Prayers and Meditations — §856
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 856 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
فَسُبْحَانَكَ يا مَقْصُودِيْ فَوَعِزَّتِكَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكُونَ عَلَى شَأْنِ الَّذِيْ لَوْ يَحْضُرْنَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ طَلَعاتُ اللَّواتِي كُنَّ فِي غُرَفاتِ عِصْمَتِكَ، وَسَتَرْتَ جَمالَهُنَّ عَنْ مُلاحَظَةِ المَوْجُوداتِ وَطَهَّرْتَ وُجُوهَهُنَّ عَنْ مُشاهَدَةِ المُمْكِناتِ وَيَظْهَرْنَ بِظُهُوراتِ أَنْوارِ جَمالِكَ المَنِيْعِ، لا أَلْتَفِتُ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَلا أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْهِنَّ إِلاَّ لِمُلاحَظَةِ أَسْرارِ صُنْعِكَ الَّذِيْ تَحَيَّرَتْ فِيْهِ أَفْئِدَةُ المُقَرَّبِينَ وَكاعَتْ أَنْفُسُ العارِفِينَ، وَأَرْتَقِي بِحَوْلِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ إِلى مَقامِ الَّذِيْ لَنْ يَشْغَلَنِيْ شَأْنٌ عَنْ شُئُوناتِ عِزِّ قَيُّومِيَّتِكَ وَلا تَحْجُبُنِيْ هَنْدَسِيَّاتُ المُلْكيَّةِ عَنْ ظُهُوراتِ قُدْسِ أُلُوْهِيَّتِكَ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Lauded be Thy name, O Thou Who art the Goal of my desire! I swear by Thy glory! How great is my wish to attain unto a detachment so complete that were there to appear before me those countenances which are hid within the chambers of chastity, and the beauty of which Thou didst veil from the eyes of the entire creation, and whose faces Thou didst sanctify from the sight of all beings, and were they to unveil themselves in all the glory of the splendors of Thine incomparable beauty, I would refuse to look upon them, and would behold them solely for the purpose of discerning the mysteries of Thy handiwork, which have perplexed the minds of such as have drawn nigh unto Thee, and awed the souls of all them that have recognized Thee. I would, by Thy power and Thy might, soar to such heights that nothing whatsoever would have the power to keep me back from the manifold evidences of Thy transcendent dominion, nor would any earthly scheme shut me out from the manifestations of Thy Divine holiness.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: celebrateth the praise offire-tabletFire §14: veiledgleaningsGWB §287: God, the Glorifiedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the “veilsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §245: All praisetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highwill-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God
This form usually rendered as “desire”, “purpose”, “any” (18 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: hastenedgleaningsGWB §52: were ye to seek itkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: The objectkitab-i-iqanKIQ §173: maintainprayers-and-meditationsP&M §335: ardent desirethe-hidden-wordsHW §76: seekethwill-and-testamentW&T §7: purposedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: every other goal
SE expanded to “I swear by Thy glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: “Better is itgleaningsGWB §116: existencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: and powerprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thy glory beareth me witnesstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §125: in your glorywill-and-testamentW&T §38: dearly belovedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: magnified be
SE rendered مَقْصُودِيْ (maqṣúdí), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), أُحِبُّ (ʾuḥibb), أَكُونَ (ʾakún), شَأْنِ (shaʾan) as “the Goal of, I swear by Thy glory, wish, detachment”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: wishfire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §31: Oh, how I longkitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: of loveprayers-and-meditationsP&M §63: have loved Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §127: lovedwill-and-testamentW&T §38: for His steadfast friends)
This form usually rendered as “may”, “am”, “shall” (20 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: universegleaningsGWB §612: and beenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: Beingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §196: Thou werttablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: they combinetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thoutablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart haththe-hidden-wordsHW §43: thyself
such 41% station 18% state 8% glory 8% honor 8% through 5% excellence 5% distinction 3% neither 3% people 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: stationfire-tabletFire §27: the signsgleaningsGWB §121: desireskitab-i-iqanKIQ §267: understandingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §161: through Thy strengthening gracethe-hidden-wordsHW §68: My statewill-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly thingsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: that neither
This form usually rendered as “may”, “there” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: attendgleaningsGWB §557: of Hiskitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: dispensationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §67: towards Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §93: gatheredwill-and-testamentW&T §8: to the presenceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: ExcellencygleaningsGWB §462: in the presence of
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: with the handsgleaningsGWB §482: assaultskitab-i-iqanKIQ §244: with their handsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §617: hands ofwill-and-testamentW&T §13: Hands (pillars)epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: graspgleaningsGWB §627: in Thine handskitab-i-iqanKIQ §95: with their own hands
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: informingfire-tabletFire §12: RevealergleaningsGWB §640: will have appearedkitab-i-ahdAhd §8: sourceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: the “last”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §367: marktablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: may understandthe-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance
