Prayers and Meditations — §66

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 66 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

أَيْ رَبِّ أَنَا العَطْشانُ فَأَشْرِبْنِي مِنْ كَوْثَرِ فَضْلِكَ وَأَنَا الفَقِيرُ فَأَظْهِرْ لِي ظُهُوراتِ غَنائِكَ، هَلْ يَنْبَغِي لِشَأْنِكَ بِأَنْ تَطْرُدَ الآمِلِينَ عَنْ فِنآءِ بابِ فَضْلِكَ وَأَلْطافِكَ، وَهَلْ يَلِيقُ لِسُلْطانِكَ بِأَنْ تَمْنَعَ المُشْتاقِينَ عَن كَعْبَةِ وَصْلِكَ وَلِقائِكَ، فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَيْسَ هذا ظَنِّي بِكَ لأَنِّي أَيْقَنْتُ بِأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْكَرِيمُ ذُو الفَضْلِ العَمِيمِ،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I am he who is sore athirst, O my Lord! Give me to drink of the living waters of Thy grace. I am but a poor creature; reveal unto me the tokens of Thy riches. Doth it beseem Thee to cast out of the door of Thy grace and bounty such as have set their hopes on Thee, and can it befit Thy sovereignty to hinder them that yearn after Thee from attaining the adored sanctuary of Thy presence and from beholding Thy face? By Thy glory! Such is not my belief in Thee, for I am persuaded that Thou art the God of bounteousness, Whose grace hath encompassed all things.

Translation Notes

العَطْشانُ

al-ʿaṭshán ʿ-ṭ-sh → “is sore athirst”

literal: thirst

SE expanded to “is sore athirst”

sore 33% am 33% who 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the sore athirst gleaningsGWB §687: thirsty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §501: my thirst gleaningsGWB §558: thirst prayers-and-meditationsP&M §80: with thirst prayers-and-meditationsP&M §263: I am sore athirst prayers-and-meditationsP&M §66: he who is sore athirst

فَأَشْرِبْنِي

faʾashribní sh-r-b → “give me to drink”

literal: drink; to drink

SE expanded to “Give me to drink”

give 56% let 22% make 11% suffer 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: drunk gleaningsGWB §299: that hast drained kitab-i-ahdAhd §4: drink then your fill kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: drinking prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: Make them, then, to quaff the-hidden-wordsHW §139: wine epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §261: draught gleaningsGWB §111: to quaff thy fill

كَوْثَرِ

kawthar k-w-th-r → “living waters”

literal: abundance/fountain; abundance, fountain in paradise

living 56% waters 9% river 9% through 6% stream 3% cup 3% life-giving 3% everlasting 3% plenteous 3% after 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: through the living waters gleaningsGWB §435: stream prayers-and-meditationsP&M §5: the river epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: living waters gleaningsGWB §60: the life-giving waters prayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: the waters epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the living waters gleaningsGWB §57: cup

فَضْلِكَ

faḍlik f-ḍ-l → “thy grace”

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

grace 91% loving-kindness 2% tender 2% bounty 1% token 1% whose 1% bounteousness 1% gracious 1% mercy 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: gracious favor gleaningsGWB §586: as a token of the grace kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §118: God’s holy grace prayers-and-meditationsP&M §752: Most Bountiful tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §15: a bounty the-hidden-wordsHW §1: as a token of grace will-and-testamentW&T §18: wisdom

الفَقِيرُ

al-faqír f-q-r → “a poor creature”

literal: poor

SE expanded to “a poor creature”

poor 52% poverty 24% paupers 6% destitute 5% passages 3% matter 2% one 2% destitution 2% misery 2% subject 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §214: These passages gleaningsGWB §408: for the poor kitab-i-iqanKIQ §142: poor?”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §242: of the poor the-hidden-wordsHW §128: poor,”epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: certain gleaningsGWB §228: its plight kitab-i-iqanKIQ §143: the lack

