Prayers and Meditations — §316
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 316 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
َدَّسًا عَنِ الظُّنُونِ وَالأَوْهَامِ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ كُلُّ مَنِ ادَّعى عِرْفانَكَ نَفْسُ ادِّعائِه ِ يَشْهَدُ بِجَهْلِهِ، وَكُلُّ مَنْ يَدَّعِي البُلُوغَ إِلَيْكَ يَشْهَدُ لَهُ كُلُّ الذَّرّاتِ بِالعَجْزِ وَالقُصُورِ، وَلكِنْ أَنْتَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِيْ سَبَقَتْ مَلَكُوتَ مُلْكِ السَّمَواتِ وَالأَرْضِ، قَبِلْتَ مِنْ عِبادِكَ ذِكْرَهُمْ وَثَنائَهُمْ نَفْسَكَ العُلْيا وَأَمَرْتَهُمْ بِذلِكَ لِتُرْفَعَ بِهِ أَعْلامُ هِدايَتِكَ فِي بِلادِكَ وَتَنْتَشِرَ آثارُ رَحْمَانِيَّتِكَ فِي مَمْلَكَتِكَ، وَلِيَصِلُنَّ كُلٌّ إِلى ما قَدَّرْتَ لَهُمْ بِأَمْرِكَ وَقَضَيْتَ لَهُمْ بِقَضائِكَ وَتَقْدِيرِكَ، إِذًا
Shoghi Effendi Translation
The glory of Thy might beareth me witness! Whoso claimeth to have known Thee hath, by virtue of such a claim, testified to his own ignorance; and whoso believeth himself to have attained unto Thee, all the atoms of the earth would attest his powerlessness and proclaim his failure. Thou hast, however, by virtue of Thy mercy that hath surpassed the kingdoms of earth and heaven, deigned to accept from Thy servants the laud and honor they pay to Thine own exalted Self, and hast bidden them celebrate Thy glory, that the ensigns of Thy guidance may be unfurled in Thy cities and the tokens of Thy mercy be spread abroad among Thy nations, and that each and all may be enabled to attain unto that which Thou hast destined for them by Thy decree, and ordained unto them through Thine irrevocable will and purpose.
Translation Notes
holiness 29% holy 24% sanctified 14% exalted 7% most 7% sanctity 6% sacred 5% immeasurably 3% sanctify 3% blessed 2%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §98: the holy valegleaningsGWB §651: His Presencekitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: earthly abodeprayers-and-meditationsP&M §830: sanctified abovetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §26: Celestial Concoursethe-hidden-wordsHW §35: ofepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: PurgegleaningsGWB §187: of sanctity
SE rendered الظُّنُونِ (aẓ-ẓunún), وَالأَوْهَامِ، (wálʾawhámi،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik) as “glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: imaginefire-tabletFire §24: fancygleaningsGWB §626: your idle fancieskitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: doubtprayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: all idle fanciestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitionsthe-hidden-wordsHW §63: thy fanciesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: Thinkest thou
SE rendered وَالأَوْهَامِ، (wálʾawhámi،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik) as “glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §86: Hath thy pompfire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishmentgleaningsGWB §488: of honorkitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of powerprayers-and-meditationsP&M §124: I swear by Thy glorythe-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendorwill-and-testamentW&T §4: endearedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: Almighty
This form usually rendered as “laid” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: hast laid claimgleaningsGWB §623: call yourselvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: that presumeththe-hidden-wordsHW §25: claimwill-and-testamentW&T §41: advancing claimsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: professgleaningsGWB §501: claimsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §337: lay claim
This form usually rendered as “knowledge”, “wisdom”, “recognize” (40 occurrences)
knowledge 74% wisdom 6% recognize 3% comprehend 3% immeasurable 3% sublime 3% known 3% witness 3% know 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §237: acknowledgmentgleaningsGWB §219: faithfulkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: well-knownprayers-and-meditationsP&M §281: enabled me to recognizetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §4: knewepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §137: Wisdom
SE expanded to “to Thine own exalted Self”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §76: whoevergleaningsGWB §25: them whokitab-i-ahdAhd §8: thosekitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: contraryprayers-and-meditationsP&M §139: their own selvestablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §121: pure breathwill-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §238: summoned, and art still summoninggleaningsGWB §426: is summoningkitab-i-ahdAhd §6: Praykitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: He invitedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §396: Thou hast called hertablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: idle claimantsthe-hidden-wordsHW §34: I summonepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: call
This form usually rendered as “testifieth”, “beareth”, “testify” (57 occurrences)
testifieth 22% beareth 22% testify 18% bear 13% witness 7% unto 4% will 4% confesseth 4% witnesseth 2% well 2%
