Prayers and Meditations — §23
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 23 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
سُبْحانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ يا إِلهِي تَرَى مَقَرِّيْ وَمَحْبَسِي وَابْتِلاَئِي، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ قَدْ عَجِزَ القَلَمُ عَنْ ذِكْرِهَا، وَالبَيانُ عَنْ بَيانِهَا وَشَرْحِهَا، لَمْ أَدْرِ يا إِلهِي بِأَيِّ جِهَةٍ تَرَكْتَنِي بَيْنَ أَعادِي نَفْسِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لا أَجْزَعُ عَنِ الشَّدائِدِ فِيْ حُبِّكَ وَلا أَضْطَرِبُ عَنِ البَلايا فِيْ سَبِيلِكَ، بَلْ حُزْنِي فِيْ تَأْخِيرِكَ فِيمَا قَضَيْتَهُ فِيْ أَلْواحِ أَمْرِكَ وَصَحائِفِ قَضائِكَ وَتَقْدِيرِكَ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Glorified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest my dwelling-place, and the prison into which I am cast, and the woes I suffer. By Thy might! No pen can recount them, nor can any tongue describe or number them. I know not, O my God, for what purpose Thou hast abandoned me to Thine adversaries. Thy glory beareth me witness! I sorrow not for the vexations I endure for love of Thee, nor feel perturbed by the calamities that overtake me in Thy path. My grief is rather because Thou delayest to fulfill what Thou hast determined in the Tablets of Thy Revelation, and ordained in the books of Thy decree and judgment.
Translation Notes
SE expanded to “Glorified be Thy name”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §233: “Glorifiedfire-tabletFire §14: veiledgleaningsGWB §387: Far be it from His glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: “veils of glory”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §830: Too hightablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highwill-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God
SE expanded to “O Lord my God”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: unveiled to thine eyesfire-tabletFire §26: seestgleaningsGWB §611: the seenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: Beholdest thou notprayers-and-meditationsP&M §105: Look Thouthe-hidden-wordsHW §62: thou mayest obtainwill-and-testamentW&T §35: saw meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: found
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: the SpotgleaningsGWB §212: His most holy habitationkitab-i-ahdAhd §6: singled outkitab-i-iqanKIQ §187: establishmentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: is establishedtablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: hath been made the seat ofthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: be solacedwill-and-testamentW&T §13: hidden
SE rendered تَرَى (tará), مَقَرِّيْ (maqarrí), وَمَحْبَسِي (wamaḥbasí), وَابْتِلاَئِي، (wábtiláaʾí،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik) as “Thou beholdest, my dwelling-place, the woes I suffer, By Thy might”
cast 13% imprisonment 13% imprisoned 13% hath 13% prison 13% imprison 7% whom 7% flung 7% riddest 7% bondage 7%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: cast Him into prisongleaningsGWB §221: castprayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: have fixed his abodethe-hidden-wordsHW §116: prisonwill-and-testamentW&T §3: confinementepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: imprisonmentgleaningsGWB §718: imprisonprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: and the prison into which I am cast
وَابْتِلاَئِي،
literal: tribulation; affliction; trial
This form usually rendered as “afflictions”, “tribulation”, “anguish” (8 occurrences)
SE expanded to “woes I suffer”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: the afflictionsfire-tabletFire §48: of tribulationgleaningsGWB §67: have so sorely afflictedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: becomeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §107: for the adversities Thou didst sufferthe-hidden-wordsHW §49: under My trialswill-and-testamentW&T §3: fell a victim toepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: the woes
SE expanded to “By Thy might”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glorygleaningsGWB §512: gracious and almightykitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: and powerprayers-and-meditationsP&M §716: He is truly exaltedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherishwill-and-testamentW&T §38: dearly belovedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: might
This form usually rendered as “powerlessness”, “impotence”, “helplessness” (37 occurrences)
SE expanded to “No pen can recount”
powerlessness 44% impotence 15% helplessness 11% none 7% tearful 4% can 4% failure 4% failed 4% man 4% futility 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: incapablegleaningsGWB §260: can frustratekitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: weariedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: and feeblenesswill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: failedgleaningsGWB §449: can thwartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity
SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), عَجِزَ (ʿajiz), القَلَمُ (al-qalam), ذِكْرِهَا، (dhikrihá،), وَالبَيانُ (wálbayán) as “By Thy might, No pen can recount, can any tongue”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §35: by Thy PengleaningsGWB §630: Thy most exalted Penkitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by the Penprayers-and-meditationsP&M §745: Pen—awill-and-testamentW&T §13: every climeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: Thy pengleaningsGWB §174: writtenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: of Thy pen
SE rendered عَجِزَ (ʿajiz), القَلَمُ (al-qalam), ذِكْرِهَا، (dhikrihá،), وَالبَيانُ (wálbayán), بَيانِهَا (bayánihá) as “No pen can recount, can any tongue, describe or number them”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: the aforementioned persongleaningsGWB §519: a monitionkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: mentioningkitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: ignoreprayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: each onetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me
This form usually rendered as “utterance”, “divine”, “eloquence” (60 occurrences)
SE expanded to “can any tongue”
utterance 65% divine 7% eloquence 5% tongue 5% through 5% glorification 5% unto 2% ornament 2% articulate 2% book 2%
SE rendered وَالبَيانُ (wálbayán), بَيانِهَا (bayánihá), وَشَرْحِهَا، (washarḥihá،), أَدْرِ (ʾadr), إِلهِي (ʾilhí) as “can any tongue, describe or number them, I know not, O my God”
dilated 23% circumstances 15% explain 15% expatiate 8% detailed 8% exposition 8% number 8% gladden 8% explained 8%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: expositiongleaningsGWB §40: the circumstances attendingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: the circumstancesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: or number themwill-and-testamentW&T §12: gladdenepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: expatiatewill-and-testamentW&T §7: explainedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §234: a detailed
SE expanded to “I know not”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I know notgleaningsGWB §616: most effulgentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: understanding heartthe-hidden-wordsHW §83: rise toepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: know notgleaningsGWB §338: accomplishmentsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §645: the oceanepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: knowing not
This form usually rendered as “seat”, “virtue”, “towards” (10 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §176: these regionsgleaningsGWB §411: subjectkitab-i-ahdAhd §9: upon its unifying influencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §20: Thusprayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: directionswill-and-testamentW&T §32: sidesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §162: from every sidegleaningsGWB §550: error
SE expanded to “Thou hast abandoned me”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §116: darknessfire-tabletFire §2: been abandonedgleaningsGWB §580: abandonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: they shall be let aloneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thou hast abandoned methe-hidden-wordsHW §20: hast thou forsaken Meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: abandoned himfire-tabletFire §18: been forsaken
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: at the hands of His enemiesfire-tabletFire §33: Thy foesgleaningsGWB §679: thy undeservingkitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: crueltyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §3: of Thine adversariesthe-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgresswill-and-testamentW&T §52: the enemies
SE rendered تَرَكْتَنِي (taraktaní), أَعادِي (ʾaʿádí), نَفْسِكَ، (nafsika،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik) as “Thou hast abandoned me, Thine adversaries, Thy glory beareth me witness”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thygleaningsGWB §222: of inestimable valuekitab-i-iqanKIQ §44: in one breathprayers-and-meditationsP&M §227: Thine owntablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §32: thy deedswill-and-testamentW&T §44: souls such as theseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §200: the souls
SE rendered فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), أَجْزَعُ (ʾajzaʿ), الشَّدائِدِ (ash-shadáʾid) as “Thy glory beareth me witness, the vexations I endure”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: fearfire-tabletFire §40: LamentgleaningsGWB §352: cast away their fearskitab-i-iqanKIQ §55: dismayprayers-and-meditationsP&M §341: refuse to be impatientwill-and-testamentW&T §5: plaintivegleaningsGWB §255: lament notprayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: endure patiently
