Prayers and Meditations — §224

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 224 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

وَما مَنَعَهُمْ ظُلْمُ الَّذِينَ أَعْرَضُوْا عَنْكَ وَبَغَوْا عَلَيْكَ عَنْ حُبِّهِمْ إِيَّاكَ وَتَوَجُّهِهِمْ إِلَيْكَ وَإِقْبالِهِمْ إِلى شَطْرِ رَحْمَتِكَ، أُوْلئِكَ عِبادٌ يُصَلِّيَنَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلأُ الأَعْلى وَيُكبِّرَنَّ أَهْلُ مَدائِنِ الْبَقاءِ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ رُقِمَ عَلَى جَبِيْنِهِمْ مِنْ قَلَمِكَ الأَعْلى هؤُلاءِ أَهْلُ الْبَهاءِ وَبِهِمْ ظَهَرَتْ أنْوارُ الْهُدی، وَكذلِكَ قُدِّرَ فِي لَوْحِ الْقَضآءِ بِأَمْرِكَ وَإِرادَتِكَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

The transgressions committed by such as have turned away from Thee and have borne themselves haughtily towards Thee have not availed to hinder them from loving Thee, and from setting their faces towards Thee, and from turning in the direction of Thy mercy. These are they who are blessed by the Concourse on high, who are glorified by the denizens of the everlasting Cities, and beyond them by those on whose foreheads Thy most exalted pen hath written: “These! The people of Bahá. Through them have been shed the splendors of the light of guidance.” Thus hath it been ordained, at Thy behest and by Thy will, in the Tablet of Thine irrevocable decree.

Translation Notes

مَنَعَهُمْ

manaʿahum m-n-ʿ → “have not availed to hinder”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

SE expanded to “have not availed to hinder”

have 43% kept 14% hinder 14% hindered 14% hath 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: ban gleaningsGWB §286: verily kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: ceased prayers-and-meditationsP&M §573: have kept them back tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §89: be bereft will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: was withheld

ظُلْمُ

ẓulm ẓ-l-m → “transgressions committed” Distinctive

literal: wronged; injustice; darkness

This form usually rendered as “tyranny”, “darkness”, “oppression” (97 occurrences)

tyranny 26% darkness 16% oppression 13% injustice 12% cruelty 10% iniquity 7% unjustly 4% wrongs 4% reason 3% such 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: oppressed fire-tabletFire §2: the darkness gleaningsGWB §404: We kitab-i-iqanKIQ §66: hath sunk in night prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: to oppress me the-hidden-wordsHW §144: gloom will-and-testamentW&T §34: hath wrought the most glaring cruelty upon Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: darkness

أَعْرَضُوْا

ʾaʿraḍúá ʿ-r-ḍ → “have turned away”

literal: turn away; turning away

SE expanded to “have turned away”

have 36% turned 32% repudiated 11% turneth 4% given 4% turn 4% having 4% however 4% broken 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: Disputest gleaningsGWB §295: contended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: pronouncing their censure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: and repudiated tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: hath also turned away the-hidden-wordsHW §9: by renouncing will-and-testamentW&T §3: exposed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: They that have turned away from Me

وَبَغَوْا

wabaghawá b-gh-y → “beseemeth” Distinctive

literal: befit; transgression; befit, be proper

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

beseemeth 26% becometh 23% behooveth 11% meet 6% seek 6% let 6% must 6% wickedness 6% rebelled 6% doth 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: the things which beseemed them gleaningsGWB §572: your own lusts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §116: seek out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: can beseem the-hidden-wordsHW §40: if thou wouldst attain will-and-testamentW&T §48: rebelled against Thee gleaningsGWB §423: beseemeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: unchaste

حُبِّهِمْ

ḥubbihim ḥ-b-b → “loving”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

love 50% loving 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: because of their love fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §597: hearts kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: my friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: Thou pleasest tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §3: best beloved will-and-testamentW&T §38: for His steadfast friends)

وَتَوَجُّهِهِمْ

watawajjuhihim w-j-h → “setting their faces”

literal: face

SE expanded to “setting their faces”

face 34% countenance 13% faces 11% set 9% turn 8% sake 8% turning 7% have 5% whose 3% hath 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: to set myself towards Thee fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §266: set her hopes on kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §251: through the brightness of whose faces tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy steps the-hidden-wordsHW §9: not in thyself

وَإِقْبالِهِمْ

waʾiqbálihim q-b-l → “turning in”

literal: before; acceptance; approach

whereby 25% belief 25% turning 25% had 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: yet earlier fire-tabletFire §46: go forward gleaningsGWB §364: to regard as acceptable kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: ago kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: future prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: of Thine acceptance tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: “And kiss

