Prayers and Meditations — §120

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 120 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

أَيْ رَبِّ أَنْتَ القَوِيُّ القَدِيرُ وَذُو الأَمْرِ الشَّدِيدِ، خُذْ أَعْدَائَكَ بِسُلْطانِكَ، ثُمَّ اجْمَعْ أَحِبَّائَكَ فِيْ ظِلِّ سِدْرَةِ فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ لِيَحْضُرُنَّ تِلْقاءَ عَرْشِكَ وَيَسْتَمِعُنَّ نَغَماتِكَ وَيَنْظُرُنَّ جَمالَكَ وَيَعْرِفُنَّ اقْتِدارَكَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Thou, O my Lord, art He whose strength is immense, Whose decree is terrible. Lay hold on Thine adversaries by the power of Thy sovereignty, and assemble Thy loved ones beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy oneness, that they may stand before Thy throne, and catch the accents of Thy voice, and gaze on Thy beauty, and discover the power of Thy might.

Translation Notes

القَوِيُّ

al-qawíw q-w-y → “strength” Distinctive

literal: strength; power; strong

This form usually rendered as “strong”, “all-powerful”, “almighty” (33 occurrences)

strong 22% all-powerful 13% almighty 13% most 13% potent 9% strength 9% mighty 9% omnipotent 4% powerful 4% sustained 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: with strong hand gleaningsGWB §389: these powers kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: might?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: with authority the-hidden-wordsHW §68: of might will-and-testamentW&T §25: forces epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: power gleaningsGWB §404: vitality

القَدِيرُ

al-qadír q-d-r → “he whose” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “almighty”, “most”, “might” (84 occurrences)

almighty 35% most 26% might 13% all-powerful 8% hath 4% potent 4% power 4% god 3% powerful 3% hast 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: How many fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §499: for but a little while kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: virtue prayers-and-meditationsP&M §675: Ordain Thou tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §22: I have hung

وَذُو

wadhú dh-w → “one” Distinctive

literal: possessor; possessor of

This form usually rendered as “girded” (1 occurrences)

one 50% girded 50%

gleaningsGWB §66: girded with gleaningsGWB §518: one

الأَمْرِ

al-ʾamr ʾ-m-r

literal: command; matter; cause

SE rendered القَوِيُّ (al-qawíw), القَدِيرُ (al-qadír), وَذُو (wadhú), الأَمْرِ (al-ʾamr), الشَّدِيدِ، (ash-shadídi،), خُذْ (khudh), أَعْدَائَكَ (ʾaʿdáʾak) as “strength, He whose, Whose decree, terrible, Lay hold, Thine adversaries”

cause 57% revelation 17% faith 6% command 3% behest 3% divine 3% bidding 3% decree 3% ordainer 2% bidden 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: mine affairs fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §536: at Whose bidding kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: decreed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: end prayers-and-meditationsP&M §264: Thy precepts tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §41: to Our command

الشَّدِيدِ،

ash-shadídi، sh-d-d → “terrible”

literal: intensity

terrible 43% how 14% great 14% intense 14% heavy 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: More grievous became gleaningsGWB §76: so great kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: woes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §9: assiduous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §297: sore pressed tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: affliction the-hidden-wordsHW §122: ye are will-and-testamentW&T §12: strengthen

خُذْ

khudh ʾ-kh-dh → “lay hold”

literal: take; seize

hold 33% seize 17% take 17% cleave 6% fill 6% choose 6% draw 6% grasp 6% lay 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: were arrested fire-tabletFire §16: made captive gleaningsGWB §361: usurp kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: Grasp ye kitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: and they shall be seized prayers-and-meditationsP&M §739: and received tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: let him choose tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: Seize thou

أَعْدَائَكَ

ʾaʿdáʾak ʿ-d-w → “thine adversaries”

literal: enemy; enemies

enemies 55% adversaries 32% foes 6% among 3% against 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: of the transgressors fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §318: utterly incapable kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: enemy prayers-and-meditationsP&M §809: aggressor the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §5: the utmost enmity

بِسُلْطانِكَ،

bisulṭánika، s-l-ṭ → “power”

literal: sovereignty

sovereignty 52% power 17% through 16% sovereign 5% almighty 2% surpassing 2% most 2% sublimity 2% whose 2% before 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: through the power of My might gleaningsGWB §300: through the power of His sovereign might kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: ascendency prayers-and-meditationsP&M §662: Thou art that King tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §54: the Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: the Sháh

اجْمَعْ

ijmaʿ j-m-ʿ → “assemble”

literal: all; all, entire; group

assemble 50% gather 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: A number of men gleaningsGWB §725: unanimously kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: layeth up kitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: no one prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: assemble the-hidden-wordsHW §96: ever will-and-testamentW&T §8: with all epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: all

أَحِبَّائَكَ

ʾaḥibbáʾak ḥ-b-b → “thy loved ones”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