SE expanded to “his own ignorance”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: the foolishgleaningsGWB §155: ignorancekitab-i-ahdAhd §5: foolish oneskitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: foolish leadersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: his own ignorancethe-hidden-wordsHW §85: empty thyselfepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: foolishgleaningsGWB §703: depths of ignorance
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: all goodgleaningsGWB §510: in all circumstanceskitab-i-ahdAhd §12: everyonekitab-i-iqanKIQ §243: by His wordsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: supply us with every goodtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: bethe-hidden-wordsHW §13: naughtwill-and-testamentW&T §36: whomsoever
This form usually rendered as “stage”, “enter”, “scale” (6 occurrences)
SE expanded to “attained unto Thee”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: attainedfire-tabletFire §11: reachedgleaningsGWB §702: proclaimethkitab-i-ahdAhd §5: consummatekitab-i-iqanKIQ §11: passionatelyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §555: deliverwill-and-testamentW&T §55: endeavour proclaimepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: thou wouldst attain
SE rendered يَدَّعِي (yaddaʿí), البُلُوغَ (al-bulúgh), إِلَيْكَ (ʾilayk), يَشْهَدُ (yashhad), الذَّرّاتِ (adh-dharrát) as “believeth, attained unto Thee, attest his powerlessness and proclaim, atoms of the earth”
SE expanded to “atoms of the earth”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: leavegleaningsGWB §456: descendantskitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: the dustprayers-and-meditationsP&M §635: the atomsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §108: \‘Let me alonegleaningsGWB §32: all the atomskitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: “Leaveprayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: atoms of the earth
SE rendered الذَّرّاتِ (adh-dharrát), بِالعَجْزِ (biálʿajz), وَالقُصُورِ، (wálquṣúri،), وَلكِنْ (walkin) as “atoms of the earth, his failure, however”
powerlessness 38% helplessness 14% none 10% impotence 10% failed 5% futility 5% incapacity 5% impotent 5% pen 5% weakness 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: none can producegleaningsGWB §685: impotentkitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the miracleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: unable to graspwill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: powerlessgleaningsGWB §449: can thwartkitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: fallen shortgleaningsGWB §591: the Mansionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: mansionsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: failuretablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §34: the mansionsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: their palacesgleaningsGWB §523: palaceskitab-i-iqanKIQ §242: only guilt
mercy 90% all-encompassing 2% transcendent 2% heaven 1% court 1% canopy 1% compassion 1% wondrous 1% mercies 1% tender 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: to have mercy upon mefire-tabletFire §30: Thy compassiongleaningsGWB §92: infinite gracekitab-i-ahdAhd §8: blessingskitab-i-iqanKIQ §25: infinite mercyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §421: Thy loving providencetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a mercythe-hidden-wordsHW §109: My tender grace
hath 52% surpassed 16% preceded 6% encompasseth 6% excelled 3% surpasseth 3% surpassing 3% permeated 3% grasp 3% encompassed 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: hath, verily, encompassedgleaningsGWB §382: hathkitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: graspprayers-and-meditationsP&M §748: preceded methe-hidden-wordsHW §52: Hastenepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: committed it before MegleaningsGWB §683: permeatedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §119: old
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §15: the PossessorgleaningsGWB §522: the kings of the earthkitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: worldly dominionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: supreme dominiontablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdomtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: inthe-hidden-wordsHW §130: eternal kingdomwill-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous
SE rendered سَبَقَتْ (sabaqat), مَلَكُوتَ (malakút), مُلْكِ (mulk), السَّمَواتِ (as-samawát), وَالأَرْضِ، (wálʾarḍi،), قَبِلْتَ (qabilt) as “hath surpassed, the kingdoms, earth and heaven, deigned to accept”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §34: noblefire-tabletFire §36: heavenlygleaningsGWB §95: His holy nameskitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: visible heavenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §292: Thy most excellent namestablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: my Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §44: My heaven
SE expanded to “earth and heaven”
This form usually rendered as “would”, “didst”, “hast” (9 occurrences)
SE expanded to “deigned to accept”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: Turn yourselves towardsfire-tabletFire §46: press onwardgleaningsGWB §406: was acceptedkitab-i-ahdAhd §4: receptive soulkitab-i-iqanKIQ §235: of old;”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §180: Thy good pleasuretablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: been lifted upontablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §39: “And kiss