شَطْرِ

shaṭr sh-ṭ-r → “direction”

literal: direction; direction/side; direction, side

direction 36% towards 30% court 8% toward 7% capital 3% proceeding 3% upon 3% land 3% turning 3% source 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: towards gleaningsGWB §226: in kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: land prayers-and-meditationsP&M §636: Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: to Persia gleaningsGWB §638: your prayers-and-meditationsP&M §509: directions epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: from

رَحْمَتِكَ،

raḥmatika، r-ḥ-m → “thy mercy”

literal: mercy; merciful; the merciful

mercy 90% transcendent 2% shadowing 2% all-encompassing 2% compassion 1% merciful 1% wondrous 1% virtue 1% mercies 1% tender 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: of His mercy fire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassion gleaningsGWB §35: tender mercies kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessings kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: divine prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: of those who show mercy tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercy tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: in token of His mercy

عِبادٌ

ʿibádun ʿ-b-d → “servants”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

servants 35% men 28% people 19% unto 3% peoples 3% man 3% all 3% who 2% mankind 2% others 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §260: Abdu’-Salam fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §218: Our servant kitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: pious worship prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: Such of Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §35: me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: men

يُصَلِّيَنَّ

yuṣallíann ṣ-l-y → “may” Distinctive

literal: blessed; bless

This form usually rendered as “will”, “blessed”, “glorified” (3 occurrences)

will 33% blessed 33% glorified 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: to warm you gleaningsGWB §665: will be interceding for you prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: are glorified epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: blessings gleaningsGWB §267: Vouchsafe Thy blessings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §345: Do Thou bless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §260: may the blessings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: blessed by

الْمَلأُ

al-malʾ m-l-ʾ

literal: assembly; assembly/people

SE rendered يُصَلِّيَنَّ (yuṣallíann), عَلَيْهِمُ (ʿalayhim), الْمَلأُ (al-malʾ), الأَعْلى (al-ʾaʿlى), وَيُكبِّرَنَّ (wayukbbirann), أَهْلُ (ʾahl) as “are blessed, by the, Concourse on high, are glorified, the denizens”

concourse 45% people 22% ye 12% peoples 4% followers 4% celestial 4% inmates 3% believers 3% chiefs 3% entire 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: ye peoples fire-tabletFire §45: are filled gleaningsGWB §248: ones kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the chiefs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: inmates of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: assemblage tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concourse will-and-testamentW&T §34: filling

الأَعْلى

al-ʾaʿlى ʿ-l-w → “concourse on high”

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE expanded to “Concourse on high”

most 47% high 15% glory 9% supreme 6% loftiest 5% exalted 5% celestial 4% aloud 3% highest 3% all-glorious 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: the Most Exalted fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §171: perfection kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: they that are exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: hast remained far above tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on high will-and-testamentW&T §10: my glory

وَيُكبِّرَنَّ

wayukbbirann k-b-r → “are glorified”

literal: greatest; greater; great

most 33% grandeur 18% great 14% mighty 6% supreme 6% glory 6% arrogance 5% greater 5% transcendent 4% pride 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: chief gleaningsGWB §407: from all attachment to the things of the earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §758: such glory tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: showeth pride tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: entire the-hidden-wordsHW §123: haughtiness will-and-testamentW&T §34: wondrous

أَهْلُ

ʾahl ʾ-h-l → “denizens” Distinctive

literal: people; people/folk; people/inhabitants

This form usually rendered as “people”, “peoples”, “dwellers” (284 occurrences)

people 40% peoples 20% dwellers 12% inmates 5% men 5% dwell 4% all 3% mankind 3% denizens 3% inhabitants 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: unto all beings fire-tabletFire §22: the Syrians gleaningsGWB §220: the hand of kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: beholders kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: midst prayers-and-meditationsP&M §160: unto the followers tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: dwellers therein the-hidden-wordsHW §92: children

مَدائِنِ

madáʾin m-d-n → “of the everlasting cities”

literal: cities

SE expanded to “of the everlasting Cities”

cities 87% citadels 9% within 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: unto the cities gleaningsGWB §31: its cities kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: within these Cities prayers-and-meditationsP&M §337: infinite wonders tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: each one will-and-testamentW&T §3: to the Great City epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: the citadels gleaningsGWB §481: its inhabitants

الْبَقاءِ

al-baqáʾ b-q-y

literal: eternity

SE rendered وَيُكبِّرَنَّ (wayukbbirann), أَهْلُ (ʾahl), مَدائِنِ (madáʾin), الْبَقاءِ (al-baqáʾ), الَّذِينَ (adh-dhín), رُقِمَ (ruqim) as “are glorified, the denizens, of the everlasting Cities, those, hath written”

eternity 32% immortality 23% everlasting 17% long 6% immortal 6% eternal 4% throughout 4% incorruptible 2% unfading 2% establishment 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: life would have fire-tabletFire §36: is lonely gleaningsGWB §452: were made orphans kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: this imperishable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §428: while the rest have been permitted to survive tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: life eternal tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: deathless the-hidden-wordsHW §64: for everlasting life

