Prayers and Meditations — §233
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 233 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
فَسُبْحَانَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يُنْظَرَ بَدِيعُ جَمَالِكَ إِلاَّ بِلَحَظاتِ عَيْنِ فَرْدانِيَّتِكَ أَوْ يُسْمَعَ نَغَماتُ عِزِّ سَلْطَنتِكَ إِلاَّ بِبَدائِعِ سَمْعِ أَحَدِيَّتِكَ، فَسُبْحَانَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى جَمَالِكَ عَيْنُ أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوْ أَنْ يَصْعَدَ إِلى هَوآءِ عِزِّ عِرفانِكَ فُؤادُ نَفْسٍ مِنْ بَرِيَّتِكَ، لأنَّ أَطْيارَ قُلوبِ المُقَرَّبِينَ لَوْ تَطيرُ بِدَوامِ سُلْطانِ قَيُّومِيَّتِكَ أَوْ تَتَعارَجُ بِبَقآءِ قُدْسِ أُلُوهِيَّتِكَ لا تَخْرُجُ عَنْ حَدِّ الإِمْكانِ وَحُدُودِ الأَكْوانِ فَكَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ مَنْ خُلِقَ بِحُدُودِ الإِبْداعِ أَنْ يَصِلَ إِلى مَلِيكِ مَلَكُوتِ الاخْتِراعِ أَوْ يَصْعَدَ إِلى سُلْطانِ جَبَرُوتِ العِزَّةِ وَالارْتِفاعِ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Far be it, then, from Thy glory that anyone should gaze on Thy wondrous beauty with any eye save Thine own eye, or hear the melodies proclaiming Thine almighty sovereignty with any ear except Thine own ear. Too high art Thou exalted for the eye of any creature to behold Thy beauty, or for the understanding of any heart to scale the heights of Thine immeasurable knowledge. For should the birds of the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee be ever enabled to soar as long as Thine own overpowering sovereignty can endure, or to ascend as long as the empire of Thy Divine holiness can last, they shall, in no wise, be able to transcend the limitations which a contingent world hath imposed upon them, nor pass beyond its confines. How, then, can he whose very creation is restricted by such limitations, attain unto Him Who is the Lord of the Kingdom of all created things, or ascend into the heaven of Him Who ruleth the realms of loftiness and grandeur?
Translation Notes
فَسُبْحَانَكَ
literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise
This form usually rendered as “glorified”, “lauded”, “praised” (181 occurrences)
SE expanded to “Far be it”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: “Glory to Theefire-tabletFire §14: veiledgleaningsGWB §673: of Godkitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: Immeasurably highprayers-and-meditationsP&M §34: Glorified be Thou, then,tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highwill-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God
This form usually rendered as “looketh”, “perceiveth”, “occupy” (9 occurrences)
wondrous 65% new 14% badi 4% beauteous 4% how 2% marvelous 2% newly-revealed 2% marvellous 2% loveliest 2% most 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: BadigleaningsGWB §546: How wondrouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §96: most wondrousprayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: through the incomparable tokenstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: in His Namethe-hidden-wordsHW §65: have createdepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: wondrousgleaningsGWB §116: The wonders
beauty 85% gaze 2% face 2% whose 2% countenance 1% glory 1% contemplation 1% swear 1% most 1% through 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: brieflygleaningsGWB §47: Divine Countenancekitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Graciouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §207: charmprayers-and-meditationsP&M §608: Thy Beingtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: her beautythe-hidden-wordsHW §88: a beautywill-and-testamentW&T §38: of the Ancient Beauty
This form usually rendered as “glance”, “eye”, “eyes” (10 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: ConcerngleaningsGWB §168: I beheldkitab-i-iqanKIQ §207: the perusalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §521: the glancethe-hidden-wordsHW §154: I beheld, and lo!will-and-testamentW&T §40: peruse itepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: carefully look intogleaningsGWB §191: to ascertain
eye 52% eyes 14% spring 11% well-spring 5% identical 5% same 5% any 2% aynu’l-baqar 2% black-eyed 2% acute 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: springsgleaningsGWB §306: individualitykitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: to consist ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: with Thine own eyetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own eyestablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: thosetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: tearsthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: not through the eyes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §1: the Incomparablefire-tabletFire §17: lonelygleaningsGWB §384: singlenesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: peerlessprayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: of Thy onenesstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlornwill-and-testamentW&T §12: Holyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Single
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: Thine earsfire-tabletFire §48: I have heardgleaningsGWB §575: them that hearkitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: makeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: as shall incline their earstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heardthe-hidden-wordsHW §45: My hearingwill-and-testamentW&T §5: ears in all regions were inclined
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: melodiesfire-tabletFire §23: Thy melodiesgleaningsGWB §588: melodious voicekitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: strainsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §172: with the sweet melodiestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: His Melodyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: songgleaningsGWB §106: His Voice
This form usually rendered as “glory”, “transcendent”, “exalted” (193 occurrences)
