Prayers and Meditations — §243

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 243 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

كُلِّ فَقيرٍ، سُبْحَانَكَ يا إِلهِي لَمّا عَرَّفْتَنِي هذا أَسْئَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِيْ ما حَمَلَهُ الأَلْواحُ وَما جَرَى عَلَى قَلْبِ أَحَدٍ وَلِسانِ نَفْسٍ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ كانَ خَفِيًّا بِخَفآءِ ذاتِكَ وَمُتَعالِيًا بِعُلُوِّ نَفْسِكَ بِأَنْ تَرْفَعَ فِي هذِهِ السَّنَةِ أَعْلامَ نَصْرِكَ وَراياتِ انْتِصارِكَ لِيَغْنِيَنَّ كُلٌّ بِغَنائِكَ وَيَسْتَرْفِعُنَّ بِعُلُوِّ سُلْطانِ رِفْعَتِكَ وَيَقُومُنَّ عَلَى أَمْرِكَ وَإِنَّكَ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Magnified be Thy name, O my God! Now that Thou hast caused me to apprehend this truth, I beseech Thee by Thy Name which no scroll can bear, which no heart can imagine and no tongue can utter—a Name which will remain concealed so long as Thine own Essence is hidden, and will be glorified so long as Thine own Being is extolled—to unfurl, ere the present year draw to a close, the ensigns of Thine undisputed ascendancy and triumph, that the whole creation may be enriched by Thy wealth, and may be exalted through the ennobling influence of Thy transcendent sovereignty, and that all may arise and promote Thy Cause.

Translation Notes

فَقيرٍ،

faqírin، f-q-r → “poor”

literal: poor; poverty

poor 50% destitute 25% poverty-stricken 8% poor?” 8% creation 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: subject gleaningsGWB §268: as poor and needy kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: poverty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §668: is destitute the-hidden-wordsHW §128: poor,”epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the poor gleaningsGWB §408: poor that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: poverty-stricken

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “magnified be thy name” Distinctive

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

This form usually rendered as “glorified”, “lauded”, “praised” (181 occurrences)

SE expanded to “Magnified 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 §115: the mists gleaningsGWB §633: the All-Glorious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: these grievous “veils of glory,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §13: Lauded tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: “Glory to Thee gleaningsGWB §3: Exalted, immeasurably exalted

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 §168: divine and celestial gleaningsGWB §148: this God-given kitab-i-iqanKIQ §212: of God’s 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 §159: God is gleaningsGWB §10: His

عَرَّفْتَنِي

ʿarraftaní ʿ-r-f → “hast caused me to apprehend” Distinctive

literal: knowledge; know; knower

This form usually rendered as “enabled”, “enable”, “didst” (10 occurrences)

SE expanded to “hast caused me to apprehend”

enabled 25% enable 13% didst 13% recognize 13% made 13% hath 13% hast 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: failed to recognize gleaningsGWB §546: the knowledge kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deeds kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: obscure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: Thine immeasurable knowledge tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to see the-hidden-wordsHW §4: knew epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: acquainted

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “i beseech thee”

literal: ask; ask/request; ask/beseech

SE expanded to “I beseech 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 §152: beseecheth gleaningsGWB §656: Grant, I beseech Thee kitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seek prayers-and-meditationsP&M §594: entreat Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: I implore Thee gleaningsGWB §214: implore prayers-and-meditationsP&M §127: I pray Thee epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: Ask, that

بِاسْمِكَ

biásmik s-m-w → “by thy name”

literal: name; names

SE expanded to “by Thy Name”

name 87% most 4% through 2% whose 2% called 1% all-glorious 1% beareth 1% friend 1% shadowing 1% have 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: in fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §95: His infinite names kitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: designated prayers-and-meditationsP&M §632: Well-Guarded Name tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §9: in thine own

حَمَلَهُ

ḥamalah ḥ-m-l → “can bear”

literal: bearing; endurance

hath 40% borne 7% bear 7% sustain 7% bearing 7% denounced 7% burden 7% sustaining 7% burdened 7% hearing 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: the bearer gleaningsGWB §441: denounced kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sustaining kitab-i-iqanKIQ §274: explain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §189: endured will-and-testamentW&T §47: endure epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: hath endured gleaningsGWB §161: the intensity of its revelation

الأَلْواحُ

al-lwáḥ l-w-ḥ → “tablet”

literal: tablet; tablets

tablets 63% scriptures 13% tablet 8% prophets 4% except 4% page 4% scroll 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: Our Tablets gleaningsGWB §286: comprehend kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: symbolic prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: have shone forth tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Books will-and-testamentW&T §7: document epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §250: resplendent gleaningsGWB §41: page

جَرَى

jará j-r-y

literal: flowing; flow; to flow

SE rendered حَمَلَهُ (ḥamalah), الأَلْواحُ (al-lwáḥ), جَرَى (jará), قَلْبِ (qalb), أَحَدٍ (ʾaḥadin), وَلِسانِ (walisán) as “can bear, scroll, heart, tongue”

hath 44% have 33% conduct 22%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: have flowed gleaningsGWB §478: cause kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: enforced prayers-and-meditationsP&M §380: observance tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §4: may sail epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: floweth gleaningsGWB §412: Eternal kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: universally enforced

أَحَدٍ

ʾaḥadin ʾ-ḥ-d

literal: one; anyone; oneness

SE rendered جَرَى (jará), قَلْبِ (qalb), أَحَدٍ (ʾaḥadin), وَلِسانِ (walisán), نَفْسٍ (nafsin), وَلَمْ (walam), يَزَلْ (yazal) as “heart, tongue, will remain”

one 28% any 17% anyone 15% none 13% man 13% neighbor 4% incomparable 2% alone 2% another’s 2% king 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: any one gleaningsGWB §667: the undying Fire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the everlasting and goodly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §429: transcendent oneness tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §28: others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: one gleaningsGWB §311: any man

وَلِسانِ

walisán l-s-n → “tongue”

literal: tongue; tongue, language; tongues

tongue 55% language 14% tongues 9% through 5% sword 5% stammering 5% voice 5% any 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the Tongue gleaningsGWB §346: a language kitab-i-iqanKIQ §64: speech prayers-and-meditationsP&M §241: with my tongue the-hidden-wordsHW §101: IN epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: through the tongue gleaningsGWB §346: of tongues kitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: mouth

نَفْسِكَ

nafsik n-f-s → “thine own being”

literal: self; soul; souls

SE expanded to “Thine own Being”

thyself 28% own 26% self 19% thee 15% soul 3% himself 3% unto 2% inmost 2% spirit 2% most 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: I gleaningsGWB §357: their own selves.”kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: those kitab-i-iqanKIQ §101: their vain and selfish desires prayers-and-meditationsP&M §227: Thine own tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herself the-hidden-wordsHW §142: passion will-and-testamentW&T §27: the people

وَلَمْ

walam l-m → “wherefore”

literal: not

2 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: wherefore gleaningsGWB §537: not

يَزَلْ

yazal z-w-l → “will remain” Distinctive

literal: cease; to cease; decline

This form usually rendered as “hath”, “everlasting”, “time” (31 occurrences)

hath 25% everlasting 13% time 13% ever 13% will 13% have 13% everlastingly 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §2: declineth not gleaningsGWB §605: hath always ordained kitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: will through eternity continue prayers-and-meditationsP&M §201: unto eternity the-hidden-wordsHW §55: fleeting will-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanish epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: pass away gleaningsGWB §124: continue

خَفِيًّا

khafiyyan kh-f-y → “hidden” Distinctive

literal: hidden; concealment; hidden things/secrets

This form usually rendered as “concealed”, “mysterious”, “unseen” (4 occurrences)

concealed 33% mysterious 33% unseen 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: conceal gleaningsGWB §122: concealment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: passed beyond the veil prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: concealed tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §7: invisible the-hidden-wordsHW §124: unseen gleaningsGWB §137: hidden prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: so long as

ذاتِكَ

dhátik dh-w-t → “thine own essence”

literal: essence; essence, self; essence/self

SE expanded to “Thine own Essence”

own 27% essence 23% self 17% thyself 13% thee 7% judgment 3% oneness 3% all-glorious 3% unto 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine Essence gleaningsGWB §461: judgment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: the unchangeable Being prayers-and-meditationsP&M §236: my will-and-testamentW&T §25: in person epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: Thy self gleaningsGWB §369: Divine Essence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: Ancient of Days

وَمُتَعالِيًا

wamutaʿáliyan ʿ-l-w → “will be glorified” Distinctive

literal: exalted

This form usually rendered as “exalted”, “most”, “far” (29 occurrences)

SE expanded to “will be glorified”

exalted 29% most 14% far 14% inaccessible 10% above 10% comprehend 5% immensely 5% transcendent 5% glorious 5% immeasurably 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: most exalted ranks fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §648: My glory be with thee kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: on the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §92: by the exalted beings”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §244: the All-Highest tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §56: around her the-hidden-wordsHW §20: THE WONDROUS

وَيَسْتَرْفِعُنَّ

wayastarfiʿunn r-f-ʿ → “may be exalted”

literal: raise; raised; elevation

SE expanded to “may be exalted”

raised 25% hath 16% exalted 11% lift 11% exalt 10% lifted 6% exaltation 6% may 6% have 5% elevate 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §39: is exalted fire-tabletFire §47: hast caused gleaningsGWB §290: transcendent glory kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: serveth to exalt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: repeal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §85: to lift them up tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: dispel the-hidden-wordsHW §61: that I may rise

السَّنَةِ

as-sanah s-n-h → “ere the present year”

literal: year; years; year-old

SE expanded to “ere the present year”

years 59% year 22% many 4% centuries 4% aeons 4% “the 4% ere 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: years gleaningsGWB §320: many years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §221: “the year prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: ere the present year the-hidden-wordsHW §97: for long years epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §60: year gleaningsGWB §176: twenty years kitab-i-iqanKIQ §153: centuries

أَعْلامَ

ʾaʿlám ʿ-l-m → “ensigns”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

ensigns 41% standards 41% distinguished 5% divine 5% ensign 5% standard 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: arts and sciences fire-tabletFire §49: all the worlds gleaningsGWB §540: education kitab-i-iqanKIQ §238: own learning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §401: believe tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught thee the-hidden-wordsHW §104: existence

نَصْرِكَ

naṣrik n-ṣ-r → “undisputed ascendancy”

literal: help; victory; helper

victory 36% triumph 27% undisputed 9% succor 9% help 9% ascendancy 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: aid Thy Cause fire-tabletFire §28: championed gleaningsGWB §169: triumph kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: can render kitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: for the triumph prayers-and-meditationsP&M §330: Aid them will-and-testamentW&T §5: triumphant assistance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §61: help

وَراياتِ

waráyát r-y-y

literal: standards, banners

SE rendered السَّنَةِ (as-sanah), أَعْلامَ (ʾaʿlám), نَصْرِكَ (naṣrik), وَراياتِ (waráyát), انْتِصارِكَ (intiṣárik), لِيَغْنِيَنَّ (líaghníann) as “ere the present year, ensigns, undisputed ascendancy, triumph, may be enriched”