رُقِمَ

ruqim r-q-m → “hath written”

literal: written; inscribe; inscribed

hath 50% decreed 13% inscribed 13% irrevocably 13% laid 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: what had been written down gleaningsGWB §689: in his writings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: hath distinctly written will-and-testamentW&T §52: written epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: recorded gleaningsGWB §300: as decreed in prayers-and-meditationsP&M §496: irrevocably established will-and-testamentW&T §9: written by

جَبِيْنِهِمْ

jabínihim j-b-n → “brow” Distinctive

literal: forehead; brow; forehead, countenance

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

brow 60% foreheads 20% countenance 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: to the brow gleaningsGWB §428: on the brow prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: foreheads tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §27: of her countenance gleaningsGWB §446: brow

قَلَمِكَ

qalamik q-l-m → “thy most exalted pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

SE expanded to “Thy most exalted pen”

pen 59% most 32% through 5% pen—a 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: Pen of the gleaningsGWB §630: Thy most exalted Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by the Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: from my Pen will-and-testamentW&T §54: to appear as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: the finger gleaningsGWB §59: O Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §771: with Thy most exalted Pen

الْبَهاءِ

al-baháʾ b-h-w → “of bahá”

literal: glory

bahá 59% glory 20% heart 5% soul 5% spirit 2% among 2% lord 2% tongue 2% life 2% mine 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: of Bahá gleaningsGWB §207: glory of kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: among the people of Bahá prayers-and-meditationsP&M §166: My heart the-hidden-wordsHW §22: effulgent glory will-and-testamentW&T §56: of Glories epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Bahá gleaningsGWB §200: glorious

ظَهَرَتْ

ẓaharat ẓ-h-r → “have been shed”

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

SE expanded to “have been shed”

have 26% hath 26% revealed 11% unveiling 7% made 7% brought 7% now 4% appeared 4% produced 4% exerted 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §257: had been revealed fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §584: shall be manifested kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §63: Cause prayers-and-meditationsP&M §114: visibly supreme tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §158: yield

أنْوارُ

ʾanwár n-w-r

literal: light; lights; luminous

SE rendered الْبَهاءِ (al-baháʾ), وَبِهِمْ (wabihim), ظَهَرَتْ (ẓaharat), أنْوارُ (ʾanwár), الْهُدی، (al-hudí،), وَكذلِكَ (wakdhlik), قُدِّرَ (quddir) as “of Bahá, Through them, have been shed, light of guidance.”, Thus hath it been”

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 §227: the lights fire-tabletFire §48: and with the fire of gleaningsGWB §638: the brightness of your light kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: Muhammad’s illumined prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: and by the splendors tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: splendour the-hidden-wordsHW §13: of My light will-and-testamentW&T §13: radiantly

الْهُدی،

al-hudí، h-d-y → “light of guidance.””

literal: guidance; guide; guided

SE expanded to “light of guidance.””

guidance 28% divine 28% light 11% guide 6% righteousness 6% presents 6% gift 6% way 6% heavenly 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: guide them aright gleaningsGWB §493: His guidance kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: leadeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: shall be offered as presents prayers-and-meditationsP&M §752: gift epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: directeth your steps gleaningsGWB §311: guiding kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: presents

وَكذلِكَ

wakdhlik k-dh-l → “thus hath it been”

literal: thus; thus/likewise; thus, so

SE expanded to “Thus hath it been”

thus 63% what 6% similar 6% injunction 6% thereby 6% such 6% likewise 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: This is what gleaningsGWB §286: a similar kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: Thereby prayers-and-meditationsP&M §820: And likewise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: Thus gleaningsGWB §286: it kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: Such gleaningsGWB §689: this injunction

قُدِّرَ

quddir q-d-r

literal: power; powerful

SE rendered الْهُدی، (al-hudí،), وَكذلِكَ (wakdhlik), قُدِّرَ (quddir), لَوْحِ (lawḥ), الْقَضآءِ (al-qaḍáʾ), بِأَمْرِكَ (biʾamrik) as “light of guidance.”, Thus hath it been, Thine irrevocable decree, at Thy behest”

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 §11: Thine omnipotence fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §688: You are destined by Him kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: implied prayers-and-meditationsP&M §406: had been preordained tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §9: There is

لَوْحِ

lawḥ l-w-ḥ

literal: tablet; tablets

SE rendered الْهُدی، (al-hudí،), وَكذلِكَ (wakdhlik), قُدِّرَ (quddir), لَوْحِ (lawḥ), الْقَضآءِ (al-qaḍáʾ), بِأَمْرِكَ (biʾamrik), وَإِرادَتِكَ، (waʾirádatika،) as “light of guidance.”, Thus hath it been, Thine irrevocable decree, at Thy behest, by Thy will”