Prayers and Meditations — §435

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 435 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

أَيْ رَبِّ صَفِّ آذانَهُمْ لإِصْغَاءِ نَغَمَاتِ الَّتِيْ ارْتَفَعَتْ عَنْ يَمِينِ عَرْشِ عَظَمَتِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ يا إِلهِي لَوْ يَسْمَعُها أَحَدٌ ما قَدَّرْتَهُ فِيها حَقَّ الإِصْغَاءِ لَيَطِيرُ إِلى مَلَكُوتِ أَمْرِكَ الَّذِيْ يَنْطِقُ فِيهِ كُلُّ ما خُلِقَ فِيهِ بِأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ المُقْتَدِرُ المُهَيْمِنُ القَيُّومُ، يا إِلهِي طَهِّرْ أَبْصَارَ عِبادِكَ ثُمَّ اجْتَذِبْهُمْ بِآياتِكَ عَلی شَأْنٍ لا يَمْنَعُهُمُ البَلايا عَنِ التَّوَجُّهِ إِلَيْكَ وَعَنِ النَّظَرِ إِلى أُفُقِ أَمْرِكَ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

Purge out thoroughly their ears, O my Lord, that they may hearken unto the sweet melodies that have ascended from the right hand of the throne of Thy glory. I swear by Thy might! Were any one to attune his ears to their harmony he would soar up to the kingdom of Thy revelation, wherein every created thing proclaimeth that Thou art God, and that there is none other God save Thee, the Omnipotent, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Cleanse Thou, O my God, the eyes of Thy servants, and so transport them by the sweetness of Thine utterances that calamities will be powerless to hinder them from turning unto Thee, and from directing their eyes towards the horizon of Thy Revelation.

Translation Notes

صَفِّ

ṣaff ṣ-f-f → “rank”

literal: rank; ranks

rank 67% purge 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: on rank gleaningsGWB §464: the things which prayers-and-meditationsP&M §435: Purge out thoroughly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: rank epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §173: hosts arrayed against it

آذانَهُمْ

ádhánahum ʾ-dh-n → “ears”

literal: ear; ears

ears 50% into 25% own 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: a hearing ear gleaningsGWB §222: will no doubt be granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: into their ears prayers-and-meditationsP&M §102: hast forbidden tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: with their own ears will-and-testamentW&T §34: the minds epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §53: with attentive ears gleaningsGWB §622: the bounds which

لإِصْغَاءِ

lʾiṣgháʾ ṣ-gh-y → “heard” Distinctive

literal: hearing; heard

This form usually rendered as “may”, “hearken”, “let” (5 occurrences)

may 50% hearken 25% let 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: that it may hearken unto gleaningsGWB §677: let not the tumult prayers-and-meditationsP&M §435: that they may hearken unto epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §236: hear gleaningsGWB §26: let your ears be attentive unto epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: hearken epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: against epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §210: heard

نَغَمَاتِ

naghamát n-gh-m → “sweet melodies”

literal: melody; melodies; melodies, tunes

melodies 36% sweet 21% melody 11% accents 7% voice 7% accent 4% melodious 4% strains 4% strain 4% language 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §209: song fire-tabletFire §23: Thy melodies gleaningsGWB §588: accent of the Voice kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: language prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: voice tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: His Melody epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: melodies gleaningsGWB §588: melodious voice

ارْتَفَعَتْ

irtafaʿat r-f-ʿ → “raised”

literal: raise; raised

hath 31% raised 15% mourned 8% uplifted 8% poured 8% risen 8% ascend 8% have 8% borne 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: sublime fire-tabletFire §47: hast caused gleaningsGWB §486: great kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: serveth to exalt kitab-i-iqanKIQ §42: established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: may be exalted tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §16: dispel the-hidden-wordsHW §63: hath risen

يَمِينِ

yamín y-m-n → “right hand”

literal: right; right hand; right-hand

right 86% right-hand 6% draw 3% towards 3% into 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: to the right gleaningsGWB §192: my right hand kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: the right hand side prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: to the right hand will-and-testamentW&T §5: the right epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: the right hand gleaningsGWB §537: on his right hand kitab-i-iqanKIQ §144: on the right hand

