Prayers and Meditations — §17
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 17 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
هَلْ مِنْ ذِي بَصَرٍ يا إِلهِي لِيَراكَ بِعَيْنِكَ. وَهَلْ مِنْ ذِي ظَمَأٍ يَتَوَجَّهُ إِلى كَوْثَرِ حُبِّكَ، وَأَنَا الَّذِيْ يا إِلهِي مَحَوْتُ عَنْ قَلْبِي ذِكْرَ دُونِكَ وَكَتَبْتُ عَلَيهِ أَسْرارَ حُبِّكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَوْلا البَلايا لَمْ يَظْهَرِ الامْتِيازُ بَيْنَ عِبادِكَ المُوْقِنِينَ وَالمُرِيبِينَ، إِنَّ الَّذِينَهُمْ سَكِرُوا مِنْ خَمْرِ مَعَارِفِكَ، أُولئِكَ يُسْرِعُونَ إِلى البَلايا شَوْقًا لِلِقائِكَ، أَسْئَلُكَ يا مَحْبُوبَ قَلْبِي وَالمَذْكورُ فِيْ صَدْرِي بِأَنْ تَحْفَظَ أَحِبَّائِي مِنْ شائِبَةِ النَّفْسِ وَالهَوی، ثُمَّ ارْزُقْهُمْ خَيْرَ الآخِرَةِ وَالأُولی،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Is there any man of insight, O my God, that can behold Thee with Thine own eye, and where is the thirsty one who can direct his face towards the living waters of Thy love? I am the one, O my God, who hath blotted out from his heart the remembrance of all except Thee, and hath graven upon it the mysteries of Thy love. Thine own might beareth me witness! But for tribulations, how could the assured be distinguished from the doubters among Thy servants? They who have been inebriated with the wine of Thy knowledge, these, verily, hasten to meet every manner of adversity in their longing to pass into Thy presence. I implore Thee, O Beloved of my heart and the Object of my soul’s adoration, to shield them that love me from the faintest trace of evil and corrupt desires. Supply them, then, with the good of this world and of the next.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: unto Godfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §462: is in the hand of none except Godkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: of the divineprayers-and-meditationsP&M §824: remaintablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven
SE expanded to “can behold Thee”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thou seestfire-tabletFire §28: Canst Thou seegleaningsGWB §359: we see notkitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: seenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §827: unconstrainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtainwill-and-testamentW&T §35: saw meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: to regard
SE expanded to “with Thine own eye”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: black-eyedgleaningsGWB §124: personalitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: manifestprayers-and-meditationsP&M §420: and mine eyestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyestablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: thosetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: tearsthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: not through the eyes
gleaningsGWB §594: the thirstyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: thirstythe-hidden-wordsHW §38: thirstprayers-and-meditationsP&M §632: He who was athirstprayers-and-meditationsP&M §72: athirstprayers-and-meditationsP&M §89: thirsty onesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §501: one sore athirstprayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: thirsty one
This form usually rendered as “would”, “set”, “lift” (10 occurrences)
SE expanded to “can direct his face”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: gonefire-tabletFire §30: This FacegleaningsGWB §657: in the face ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: beforeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §65: I have set my facetablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy stepsthe-hidden-wordsHW §41: before Our Face
كَوْثَرِ
literal: abundance/fountain; abundance, fountain in paradise
living 56% waters 9% river 9% through 6% stream 3% cup 3% life-giving 3% everlasting 3% plenteous 3% after 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: living watersgleaningsGWB §57: cupprayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: through the living fountainepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the living watersgleaningsGWB §435: streamprayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: the watersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: through the living watersgleaningsGWB §60: the life-giving waters
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Belovedfire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §666: It is Our wish and desirekitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: my friendprayers-and-meditationsP&M §756: and is to be lovedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §30: wouldst not have ascribedwill-and-testamentW&T §3: His loved ones)
This form usually rendered as “who” (1 occurrences)
SE expanded to “hath blotted out”
blot 30% effaced 23% destroy 10% blotted 10% completely 7% vanish 7% dissipate 3% abolish 3% obliterated 3% annulment 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: blot outgleaningsGWB §174: obliteratedkitab-i-ahdAhd §7: annulmentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Thus, “What He pleaseth will God abrogateprayers-and-meditationsP&M §440: effacementwill-and-testamentW&T §5: destroyedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: destroygleaningsGWB §178: blotted out
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: troublousgleaningsGWB §505: thy soulkitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: to any heartprayers-and-meditationsP&M §431: have been shakentablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: and their own heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §102: human heartwill-and-testamentW&T §35: heart-rendingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: heart
mention 23% remembrance 18% mentioned 16% praise 14% recorded 6% words 6% recount 5% referred 5% make 4% references 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: recalledgleaningsGWB §106: whispering of selfkitab-i-ahdAhd §2: call to mindkitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: sing their praiseprayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: the glorificationtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: I may remember thee
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: withoutgleaningsGWB §387: All else besides Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the likeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §789: naught but Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §14: from anyone beside Mewill-and-testamentW&T §38: All othersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: all else beside TheegleaningsGWB §575: Unless
This form usually rendered as “thou”, “have”, “written” (14 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: TabletgleaningsGWB §39: and wordskitab-i-ahdAhd §10: Our Most Holy Bookkitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: of the sacred Bookprayers-and-meditationsP&M §586: and write downthe-hidden-wordsHW §72: then writewill-and-testamentW&T §41: Holy Textepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: Book
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: exulteth with joygleaningsGWB §357: is My mysterykitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: escapeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §750: whose secretstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §35: of their heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §155: fresh and greenwill-and-testamentW&T §42: beganepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: mysteries
SE expanded to “Thine own might beareth”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: manifest glorygleaningsGWB §183: that ye may be exaltedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: and powerprayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: are exaltedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherishwill-and-testamentW&T §4: endearedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: precious in my estimation
