Prayers and Meditations — §771

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 771 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

أَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْئَلُكَ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِيْ سَاقَ المُقَرَّبِينَ إِلى سِهامِ قَضائِكَ وَالمُخْلِصِينَ إِلى سُيُوفِ الأَعْداءِ فِي سَبِيلِكَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ لِي مِنْ قَلَمِكَ الأَعْلى ما كتَبْتَهُ ِلأُمَنائِكَ وَأَصْفِيائِكَ، تَرَانِي يا إِلهِي مُتَمَسِّكًا بِاسْمِكَ الأَقْدَسِ الأَنْوَرِ الأَعَزِّ الأَعْظَمِ العَلِيِّ الأَبْهى وَمُتَشَبِّثًا بِذَيْلٍ تَشَبَّثَ بِهِ مَنْ فِي الآخِرَةِ وَالأُولی،

Shoghi Effendi Translation

I beseech Thee, O my God, by the light of Thy countenance which impelled them who are nigh unto Thee to meet the darts of Thy decree, and such as are devoted to Thee to face the swords of Thine enemies in Thy path, to write down for me with Thy most exalted Pen what Thou hast written down for Thy trusted ones and Thy chosen ones. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come.

Translation Notes

أَللَّهُمَّ

ʾalllahumm ʾ-l-h → “o my god”

literal: god; o god

SE expanded to “O my God”

lord 78% god 21% god” 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §133: I adjure thee by God fire-tabletFire §41: after God gleaningsGWB §105: Call of God Himself kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: the divine Testator kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: divinely-revealed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §188: O my God—hath tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §50: By the Lord the-hidden-wordsHW §147: celestial

أَسْئَلُكَ

ʾasʾaluk s-ʾ-l → “i beseech thee”

literal: ask; ask/beseech

SE expanded to “I beseech Thee”

beseech 47% implore 28% entreat 15% beg 4% pray 3% ask 1% moreover 1% nevertheless 1% deal 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: asketh gleaningsGWB §489: be asked kitab-i-iqanKIQ §112: truths prayers-and-meditationsP&M §705: seek epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: I implore Thee gleaningsGWB §467: wert thou to inquire of them kitab-i-iqanKIQ §195: the questions prayers-and-meditationsP&M §285: I entreat

سَاقَ

sáq s-w-q → “market” Distinctive

literal: market

This form usually rendered as “impelled”, “adversities”, “unbearable” (4 occurrences)

impelled 33% adversities 33% unbearable 33%

kitab-i-iqanKIQ §275: market prayers-and-meditationsP&M §771: impelled will-and-testamentW&T §34: unbearable cruelty kitab-i-iqanKIQ §122: an impeller will-and-testamentW&T §34: Adversities kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: the market kitab-i-iqanKIQ §80: the streets

المُقَرَّبِينَ

al-muqarrabín q-r-b → “them who are nigh”

literal: nearness; near; bring near

SE expanded to “them who are nigh”

such 18% nigh 16% who 14% enjoy 14% favored 12% have 10% all 8% well-favored 6% shall 2% well-favoured 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: will draw men nigh fire-tabletFire §2: Those who are near unto Thee gleaningsGWB §130: nearness kitab-i-ahdAhd §13: Kindred kitab-i-iqanKIQ §70: is at hand.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §156: suffer me to enjoy near access to Thee tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the Presence tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: the favoured of God

سِهامِ

sihám s-h-m → “darts”

literal: arrows; arrow; arrow/dart

darts 68% arrows 16% shafts 12% dart 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §304: for the darts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: the shafts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §308: the darts epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §85: darts prayers-and-meditationsP&M §116: dart prayers-and-meditationsP&M §387: the arrows prayers-and-meditationsP&M §571: arrows

قَضائِكَ

qaḍáʾik q-ḍ-y → “thy decree”

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

decree 66% irrevocable 13% dispositions 3% decreed 3% judgment 3% purpose 3% appointments 3% irrevocably 3% through 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: hath it been decreed fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §259: irrevocably decreed kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: destiny prayers-and-meditationsP&M §425: Thy judgment the-hidden-wordsHW §19: have ordained will-and-testamentW&T §39: exigencies

وَالمُخْلِصِينَ

wálmukhliṣín kh-l-ṣ → “such as are devoted”

literal: sincere; pure; sincere ones

SE expanded to “such as are devoted”

sincere 31% such 19% wholly 17% devoted 7% who 7% pure 5% faithful 5% all 5% devout 2% whosoever 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: of the sincere fire-tabletFire §1: the sincere gleaningsGWB §724: are wholly devoted to His Cause kitab-i-iqanKIQ §233: with the sincere in heart prayers-and-meditationsP&M §830: them who are devoted the-hidden-wordsHW §146: absolute will-and-testamentW&T §34: Thy devoted epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §187: such as are devoted