عَرْشِ

ʿarsh ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: throne

throne 86% seat 4% pillar 2% mighty 2% presence 1% thrones 1% throne.” 1% exalted 1% mercy 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: throne gleaningsGWB §51: the seat kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: thrones prayers-and-meditationsP&M §120: Thy throne the-hidden-wordsHW §120: OF MY THRONE epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §262: the Throne gleaningsGWB §210: of My presence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat

عَظَمَتِكَ،

ʿaẓamatika، ʿ-ẓ-m → “glory”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

majesty 58% greatness 19% glory 13% grandeur 3% great 3% whose 3% before 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: highly-honored gleaningsGWB §504: inconceivably mighty kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §181: more exalted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §371: above the-hidden-wordsHW §42: of My greatness will-and-testamentW&T §7: Crown epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §229: of the Grandeur

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “i swear by thy”

literal: mighty; glory; might

SE expanded to “I swear by Thy”

swear 44% glory 36% might 12% power 8% own 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glory gleaningsGWB §184: My glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: magnificence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §539: swear by Thy might tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendor will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: Almighty

اللَّهُ

al-lah ʾ-l-h → “thou” Distinctive

literal: god; divine; o god

This form usually rendered as “god”, “god’s”, “lord” (1314 occurrences)

god 93% god’s 2% lord 1% divine 1% almighty 1% “god 1% god.” 0% unto 0% towards 0% \‘god 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §62: O Lord fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §148: this God-given kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §164: mystic prayers-and-meditationsP&M §296: and the Object of the adoration tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §154: heaven

يَسْمَعُها

yasmaʿuhá s-m-ʿ → “heard”

literal: hear; hearing; heard

heard 50% attune 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: hath never heard fire-tabletFire §37: have heard gleaningsGWB §29: for having enabled me to hearken kitab-i-iqanKIQ §283: make prayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: may be heard tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §21: And they heard the-hidden-wordsHW §45: My hearing will-and-testamentW&T §5: ears in all regions were inclined

أَحَدٌ

ʾaḥadun ʾ-ḥ-d → “any one”

literal: anyone; one; oneness

one 27% any 22% man 18% anyone 14% none 6% others 3% neighbor 3% who 2% incomparable 2% other 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: but a man like gleaningsGWB §302: No peer or partner kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: the people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §85: to equal or rival tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §3: thy neighbor epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Who is the man gleaningsGWB §181: commoners

قَدَّرْتَهُ

qaddartah q-d-r → “power”

literal: power; powerful

power 44% thou 30% might 8% dominion 3% omnipotence 2% through 2% didst 2% divine 2% ordained 2% hast 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §106: of Power fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §115: His invincible power kitab-i-ahdAhd §12: granted kitab-i-iqanKIQ §137: “power,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: irrevocable decree tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: the Powerful the-hidden-wordsHW §9: There is

حَقَّ

ḥaqq ḥ-q-q → “truth”

literal: truth; true; right

god 29% truth 29% one 20% true 8% who 6% through 3% eternal 3% right 1% unto 1% righteousness 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: with truth gleaningsGWB §658: the kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §45: the symbolic meaning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §774: Thou hast confirmed the-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deserving will-and-testamentW&T §6: touching epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §166: of God

الإِصْغَاءِ

aṣ-ṣgháʾ ṣ-gh-w → “hearken”

literal: listening; listen; listen attentively

hearken 50% hear 20% endure 10% hearkening 10% ye 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: endure gleaningsGWB §563: recognize kitab-i-ahdAhd §16: hearing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §527: hearkening the-hidden-wordsHW §129: that ye may hearken epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: hath given ear gleaningsGWB §415: be attentive epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: heard

لَيَطِيرُ

layaṭír ṭ-y-r → “soar”

literal: bird; fly; flight

soar 83% wing 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the Bird fire-tabletFire §46: fly gleaningsGWB §541: Bird kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: explore prayers-and-meditationsP&M §96: and soared tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §23: rise epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §191: soar gleaningsGWB §100: soaring

