Prayers and Meditations — §601
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 601 of 858.
Source (Arabic)
سُبْحَانَكَ يا إِلهِي قَدِ اعْتَرَفَ عَبْدُكَ هذا بِأَنَّكَ لا تُوصَفُ بِسِواكَ وَلا تُذْكرُ بِدُونِكَ، كُلَّما يَعْرُجُ أَهْلُ الحَقِيقَةِ إِلى سَماءِ ذِكْرِكَ لا يَصِلُنَّ إِلاَّ إِلى المَقامِ الَّذِيْ خُلِقَ فِي أَفْئِدَتِهِمْ بِأَمْرِكَ وَتَقْدِيرِكَ، كَيْفَ يَقْدِرُ العَدَمُ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ القِدَمَ أَوْ يَصِفَهُ بِما يَنْبَغِيْ لِسُلْطانِهِ وَعَظَمَتِهِ وَكِبْرِيائِهِ، لا وَنَفْسِكَ يا مالِكَ الأُمَمِ قَدْ شَهِدَ الكُلُّ بِعَجْزِ نَفْسِهِ وَاقْتِدارِ نَفْسِكَ وَدُنُوِّ ذاتِهِ وَعُلُوِّ ذاتِكَ، أَسْئَلُكَ بِآخِرِيَّتِكَ الَّتِي كانَتْ نَفْسَ
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Praised be Thou, O my God! This servant of Thine testifieth that naught else except Thee can ever express Thee, nor canst Thou be described by any one save Thyself. The thoughts of them that have recognized Thy reality, however much they may ascend towards the heaven of Thy praise, can never hope to pass beyond the bounds which, by Thy behest and decree, have been fixed within their own hearts. How can the creature who is as nothing comprehend Him Who is the Ancient of Days, or succeed in describing the full measure of His sovereignty, His glory, and His grandeur? Nay, and to this Thou Thyself dost witness, O Thou Who art the Governor of nations! Every created thing hath recognized its own impotence, and the power of Thy might, and hath confessed its own abasement and Thy great glory.
Translation Notes
SE expanded to “Praised be Thou”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §265: \‘GlorifiedgleaningsGWB §633: the All-Gloriouskitab-i-iqanKIQ §178: these grievous “veils of glory,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: Glorified, immeasurably glorifiedtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §11: my Lordthe-hidden-wordsHW §89: from on highepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: celebratethgleaningsGWB §620: the Glorified
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “confessed”, “recognized” (26 occurrences)
hath 32% confessed 16% recognized 11% confessing 11% hast 5% confess 5% borne 5% testifieth 5% acknowledge 5% have 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: the recognitiongleaningsGWB §214: acknowledgekitab-i-ahdAhd §13: perform praiseworthy deedskitab-i-iqanKIQ §152: learningprayers-and-meditationsP&M §842: to knowtablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: to seethe-hidden-wordsHW §3: of thine own knowledgeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: recognition
SE expanded to “This servant of Thine”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §84: cloistersfire-tabletFire §50: all the servantsgleaningsGWB §30: with himkitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: the people ofprayers-and-meditationsP&M §381: they who serve Theetablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a servicethe-hidden-wordsHW §3: of otherswill-and-testamentW&T §36: this Thy servant
This form usually rendered as “describe”, “affirm”, “ever” (6 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: DescribinggleaningsGWB §387: the descriptionskitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: clothed themselvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §374: the strivingsepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: thatgleaningsGWB §311: His attributeskitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: ascribe toprayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: of Thine attributes.”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: mountedgleaningsGWB §358: else besides thesekitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: been establishedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §630: save Theetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full heightthe-hidden-wordsHW §16: another than Meepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: all else besides MegleaningsGWB §302: besides Him
This form usually rendered as “warning”, “aware”, “thou” (7 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: the remembrancegleaningsGWB §3: mysterykitab-i-ahdAhd §4: reckonedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §38: referred to hereprayers-and-meditationsP&M §477: what I have spokentablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: utter His calltablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: proclaimeththe-hidden-wordsHW §44: Make mention of Me
SE expanded to “by any one save”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: for thy neighborgleaningsGWB §196: havekitab-i-iqanKIQ §110: withheldprayers-and-meditationsP&M §60: to aught else except Thyselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §17: all save Mewill-and-testamentW&T §38: All othersepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: foreign togleaningsGWB §132: all else besides Him