SE expanded to “the vexations I endure”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: More grievous becamegleaningsGWB §183: have suffered manifold afflictionskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: woeskitab-i-iqanKIQ §9: assiduousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §25: deepentablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: afflictionthe-hidden-wordsHW §122: ye arewill-and-testamentW&T §49: tribulation
SE rendered الشَّدائِدِ (ash-shadáʾid), حُبِّكَ (ḥubbik), أَضْطَرِبُ (ʾaḍṭarib), البَلايا (al-baláyá) as “the vexations I endure, feel perturbed, the calamities that overtake me”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: with love for Mefire-tabletFire §7: of Thy lovegleaningsGWB §435: loving-kindnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: love?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §481: Object of my heart’s adorationtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved Onethe-hidden-wordsHW §24: Our desirewill-and-testamentW&T §38: for His steadfast friends)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: perturbedgleaningsGWB §102: perplexedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §206: dismayprayers-and-meditationsP&M §155: the tumulttablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: be not thou troubledtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: smotethe-hidden-wordsHW §15: dost thou dreadwill-and-testamentW&T §53: sunk into
SE rendered أَضْطَرِبُ (ʾaḍṭarib), البَلايا (al-baláyá), سَبِيلِكَ، (sabílika،), حُزْنِي (ḥuzní), تَأْخِيرِكَ (taʾakhírik) as “feel perturbed, the calamities that overtake me, My grief, Thou delayest to fulfill”
This form usually rendered as “sorrow”, “"my”, “sorrows” (9 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: a cause of sadnessfire-tabletFire §12: SorrowsgleaningsGWB §649: afflictionskitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: despondencyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §166: sorrows whichtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: afflictionthe-hidden-wordsHW §54: be not sadwill-and-testamentW&T §34: as they bewailed
SE expanded to “Thou delayest to fulfill”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: ensuinggleaningsGWB §615: subsequentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §257: Latterprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thou delayestthe-hidden-wordsHW §96: While there is yetwill-and-testamentW&T §42: of lateepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: the world to comegleaningsGWB §247: unto the rest of mankind
SE expanded to “Thou hast determined”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: hath it been decidedfire-tabletFire §29: of destinygleaningsGWB §162: of Thy inscrutable decreekitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is endedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §39: requirementsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thy decreethe-hidden-wordsHW §46: for that which I ordainwill-and-testamentW&T §39: exigencies
tablets 69% tablet 7% holy 4% scriptures 4% books 4% pages 4% incomparable 2% tablets.… 2% writings 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: one of Our TabletsgleaningsGWB §519: in His most holy and exalted Tabletkitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: lucidprayers-and-meditationsP&M §461: the pagestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Bookswill-and-testamentW&T §7: documentepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §131: LawhgleaningsGWB §585: Tablet of
cause 62% revelation 14% behest 6% faith 4% bidding 4% commandment 3% decree 2% affairs 2% through 2% command 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: Thy lawsfire-tabletFire §17: CommandgleaningsGWB §636: of menkitab-i-ahdAhd §15: hath prescribed for himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §62: summonedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §434: my duty towards Thy Causetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commandsthe-hidden-wordsHW §57: My way
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: My ScripturesgleaningsGWB §583: bearing aloft a chalicekitab-i-iqanKIQ §245: epistlesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §362: and the Booksepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: the BooksgleaningsGWB §586: Scrollkitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: chroniclesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §784: and Thy Scriptures
This form usually rendered as “irrevocable”, “decree”, “purpose” (18 occurrences)
irrevocable 25% decree 19% purpose 13% ordinance 6% judgment 6% according 6% immutable 6% ruling 6% appointment 6% through 6%
