsGWB §683: affectionskitab-i-iqanKIQ §181: their selfish desiresprayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: realitytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §9: and passionthe-hidden-wordsHW §127: OF PASSIONwill-and-testamentW&T §15: self
will 47% purpose 16% through 13% conformity 8% desire 5% operation 3% according 3% good 3% accordance 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: desiregleaningsGWB §361: one aimkitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: Iprayers-and-meditationsP&M §731: through the operation of Thy willthe-hidden-wordsHW §57: dost wish forwill-and-testamentW&T §38: the Purposeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the willgleaningsGWB §300: as a result of your own volition
This form usually rendered as “didst”, “hast”, “thou” (3 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: for the guidance ofgleaningsGWB §493: His guidancekitab-i-ahdAhd §14: leadethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: of guidanceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §796: Thou hast guidedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: guidance ofgleaningsGWB §226: righteousnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: His divine guidance
المُشْتاقِينَ
literal: longing; yearning; longing, yearning
This form usually rendered as “long”, “all”, “who” (25 occurrences)
paradise 46% garden 15% tabernacle 8% heaven 8% peerless 4% good-pleasure 4% most 4% everlasting 4% unto 4% celestial 4%
gleaningsGWB §116: His peerless Paradisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: of divine favourprayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: of Thy pleasurethe-hidden-wordsHW §109: OF MY PARADISEgleaningsGWB §287: the good-pleasurekitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: resignationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: gardenthe-hidden-wordsHW §92: the celestial paradise
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: will cause thee to draw nigh unto Himfire-tabletFire §2: Those who are near unto TheegleaningsGWB §217: my kindredkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: offer a sacrificeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §255: and may draw nightablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Presencetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: the favoured of God
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: of His presencefire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §618: been receivedkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: of My presencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §1: that haply ye may attainprayers-and-meditationsP&M §415: Whose presencetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: reachedthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: the presence of
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: waftedfire-tabletFire §29: by the onrushinggleaningsGWB §684: evilprayers-and-meditationsP&M §838: stirringepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: blowingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §26: onrushingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §611: pass over themprayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: fierce
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: the Ma’ani (Significances)fire-tabletFire §15: Thy bountygleaningsGWB §43: of loving-kindnesskitab-i-ahdAhd §6: investedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: through the abundant graceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: mercythe-hidden-wordsHW §52: My providencewill-and-testamentW&T §6: in the aforementioned manner
This form usually rendered as “assurance”, “confidence”, “peace” (21 occurrences)
assurance 21% confidence 16% peace 11% tranquillity 11% certitude 11% certainty 11% security 5% rest 5% faith 5% into 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: be well-assuredgleaningsGWB §479: Put thy whole confidencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: peaceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: be stilledthe-hidden-wordsHW §128: confidentwill-and-testamentW&T §2: rested assuredepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: tranquillitygleaningsGWB §418: assurance
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: doeth Me no harmgleaningsGWB §475: may harmkitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: in no wise damageprayers-and-meditationsP&M §409: adversitytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: difficultieswill-and-testamentW&T §35: troublesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: will harmgleaningsGWB §264: the harm
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: the daysgleaningsGWB §39: nowkitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: in every dispensationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §276: in this the daytablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Daythe-hidden-wordsHW §115: a passing daywill-and-testamentW&T §54: days’ timeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: Thy days
SE expanded to “of trials have compassed”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: encompassedfire-tabletFire §20: have been breathed togleaningsGWB §259: rivalkitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: shedding illuminationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §189: compassedthe-hidden-wordsHW §98: besetwill-and-testamentW&T §14: was noised abroadepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: All-Encompassing
side 36% direction 23% created 9% country 5% regions 5% every 5% directions 5% things 5% attachment 5% earth 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: on the one handgleaningsGWB §550: errorkitab-i-ahdAhd §9: upon its unifying influencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: Thusprayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: attachment towill-and-testamentW&T §32: sidesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: the reasongleaningsGWB §609: His seat of glory
SE rendered الافْتِتانِ (al-áftitán), الجِهاتِ، (al-jiháti،), بِحَيْثُ (biḥayth), اضْطَرَبَتِ (iḍṭarabat), النُّفُوسُ (an-nufús) as “tempests, and so grievously assailed, troubled, souls of”
This form usually rendered as “tremble”, “have”, “trembling” (12 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: tremblegleaningsGWB §161: Dismayed and overpoweredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §206: dismayprayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: sore-vexedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: be not thou troubledtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: smotethe-hidden-wordsHW §67: shall be perturbedwill-and-testamentW&T §3: scourged