This form usually rendered as “every”, “whatever”, “loftiest” (20 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §204: the peoplegleaningsGWB §583: Concoursekitab-i-ahdAhd §5: beholders ofkitab-i-iqanKIQ §268: followersprayers-and-meditationsP&M §119: Thy kindredthe-hidden-wordsHW §109: DWELLERSwill-and-testamentW&T §34: devotedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: inhabitants
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: truth-seekergleaningsGWB §191: actually manifestkitab-i-ahdAhd §12: rightkitab-i-iqanKIQ §182: been demonstratedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §274: methe-hidden-wordsHW §137: of your deservingwill-and-testamentW&T §27: (Ḥuqúq)epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: proven
This form usually rendered as “order”, “pass” (2 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: crystal purefire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reuniongleaningsGWB §233: of reunionkitab-i-iqanKIQ §167: reachprayers-and-meditationsP&M §234: attain the retreatstablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §5: may attainthe-hidden-wordsHW §62: the joy of reunionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: witness
This form usually rendered as “station”, “connection”, “place” (338 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: I have arisenfire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen upgleaningsGWB §39: have championedkitab-i-ahdAhd §13: your stationkitab-i-iqanKIQ §194: station—the stationprayers-and-meditationsP&M §692: the seattablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spottablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: that place
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §212: createthfire-tabletFire §9: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §594: righteousnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: graceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §436: raisetablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §54: created herthe-hidden-wordsHW §69: how ye were createdepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: a creature
SE expanded to “their own hearts”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: heartsgleaningsGWB §176: men’s heartskitab-i-iqanKIQ §5: understandingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §134: understanding heartthe-hidden-wordsHW §60: Thy heartwill-and-testamentW&T §48: They haveepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §73: of the heartsgleaningsGWB §91: illuminated heart
cause 59% revelation 16% behest 7% bidding 4% decree 4% faith 3% commandment 3% command 1% through 1% affairs 1%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: at the commandfire-tabletFire §17: CommandgleaningsGWB §475: the ordinanceskitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decreekitab-i-iqanKIQ §75: Command,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §203: at Thy biddingtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §33: summonedthe-hidden-wordsHW §30: My command
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §14: as much as liethfire-tabletFire §48: OrdainergleaningsGWB §67: the greatness ofkitab-i-ahdAhd §12: grantedkitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: for a whileprayers-and-meditationsP&M §215: that which Thou didst ordaintablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are nottablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: asgleaningsGWB §374: how much lesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: “What of the signprayers-and-meditationsP&M §298: how much more whenthe-hidden-wordsHW §15: whereforeepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: “HowgleaningsGWB §453: Why, thenprayers-and-meditationsP&M §233: How, then
lack 21% nothingness 16% evanescent 11% utter 11% ignorance 11% want 11% none 5% innocence 5% naught 5% destitute 5%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: nonegleaningsGWB §669: of utter nothingnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §158: ignoranceprayers-and-meditationsP&M §407: may be entirely mortifiedwill-and-testamentW&T §5: speeding towards destructionepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: innocencegleaningsGWB §129: destitutekitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: been born
SE expanded to “the Ancient of Days”
ancient 47% eternity 13% step 9% feet 7% everlasting 7% eternal 5% ever-abiding 4% steps 4% who 2% stepped 2%
SE rendered القِدَمَ (al-qidam), يَصِفَهُ (yaṣifah), يَنْبَغِيْ (yanbaghí), لِسُلْطانِهِ (lisulṭánih), وَعَظَمَتِهِ (waʿaẓamatih) as “the Ancient of Days, succeed in describing, of, His sovereignty, His glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §144: Thy sovereigntygleaningsGWB §35: Lordkitab-i-iqanKIQ §98: heavenly Kingprayers-and-meditationsP&M §756: through His sovereigntytablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the Kingthe-hidden-wordsHW §98: chiefwill-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just kingepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: His Majesty