سُيُوفِ

suyúf s-y-f → “swords”

literal: sword; swords

swords 69% sword 19% blades 6% assaults 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §100: the swords gleaningsGWB §620: with the sword prayers-and-meditationsP&M §559: the assaults epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §43: the sword gleaningsGWB §636: of the sword prayers-and-meditationsP&M §99: the swords that are drawn against Him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: blades epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §93: with the swords

الأَعْداءِ

al-ʾaʿdáʾ ʿ-d-w → “thine enemies”

literal: enemy; enemies

enemies 64% mine 12% foes 6% enemy 6% all 6% hands 3% foemen 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §110: enemies fire-tabletFire §33: Thy foes gleaningsGWB §520: Our enemies kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: enmity kitab-i-iqanKIQ §261: prepared prayers-and-meditationsP&M §101: those Thine enemies the-hidden-wordsHW §25: Transgress will-and-testamentW&T §58: whatsoever else

سَبِيلِكَ

sabílik s-b-l → “thy path”

literal: path; way; path/way

path 88% sake 5% way 1% thee 1% path.” 1% path!” 1% ways 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §94: the ways gleaningsGWB §360: for the sake of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §259: Thy sake prayers-and-meditationsP&M §278: Thy path!”tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: in My path the-hidden-wordsHW §46: My path will-and-testamentW&T §3: in this path epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §54: in the path of

تَكْتُبَ

taktub k-t-b → “to write down”

literal: write

SE expanded to “to write down”

write 83% ordain 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: the Book gleaningsGWB §77: bearing the register kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: Writ kitab-i-iqanKIQ §57: of the sacred Book prayers-and-meditationsP&M §639: Thou hadst written down the-hidden-wordsHW §68: and have written for thee will-and-testamentW&T §6: Epistles epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: writing

قَلَمِكَ

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

literal: pen; pen, reed; the pen

SE expanded to “Thy most exalted Pen”

pen 59% most 32% through 5% pen—a 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §101: Pen gleaningsGWB §387: His Pen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: by the Pen prayers-and-meditationsP&M §235: the realms will-and-testamentW&T §54: to appear as epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the Pen gleaningsGWB §174: written prayers-and-meditationsP&M §109: of Thy pen

العَلِيِّ

al-ʿalíl ʿ-l-w → “the most exalted”

literal: highest; exalted; high

SE expanded to “the Most Exalted”

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 §150: for the sake of the exaltation of fire-tabletFire §42: highest gleaningsGWB §135: the Realms above kitab-i-iqanKIQ §84: waxing greater and stronger prayers-and-meditationsP&M §24: Most High.”tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: raising high the-hidden-wordsHW §92: the realm on high will-and-testamentW&T §17: the Exalted One

ِلأُمَنائِكَ

ilʾumanáʾik ʾ-m-n → “for thy trusted ones”

literal: faith; believer; believe

SE expanded to “for Thy trusted ones”

trusted 60% thou 10% trustees 10% bearers 10% have 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: them that Thou didst trust gleaningsGWB §568: had believed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §8: believe’prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: the Refuge tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: have ye believed the-hidden-wordsHW §10: and secure will-and-testamentW&T §28: loyalty epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §160: for having believed

وَأَصْفِيائِكَ،

waʾaṣfíáʾika، ṣ-f-w → “and thy chosen ones”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones

SE expanded to “and Thy chosen ones”

chosen 95% among 3% holy 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: His chosen ones fire-tabletFire §27: and purity gleaningsGWB §112: every Prophet kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: chosen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: pure prayers-and-meditationsP&M §288: didst raise up the-hidden-wordsHW §22: choicest will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones

تَرَانِي

tarání r-ʾ-y → “thou seest me”

literal: see; to see

SE expanded to “Thou seest me”

thou 96% seest 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: perceiveth fire-tabletFire §28: Canst Thou see gleaningsGWB §356: that thou mayest find kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: hypocrite prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: that can behold Thee the-hidden-wordsHW §146: hypocrisy will-and-testamentW&T §5: behold him epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thou seest me

مُتَمَسِّكًا

mutamassikan m-s-k → “holding to”

literal: clinging; hold fast; cling

holding 37% cling 17% cleaving 12% cleave 7% clung 7% clinging 7% hold 5% held 2% adhered 2% cleaveth 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §39: cleaveth fast unto gleaningsGWB §7: strict observance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §188: musk prayers-and-meditationsP&M §518: cleaving fast tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §2: Launch epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §117: seized gleaningsGWB §419: prove their devotion kitab-i-iqanKIQ §76: “Cling