فَأَظْهِرْ

faʾaẓhir ẓ-h-r → “reveal”

literal: manifestation; manifest

most 24% revealed 12% manifested 12% hath 12% reveal 12% evident 6% should 6% unveiled 6% fulfill 6% lay 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: His back fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §550: embodiments kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §107: enshrined prayers-and-meditationsP&M §472: to declare tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §69: may be made manifest

غَنائِكَ،

ghanáʾika، gh-n-y → “thy riches”

literal: rich; wealth; riches

riches 45% wealth 45% self-sufficiency 3% plenteousness 3% immensity 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §4: All-Possessing gleaningsGWB §405: independent of all things kitab-i-iqanKIQ §141: richer prayers-and-meditationsP&M §161: and be made independent tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: singeth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: the eternal wealth the-hidden-wordsHW §130: him, who, being rich will-and-testamentW&T §27: independent of

يَنْبَغِي

yanbaghí n-b-gh → “beseem”

literal: befit; befits; befitting

behooveth 38% beseemeth 23% must 8% befitteth 8% beseem 5% would 5% which 5% becometh 5% fit 3% behoove 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: it behoove gleaningsGWB §492: befitteth kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: that which is meet and seemly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: and as beseemeth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §196: beseemeth them gleaningsGWB §520: must needs kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: to do that which is meet and seemly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §375: becometh

لِشَأْنِكَ

lishaʾanik sh-ʾ-n

literal: manner; affair; affairs

SE rendered غَنائِكَ، (ghanáʾika،), هَلْ (hal), يَنْبَغِي (yanbaghí), لِشَأْنِكَ (lishaʾanik), تَطْرُدَ (taṭrud), الآمِلِينَ (al-ámilín) as “Thy riches, Doth, beseem, cast out, have set their hopes”

majesty 22% exaltation 22% station 11% rank 11% glory 11% thee 11% state 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §258: regarding fire-tabletFire §27: the signs gleaningsGWB §605: such steadfastness that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: concerning prayers-and-meditationsP&M §546: the tokens the-hidden-wordsHW §68: My state will-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly things epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: the people

تَطْرُدَ

taṭrud ṭ-r-d → “cast out”

literal: cast out

cast 86% thrust 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §63: abandoned gleaningsGWB §464: reject Us kitab-i-iqanKIQ §114: cast Him out from their midst prayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: to cast not away epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §227: cast them out gleaningsGWB §461: Thrust not away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §260: outcast prayers-and-meditationsP&M §441: Cast us not away

الآمِلِينَ

al-ámilín ʾ-m-l → “have set their hopes”

literal: hope

SE expanded to “have set their hopes”

such 29% have 29% whose 14% aspire 14% who 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §56: cherish the hope gleaningsGWB §35: Reflect kitab-i-iqanKIQ §4: longing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §333: to aspire after the-hidden-wordsHW §93: desires epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §115: hopes gleaningsGWB §395: longing to partake kitab-i-iqanKIQ §267: ponder

فِنآءِ

fináʾ f-n-y → “mortal” Distinctive

literal: mortal; perishing

This form usually rendered as “perisheth”, “into”, “surviveth” (6 occurrences)

perisheth 20% into 20% surviveth 20% threshold 20% door 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: pass away gleaningsGWB §243: shall pass away kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: vanishing mortals prayers-and-meditationsP&M §761: the threshold the-hidden-wordsHW §87: utter loss epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §70: dieth gleaningsGWB §708: complete surrender kitab-i-iqanKIQ §254: vanities

بابِ

báb b-w-b

literal: door; doors; door, gate

SE rendered تَطْرُدَ (taṭrud), الآمِلِينَ (al-ámilín), فِنآءِ (fináʾ), بابِ (báb), فَضْلِكَ (faḍlik), وَأَلْطافِكَ، (waʾalṭáfika،), وَهَلْ (wahal) as “cast out, have set their hopes, the door, Thy grace, bounty, can”

door 69% gate 8% chapter 4% presence 4% words 4% doorstep 2% through 2% gates 2% portal 2% instrument 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §147: the door gleaningsGWB §210: its door kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: door of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §760: the gate epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §161: doors gleaningsGWB §555: a door kitab-i-iqanKIQ §2: these words prayers-and-meditationsP&M §313: to Thy door