tribulations 31% tribulation 17% troubles 10% trials 7% woes 7% every 7% adversities 7% afflictions 5% manifold 5% calamities 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: of My sorrowsfire-tabletFire §39: calamitygleaningsGWB §184: the tribulation I sufferkitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: was condemnedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §574: vexationthe-hidden-wordsHW §49: under My trialswill-and-testamentW&T §3: trialepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: afflictions
This form usually rendered as “may”, “shall”, “show” (75 occurrences)
may 16% shall 14% show 11% revealed 11% reveal 9% manifested 9% manifest 9% whom 7% will 7% revelation 7%
SE rendered لَوْلا (lawlá), البَلايا (al-baláyá), يَظْهَرِ (yaẓhar), الامْتِيازُ (al-ámtíáz), عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik) as “But, tribulations, the assured be, Thy servants”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §10: distinguishgleaningsGWB §104: distinctionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: discernprayers-and-meditationsP&M §270: will enable them to perceivewill-and-testamentW&T §16: chosenepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: a man of discernmentgleaningsGWB §121: blotted outkitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: measure
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: my Adored Onefire-tabletFire §49: AdoredgleaningsGWB §387: those that serve Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §89: heprayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: This servant of Thinetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicewill-and-testamentW&T §10: servant of Thineepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: mankind
SE rendered عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik), المُوْقِنِينَ (al-múqinín), وَالمُرِيبِينَ، (wálmuríbína،) as “Thy servants, doubters”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: certaintyfire-tabletFire §24: Thy certitudegleaningsGWB §519: that believe in Himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: Shouldest thouprayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: I am persuadedthe-hidden-wordsHW §29: Know thou of a truthepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: be well assuredgleaningsGWB §239: undoubted
doubt 44% doubters 16% doubteth 9% doubtest 6% doubter 6% misgivings 6% doubted 3% suspicious.’” 3% doubter.” 3% doubts 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: doubtersgleaningsGWB §555: and misgivingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: doubtsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §609: idle fanciesthe-hidden-wordsHW §13: a doubt thereofepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: and doubtedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §236: doubter.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: from the doubters
SE expanded to “have been inebriated”
inebriated 25% drunkenness 20% drunken 15% drunk 10% stupor 5% agonies 5% inebriation 5% inebriating 5% have 5% frenzy 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: with the winegleaningsGWB §383: the wineprayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: of the winethe-hidden-wordsHW §139: dregsgleaningsGWB §65: of the words ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: the wine ofgleaningsGWB §528: with prideprayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: Thy manifold wisdom
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the breezegleaningsGWB §117: Mine Essence thou shalt never apprehend!kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §100: by the light of His recognitionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §10: make Thyself knowntablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §52: do thou observe itepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §112: recognizeth
SE expanded to “in their longing”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: fervorfire-tabletFire §41: Thy yearninggleaningsGWB §57: vehement desire!”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: yearningprayers-and-meditationsP&M §399: that yearn after Theethe-hidden-wordsHW §51: thy longingwill-and-testamentW&T §14: urgingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: longing
SE expanded to “pass into Thy presence”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: meetethfire-tabletFire §33: to the Divine PresencegleaningsGWB §619: have We disclosedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: “attainment unto the Divine Presence”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §374: when face to face withtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: of His Presencethe-hidden-wordsHW §37: to meet Mewill-and-testamentW&T §41: kindling
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the suppliantgleaningsGWB §678: Unpetitionedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: truthsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §493: I prayepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: praygleaningsGWB §631: Grant thatkitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: they will ask Theeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §229: I, therefore, beseech Thee
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: men’s breastsgleaningsGWB §610: men’s breastskitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: doneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §785: their breaststhe-hidden-wordsHW §120: thy thoughtswill-and-testamentW&T §34: Mindsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: seat of honorgleaningsGWB §77: their hearts
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: preservegleaningsGWB §214: safeguardkitab-i-ahdAhd §5: safeguardingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: secureprayers-and-meditationsP&M §226: preserve ustablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: Learn welltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §22: guardianthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: watch over thee
This form usually rendered as “own”, “self”, “soul” (323 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §185: none of whomgleaningsGWB §669: for the purposes of none other but His own Selfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: the least of menprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: of Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §142: passionwill-and-testamentW&T §44: souls such as theseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: their
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: promptings of thine own passionsfire-tabletFire §21: passiongleaningsGWB §148: desire notkitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: and manifestprayers-and-meditationsP&M §336: atmospheretablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §9: and passionthe-hidden-wordsHW §122: idlewill-and-testamentW&T §15: self
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: attaingleaningsGWB §449: Who hath nourished theekitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: such sustenanceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: my Providerwill-and-testamentW&T §36: Vouchsafe unto themepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: nourish themselvesgleaningsGWB §17: tastekitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: touching
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: to be preferredgleaningsGWB §69: the Unconditionedkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: what is goodkitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: decidedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §499: what Thou hast Thyself chosenwill-and-testamentW&T §28: be their well-wishersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: choosestgleaningsGWB §224: goodly
SE expanded to “of this world”
