Prayers and Meditations — §340

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 340 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

سُبْحَانَكَ يا مَنْ تَسْمَعُ ضَجيْجَ المُنْقَطِعينَ وَصَرِيخَ المُخْلِصِينَ وَتَرَى ما وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ طُغاةِ خَلْقِكَ وَعُصاةِ بَرِيَّتِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا سُلْطانَ مَمالِكَ العَدْلِ وَمَلِيكَ مَدائِنِ الفَضْلِ إِنَّ البَلايا قَدْ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَلَى شَأْنٍ لا يُحْصِيها قَلَمُ الإِنْشآءِ، وَلَوْ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَذْكُرَ لا يَدْرِي ما يَذْكُرُ وَلكِنْ لَمَّا وَرَدَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ وَحُبِّكَ لَيَشْكُرونَكَ فِي كُلِّ الأَحْوالِ وَيَقُولُونَ يا مَحْبُوبَ قُلُوبِنا وَالمَذْكُورُ فِي صُدُورِنا لَوْ

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Unto Thee be praise, O Thou Who inclinest Thine ear to the sighing of them that have rid themselves of all attachment to any one but Thee, and Who hearest the voice of the lamentation of those who are wholly devoted to Thy Self! Thou beholdest all that hath befallen them at the hands of such of Thy creatures as have transgressed and rebelled against Thee. Thy might beareth me witness, O Thou Who art the King of the realms of justice and the Ruler of the cities of mercy! The tribulations they have been made to suffer are such as no pen, in the entire creation, can reckon. Should any one attempt to make mention of them, he would find himself powerless to describe them.

Translation Notes

سُبْحَانَكَ

subḥának s-b-ḥ → “unto thee be praise” Distinctive

literal: glory; glory, praise; glory/praise

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

SE expanded to “Unto Thee be praise”

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 §256: Great God gleaningsGWB §450: High is God exalted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §205: the “veils prayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: Lauded be Thy name tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on high epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: laud gleaningsGWB §122: praise

تَسْمَعُ

tasmaʿ s-m-ʿ → “inclinest thine ear” Distinctive

literal: hear; hearing; heard

This form usually rendered as “hearest”, “hear”, “thou” (28 occurrences)

SE expanded to “inclinest Thine ear”

hearest 29% hear 25% thou 17% hearken 4% dost 4% give 4% incline 4% proclaims 4% inclinest 4% crieth 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: thine inner ear fire-tabletFire §37: Give Thou ear gleaningsGWB §568: hath ever beheld kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: sight kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: listener prayers-and-meditationsP&M §195: catch the tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hearken to Thy call tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard

ضَجيْجَ

ḍajyj ḍ-j-j → “sighing”

literal: clamor; clamor/noise

sighs 24% voice 24% sighing 18% groaning 12% clamor 6% wailing 6% lamentation 6% lamentations 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: sighs gleaningsGWB §610: hath caused prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: and the sighs tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: wailed epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: groaning gleaningsGWB §452: pined away and mourned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §399: the voice epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: groan

المُنْقَطِعينَ

al-munqaṭiʿín q-ṭ-ʿ → “rid themselves of all attachment”

literal: detachment; detached; severed

SE expanded to “rid themselves of all attachment”

detached 30% rid 10% emblems 10% renounced 10% have 10% among 10% forsake 10% severed 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: detached gleaningsGWB §310: severed from kitab-i-iqanKIQ §197: is speechless prayers-and-meditationsP&M §846: wilt Thou cease tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: severed ones tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: They passed will-and-testamentW&T §11: decisive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: cut

وَصَرِيخَ

waṣaríkh ṣ-r-kh → “cry”

literal: cry/scream; cry; cry, scream

cry 60% cries 40%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: cried out to gleaningsGWB §619: their lamentation and weeping prayers-and-meditationsP&M §62: the cries tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: uttered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: cry out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §215: cries tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: such a cry epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §241: cry