بِاسْمِكَ

biásmik s-m-w → “thy name”

literal: name; names

name 85% most 6% whose 3% through 1% treasured 1% brightness 1% called 1% all-glorious 1% invested 1% bearer 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: all names fire-tabletFire §36: heavenly gleaningsGWB §661: by Thy name kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: empty name prayers-and-meditationsP&M §250: in heaven tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §11: My sake tablet-of-carmelCarmel §4: Names.’tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: divine attributes

الأَقْدَسِ

al-ʾaqdas q-d-s → “the most holy”

literal: holy; sanctified

SE expanded to “the Most Holy”

most 61% aqdas 10% holy 10% sanctified 3% sacred 3% glory 3% presence 3% sanctity 3% ever-blessed 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §145: Saint Paul gleaningsGWB §118: bewildered kitab-i-iqanKIQ §155: of eternal holiness prayers-and-meditationsP&M §796: of sanctity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §15: hath exalted the-hidden-wordsHW §153: such deeds as these will-and-testamentW&T §38: Most epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §252: blessed

الأَعَزِّ

al-ʾaʿazz ʿ-z-z → “the most mighty”

literal: mighty; might

SE expanded to “the Most Mighty”

most 58% more 8% how 8% precious 4% inestimable 4% high-minded 4% priceless 4% dignitaries 4% all-powerful 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §206: glorified gleaningsGWB §489: He exalteth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §264: dignitaries prayers-and-meditationsP&M §157: my Strength tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §4: Incomparable the-hidden-wordsHW §58: splendor will-and-testamentW&T §10: my pride epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §150: precious in my estimation

الأَعْظَمِ

al-ʾaʿẓam ʿ-ẓ-m → “the most great”

literal: greatest; great; greatness

SE expanded to “the Most Great”

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 §106: sovereign gleaningsGWB §606: the Most Powerful kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: categorically kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: magnificence prayers-and-meditationsP&M §601: His glory the-hidden-wordsHW §21: plenteous will-and-testamentW&T §38: very great epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §136: the Great

الأَبْهى

al-ʾabhى b-h-y → “the most glorious”

literal: most-glorious; most glorious; glory

SE expanded to “the Most Glorious”

all-glorious 72% most 8% abhá 6% glory 6% effulgent 3% everlasting 1% resplendent 1% glorious 1% what 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: honored fire-tabletFire §48: Bahá gleaningsGWB §48: effulgent kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: glorious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §763: Most Glorious the-hidden-wordsHW §1: HE IS THE GLORY epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §23: Abhá gleaningsGWB §192: of Glory

وَمُتَشَبِّثًا

wamutashabbithan sh-b-th → “and clinging”

literal: cling; clinging; clinging/holding fast

clinging 61% clung 9% cling 9% cleave 4% take 4% resolve 4% set 4% still 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: clung unto gleaningsGWB §411: take firm hold on kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: firmly adhere kitab-i-iqanKIQ §146: upheld prayers-and-meditationsP&M §150: clung will-and-testamentW&T §17: seize upon epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: clinging to gleaningsGWB §645: holdeth fast

بِذَيْلٍ

bidhaylin dh-y-l → “hem”

literal: hem; hem, train; hem/tail

hem 91% unto 2% robe 2% veil 2% hold 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: the hem fire-tabletFire §31: The robe gleaningsGWB §493: the hem of Our kitab-i-iqanKIQ §76: robe prayers-and-meditationsP&M §598: to the resplendent hem the-hidden-wordsHW §77: hold epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: unto the hem gleaningsGWB §647: to the hem of the Robe

الآخِرَةِ

al-ákhirah ʾ-kh-r → “in the world to come”

literal: end; hereafter; other

SE expanded to “in the world to come”

world 32% end 20% next 19% finally 6% another 5% hath 5% life 5% last 4% new 2% latter 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §111: declining gleaningsGWB §70: heaven kitab-i-iqanKIQ §173: “last”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §182: and in the life beyond the-hidden-wordsHW §96: While there is yet will-and-testamentW&T §42: of late epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §251: end gleaningsGWB §99: our last

وَالأُولی،

wálʾúlí، ʾ-w-l → “this world and”

literal: first; firstness

SE expanded to “this world and”

world 37% primal 24% first 7% ye 6% life 6% all 6% early 4% more 4% people 4% former 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §140: the former fire-tabletFire §31: the people gleaningsGWB §134: Primary kitab-i-ahdAhd §15: members kitab-i-iqanKIQ §279: In the early days prayers-and-meditationsP&M §782: of this world the-hidden-wordsHW §119: ye that have will-and-testamentW&T §4: Nineteen Letters

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf cover

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet cover

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings cover

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-'Ahd cover

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán cover

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad cover

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel cover

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner cover

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words cover

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶

Will and Testament cover

Will and Testament

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in three parts between 1901 and 1908, opened and read after His passing on 28 November 1921. Shoghi Effendi designated it the Charter of the New World Order — the mightiest instrument forged to ensure the continuity of the three ages of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

59 ¶