وَأَلْطافِكَ،

waʾalṭáfika، l-ṭ-f → “bounty” Distinctive

literal: kindness

This form usually rendered as “favors”, “loving-kindness”, “gifts” (65 occurrences)

favors 32% loving-kindness 13% gifts 13% tender 11% bountiful 8% bounties 6% manifold 5% favor 5% bounty 5% transcendent 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §130: bounty gleaningsGWB §59: the favors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §213: purge prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: Thy loving-kindness the-hidden-wordsHW §85: an attentive ear epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §253: is pure gleaningsGWB §310: attain their fullest development kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: grace

يَلِيقُ

yalíq l-y-q → “worthy”

literal: worthy; befit; befits

beseemeth 22% befitteth 17% worthy 17% unworthy 11% would 6% can 6% well 6% beseem 6% falleth 6% what 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §55: fit gleaningsGWB §486: befitteth kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: best befit prayers-and-meditationsP&M §424: beseem the-hidden-wordsHW §157: have been and will ever be for epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §120: worthy gleaningsGWB §492: and beseemeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: what can truly befit

لِسُلْطانِكَ

lisulṭánik s-l-ṭ → “thy sovereignty”

literal: sovereignty

sovereignty 52% power 17% through 16% sovereign 5% almighty 2% surpassing 2% most 2% sublimity 2% whose 2% before 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §33: Majesty gleaningsGWB §567: the sovereignty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §131: of kings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §848: through Thine omnipotent sovereignty tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §103: celestial will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: sovereign

تَمْنَعَ

tamnaʿ m-n-ʿ → “hinder” Distinctive

literal: prevent; prevented; prevention

This form usually rendered as “can”, “withhold”, “debar” (24 occurrences)

can 17% withhold 17% debar 11% deter 11% deny 11% keep 11% resist 6% powerless 6% refuse 6% turn 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §247: shut you out gleaningsGWB §35: ceased to rain kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: ceased prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: can ever frustrate tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §9: arise against thee the-hidden-wordsHW §89: no longer will-and-testamentW&T §23: are in no wise permitted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: withhold

المُشْتاقِينَ

al-mushtáqín sh-w-q → “that yearn” Distinctive

literal: longing; yearning; longing, yearning

This form usually rendered as “long”, “all”, “who” (25 occurrences)

long 24% all 24% who 14% yearn 10% however 5% thirst 5% longing 5% such 5% souls 5% whose 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §183: such as yearn for Thee fire-tabletFire §41: Thy yearning gleaningsGWB §57: vehement desire!”kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: desire prayers-and-meditationsP&M §173: vehement longing the-hidden-wordsHW §51: thy longing will-and-testamentW&T §14: urging epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: fervor

كَعْبَةِ

kaʿbah k-ʿ-b → “adored sanctuary”

literal: kaaba/lodestar

adored 31% sanctuary 25% celestial 6% ka‘b 6% court 6% object 6% tabernacle 6% attaining 6% lodestar 6%

gleaningsGWB §41: Ka‘b kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: Sanctuary prayers-and-meditationsP&M §348: adored Sanctuary gleaningsGWB §661: the court prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: and the sanctuary gleaningsGWB §31: the celestial Kaaba prayers-and-meditationsP&M §322: the adored tabernacle prayers-and-meditationsP&M §28: object of the adoration

وَصْلِكَ

waṣlik w-ṣ-l → “thy presence”

literal: union; reunion

presence 67% court 11% meeting 11% reunion 11%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: will have been brought face to face with fire-tabletFire §2: of Thy reunion gleaningsGWB §424: reunion kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: of My presence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §85: to attain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §176: of Thy meeting tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §18: reached the-hidden-wordsHW §97: the presence of