glory 42% transcendent 22% exalted 10% all-glorious 5% might 4% glorious 4% most 4% majesty 4% glorified 3% almighty 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: mightygleaningsGWB §682: Almighty and All-Gloriouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: Dear friend!prayers-and-meditationsP&M §401: Thy glory is my witnesstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparablethe-hidden-wordsHW §125: in your glorywill-and-testamentW&T §10: my prideepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: the Almighty
sovereignty 74% through 8% power 6% transcendent 2% kingship 2% own 2% rejected 2% sovereign 2% whose 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: KinggleaningsGWB §628: and Rulerkitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: rulethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: Thy kingshiptablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §7: power of the Crownepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: through the power of My might
This form usually rendered as “oneness”, “unity”, “glory” (46 occurrences)
oneness 42% unity 13% glory 13% transcendent 10% divine 6% own 3% holy 3% most 3% incomparable 3% retreats 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: DivinegleaningsGWB §684: no one bekitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: divine Revelationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §74: Thy Divinetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §141: any man’sepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §207: no mangleaningsGWB §383: of Divine Unity
This form usually rendered as “behold” (1 occurrences)
fell 17% have 17% come 13% occurred 10% hath 10% recipients 10% brought 7% repositories 7% exponents 7% actually 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: come to passgleaningsGWB §338: arekitab-i-iqanKIQ §265: witnessedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §236: fallen prostratetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: retreatsthe-hidden-wordsHW §148: situatewill-and-testamentW&T §35: I fell a victimepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: have happened
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §50: characteristicsfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §598: conduct and characterkitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: “rebirth”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: to raise uptablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: We created you allepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: conduct
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: “Get thee upgleaningsGWB §91: ascentprayers-and-meditationsP&M §374: soar uptablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: shedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §32: ascend unto thethe-hidden-wordsHW §23: Rise thenwill-and-testamentW&T §58: Day of Ascensionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §48: his ascent
atmosphere 48% heights 16% immensity 6% heavens 6% heaven 6% desire 3% firmament 3% limitless 3% precincts 3% sublimities 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: thy passionsfire-tabletFire §21: passiongleaningsGWB §470: the promptings of thine evil desireskitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: passionsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §19: the heavenstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §9: and passionthe-hidden-wordsHW §122: idlewill-and-testamentW&T §15: self
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: acknowledgmentgleaningsGWB §666: the perfumekitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §34: of true knowledgeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §444: of the knowledge of Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §52: do thou observe itepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: that thou mayest perceive
This form usually rendered as “own”, “self”, “soul” (323 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: HimselfgleaningsGWB §459: I never attemptedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: thatprayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: of Thytablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: within thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §9: unto Mewill-and-testamentW&T §27: the peopleepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: five
SE rendered عِرفانِكَ (ʿirfánik), فُؤادُ (fuʾád), نَفْسٍ (nafsin), بَرِيَّتِكَ، (baríratika،), أَطْيارَ (ʾaṭyár), قُلوبِ (qulúb) as “knowledge, heart, any, birds, hearts”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: mankindgleaningsGWB §122: emergeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: made wholeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: mengleaningsGWB §130: arisenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §385: of Thy creaturesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the recoverygleaningsGWB §585: creatures
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: thine heartgleaningsGWB §372: the human heartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §237: whose heartprayers-and-meditationsP&M §630: have inclined metablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: and their own heartsthe-hidden-wordsHW §101: one heartwill-and-testamentW&T §48: with a heartepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: changed
SE expanded to “them that are nigh”
such 18% nigh 16% who 14% enjoy 14% favored 12% have 10% all 8% well-favored 6% shall 2% well-favoured 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: approachingfire-tabletFire §2: Those who are near unto TheegleaningsGWB §191: too soonkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindredkitab-i-iqanKIQ §123: nigh.’”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §156: suffer me to enjoy near access to Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Presencetablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: the favoured of God