majesty 36% greatness 25% glory 11% grandeur 7% dominion 7% sovereignty 4% overpowering 4% majesty.… 4% deep 4%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §3: glorygleaningsGWB §404: transcendethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §60: thisprayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: moldering bonethe-hidden-wordsHW §93: all-gloriouswill-and-testamentW&T §40: more glaringepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §230: the weightiestgleaningsGWB §93: dominion
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §107: HimselfgleaningsGWB §707: He is indeedkitab-i-ahdAhd §8: thosekitab-i-iqanKIQ §136: the least of menprayers-and-meditationsP&M §81: wherewith Thou praisest Thyselftablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §52: within herselfthe-hidden-wordsHW §158: are theywill-and-testamentW&T §44: of the insincere
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: thosegleaningsGWB §426: but vassalskitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: the earthprayers-and-meditationsP&M §340: and the Rulertablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdomtablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: inthe-hidden-wordsHW §116: this worldwill-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: Motherfire-tabletFire §13: the peoplesgleaningsGWB §403: unlettered Onekitab-i-ahdAhd §16: the peoples and kindredskitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the peopleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §758: mothersthe-hidden-wordsHW §104: mother’sepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: of
This form usually rendered as “hath”, “have”, “testified” (26 occurrences)
hath 22% have 17% testified 11% borne 11% testifieth 11% witnesseth 6% pronounced 6% who 6% sweetness 6% pleasant 6%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: have bornefire-tabletFire §48: the placegleaningsGWB §364: denunciationskitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appearethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: and the invisibleprayers-and-meditationsP&M §588: both visibletablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: dost witnessthe-hidden-wordsHW §45: thou mayest testify
This form usually rendered as “powerlessness”, “helplessness”, “none” (37 occurrences)
SE expanded to “its own impotence”
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 §229: helplessnessgleaningsGWB §196: failethkitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: weariedprayers-and-meditationsP&M §811: to my powerlessnesswill-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmedepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: powerlessgleaningsGWB §112: confess their helplessnesskitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: miracle
This form usually rendered as “own” (1 occurrences)
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: the Most Sublime EssencegleaningsGWB §303: Ancient Beingkitab-i-iqanKIQ §32: their own Selvesprayers-and-meditationsP&M §243: Thine own Essencewill-and-testamentW&T §25: in personepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thine EssencegleaningsGWB §87: womankitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Beings
This form usually rendered as “loftiness”, “glory”, “sublime” (43 occurrences)
loftiness 27% glory 9% sublime 9% lofty 9% excellence 9% transcendent 9% heights 9% inaccessible 9% all-glorious 5% high-minded 5%
SE rendered وَعُلُوِّ (waʿulúl), ذاتِكَ، (dhátika،), أَسْئَلُكَ (ʾasʾaluk), بِآخِرِيَّتِكَ (biákhiríratik) as “Thy great, glory”
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: We praygleaningsGWB §630: pray Theekitab-i-iqanKIQ §285: seekprayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: Dealepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: praygleaningsGWB §265: prayer and entreatyprayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: I entreatepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: ask
SE rendered وَعُلُوِّ (waʿulúl), ذاتِكَ، (dhátika،), أَسْئَلُكَ (ʾasʾaluk), بِآخِرِيَّتِكَ (biákhiríratik) as “Thy great, glory”
world 37% next 29% last 9% another 6% latter 6% concluding 3% culmination 3% can 3% again 3% future 3%
epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §28: nextgleaningsGWB §295: to lastkitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: again.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §459: in the worldepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: the worldgleaningsGWB §99: our lastprayers-and-meditationsP&M §428: restepistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §182: concluding
