Prayers and Meditations — §215

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 215 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

أَسْئَلُكَ بِضَجِيجِ المُشْتاقِينَ فِي هَجْرِكَ وَصَرِيخِ العاشِقِينَ فِي بُعْدِهِمْ عَنْ لِقائِكَ، بِأَنْ تَرْزُقَنِي خَمْرَ عِرْفانِكَ وَكَوْثَرَ حُبِّكَ وَرِضائِكَ، أَيْ رَبِّ هذِهِ أَمَةُ الَّتِيْ نَسِيَتْ ما سِواكَ وَآنَسَتْ بِحُبِّكَ وَناحَتْ فِيما وَرَدَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَشْرارِ خَلْقِكَ، قَدِّرْ لَها ما قَدَّرْتَهُ لإِمائِكَ اللاَّئِي يَطُفْنَ حَوْلَ عَرْشِ عَظَمَتِكَ وَيَزُرْنَ جَمالَكَ فِي العَشِيِّ وَالإِشْراقِ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I beseech Thee by the sighs which they whose souls pant after Thee have uttered in their remoteness from Thy court, and by the cries of such of Thy lovers as bemoan their separation from Thee, to nourish me with the wine of Thy knowledge and the living waters of Thy love and pleasure. Behold Thy handmaiden, O my Lord, who hath forgotten all else except Thee, and who hath delighted herself with Thy love, and lamented over the things that have befallen Thee at the hands of the wicked doers among Thy creatures. Do Thou ordain for her that which Thou didst ordain for such of Thy handmaidens as circle round the throne of Thy majesty, and gaze, at eventide and at dawn, on Thy beauty.

Translation Notes

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “i beseech thee”

literal: ask; ask/beseech

SE expanded to “I beseech Thee”

beseech 47% implore 28% entreat 15% beg 4% pray 3% ask 1% moreover 1% nevertheless 1% deal 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I beseech Thee gleaningsGWB §265: entreaty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §195: the questions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §627: We entreat Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Ask, that gleaningsGWB §306: Thou hast asked Me kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: problems prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: I entreat

بِضَجِيجِ

biḍajíj ḍ-j-j → “sighs”

literal: clamor; clamor/noise; clamor, noise

sighs 28% voice 28% sighing 17% groaning 11% clamor 6% wailing 6% lamentations 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: groan gleaningsGWB §619: groaneth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §44: the voice of my lamentation tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: wailed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: groaning gleaningsGWB §610: that hath caused the denizens of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §62: the lamentations epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: sighs

المُشْتاقِينَ

al-mushtáqín sh-w-q → “they whose souls pant”

literal: longing; yearning; longing, yearning

SE expanded to “they whose souls pant”

long 24% all 24% who 14% yearn 10% however 5% thirst 5% longing 5% such 5% souls 5% whose 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: such as yearn for fire-tabletFire §41: Thy yearning gleaningsGWB §708: joy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: fervour prayers-and-meditationsP&M §467: with vehement longing the-hidden-wordsHW §51: thy longing will-and-testamentW&T §14: urging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: I yearn after

هَجْرِكَ

hajrik h-j-r → “remoteness”

literal: separation

remoteness 88% separation 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §256: retirement fire-tabletFire §2: of desolation gleaningsGWB §574: O thou that hast fled thy home and sought the presence of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: bereavement prayers-and-meditationsP&M §215: remoteness from Thy court tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: remoteness from Thy presence the-hidden-wordsHW §143: EMIGRANTS epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: the exiles

وَصَرِيخِ

waṣaríkh ṣ-r-kh → “cries”

literal: cry; cry/scream; cry, scream

cry 43% cries 29% who 14% such 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: cried out to Him again for help gleaningsGWB §619: their lamentation and weeping prayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: its cry tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: such a cry epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: cry prayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: and Who hearest the voice of the lamentation of tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: uttered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: cry out

العاشِقِينَ

al-ʿáshiqín ʿ-sh-q → “lovers”

literal: lover; love; beloved

lovers 42% all 17% longing 8% ardent 8% who 8% love 8% have 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: Thy true lovers fire-tabletFire §41: Love gleaningsGWB §673: the Beloved Himself kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: passionate devotion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §186: in my love the-hidden-wordsHW §91: lovers’will-and-testamentW&T §13: Divine love epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: of Love