وَلِقائِكَ،

waliqáʾika، l-q-y → “beholding thy face” Distinctive

literal: meeting; meeting, encounter

This form usually rendered as “presence”, “whose”, “drawn” (17 occurrences)

SE expanded to “beholding Thy face”

presence 56% whose 6% drawn 6% look 6% beholding 6% entrance 6% unto 6% meeting 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: this Presence fire-tabletFire §1: of Thy Countenance gleaningsGWB §652: in My Presence kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: that they shall ever meet Him prayers-and-meditationsP&M §781: entrance into Thy presence tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: of His Presence the-hidden-wordsHW §4: have engraved on thee will-and-testamentW&T §4: sowed

فَوَعِزَّتِكَ

fawaʿizzatik ʿ-z-z → “by thy glory”

literal: mighty; glory; might

SE expanded to “By Thy glory”

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

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: is the Almighty gleaningsGWB §486: priceless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §133: of all dominion prayers-and-meditationsP&M §23: Thy glory beareth me witness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Thy power

لَيْسَ

lays l-y-s → “is not”

literal: not

SE rendered وَلِقائِكَ، (waliqáʾika،), فَوَعِزَّتِكَ (fawaʿizzatik), لَيْسَ (lays), ظَنِّي (ẓanní), بِكَ (bik), لأَنِّي (lʾanní) as “beholding Thy face, By Thy glory, is not, my belief, Thee, for”

there 22% can 17% none 13% have 13% nothing 9% given 9% consisted 4% which 4% cannot 4% will 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: Thou art not gleaningsGWB §358: which is not possessed by Thee prayers-and-meditationsP&M §489: none can be found tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: bereft epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: is as nothing gleaningsGWB §227: is not to be numbered prayers-and-meditationsP&M §792: nor can epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: None

ظَنِّي

ẓanní ẓ-n-n → “idle” Distinctive

literal: conjecture; think; suppositions

This form usually rendered as “mine”, “belief”, “thought” (3 occurrences)

mine 33% belief 33% thought 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: vain imaginings fire-tabletFire §24: fancy gleaningsGWB §685: vain desires kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: held it as certain prayers-and-meditationsP&M §511: imagine tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §13: superstitions the-hidden-wordsHW §57: is thy fancy epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: idle imaginings

أَيْقَنْتُ

ʾayqant y-q-n → “persuaded” Distinctive

literal: certainty; certitude; be certain

This form usually rendered as “am”, “assured”, “firmly” (7 occurrences)

am 57% assured 14% firmly 14% can 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: certainty fire-tabletFire §24: Thy certitude gleaningsGWB §353: firmly believest kitab-i-iqanKIQ §148: have firm faith prayers-and-meditationsP&M §326: is persuaded the-hidden-wordsHW §29: Know thou of a truth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: believing gleaningsGWB §388: true

الْكَرِيمُ

al-karím k-r-m → “god” Distinctive

literal: generous; generosity; bounty

This form usually rendered as “most”, “all-bountiful”, “generous” (73 occurrences)

most 53% all-bountiful 25% generous 6% all-bounteous 3% noble 3% god 3% blessed 2% bountiful 2% sublime 2% goodness 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: of His generosity fire-tabletFire §4: bestowal gleaningsGWB §428: blessings kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: All-Powerful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: praise prayers-and-meditationsP&M §140: bounteousness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Generous One the-hidden-wordsHW §126: To give

ذُو

dhú dh-w → “of”

literal: possessor; possessor of

SE rendered بِأَنَّكَ (biʾannak), الْكَرِيمُ (al-karím), ذُو (dhú), الفَضْلِ (al-faḍl), العَمِيمِ، (al-ʿamími،) as “that, God, of, bounteousness, Whose, grace hath encompassed all things”