Prayers and Meditations — §315
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 315 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ يا إِلهِي لَمْ أَدْرِ بِأَيِّ ذِكْرٍ أَذْكُرُكَ وَبِأَيِّ وَصْفٍ أُثْنِيكَ وَبِأَيِّ اسْمٍ أَدْعُوكَ، لَوْ أَدْعُوكَ بِاسْمِ المَالِكَ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّ مَالِكَ مَمالِكَ الإِبْداعِ وَالاخْتِراعِ مَمْلُوكٌ لَكَ وَمَخْلُوقٌ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَإِنْ أَذْكُرُكَ بِاسْمِ القَيُّومِ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّهُ كانَ ساجِدًا عَلَى كفٍّ مِنَ التُّرابِ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ وَسَلْطَنَتِكَ وَاقْتِدارِكَ، وَإِنْ أَصِفُكَ بِأَحَدِيَّةِ ذاتِكَ أُشَاهِدُ بِأَنَّ هذا وَصْفٌ أَلْبَسَهُ ظَنِّي ثَوْبَ الوَصْفِيَّةِ وَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تَزَلْ كُنْتَ مُقَدَّسًا عَنِ الظُّنُونِ وَالأَوْهَامِ،
Shoghi Effendi Translation
All praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! I know not how to sing Thy praise, how to describe Thy glory, how to call upon Thy Name. If I call upon Thee by Thy Name, the All-Possessing, I am compelled to recognize that He Who holdeth in His hand the immediate destinies of all created things is but a vassal dependent upon Thee, and is the creation of but a word proceeding from Thy mouth. And if I proclaim Thee by the name of Him Who is the All-Compelling, I readily discover that He is but a suppliant fallen upon the dust, awe-stricken by Thy dreadful might, Thy sovereignty and power. And if I attempt to describe Thee by glorifying the oneness of Thy Being, I soon realize that such a conception is but a notion which mine own fancy hath woven, and that Thou hast ever been immeasurably exalted above the vain imaginations which the hearts of men have devised.
Translation Notes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: All-Gloriousfire-tabletFire §14: veiledgleaningsGWB §80: cloudskitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: “veils of glory”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §232: Praise betablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: Glorified be He thatthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highwill-and-testamentW&T §42: Gracious God
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: towards Godfire-tabletFire §41: after GodgleaningsGWB §148: this God-givenkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testatorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §280: is Godprayers-and-meditationsP&M §136: Thou Who art the Lordtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: know notgleaningsGWB §287: Tear asunderprayers-and-meditationsP&M §463: I knowthe-hidden-wordsHW §83: rise toepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: I know notgleaningsGWB §563: oceanprayers-and-meditationsP&M §651: understanding heartepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: knowing not
This form usually rendered as “mention”, “remembrance”, “mentioned” (404 occurrences)
mention 23% remembrance 18% mentioned 16% praise 14% recorded 6% words 6% recount 5% referred 5% make 4% references 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: Thou didst mentiongleaningsGWB §471: warningkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: mentioningkitab-i-iqanKIQ §83: connected withprayers-and-meditationsP&M §352: and Him Who is Thy Remembrancetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: all mentionthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me
description 25% described 13% describing 13% conception 13% highest 6% such 6% portray 6% applicable 6% fathom 6% praise 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: descriptiongleaningsGWB §3: such strivingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: eulogyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: and all the attributesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: DescribinggleaningsGWB §311: His attributeskitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: noble traitsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §842: to describe
SE rendered ذِكْرٍ (dhikrin), أَذْكُرُكَ (ʾadhkuruk), وَبِأَيِّ (wabiʾayy), وَصْفٍ (waṣfin), أُثْنِيكَ (ʾuthník), وَبِأَيِّ (wabiʾayy), اسْمٍ (ismin), أَدْعُوكَ، (ʾadʿúka،) as “sing, describe, call”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: of Thy praisegleaningsGWB §46: and celebrate His praisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: In the midst ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §730: extol Theewill-and-testamentW&T §39: anotherepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to glorify TheegleaningsGWB §5: the praisekitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondary
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: sublimityfire-tabletFire §36: heavenlygleaningsGWB §584: the denizens of heavenkitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: empty nameprayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: and the sublimity oftablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My saketablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: Thou hast summonedgleaningsGWB §588: Leave themkitab-i-ahdAhd §6: Praykitab-i-iqanKIQ §9: adjurationsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §488: Thou art Hetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §53: was calledthe-hidden-wordsHW §34: I summonwill-and-testamentW&T §36: call upon Thee
This form usually rendered as “lord”, “king”, “thou” (145 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: is the LordgleaningsGWB §511: any kingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §253: their allprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: He Who holdeth in His handtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worldsthe-hidden-wordsHW §145: My sacred realmwill-and-testamentW&T §15: farepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: of Thy realm
This form usually rendered as “recognize”, “find”, “would” (14 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: suffered martyrdomfire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §247: observedkitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §26: provedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: I am compelled to recognizetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: as thou also dost witnessthe-hidden-wordsHW §45: and I within Myself may bear witness unto
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: IncomparablegleaningsGWB §95: beauteouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §58: strange and manifoldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: to behold the wonders oftablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: in His Namethe-hidden-wordsHW §65: have createdepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: in the whole universegleaningsGWB §682: wondrous works
SE rendered مَالِكَ (málik), مَمالِكَ (mamálik), الإِبْداعِ (al-ʾibdáʿ), وَالاخْتِراعِ (wálákhtiráʿ), مَمْلُوكٌ (mamlúkun), لَكَ (lak), وَمَخْلُوقٌ (wamakhlúqun) as “Who, immediate destinies, created, vassal, a, creation”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: I have chosen TheegleaningsGWB §281: the Unconstrainedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: createdthe-hidden-wordsHW §93: Preferepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: UnconstrainedgleaningsGWB §47: Preferrest thouprayers-and-meditationsP&M §142: my choicethe-hidden-wordsHW §1: of brevity
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: His creaturesfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §426: hath created youkitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: the peoples of the worldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §730: own creationtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §5: hence I created theeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: a virtuous character
