Prayers and Meditations — §203

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 203 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحانَكَ يا إِلهِي أَسْئَلُكَ بِرَوائِحِ قَمِيصِ فَضْلِكَ الَّتِيْ تَضَوَّعَتْ فِي الإِمْكانِ بِأَمْرِكَ وَإِرادَتِكَ وَبِشَمْسِ مَشِيَّتِكَ الَّتِيْ أَضاءَتْ مِنْ أُفُقِ الفَضْلِ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَسُلْطانِكَ بِأَنْ تَجْعَلَ قَلْبِي مُقَدَّسًا مِنَ الظُّنُونِ وَالأَوهامِ لأُقْبِلَ بِكُلِّي إِلَيْكَ يا رَبَّ الأَنامِ، يا إِلهِي إِنِّي

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I entreat Thee by the fragrances of the Raiment of Thy grace which at Thy bidding and in conformity with Thy desire were diffused throughout the entire creation, and by the Daystar of Thy will that hath shone brightly, through the power of Thy might and of Thy sovereignty, above the horizon of Thy mercy, to blot out from my heart all idle fancies and vain imaginings, that with all my affections I may turn unto Thee, O Thou Lord of all mankind!

Translation Notes

سُبْحانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “lauded be thy name”

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

SE expanded to “Lauded be Thy name”

glorified 27% lauded 19% praised 14% glory 12% praise 10% magnified 6% exalted 5% all 3% unto 2% “glory 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: \‘Glorified gleaningsGWB §80: clouds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §291: Glorified be prayers-and-meditationsP&M §69: Exalted tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: laud gleaningsGWB §122: praise

إِلهِي

ʾilhí ʾ-l-h → “my god”

literal: God; divine; god

god 64% divine 22% god’s 5% lord 4% holy 2% mystic 1% heavenly 1% grace 1% god-given 1% pertaineth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: grace gleaningsGWB §10: His kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: God but their own desire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §205: and the God the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §18: of the Lord epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: Godhead gleaningsGWB §563: Divine mercy

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “i entreat thee”

literal: ask; ask/request; ask/beseech

SE expanded to “I entreat Thee”

beseech 46% implore 24% entreat 18% beg 5% pray 4% destroy 1% ask 1% deal 1% god 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Ask, that gleaningsGWB §265: prayer and entreaty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §594: entreat Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: I implore Thee gleaningsGWB §630: pray Thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: I implore epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §152: beseecheth

بِرَوائِحِ

birawáʾiḥ r-w-ḥ → “by the fragrances”

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

SE expanded to “by the fragrances”

fragrance 29% sweet 21% savors 14% fragrances 14% smell 7% stench-filled 7% perfume 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: the Spirit of God fire-tabletFire §49: fragrance gleaningsGWB §303: its soul kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: happiness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: go prayers-and-meditationsP&M §763: musk tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: honeyed the-hidden-wordsHW §68: By My spirit

قَمِيصِ

qamíṣ q-m-ṣ → “of the raiment”

literal: shirt, garment; shirt/garment

SE expanded to “of the Raiment”

robe 37% raiment 30% garment 17% arrayed 3% all 3% smell 3% garments 3% robes 3%

fire-tabletFire §44: the garment gleaningsGWB §100: attire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: divers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: of the Raiment tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: robes the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the inner essence thereof will-and-testamentW&T §10: my vesture gleaningsGWB §46: all created things

فَضْلِكَ

faḍlik f-ḍ-l → “of thy grace”

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

SE expanded to “of Thy grace”

grace 91% tender 2% dawning-places 1% hand 1% bounty 1% loving-kindness 1% horizon 1% bounteousness 1% favor 1% mercy 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: hand of Thy loving-kindness gleaningsGWB §234: His gracious favor kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: its showering bounties prayers-and-meditationsP&M §344: tender compassions tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: bounties the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom

تَضَوَّعَتْ

taḍawwaʿat ḍ-w-ʿ → “were diffused”

literal: diffuse; diffused

wafted 60% have 20% diffused 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: have diffused gleaningsGWB §51: hath shed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §597: wafted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: diffuse gleaningsGWB §655: and diffused prayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: sweet smell epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: be shed abroad gleaningsGWB §211: and power