أَمْرِكَ،

ʾamrika، ʾ-m-r → “thy servants, and so transport them by the sweetness of thine utterances that calamities will be powerless to hinder them from turning unto thee, and from directing their eyes towards the horizon of thy revelation”

literal: command; cause

SE expanded to “Thy servants, and so transport them by the sweetness of Thine utterances that calamities will be powerless to hinder them from turning unto Thee, and from directing their eyes towards the horizon of Thy Revelation”

cause 62% revelation 14% behest 6% faith 4% bidding 4% commandment 3% decree 2% affairs 2% through 2% command 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §242: following the command of fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §696: My decree kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: hath prescribed for him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §52: command of God prayers-and-meditationsP&M §272: and bidden me tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: to Whose commands the-hidden-wordsHW §35: of power

يَنْطِقُ

yanṭiq n-ṭ-q → “thy”

literal: speak; speaking

SE rendered مَلَكُوتِ (malakút), أَمْرِكَ (ʾamrik), يَنْطِقُ (yanṭiq), خُلِقَ (khuliq) as “up, the, Thy, created”

speaketh 31% proclaimeth 13% crieth 13% who 6% may 6% speak 6% calleth 6% uttereth 6% whose 6% voiceth 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: uttering fire-tabletFire §37: uttereth gleaningsGWB §303: given utterance kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: words kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: eloquent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §470: and enable them to speak forth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: hath been moved to disclose will-and-testamentW&T §2: declared

خُلِقَ

khuliq kh-l-q → “created” Distinctive

literal: creation; create; created

This form usually rendered as “creation”, “creatures”, “hath” (213 occurrences)

creation 26% creatures 19% hath 15% created 12% men 9% people 7% all 4% called 3% mankind 3% creature 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §41: of a goodly character fire-tabletFire §40: wert created gleaningsGWB §664: all that is therein kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: are created of Thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §112: of Thy creatures tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created her the-hidden-wordsHW §69: We created you all epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: hast created me

المُهَيْمِنُ

al-muhaymin h-y-m-n → “is”

literal: guardian; guardian/protector; protector

SE rendered المُقْتَدِرُ (al-muqtadir), المُهَيْمِنُ (al-muhaymin), القَيُّومُ، (al-qayyúmu،), إِلهِي (ʾilhí), طَهِّرْ (ṭahhir) as “there, is, none, God, save”

help 68% omnipotent 6% overshadoweth 4% transcendent 4% supreme 4% protector 4% guardian 2% power 2% who 2% extend 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: Help in Peril gleaningsGWB §7: pervadeth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: awful majesty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: and hast caused to overshadow epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: the Help in Peril gleaningsGWB §300: Guardian prayers-and-meditationsP&M §154: that overshadoweth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §157: overshadoweth

القَيُّومُ،

al-qayyúmu، q-w-m → “none” Distinctive

literal: station; people; place

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 §143: primarily and fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §83: the Self-Subsisting.”kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your station kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: arise to prayers-and-meditationsP&M §444: Whose service tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: so steadfast tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: Wherein

طَهِّرْ

ṭahhir ṭ-h-r → “cleanse”

literal: purify; purified

cleanse 42% purify 17% recovered 8% cleansed 8% purge 8% guard 8% sanctify 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: Purify thou gleaningsGWB §697: hallow kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: Purge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: didst sanctify the-hidden-wordsHW §60: cleanse it epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §79: shall be cleansed gleaningsGWB §617: cleanseth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §796: Cleanse them

أَبْصَارَ

ʾabṣár b-ṣ-r → “eyes”

literal: sight; insight; eyes

eyes 43% sight 12% insight 12% vision 12% all 10% heart 5% own 2% seeing 2% observer 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §128: insight gleaningsGWB §376: whose eyes kitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: all vision.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §599: mine eyes tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: heart the-hidden-wordsHW §143: better epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §64: of discernment gleaningsGWB §490: discerning person