المُخْلِصِينَ

al-mukhliṣín kh-l-ṣ → “wholly”

literal: sincere; pure; sincere ones

sincere 26% wholly 23% devoted 16% who 6% such 6% pure 6% faithful 6% souls 3% devout 3% lamentation 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: who are devoted fire-tabletFire §1: the sincere gleaningsGWB §617: divested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §254: true prayers-and-meditationsP&M §520: devoted to Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: sincere ones the-hidden-wordsHW §146: absolute epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: faithful

وَتَرَى

watará r-ʾ-y → “thou beholdest”

literal: see; to see; see/behold

thou 53% seest 16% beholdest 12% behold 6% wert 2% regard 2% seest?” 2% discover 2% dost 2% art 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou seest me fire-tabletFire §26: seest gleaningsGWB §432: eclipseth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §136: maketh any distinction the-hidden-wordsHW §37: and to mirror forth will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou beholdest gleaningsGWB §720: bring

عَلَيْهِمْ

ʿalayhim ʿ-l-y → “upon”

literal: upon; on

rest 20% wronged 20% upon 20% unto 20% fall 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: unto gleaningsGWB §167: on kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §125: round the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §163: exalted be He gleaningsGWB §532: to

طُغاةِ

ṭugháh ṭ-gh-y → “such”

literal: rebellion; tyrants; tyranny

oppressors 43% such 29% have 14% mischief 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: of My oppressors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §271: error prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: have transgressed will-and-testamentW&T §47: rebelliousness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: such will-and-testamentW&T §48: misbelieved prayers-and-meditationsP&M §427: Such of Thy servants prayers-and-meditationsP&M §787: mischief of the rebellious

خَلْقِكَ

khalqik kh-l-q → “thy creatures”

literal: creation; create; created

creatures 74% among 7% creation 6% own 3% created 2% servants 2% all 2% god 1% hath 1% creatures’ 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: God created thee fire-tabletFire §9: the peoples gleaningsGWB §664: the world kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: Lord prayers-and-meditationsP&M §624: Thy creatures—I tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §69: why epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: was created

وَعُصاةِ

waʿuṣáh ʿ-ṣ-y → “as have transgressed and rebelled”

literal: disobedience; disobey; disobedient

SE expanded to “as have transgressed and rebelled”

wicked 20% among 20% rebelled 20% such 20% have 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: his sins fire-tabletFire §35: sin gleaningsGWB §137: perversity of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §68: grievous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: and rebelled will-and-testamentW&T §17: against him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: sinner gleaningsGWB §491: revolt

بَرِيَّتِكَ،

baríratika، b-r-ʾ

literal: creation; creatures; creation, creatures

SE rendered طُغاةِ (ṭugháh), خَلْقِكَ (khalqik), وَعُصاةِ (waʿuṣáh), بَرِيَّتِكَ، (baríratika،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), سُلْطانَ (sulṭán) as “such, Thy creatures, as have transgressed and rebelled, Thy might beareth me witness, Thou Who art the King”

people 47% creatures 41% among 6% against 3% creation 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: clear of them fire-tabletFire §7: mankind gleaningsGWB §690: your Lord, the Creator prayers-and-meditationsP&M §416: of creation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: men gleaningsGWB §621: His creatures prayers-and-meditationsP&M §681: of all men epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §9: creation

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “thy might beareth me witness”

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE expanded to “Thy might beareth me witness”

swear 40% glory 38% might 15% power 4% own 2% would—i 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: wilt cherish its excellence fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §118: all-glorious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §99: friend prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: of Thine exalted singleness the-hidden-wordsHW §69: of wondrous glory will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: manifest glory

سُلْطانَ

sulṭán s-l-ṭ → “thou who art the king”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

SE expanded to “Thou Who art the King”

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: of Thy sovereignty gleaningsGWB §482: a benignant sovereign kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: Monarchs prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: by Thine all-conquering power tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §41: warrant epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: King of

مَمالِكَ

mamálik m-l-k → “of the realms”

literal: kingdom; king

SE expanded to “of the realms”

kingdoms 27% realms 18% provinces 9% range 9% destinies 9% invention 9% all 9% worlds 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: dominion gleaningsGWB §620: the Sovereign Lord kitab-i-iqanKIQ §88: angel prayers-and-meditationsP&M §315: vassal dependent upon tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: the worlds the-hidden-wordsHW §2: Possess will-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous

العَدْلِ

al-ʿadl ʿ-d-l → “justice”

literal: justice; just

justice 83% just 7% equity 3% fairness 2% pure 1% fair 1% manifest 1% equitably 1% unjust 1% resemblance 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: fair gleaningsGWB §508: with those of the unjust prayers-and-meditationsP&M §531: judge equitably tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: rival the-hidden-wordsHW §29: be just will-and-testamentW&T §28: that are just epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: with a justice gleaningsGWB §189: the Equitable

مَدائِنِ

madáʾin m-d-n → “of the cities”

literal: cities

SE expanded to “of the cities”

cities 85% citadels 10% everlasting 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §113: city gleaningsGWB §230: native city prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: the habitation epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: cities gleaningsGWB §73: of the city prayers-and-meditationsP&M §224: the everlasting Cities epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: citadels gleaningsGWB §247: in the City

الفَضْلِ

al-faḍl f-ḍ-l → “of mercy”

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

grace 58% through 10% mercy 10% virtue 6% gracious 4% token 2% great 2% munificent 2% upon 2% sciences 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §259: concerning the merits gleaningsGWB §14: superior kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: learned prayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: bountiful favor tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: bounties the-hidden-wordsHW §1: the garment will-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom

البَلايا

al-baláyá b-l-w → “the tribulations”

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

tribulations 38% tribulation 15% adversities 12% trials 6% afflictions 6% every 6% manifold 6% woes 6% all 3% ills 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: tribulation fire-tabletFire §39: calamity gleaningsGWB §413: entangled kitab-i-iqanKIQ §113: been afflicted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: affliction and disorder the-hidden-wordsHW §49: My trials will-and-testamentW&T §3: a victim epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §19: affliction

شَأْنٍ

shaʾanin sh-ʾ-n

literal: state

SE rendered وَرَدَ (warad), عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim), شَأْنٍ (shaʾanin), يُحْصِيها (yuḥṣíhá), قَلَمُ (qalam), الإِنْشآءِ، (an-nsháʾi،) as “are, against, can reckon, pen, in the entire creation”

such 24% station 18% honor 12% through 12% neither 6% people 6% glory 6% dignity 6% low 6% splendor 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the people gleaningsGWB §254: stations kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: concerning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §84: of Thy gifts the-hidden-wordsHW §68: My state epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: that neither gleaningsGWB §435: dignity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §217: the changes and chances

يُحْصِيها

yuḥṣíhá ḥ-ṣ-y → “can reckon”

literal: count; enumerate; enumeration

reckon 25% number 19% can 13% stone 6% count 6% have 6% canst 6% search 6% innumerable 6% concentrate 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: stone gleaningsGWB §684: innumerable prayers-and-meditationsP&M §360: stones the-hidden-wordsHW §66: recount will-and-testamentW&T §11: boundless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: number gleaningsGWB §423: can reckon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: hast reckoned up

قَلَمُ

qalam q-l-m → “pen”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

pen 97% abhá 1% supreme 1% most 1% all-glorious 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: Pen gleaningsGWB §66: exclaimeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: Pen of Power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §16: my afflicted pen will-and-testamentW&T §13: clime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §255: from the gleaningsGWB §493: Pen of Revelation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §277: Thine own exalted pen

الإِنْشآءِ،

an-nsháʾi، n-sh-ʾ → “in the entire creation”

literal: creation; creation/origination; creation, composition

SE expanded to “in the entire creation”

creation 71% creatures 7% unto 7% entire 7% erected 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of gleaningsGWB §428: creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: unto all Thy creatures will-and-testamentW&T §7: erected prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: of Thine invention prayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: in the entire creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §623: Thy creation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §174: of Thy creation

وَلَوْ

walaw l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

يُرِيدُ

yuríd r-y-d

literal: desire; will

SE rendered قَلَمُ (qalam), الإِنْشآءِ، (an-nsháʾi،), وَلَوْ (walaw), يُرِيدُ (yuríd), يَذْكُرَ (yadhkur), يَدْرِي (yadrí) as “pen, in the entire creation, Should any one attempt, mention, powerless to describe”