الإِمْكانِ

al-ʾimkán m-k-n → “the entire creation”

literal: possibility; possible; possible things

SE expanded to “the entire creation”

all 39% creation 16% entire 10% contingent 10% world 6% created 6% every 3% eye 3% man 3% placeless 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: be achieved fire-tabletFire §20: every creature gleaningsGWB §404: one kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: places prayers-and-meditationsP&M §588: entire creation the-hidden-wordsHW §128: secure will-and-testamentW&T §17: subordination epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: the world of being

بِأَمْرِكَ

biʾamrik ʾ-m-r → “at thy bidding” Distinctive

literal: command; cause

This form usually rendered as “cause”, “revelation”, “behest” (179 occurrences)

SE expanded to “at Thy bidding”

cause 59% revelation 16% behest 7% bidding 4% decree 4% faith 3% commandment 3% command 1% through 1% affairs 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: bidding fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §452: His bidding kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: of celestial dominion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §166: of Thy Cause tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: to its dwellers the-hidden-wordsHW §52: My command unto thee

وَإِرادَتِكَ

waʾirádatik r-w-d → “desire” Distinctive

literal: will; desire

This form usually rendered as “will”, “purpose”, “through” (39 occurrences)

will 62% purpose 15% through 8% desire 8% wisdom 4% conformity 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: desired gleaningsGWB §682: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §126: go prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: and wisdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §19: They have desired the-hidden-wordsHW §106: gaze upon will-and-testamentW&T §8: the gracious will epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: had any wish

وَبِشَمْسِ

wabishams sh-m-s → “and by”

literal: sun; suns; the sun

SE rendered بِأَمْرِكَ (biʾamrik), وَإِرادَتِكَ (waʾirádatik), وَبِشَمْسِ (wabishams), مَشِيَّتِكَ (mashíhatik), أَضاءَتْ (ʾaḍáʾat) as “at Thy bidding, desire, and by, the Daystar of Thy will, hath shone brightly”

sun 48% daystar 22% day-star 6% luminaries 6% light 6% “sun” 4% luminary 3% suns 3% orb 1% most 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: that sun gleaningsGWB §377: light of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: “Suns,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §824: and the Daystar epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: Sun-like Mirrors gleaningsGWB §357: Most Great Light kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: and by

مَشِيَّتِكَ

mashíhatik sh-y-ʾ → “daystar of thy will”

literal: will

SE expanded to “Daystar of Thy will”

will 70% desire 7% daystar 4% might 4% own 4% purpose 4% primal 4% potency 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: willing gleaningsGWB §479: whom He will kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: thing a prayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: the Daystar of Thy will tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §49: everything epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: through His will

أَضاءَتْ

ʾaḍáʾat ḍ-w-ʾ → “hath shone brightly” Distinctive

literal: illuminated

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

SE expanded to “hath shone brightly”

splendor 18% illumined 14% radiance 14% light 14% shineth 9% resplendent 9% hath 9% turned 5% chased 5% aglow 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: illumined fire-tabletFire §9: Radiance gleaningsGWB §532: the radiance prayers-and-meditationsP&M §492: to brighten the-hidden-wordsHW §33: its splendor epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: aglow fire-tabletFire §9: of Thy splendor gleaningsGWB §670: Let the light

أُفُقِ

ʾufuq ʾ-f-q → “above the horizon”

literal: horizon; horizons; horizons/regions

SE expanded to “above the horizon”

horizon 67% dayspring 10% above 5% heaven 5% realm 5% orient 3% supreme 1% works 1% created 1% realms 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Supreme Horizon fire-tabletFire §26: the heaven gleaningsGWB §280: Our realm prayers-and-meditationsP&M §293: horizon of Thy grace the-hidden-wordsHW §15: the realm epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: the horizon gleaningsGWB §198: above the dayspring prayers-and-meditationsP&M §445: the Dayspring

بِقُدْرَتِكَ

biqudratik q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; powerful

power 45% might 30% strength 7% almighty 7% through 4% authority 3% transcendent 1% all-conquering 1% omnipotent 1% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: of Thine omnipotence fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §139: in proportion kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: provided prayers-and-meditationsP&M §163: the God of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

وَسُلْطانِكَ

wasulṭánik s-l-ṭ → “and of thy sovereignty”

literal: sovereignty

SE expanded to “and of Thy sovereignty”

sovereignty 72% power 12% sovereign 7% almighty 2% most 2% whose 2% before 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: His Majesty gleaningsGWB §613: dominion kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: heavenly King prayers-and-meditationsP&M §386: by the power of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: monarch of all