عِبادِكَ

ʿibádik ʿ-b-d → “the”

literal: servants; servant; servant/slave

SE rendered إِلهِي (ʾilhí), طَهِّرْ (ṭahhir), أَبْصَارَ (ʾabṣár), عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik), اجْتَذِبْهُمْ (ijtadhibhum), بِآياتِكَ (biáyátik) as “God, save, Thee, the, Help”

servants 87% among 4% people 3% unto 1% upon 1% all 1% amidst 1% sincere 1% servants’ 1% ones 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: all men fire-tabletFire §49: Adored gleaningsGWB §484: every kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: this people prayers-and-meditationsP&M §676: upon Thy servants tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a service will-and-testamentW&T §5: ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: the faithful

اجْتَذِبْهُمْ

ijtadhibhum j-dh-b → “the”

literal: attract; attraction; attract, draw

SE rendered أَبْصَارَ (ʾabṣár), عِبادِكَ (ʿibádik), اجْتَذِبْهُمْ (ijtadhibhum), بِآياتِكَ (biáyátik), شَأْنٍ (shaʾanin) as “Thee, the, Help, Peril”

cause 33% transport 33% enrapture 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §154: that they may draw him fire-tabletFire §3: O Enchanter gleaningsGWB §32: have been made to vibrate kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: transports prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and draw them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: enraptured gleaningsGWB §233: which have caused prayers-and-meditationsP&M §674: carried away

بِآياتِكَ

biáyátik ʾ-y-y → “signs”

literal: sign; verse; signs

signs 55% utterances 18% verses 8% most 6% utterance 3% words 3% sweetness 3% repudiated 2% through 2% truth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: by the signs fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §376: signs of the kitab-i-iqanKIQ §234: in the verses prayers-and-meditationsP&M §760: by Thy mighty Sign tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what the-hidden-wordsHW §89: cometh will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse

يَمْنَعُهُمُ

yamnaʿuhum m-n-ʿ → “withhold”

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

may 33% withhold 13% will 13% hinder 13% forbiddeth 7% hindered 7% keeping 7% harming 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §122: ban gleaningsGWB §307: interfere kitab-i-iqanKIQ §15: from attaining prayers-and-meditationsP&M §286: keep them not back tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §157: goodly will-and-testamentW&T §56: hindrance epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: obscure

البَلايا

al-baláyá b-l-w → “tribulations”

literal: tribulation; affliction; trial

tribulations 31% tribulation 17% troubles 10% trials 7% woes 7% every 7% adversities 7% afflictions 5% manifold 5% calamities 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: the afflictions fire-tabletFire §39: calamity gleaningsGWB §254: the tribulations We have suffered kitab-i-iqanKIQ §278: grievous prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: that must needs repeatedly assail me the-hidden-wordsHW §49: under My trials will-and-testamentW&T §3: rest epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §179: tribulations

التَّوَجُّهِ

at-tawajjuh w-j-h → “o”

literal: face; turning

SE rendered يَمْنَعُهُمُ (yamnaʿuhum), البَلايا (al-baláyá), التَّوَجُّهِ (at-tawajjuh), إِلَيْكَ (ʾilayk), وَعَنِ (waʿan), النَّظَرِ (an-naẓar) as “Self-Subsisting, Cleanse, O, my, God, the”

turning 30% turn 16% set 13% setting 9% hath 9% turned 8% directing 5% proceeded 4% fix 4% visited 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §30: Turn, then, thy face fire-tabletFire §30: This Face gleaningsGWB §629: are set kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: turn your faces kitab-i-iqanKIQ §156: before prayers-and-meditationsP&M §362: to Thee tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: hast directed towards me Thy steps the-hidden-wordsHW §16: unto Mine

النَّظَرِ

an-naẓar n-ẓ-r → “the”

literal: look; looking; view

SE rendered التَّوَجُّهِ (at-tawajjuh), إِلَيْكَ (ʾilayk), وَعَنِ (waʿan), النَّظَرِ (an-naẓar), أُفُقِ (ʾufuq), أَمْرِكَ، (ʾamrika،) as “O, my, God, the, of, Thy”