Prayers and Meditations — §729

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 729 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

وَجَمالِكَ يا سُلْطانَ القِدَمِ وَالمُسْتَوِيْ عَلَى العَرْشِ الأَعْظَمِ إِنَّ مَطْلَعَ آياتِكَ وَمَظْهَرَ شُئُوناتِكَ مَعَ بَحْرِ عِلْمِهِ وَسَمآءِ عِرْفانِهِ اعْتَرَفَ بِعَجْزِهِ عَنْ عِرْفانِ أَدْنى آيَةٍ مِنْ آياتِكَ الَّتِي تُنْسَبُ إِلى قَلَمِكَ الأَعْلى فَكَيْفَ ذاتِكَ الأَبْهى وَكَيْنُونَتِكَ العُلْيا،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I swear by Thy Beauty, O King of eternity Who sittest on Thy most glorious Throne! He Who is the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Revealer of Thy clear tokens hath, notwithstanding the immensity of His wisdom and the loftiness of His knowledge, confessed His powerlessness to comprehend the least of Thine utterances, in their relation to Thy most exalted Pen,—how much more is He incapable of apprehending the nature of Thine all-glorious Self and of Thy most august Essence!

Translation Notes

وَجَمالِكَ

wajamálik j-m-l → “beauty”

literal: beauty; beautiful

beauty 85% gaze 2% face 2% whose 2% countenance 1% glory 1% contemplation 1% swear 1% most 1% through 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §92: by the Beauty gleaningsGWB §594: an ornament kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: Gracious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §6: brief prayers-and-meditationsP&M §207: to gaze on Thy beauty tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §28: her beauty the-hidden-wordsHW §97: the beauty of His countenance will-and-testamentW&T §4: His

سُلْطانَ

sulṭán s-l-ṭ → “king”

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

king 42% sovereignty 19% sháh 12% sovereign 11% through 5% lord 4% power 2% majesty 2% virtue 2% excelleth 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: the higher powers gleaningsGWB §174: The highest essence and most perfect expression kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: the Ancient of Days prayers-and-meditationsP&M §219: with Thy 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 §68: through the power of a sovereignty

القِدَمِ

al-qidam q-d-m → “eternity”

literal: ancient; eternity; step

ancient 50% eternity 11% everlasting 9% who 7% step 6% eternal 5% feet 5% steps 2% entered 2% advance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §222: with the footsteps fire-tabletFire §1: the Most Ancient gleaningsGWB §34: step forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: keep himself aloof prayers-and-meditationsP&M §245: Most Ancient tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: with Thy footsteps the-hidden-wordsHW §4: immemorial will-and-testamentW&T §8: submitted

وَالمُسْتَوِيْ

wálmustawí s-w-y → “all” Distinctive

literal: other than; other-than; other than, except

This form usually rendered as “occupied”, “imprinted”, “established” (7 occurrences)

occupied 17% imprinted 17% established 17% source 17% who 17% set 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §32: occupied gleaningsGWB §386: but Him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §248: established prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: all else but Thee tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §44: full height the-hidden-wordsHW §18: other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §135: all else besides Me gleaningsGWB §370: seat

العَرْشِ

al-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 §262: the Throne gleaningsGWB §279: His throne 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 §221: of the Mighty Throne gleaningsGWB §86: ruins kitab-i-iqanKIQ §140: seat

الأَعْظَمِ

al-ʾaʿẓam ʿ-ẓ-m → “most glorious”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

most 70% greater 8% supreme 5% greatest 4% more 4% mightier 3% how 2% transcendeth 2% mightiest 2% sovereign 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §169: so great gleaningsGWB §504: inconceivably mighty kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §226: lofty prayers-and-meditationsP&M §831: Tongue of Grandeur the-hidden-wordsHW §93: all-glorious will-and-testamentW&T §38: very great epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: most grievous

مَطْلَعَ

maṭlaʿ ṭ-l-ʿ → “he who is the dayspring”

literal: dawning-place

SE expanded to “He Who is the Dayspring”

dayspring 42% dawning-place 20% source 10% who 10% manifestation 6% revealer 5% fountain 3% apprehend 2% fountainhead 2% fountain-head 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §6: the dawning-places fire-tabletFire §24: exponents gleaningsGWB §338: well aware kitab-i-ahdAhd §8: sources kitab-i-iqanKIQ §171: the “last”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §122: to be the Dayspring tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §37: may understand the-hidden-wordsHW §25: before the countenance

آياتِكَ

áyátik 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 §2: His verses fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §368: this high endowment kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: “smoke” denotes prayers-and-meditationsP&M §575: on Thy signs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what the-hidden-wordsHW §89: cometh will-and-testamentW&T §5: the Holy Text

وَمَظْهَرَ

wamaẓhar ẓ-h-r → “revealer”

literal: manifestation; manifest

manifestation 58% revealer 16% who 12% manifest 3% dayspring 2% manifested 2% manifestations 2% revealest 1% focused 1% symbol 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: perpetrated fire-tabletFire §38: prevail gleaningsGWB §134: the manifestation of each one of them kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: demonstrating kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: surged prayers-and-meditationsP&M §184: the tokens tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §69: may be made manifest