gleaningsGWB §168: of the celestial chamberskitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: within every chamberprayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: the chamberstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: exalted chambergleaningsGWB §558: chambertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: their chambersgleaningsGWB §212: mansions ofgleaningsGWB §273: celestial chambers
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: protectiongleaningsGWB §591: an inviolable securitykitab-i-ahdAhd §7: It is divinely preservedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Protectorprayers-and-meditationsP&M §798: hast preservedwill-and-testamentW&T §2: pricelessepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: to be puregleaningsGWB §77: secure
This form usually rendered as “concealed”, “hid”, “have” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the Veilfire-tabletFire §45: Concealer of the sinsgleaningsGWB §412: O Concealerkitab-i-ahdAhd §9: lieth concealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: veiledprayers-and-meditationsP&M §16: that which is hiddenthe-hidden-wordsHW §128: meaningepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: the Concealer
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: My BeautygleaningsGWB §38: partiallykitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Graciouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §207: visageprayers-and-meditationsP&M §803: Thy most effulgent Beautytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: her beautythe-hidden-wordsHW §68: and by My beautywill-and-testamentW&T §38: of the Ancient Beauty
مُلاحَظَةِ
literal: observation; observe; observation, consideration
This form usually rendered as “consider”, “behold”, “observe” (153 occurrences)
SE expanded to “eyes of the entire”
This form usually rendered as “all”, “entire”, “any” (42 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: Selffire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathegleaningsGWB §666: if We inhalekitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: holy beingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §529: their Creatortablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: they may findthe-hidden-wordsHW §14: that thou mayest findwill-and-testamentW&T §22: existent
This form usually rendered as “didst”, “shall”, “hast” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: Purify thougleaningsGWB §222: sacredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: Purgeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §250: and didst sanctify Himthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: cleanse itepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: puregleaningsGWB §287: Sanctifyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §275: to purify
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: turning towardsfire-tabletFire §30: This FacegleaningsGWB §510: would turn his face towards Theekitab-i-ahdAhd §4: set his facekitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: to turnprayers-and-meditationsP&M §717: who hath set his facetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy stepsthe-hidden-wordsHW §41: before Our Face
This form usually rendered as “behold”, “witness”, “perceive” (145 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: manifestfire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §27: testify unto the loftiness ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: reflectprayers-and-meditationsP&M §744: testimoniestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: as thou also dost witnessthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: see
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: its peoplesfire-tabletFire §20: every creaturegleaningsGWB §669: can possiblykitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: creaturesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §237: any one of Thy creaturesthe-hidden-wordsHW §115: mortalwill-and-testamentW&T §23: earthlyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: the world of being
light 48% splendors 23% lights 13% brightness 4% effulgence 3% resplendent 2% glory 2% luminaries 2% all 1% effulgent 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: the splendorsfire-tabletFire §26: LightgivergleaningsGWB §25: with the effulgent glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §134: God’s lightprayers-and-meditationsP&M §317: brightness of the lighttablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: splendourthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: gleamingwill-and-testamentW&T §13: radiantly
SE rendered بِظُهُوراتِ (biẓuhúrát), أَنْوارِ (ʾanwár), جَمالِكَ (jamálik), المَنِيْعِ، (al-maníʿi،), أَلْتَفِتُ (ʾaltafit), عَلَيْهِنَّ (ʿalayhinn) as “splendors, Thine incomparable beauty, refuse, them”
most 34% transcendent 14% exalted 14% inaccessible 7% glory 7% wondrous 7% great 7% sublime 3% all-highest 3% verily 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: may withholdgleaningsGWB §412: hath restrainedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §27: prevent them from attaining untoprayers-and-meditationsP&M §379: may not deter themtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against theethe-hidden-wordsHW §157: goodlywill-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permittedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: obscure
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §74: perceivegleaningsGWB §40: Beholdkitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: heedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §512: turntablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: turn thouepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: unawarekitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: And immediately He perceived their thoughtsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: I would refuse to look upon them
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: satisfactiongleaningsGWB §207: thy thronekitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: the mysteries of truthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §134: and to lay bare Thy mysteriestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: of their heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §95: self-satisfiedwill-and-testamentW&T §18: the secret essenceepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: will rejoice