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: EverlastinggleaningsGWB §311: as long askitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: this everlastingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: throughout the length ofthe-hidden-wordsHW §16: perisheth notwill-and-testamentW&T §22: continuallyepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: enduregleaningsGWB §385: unchangeable
This form usually rendered as “transcendent”, “all-compelling”, “own” (10 occurrences)
transcendent 30% all-compelling 20% own 10% unapproachable 10% compelling 10% sovereignty 10% dominion 10%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: I have arisenfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §519: Know yekitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §165: stateprayers-and-meditationsP&M §350: the depthtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: her own station
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 §79: endurethfire-tabletFire §36: is lonelygleaningsGWB §306: retainkitab-i-iqanKIQ §284: all that which remainethprayers-and-meditationsP&M §668: the endlessnesstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §10: life eternaltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: deathlessthe-hidden-wordsHW §96: there is yet
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: unsulliedgleaningsGWB §118: Thy holykitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: heavenlyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §29: purify metablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exaltedthe-hidden-wordsHW §153: such deeds as thesewill-and-testamentW&T §38: Mostepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: Holy
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: God’sfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §2: Thee, O my Godkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: our godsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §252: Lord our Godtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: “By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven
This form usually rendered as “proceeding”, “dost”, “derogating” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §239: “BegonegleaningsGWB §193: revealedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §211: spring forthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §463: gone outtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §25: looked outthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: thou didst issuewill-and-testamentW&T §43: out fromepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: took Us forth
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: sharpergleaningsGWB §36: of discernmentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: discerningprayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: nor pass beyond its confinestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §5: ordinancestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: worldly limitationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §39: in My statutesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: confined
الإِمْكانِ
literal: possibility; possible; possible things
This form usually rendered as “all”, “world”, “entire” (61 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: its peoplesfire-tabletFire §20: every creaturegleaningsGWB §556: worldlykitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: they that are createdprayers-and-meditationsP&M §837: all beingsthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: in existencewill-and-testamentW&T §17: submissivenessepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: imperturbability
This form usually rendered as “all”, “creation”, “earth” (22 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: it weregleaningsGWB §573: and be ofkitab-i-iqanKIQ §56: in His own Beingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §464: is countedtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: withhold not thyselftablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: lest thoutablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §31: whose heart haththe-hidden-wordsHW §8: and I may
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: of His presencefire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §661: of Thy presencekitab-i-ahdAhd §10: of My presencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: hath been attainedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §323: light of Thy presencetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: reachedthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: obtained
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the landgleaningsGWB §83: “The Kingdomkitab-i-iqanKIQ §173: visibleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §389: O Thou Who art my Governortablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §120: in the eternal kingdomwill-and-testamentW&T §15: farepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: of Thy realm
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: been devisedgleaningsGWB §556: uttermost endskitab-i-iqanKIQ §180: world of creationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §614: the whole universethe-hidden-wordsHW §65: have wroughtgleaningsGWB §281: creationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §337: and creationgleaningsGWB §548: the eye of creation
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: All-Compellingfire-tabletFire §37: the eternal realmgleaningsGWB §311: His dominionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §13: oppressionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: the loftiest summitstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §32: highest heaventhe-hidden-wordsHW §104: My everlasting dominionwill-and-testamentW&T §53: Divine
This form usually rendered as “exalt”, “exalted”, “exaltation” (36 occurrences)
exalt 15% exalted 15% exaltation 15% glorification 15% elevate 10% advancement 10% upliftment 5% sublimity 5% rise 5% elevating 5%