تَجْعَلَ

tajʿal j-ʿ-l

literal: make; to make

SE rendered بِقُدْرَتِكَ (biqudratik), وَسُلْطانِكَ (wasulṭánik), تَجْعَلَ (tajʿal), قَلْبِي (qalbí) as “power, and of Thy sovereignty, from my heart”

may 25% suffer 13% allow 13% debaseth 13% become 13% make 13% exalt 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: suffer fire-tabletFire §44: We have made gleaningsGWB §343: caused them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: fanciful images prayers-and-meditationsP&M §502: enableth me the-hidden-wordsHW §23: thou hast will-and-testamentW&T §36: and grant that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §81: hath exalted

قَلْبِي

qalbí q-l-b → “from my heart”

literal: heart; hearts

SE expanded to “from my heart”

heart 83% within 10% mine 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §67: turn gleaningsGWB §486: and cleanse thine heart kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: a pure heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: want of understanding prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: those hearts the-hidden-wordsHW §120: mind will-and-testamentW&T §30: agitated epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: troublous

مُقَدَّسًا

muqaddasan q-d-s

literal: holy; sanctified

SE rendered تَجْعَلَ (tajʿal), قَلْبِي (qalbí), مُقَدَّسًا (muqaddasan), الظُّنُونِ (aẓ-ẓunún), وَالأَوهامِ (wálʾawhám) as “from my heart, all idle fancies, and vain imaginings”

sanctified 30% exalted 18% holy 16% immeasurably 10% sacred 9% sanctify 7% purged 3% blessed 2% pure 2% transcendeth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: blessed gleaningsGWB §302: immeasurably exalted above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: purged prayers-and-meditationsP&M §406: Thy holiness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse the-hidden-wordsHW §151: purging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: His holiness gleaningsGWB §122: sanctifying

الظُّنُونِ

aẓ-ẓunún ẓ-n-n → “all idle fancies”

literal: conjecture; think; suppositions

SE expanded to “all idle fancies”

idle 43% fancy 23% fancies 13% vain 8% imaginings 8% imaginations 3% all 3% superstitions 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: idle imaginings fire-tabletFire §24: fancy gleaningsGWB §449: mere conceit kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: we deem prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: mine own fancy tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitions the-hidden-wordsHW §63: thy fancies epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: deemed

وَالأَوهامِ

wálʾawhám w-h-m → “and vain imaginings”

literal: fancy

SE expanded to “and vain imaginings”

vain 51% idle 33% imaginings 4% fancies 4% vague 2% corrupt 2% imaginations 2% all 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: and vain imaginings fire-tabletFire §24: idle imaginings gleaningsGWB §374: their idle fancies kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: conceive prayers-and-meditationsP&M §141: his vain imaginations tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of delusion the-hidden-wordsHW §144: FANCY will-and-testamentW&T §34: suspicion

لأُقْبِلَ

lʾuqbil q-b-l → “turn unto thee” Distinctive

literal: acceptance

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “set”, “turned” (51 occurrences)

SE expanded to “turn unto Thee”

hath 36% set 17% turned 11% turn 11% turneth 8% accept 6% go 3% directeth 3% attain 3% recognize 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: the past fire-tabletFire §46: press onward gleaningsGWB §245: before you kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: receptive soul kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: disposed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §757: towards Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: been lifted upon tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: “And kiss

بِكُلِّي

bikullí k-l-l → “with all my affections” Distinctive

literal: all; all, every

This form usually rendered as “wholly”, “all-embracing”, “utterly” (13 occurrences)

SE expanded to “with all my affections”

wholly 30% all-embracing 20% utterly 20% all 10% firmly 10% entirely 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: all men gleaningsGWB §697: all mankind kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyone kitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: one and prayers-and-meditationsP&M §412: The will tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: be the-hidden-wordsHW §13: naught will-and-testamentW&T §40: utterly

إِلَيْكَ

ʾilayk ʾ-l-y

literal: to

SE rendered وَالأَوهامِ (wálʾawhám), لأُقْبِلَ (lʾuqbil), بِكُلِّي (bikullí), إِلَيْكَ (ʾilayk), رَبَّ (rabb), الأَنامِ، (an-námi،) as “and vain imaginings, turn unto Thee, with all my affections, Lord, of all mankind”