شُئُوناتِكَ

shuʾúnátik sh-ʾ-n → “thy clear tokens”

literal: manner; affair; affairs

SE expanded to “Thy clear tokens”

manifold 33% testimonies 33% clear 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §258: regarding fire-tabletFire §27: the signs gleaningsGWB §375: How puny and insignificant kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: way prayers-and-meditationsP&M §856: a detachment the-hidden-wordsHW §68: My state will-and-testamentW&T §15: all earthly things epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: The changes and chances

بَحْرِ

baḥr b-ḥ-r → “ocean”

literal: sea; ocean; sea, ocean

ocean 77% sea 14% waters 4% deep 1% flood 1% through 1% rushing 1% oceans 1% beneath 1% immensity 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: ocean gleaningsGWB §71: the waters kitab-i-iqanKIQ §31: billows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: by the ocean will-and-testamentW&T §2: the Twin surging seas epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §99: seas gleaningsGWB §629: the oceans of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §1: the ocean of true understanding

عِلْمِهِ

ʿilmih ʿ-l-m → “knowledge”

literal: world; knowledge; worlds

knowledge 70% learning 10% standard 4% divine 4% wisdom 2% understanding 2% true 2% divines 2% banner 1% science 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: priests fire-tabletFire §13: ensigns gleaningsGWB §535: comprehendeth all things kitab-i-ahdAhd §2: recognized kitab-i-iqanKIQ §124: tokens prayers-and-meditationsP&M §539: all the world’s tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §17: of all the worlds tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §13: which we have taught

وَسَمآءِ

wasamáʾ s-m-w → “heaven”

literal: heaven

heaven 74% heavens 16% “heaven 3% “heaven” 2% all 2% heavenly 1% into 1% out 1% towards 0% who 0%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §97: titles fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §286: His attribute kitab-i-iqanKIQ §169: in name prayers-and-meditationsP&M §706: and by Thy Name tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My sake tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes

بِعَجْزِهِ

biʿajzih ʿ-j-z → “his powerlessness”

literal: unable; powerlessness

powerlessness 44% impotence 15% helplessness 11% none 7% tearful 4% can 4% failure 4% failed 4% man 4% futility 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §82: none can produce gleaningsGWB §297: powerlessness kitab-i-iqanKIQ §105: incapacity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §154: Whom no one can frustrate will-and-testamentW&T §49: overwhelmed me epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §193: tree-stumps gleaningsGWB §586: frustrate kitab-i-iqanKIQ §145: the sick

أَدْنى

ʾadnى d-n-w → “least”

literal: world; world/this life; lowest

least 43% however 14% abject 14% lowliest 14% which 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §249: this world gleaningsGWB §34: low kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: or low prayers-and-meditationsP&M §484: life the-hidden-wordsHW §56: with this world epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §121: The life of the present world gleaningsGWB §426: the things of this world kitab-i-iqanKIQ §251: sordid

تُنْسَبُ

tunsab n-s-b → “claim” Distinctive

literal: relation

This form usually rendered as “relation”, “ascribe” (2 occurrences)

relation 50% ascribe 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §40: bear gleaningsGWB §374: comparable kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: regard prayers-and-meditationsP&M §93: hast caused to be related will-and-testamentW&T §43: connection epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §181: accusation gleaningsGWB §313: faithful

قَلَمِكَ

qalamik q-l-m → “thy most exalted pen,—how”

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

SE expanded to “Thy most exalted Pen,—how”

pen 59% most 32% through 5% pen—a 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the Pen gleaningsGWB §387: His Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by the Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §771: with Thy most exalted Pen will-and-testamentW&T §13: every clime epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: pens gleaningsGWB §66: exclaimeth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §171: from my Pen

العُلْيا،

al-ʿulyá، ʿ-l-w → “most august essence”

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE expanded to “most august Essence”

most 62% exalted 20% inaccessible 5% sublime 2% báb 2% all-highest 2% transcendent 2% high 2% glory 2% heavens 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §205: loftiest fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §154: transcendent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §135: more excellent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §845: and can aid tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §23: Noble will-and-testamentW&T §17: the Exalted One

فَكَيْفَ

fakayf k-y-f → “how”

literal: how; how, why; how/whithersoever

how 67% why 12% wherefore 10% what 5% “how 2% into 2% whithersoever 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §13: as gleaningsGWB §242: why is it, then,kitab-i-iqanKIQ §273: nature prayers-and-meditationsP&M §795: whithersoever the-hidden-wordsHW §15: wherefore epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: How, then,gleaningsGWB §242: By what right kitab-i-iqanKIQ §282: What of

ذاتِكَ

dhátik dh-w-t → “thine all-glorious self”

literal: essence; essence, self; essence, being

SE expanded to “Thine all-glorious Self”

own 26% essence 24% self 18% thyself 11% thee 8% judgment 3% all 3% one 3% oneness 3% unto 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: Essence gleaningsGWB §463: with all thine heart kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: Beings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §854: my own being will-and-testamentW&T §25: in person epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §172: being gleaningsGWB §536: by My Self kitab-i-iqanKIQ §106: the unchangeable Being

الأَبْهى

al-ʾabhى b-h-y

literal: most-glorious; most glorious; glory

SE rendered فَكَيْفَ (fakayf), ذاتِكَ (dhátik), الأَبْهى (al-ʾabhى), وَكَيْنُونَتِكَ (wakaynúnatik), العُلْيا، (al-ʿulyá،) as “much more is, Thine all-glorious Self, most august Essence”