This form usually rendered as “mentioned”, “remember”, “remembered” (5 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: Call Thou to remembrancegleaningsGWB §640: calleth to remembrancekitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: maintainedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: each one of the praisestablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeththe-hidden-wordsHW §154: told
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: glorifygleaningsGWB §3: glorykitab-i-iqanKIQ §151: “Secondaryprayers-and-meditationsP&M §149: and praiseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: SecondarilygleaningsGWB §396: magnifyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: virtuesepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: to glorify Thee
SE rendered وَثَنائَهُمْ (wathanáʾahum), نَفْسَكَ (nafsak), العُلْيا (al-ʿulyá), وَأَمَرْتَهُمْ (waʾamartahum) as “honor, to Thine own exalted Self, bidden them”
SE rendered وَأَمَرْتَهُمْ (waʾamartahum), بِذلِكَ (bidhlik), لِتُرْفَعَ (liturfaʿ), أَعْلامُ (ʾaʿlám) as “bidden them, may be unfurled, the ensigns of Thy guidance”
SE expanded to “may be unfurled”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §174: to break forthfire-tabletFire §42: was plantedgleaningsGWB §448: to elevate itkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: serveth to exaltkitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: gatheredprayers-and-meditationsP&M §622: are raised uptablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: dispelthe-hidden-wordsHW §61: that I may rise
SE expanded to “ensigns of Thy guidance”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: arts and sciencesfire-tabletFire §13: ensignsgleaningsGWB §174: world.”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §21: signprayers-and-meditationsP&M §500: I recognizetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worldstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: we have taught theethe-hidden-wordsHW §49: a sign
SE rendered لِتُرْفَعَ (liturfaʿ), أَعْلامُ (ʾaʿlám), هِدايَتِكَ (hidáyatik), بِلادِكَ (biládik), وَتَنْتَشِرَ (watantashir) as “may be unfurled, the ensigns of Thy guidance, in Thy cities, be spread abroad”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §188: directeth your stepsgleaningsGWB §361: guidedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: isprayers-and-meditationsP&M §678: lead metablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: heavenly guidancewill-and-testamentW&T §2: Guidance—forepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: guidance ofgleaningsGWB §472: showeth thee
SE expanded to “in Thy cities”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §220: Thy citiesgleaningsGWB §511: their territorieskitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: landprayers-and-meditationsP&M §353: nationsthe-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thy neighborwill-and-testamentW&T §5: the landepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: land to landgleaningsGWB §467: the City
SE expanded to “be spread abroad”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §243: disseminategleaningsGWB §367: the promotionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §186: Revivalprayers-and-meditationsP&M §577: to spread abroadwill-and-testamentW&T §13: diffuseepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: spreadinggleaningsGWB §618: shall scatter abroadprayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: be spread abroad
This form usually rendered as “signs”, “evidences”, “remnant” (35 occurrences)
SE expanded to “tokens of Thy mercy”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: resultsgleaningsGWB §363: testimonieskitab-i-iqanKIQ §217: signsprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: no tracewill-and-testamentW&T §1: writ and revealedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §245: hostile attitudegleaningsGWB §39: the truth of the signskitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: outward manifestations
SE rendered مَمْلَكَتِكَ، (mamlakatika،), وَلِيَصِلُنَّ (walíaṣilunn), قَدَّرْتَ (qaddart) as “among Thy nations, Thou hast destined for them”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: they who were withfire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §676: come and be unitedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §104: unionprayers-and-meditationsP&M §743: meetingtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: may attainthe-hidden-wordsHW §97: hast obtainedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: manifold
SE expanded to “Thou hast destined for them”
hast 18% didst 9% ordained 9% destine 9% accomplished 9% decreed 9% decree 9% thou 9% destined 9% whatsoever 9%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: passedfire-tabletFire §29: of destinygleaningsGWB §249: ordainedkitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is endedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: wasprayers-and-meditationsP&M §626: of Thine irrevocable decreethe-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordainedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: hath it been decreed