بُعْدِهِمْ

buʿdihim b-ʿ-d → “after” Distinctive

literal: after

This form usually rendered as “remoteness”, “because”, “separation” (3 occurrences)

remoteness 33% because 33% separation 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: after Our fire-tabletFire §3: distant gleaningsGWB §309: Not until kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: time and again kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: without prayers-and-meditationsP&M §463: though—as tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: remote the-hidden-wordsHW §76: slough

لِقائِكَ،

liqáʾika، l-q-y → “presence”

literal: meeting; meeting, encounter

presence 50% reunion 10% countenance 5% pass 5% thee 5% over 5% gift 5% beholding 5% look 5% meet 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: delivered fire-tabletFire §33: to the Divine Presence gleaningsGWB §603: share it with them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §102: bestow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: of my reunion with tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §4: have engraved on thee will-and-testamentW&T §41: kindling

تَرْزُقَنِي

tarzuqaní r-z-q → “nourish me”

literal: provide; sustenance; provided

supply 50% nourish 25% bestow 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: attain gleaningsGWB §17: taste kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: partake of the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §36: supply him will-and-testamentW&T §36: Vouchsafe unto them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: nourish themselves gleaningsGWB §381: sustaineth them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: Upon him was also bestowed a portion of

خَمْرَ

khamr kh-m-r → “wine”

literal: wine; wine, draught

wine 75% draught 6% pride 3% words 3% drunkenness 3% manifold 3% partake 3% dregs 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: with the wine gleaningsGWB §319: meal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §535: Thy manifold wisdom the-hidden-wordsHW §139: dregs gleaningsGWB §467: wine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: the wine of gleaningsGWB §73: the drunkenness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §673: to partake of the wine

عِرْفانِكَ

ʿirfánik ʿ-r-f → “knowledge”

literal: knowledge; know; knower

knowledge 77% know 5% wisdom 5% may 3% attempts 3% immeasurable 3% sublime 3% known 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: of high repute gleaningsGWB §198: to know and recognize kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: understanding and recognition prayers-and-meditationsP&M §746: have, without exception, admitted tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §57: thinkest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: godly man

وَكَوْثَرَ

wakawthar k-w-th-r → “living waters”

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 §101: through the living waters gleaningsGWB §57: cup prayers-and-meditationsP&M §501: after the living waters epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the living waters gleaningsGWB §60: the life-giving waters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §455: Thy plenteous stream epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: living waters gleaningsGWB §435: stream

حُبِّكَ

ḥubbik ḥ-b-b → “love”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

love 90% whose 4% through 1% thou 1% attachment 1% one 1% own 1% sake 1% armed 1% tenderness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: My love fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §435: loving-kindness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §263: of His love prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: by Thy love tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §20: a beloved will-and-testamentW&T §6: their

وَرِضائِكَ،

wariḍáʾika، r-ḍ-y → “pleasure”

literal: pleasure; pleasure/satisfaction

pleasure 30% good 21% good-pleasure 13% sake 13% will 6% thee 6% unto 4% content 2% please 2% pleasure!” 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: refuse fire-tabletFire §48: Thy pleasure gleaningsGWB §621: of His good-pleasure kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: preferred prayers-and-meditationsP&M §322: and to fulfill Thy pleasure the-hidden-wordsHW §119: his own will will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted to His Will epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: find their satisfaction

أَمَةُ

ʾamah ʾ-m-m → “nations” Distinctive

literal: nations; mother

This form usually rendered as “mother”, “people”, “indeed” (25 occurrences)

mother 65% people 9% indeed 4% source 4% faith 4% nation 4% one 4% mother’s 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: of fire-tabletFire §13: the peoples of the earth gleaningsGWB §37: kindreds and peoples kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: peoples and kindreds of the earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: the Source prayers-and-meditationsP&M §102: such nations the-hidden-wordsHW §104: mother’s will-and-testamentW&T §5: following