ascendancy 25% powers 13% awful 13% dominion 13% authorities 6% sovereignty 6% influence 6% threats 6% crushing 6% assaults 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: the awful majestyfire-tabletFire §6: mightgleaningsGWB §534: from His vehement powerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: the power of Hisprayers-and-meditationsP&M §791: so grievously assailedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: the dominiongleaningsGWB §79: the ascendancyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §245: sovereignty
This form usually rendered as “decree”, “irrevocable”, “dispositions” (35 occurrences)
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 §8: of Thy decreefire-tabletFire §29: of destinygleaningsGWB §150: priestkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is endedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §286: Such is His decreeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §639: Thou hadst decreedthe-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordainedwill-and-testamentW&T §14: requirement
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: made the earth to tremblegleaningsGWB §86: hath quaked with a great quakingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §267: waveringprayers-and-meditationsP&M §76: Most Grievous Convulsionwill-and-testamentW&T §34: were convulsedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: EarthquakesgleaningsGWB §107: perplexkitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: waver
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: pillarsgleaningsGWB §283: the memberskitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: Pillarprayers-and-meditationsP&M §558: My very limbsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the foundationsgleaningsGWB §70: every pillarkitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: whole characterprayers-and-meditationsP&M §559: limb of my body
SE rendered وَتَزَلْزَلَتْ (watazalzalat), أَرْكانُ (ʾarkán), الوُجُودِ (al-wujúd), نُزِّلَ (nuzzil), عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim) as “hath been sent, down unto them, the, were, irrevocable”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: would they findfire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathegleaningsGWB §434: of beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: come to existprayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: they may discovertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: they may findthe-hidden-wordsHW §21: has made in thee its homewill-and-testamentW&T §22: existent
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: asgleaningsGWB §698: Who is the Sovereign Revealerkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: that which We have revealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: the abodeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §48: Pour outtablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: Haste theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: “Descendthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: for My descent
This form usually rendered as “attained”, “caused”, “great” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: such a passfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §101: respectkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: that they may all ariseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: to speak in Thy nametablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place
SE rendered اضْطِرابُهُمْ (iḍṭirábuhum), مَقامٍ (maqámin), يَكادُ (yakád) as “was, recess”
SE rendered مَقامٍ (maqámin), يَكادُ (yakád), يَخْمُدَ (yakhmud) as “recess”
quench 50% extinguished 50%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: quenchedgleaningsGWB §458: quenchingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: would instantly be extinguishedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: to quenchgleaningsGWB §36: to extinguishprayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: can never go outgleaningsGWB §40: quenchprayers-and-meditationsP&M §89: chilled heart
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §20: is a lampgleaningsGWB §601: a lampkitab-i-iqanKIQ §52: inmost chamberprayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: the nicheepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: complaintgleaningsGWB §489: We render thankskitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: complainingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: complained
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: My heartgleaningsGWB §282: your whole heartskitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: transmutethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §377: transmute that watertablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: and their own heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §101: one heartwill-and-testamentW&T §30: agitatedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: their hearts
remembrance 37% praise 20% remember 9% remembering 9% glorification 5% name 5% whose 5% make 4% mention 3% through 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: have mentionedgleaningsGWB §311: to revealkitab-i-ahdAhd §2: call to mindkitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: whisperingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: altogether nothingtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §5: name thy name
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: We wishgleaningsGWB §394: that which is vain and trivialkitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: to whom He willprayers-and-meditationsP&M §844: No onetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desirethtablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §69: substancewill-and-testamentW&T §5: this one, unworthy though he be
most 53% all-bountiful 25% generous 6% all-bounteous 3% noble 3% god 3% blessed 2% bountiful 2% sublime 2% goodness 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: All-Bountifulfire-tabletFire §4: bestowalgleaningsGWB §655: of Thy bountiful favorkitab-i-ahdAhd §11: All-Powerfulkitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: loving kindnessprayers-and-meditationsP&M §156: deal bountifullytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Generous Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §126: To give