SE expanded to “Thy loved ones”

loved 51% dear 16% who 12% love 7% all 5% servants 5% friends 2% upon 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: Well-Beloved fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §363: exultation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: tender affection prayers-and-meditationsP&M §555: O Thou Who art my Well-Beloved tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §20: My lover will-and-testamentW&T §3: O ye beloved of

ظِلِّ

ẓill ẓ-l-l → “shadow”

literal: shade; shadow; shadow/shade

shadow 60% beneath 15% shelter 8% shade 7% through 2% unto 2% faith 2% face 2% sheltering 2% overshadowed 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the clouds gleaningsGWB §607: unto them.…kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: to overshadow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §361: the shade the-hidden-wordsHW §104: shade will-and-testamentW&T §2: seeketh the shelter epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: overshadowed gleaningsGWB §517: beneath your shadow

سِدْرَةِ

sidrah s-d-r → “tree”

literal: lote-tree; tree; lote tree

tree 41% lote-tree 23% burning 11% divine 5% bush 5% sadratu’l-muntahá 5% sadrih 5% sadratu’l-muntaha 1% upon 1% sadratu’l 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Divine Lote-Tree gleaningsGWB §127: Sadratu’l kitab-i-iqanKIQ §290: the Sadratu’l prayers-and-meditationsP&M §73: of the Tree of tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: within the deathless tree will-and-testamentW&T §16: Lote-Trees epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Burning Bush gleaningsGWB §399: Sadratu’l-Muntahá

فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ

fardánínatik f-r-d → “thy oneness”

literal: oneness; singleness

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: oneness fire-tabletFire §17: lonely gleaningsGWB §386: of His oneness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: peerless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: Thine all-glorious unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlorn will-and-testamentW&T §2: unique epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: the Peerless

لِيَحْضُرُنَّ

líaḥḍurunn ḥ-ḍ-r → “they may stand”

literal: presence; present; presence/holiness

SE expanded to “they may stand”

may 50% there 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: them gleaningsGWB §259: when attaining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: Prophet prayers-and-meditationsP&M §855: for Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §122: His holy will-and-testamentW&T §15: of epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §248: These people gleaningsGWB §347: He

تِلْقاءَ

tilqáʾ l-q-y → “before”

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

before 57% when 21% own 4% court 4% presence 4% set 4% face 4% faced 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: to attain Our Presence fire-tabletFire §33: to the Divine Presence gleaningsGWB §58: Divine Presence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: behold prayers-and-meditationsP&M §332: when Thou art remembered tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §37: to meet Me will-and-testamentW&T §41: sowing the seeds

عَرْشِكَ

ʿarshik ʿ-r-sh → “thy throne”

literal: throne

throne 90% mighty 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: the Throne gleaningsGWB §621: a seat kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat prayers-and-meditationsP&M §834: of the Throne on high the-hidden-wordsHW §120: OF MY THRONE epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: throne on high gleaningsGWB §51: the seat kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: Throne.”

وَيَسْتَمِعُنَّ

wayastamiʿunn s-m-ʿ → “catch”

literal: hear; hearing; heard

heard 17% hear 15% hearken 13% hearing 11% thou 9% ears 9% incline 8% hearest 8% have 6% ye 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §186: dost now hear fire-tabletFire §37: have heard gleaningsGWB §506: Heard ye not kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: no ear prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: may be heard tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard the-hidden-wordsHW §133: let him give ear will-and-testamentW&T §5: ears in all regions were inclined

نَغَماتِكَ

naghamátik n-gh-m → “accents”

literal: melody; melodies; melodies, tunes

accents 50% melodies 17% sweetness 17% sweet 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: song fire-tabletFire §23: Thy melodies gleaningsGWB §612: the sweet melodies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: strains prayers-and-meditationsP&M §172: with the sweet melodies tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: His Melody epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: melodies gleaningsGWB §103: accents

وَيَنْظُرُنَّ

wayanẓurunn n-ẓ-r → “gaze on”

literal: look; looking; view

gaze 50% recognize 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: observe fire-tabletFire §48: looking toward gleaningsGWB §286: Know thou kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: to turn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by reason of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §188: to direct tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §20: OF

جَمالَكَ

jamálak j-m-l → “thy beauty”

literal: beauty; beautiful

beauty 85% gaze 2% face 2% whose 2% countenance 1% glory 1% contemplation 1% swear 1% most 1% through 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: of His beauty gleaningsGWB §613: By My Beauty!kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §255: of beauty.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §804: through Thy beauty tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: upon whose countenances the-hidden-wordsHW §68: and by My beauty will-and-testamentW&T §4: His

وَيَعْرِفُنَّ

wayaʿrifunn ʿ-r-f → “discover”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

discover 33% will 33% may 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: acknowledgment gleaningsGWB §666: the perfume kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: true knowledge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §455: all that have recognized Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §99: HAVE A NAME epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §65: what is right

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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268 ¶

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50 ¶

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16 ¶

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291 ¶

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17 ¶

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57 ¶

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160 ¶

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59 ¶