This form usually rendered as “marveleth”, “marvelleth”, “marvel” (5 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: astoundedgleaningsGWB §322: is perplexedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: wonderprayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: bewilderingly mysteriousepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: marvelgleaningsGWB §321: wonder and amazementkitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: strangeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: he would be so perplexed
This form usually rendered as “hearts”, “souls”, “heart” (79 occurrences)
SE expanded to “have drawn nigh”
such 18% nigh 16% who 14% enjoy 14% favored 12% have 10% all 8% well-favored 6% shall 2% well-favoured 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: will draw men nighfire-tabletFire §2: Those who are near unto TheegleaningsGWB §127: hath drawn nigh unto Godkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: well-favouredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §800: have drawn nigh unto Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Presencetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: the favoured of God
1 occurrence in corpus
souls 38% others 13% spirit 6% essence 6% which 6% men’s 6% yourselves 6% beings 6% hands 6% faint-hearted 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: any onegleaningsGWB §591: Ikitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: My beingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §634: within metablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: even as one soulwill-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincereepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §254: for thyself
This form usually rendered as “all”, “have”, “comprehend” (75 occurrences)
all 22% have 17% comprehend 13% every 10% such 8% who 8% know 8% understand 5% perceive 5% initiated 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: every man of understandinggleaningsGWB §127: know hiskitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §17: to apprehendprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: the acknowledgment of theirtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §99: HAVE A NAMEepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: discern clearly
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: laddergleaningsGWB §311: its separationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §196: soaredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §374: ascendepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: advancegleaningsGWB §115: to have attainedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §135: them to scaleepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: couldst thou ascend thereunto
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: Come what mightgleaningsGWB §713: may betidekitab-i-iqanKIQ §276: Wherefore, thenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §753: round whose persontablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: become veilstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: her statethe-hidden-wordsHW §109: now thatwill-and-testamentW&T §52: at such a time
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: by the powergleaningsGWB §647: All-Compellingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: might?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §627: the Most Powerfulthe-hidden-wordsHW §68: of mightwill-and-testamentW&T §54: exertionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: All-PowerfulgleaningsGWB §125: with the power of My might
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: I had to facefire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §728: their life hereafterkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §33: primarilyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: so intense thattablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place
This form usually rendered as “keep”, “would” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: engagedgleaningsGWB §423: have drawn you far away fromkitab-i-iqanKIQ §93: are engagedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §639: keep me backthe-hidden-wordsHW §84: delightwill-and-testamentW&T §14: hath spentepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: OccupygleaningsGWB §573: your absorption
SE expanded to “shut me out”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: veils interposedgleaningsGWB §47: them that are shut out as by a veil from Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: intervening veilprayers-and-meditationsP&M §692: them who are shut out as by a veil from Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: her browthe-hidden-wordsHW §150: thewill-and-testamentW&T §4: veil theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: Suffer not yourselves to be shut out as by a veil
1 occurrence in corpus
This form usually rendered as “earthly”, “dominion”, “temporal” (24 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: kingsgleaningsGWB §98: of the earthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: worldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §542: such of their subjectstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §145: My sacred realmwill-and-testamentW&T §13: every landepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Sovereign
This form usually rendered as “holiness”, “holy”, “most” (158 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the HolygleaningsGWB §118: bewilderedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Heavenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: hallowed Courttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exaltedthe-hidden-wordsHW §153: such deeds as thesewill-and-testamentW&T §3: Hisepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: exalted
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Godheadfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §383: the hand of Godkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: his rejection by Godprayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: Who worshippeth no onetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial