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: Answerfire-tabletFire §48: Thy shining wordgleaningsGWB §167: one wordkitab-i-ahdAhd §14: by the blessed wordskitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: those verses of the Bookprayers-and-meditationsP&M §555: Thy Messagetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §48: one mystic wordthe-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith
This form usually rendered as “thee”, “thou”, “which” (55 occurrences)
SE expanded to “Thy mouth. And if I”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §95: hathgleaningsGWB §293: the things ye possesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: of Godprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: pertaineth unto Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: on Our partthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: in My sightwill-and-testamentW&T §34: in the midstepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §83: through the things they possess
This form usually rendered as “self-subsisting”, “who”, “qayyum” (66 occurrences)
self-subsisting 79% who 8% qayyum 2% self-sufficing 2% self-subsisting!” 2% self-subsisting.” 2% above 2% self-subsisting! 2% grasp 2% set 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: have arisenfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §114: its high stationkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: significanceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §238: Thine all-compelling authoritytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfasttablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: remaineth motionless
This form usually rendered as “suppliant”, “downcast”, “hath” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: The MosquegleaningsGWB §3: adorethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: to worshipprayers-and-meditationsP&M §218: have prostrated themselvesthe-hidden-wordsHW §25: Prostrate thyselfepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: bow downgleaningsGWB §613: prostrate yourselveskitab-i-iqanKIQ §54: Mosque.”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: thine handsgleaningsGWB §15: the palm of a man’s handkitab-i-iqanKIQ §77: his handsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §179: abstainedthe-hidden-wordsHW §135: at the hands ofgleaningsGWB §637: as worthlesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: graspprayers-and-meditationsP&M §491: the hollow
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earthgleaningsGWB §672: that dwell upon the dustkitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dustprayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the claythe-hidden-wordsHW §104: the clayepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §138: the dust thereofgleaningsGWB §122: pertaining to the world of matterkitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: the lowly dust
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §50: The feargleaningsGWB §483: fearprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: dreadful mightwill-and-testamentW&T §34: was thus alarmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §51: fear ofgleaningsGWB §76: awed with the dread ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: Thy fearepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: for fear of
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 §227: by His sovereigntygleaningsGWB §3: to Thy sovereigntykitab-i-iqanKIQ §69: Kingdomprayers-and-meditationsP&M §805: before Thy sovereigntytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestialwill-and-testamentW&T §7: power of the Crownepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the higher powers
power 39% might 31% omnipotence 10% dominion 8% through 3% evidences 2% overpowering 2% greatness 2% hand 2% immensity 2%
This form usually rendered as “divine”, “god”, “any” (139 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: the unitygleaningsGWB §311: any mankitab-i-iqanKIQ §177: Not oneprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: any oftablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dwellerthe-hidden-wordsHW §141: any man’sepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: anyonegleaningsGWB §549: of his neighbor
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: EssencegleaningsGWB §461: judgmentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Beingsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: Thy Beingwill-and-testamentW&T §36: my lifeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: beinggleaningsGWB §126: the Divine Beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: the unchangeable Being
This form usually rendered as “doubt”, “pomp”, “woven” (4 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: clothesgleaningsGWB §588: Drape thyselfkitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: in doubtprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: of appearingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: with the raimentgleaningsGWB §699: array himself with the robekitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: apparelprayers-and-meditationsP&M §250: didst clothe Him
This form usually rendered as “mine”, “belief”, “thought” (3 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: the vain imaginingsfire-tabletFire §24: fancygleaningsGWB §236: thoughtkitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: doubtsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: of my fanciestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitionsthe-hidden-wordsHW §63: thy fanciesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: Have they no thought
SE rendered وَصْفٌ (waṣfun), أَلْبَسَهُ (ʾalbasah), ظَنِّي (ẓanní), ثَوْبَ (thawb), الوَصْفِيَّةِ (al-waṣfífah), وَإِنَّكَ (waʾinnak) as “conception, woven, fancy”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: the recompensegleaningsGWB §312: future rewardprayers-and-meditationsP&M §168: robetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §57: their garmentsthe-hidden-wordsHW §123: attireepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: raimentgleaningsGWB §625: the mantleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: in the guise
SE rendered تَزَلْ (tazal), مُقَدَّسًا (muqaddasan), الظُّنُونِ (aẓ-ẓunún), وَالأَوْهَامِ، (wálʾawhámi،) as “exalted, imaginations”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: at all timesgleaningsGWB §130: everlastingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §281: incorruptibleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §779: wilt continue unto everlastingthe-hidden-wordsHW §16: perishethwill-and-testamentW&T §24: may vanishepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: From everlastinggleaningsGWB §301: hath existed from eternity
sanctified 25% holy 17% exalted 17% immeasurably 10% sacred 9% sanctify 7% immensely 5% most 3% transcendeth 3% purged 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: sanctified be HisgleaningsGWB §297: cankitab-i-iqanKIQ §87: sanctified themselvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: exalt it abovetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exaltedthe-hidden-wordsHW §151: purgingwill-and-testamentW&T §18: detachment from all worldly thingsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: to the sanctity
This form usually rendered as “vain”, “idle”, “vague” (55 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: of vague fanciesfire-tabletFire §24: idle imaginingsgleaningsGWB §610: vain imaginationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: conceiveprayers-and-meditationsP&M §671: and idle imaginingstablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: of delusionthe-hidden-wordsHW §144: FANCYwill-and-testamentW&T §34: suspicion