نَسِيَتْ

nasíat n-s-y → “forgotten”

literal: forget; forgot; forgetfulness

have 25% forgotten 25% hath 25% couldst 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: Have ye forgotten gleaningsGWB §575: but forget to follow it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: a thing forgotten prayers-and-meditationsP&M §440: forgetfulness the-hidden-wordsHW §27: couldst thou forget gleaningsGWB §492: Be not forgetful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: caused to forget prayers-and-meditationsP&M §494: and negligence

سِواكَ

siwák s-w-y → “except thee” Distinctive

literal: other than; other-than; other than, except

This form usually rendered as “all”, “any”, “aught” (55 occurrences)

all 35% any 21% aught 14% except 9% beside 5% save 5% anyone 5% everything 2% other 2% none 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: occupied gleaningsGWB §662: from all else but Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §159: unto them prayers-and-meditationsP&M §70: any face except Thy face tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full height the-hidden-wordsHW §122: set epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: stablished gleaningsGWB §371: knoweth no

وَآنَسَتْ

wánasat ʾ-n-s → “man” Distinctive

literal: human; man; companion

This form usually rendered as “perceive”, “companion”, “presence” (5 occurrences)

perceive 40% companion 20% presence 20% delighted 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: perceive gleaningsGWB §338: united kitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: eternal reunion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §404: enjoy such intimate communion the-hidden-wordsHW §69: OF MEN will-and-testamentW&T §42: plotted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §105: human gleaningsGWB §358: men

وَناحَتْ

wanáḥat n-w-ḥ → “lamented”

literal: lament; lamentation; lamented

lamented 23% wail 23% groan 15% have 15% sigh 8% groaned 8% cry 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §224: hath provoked the lamentations fire-tabletFire §47: wailing gleaningsGWB §231: bemoan their plight kitab-i-iqanKIQ §24: bewail prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: moaneth will-and-testamentW&T §5: lamenting epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: to groan fire-tabletFire §47: Dost Thou wail

وَرَدَ

warad w-r-d → “befallen” Distinctive

literal: entering; come; came upon

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “have”, “things” (90 occurrences)

hath 26% have 19% things 14% befallen 13% there 10% befell 6% what 5% suffered 4% result 1% lamenteth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: there befell gleaningsGWB §491: We suffered in the past kitab-i-iqanKIQ §162: partaking prayers-and-meditationsP&M §567: sore-tried will-and-testamentW&T §49: in the midst of my woes epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §127: subjected gleaningsGWB §491: We be exposed to kitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: the victims of

أَشْرارِ

ʾashrár sh-r-r → “wicked doers”

literal: evil; wicked; evil/mischief

wicked 50% ungodly 36% evil 7% such 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: evil fire-tabletFire §40: the wicked gleaningsGWB §175: the evil designs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §276: most wicked prayers-and-meditationsP&M §784: the mischief wrought the-hidden-wordsHW §134: such will-and-testamentW&T §12: evils epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: ungodly

خَلْقِكَ،

khalqika، kh-l-q → “creatures”

literal: creation; create; created

creatures 69% among 14% creation 5% created 4% all 3% own 3% who 1% creatures’ 1% creature 1% eyes 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: conduct fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §441: were made kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: peoples prayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: that hath been created tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §83: creators epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §195: virtues

قَدِّرْ

qaddir q-d-r → “ordain”

literal: power; powerful

hath 21% ordain 18% power 16% ordained 11% how 7% do 7% might 6% decreed 5% had 4% according 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: All-Powerful fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §689: each according to his ability kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: cannot prayers-and-meditationsP&M §182: Do Thou ordain tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §22: I have hung

لإِمائِكَ

lʾimáʾik ʾ-m-w → “handmaidens”

literal: handmaidens; handmaiden

handmaidens 71% such 14% among 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: women gleaningsGWB §562: Before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §395: One epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Mother prayers-and-meditationsP&M §215: handmaiden prayers-and-meditationsP&M §414: am one prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: Thy handmaiden prayers-and-meditationsP&M §215: for such of Thy handmaidens

اللاَّئِي

al-lálaʾí l-w-y

literal: banners

SE rendered قَدَّرْتَهُ (qaddartah), لإِمائِكَ (lʾimáʾik), اللاَّئِي (al-lálaʾí), يَطُفْنَ (yaṭufn), حَوْلَ (ḥawl), عَرْشِ (ʿarsh) as “ordain, handmaidens, circle, round, throne”