Prayers and Meditations — §850

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 850 of 858.

Source (Arabic)

بِأَمْرِكَ وَقَضَيْتَ لَهُمْ بِسُلْطانِ مَشِيَّتِكَ وَقَدَّرْتَ لَهُمْ بِمَلِيكِ تَقْدِيْرِكَ، وَبَلَغُوا فِي الغَفْلَةِ إِلى مَقامِ الَّذِيْ لَوْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَحبَّائِكَ يُلْقِي عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ بَدائِعِ آياتِ تَوْحِيدِكَ وَجَواهِرِ كَلِماتِ عِزِّ تَفْرِيْدِكَ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصابِعَهُمْ فِي آذانِهِمْ وَيَعْتَرِضُونَ َعَلَيْهِ وَيَسْتَهْزِئُونَ بِهِ، وَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَحْصَيْتَ كُلَّ ذلِكَ بِإِحاطَةِ قَيُّومِيَّتِكَ وَأَحَطْتَ بِاقْتِدارِ رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ، سُبْحَانَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ يا سَيِّدِيْ فَانْظُرْ إِلى صُدُورِ الَّتِيْ تَشَبَّكَتْ مِنْ سِهامِ أَعْدائِكَ فِي

Shoghi Effendi Translation

My breast is straitened, O my God, and sorrows and vexations have compassed me round, for I hear among Thy servants every praise except Thy wondrous praise, and behold amidst Thy people the evidences of all things save the evidences of what Thou hast prescribed unto them by Thy behest, and destined for them through Thy sovereign will, and ordained unto them by Thine overruling decree. They have strayed so far from Thee that should any of Thy loved ones deliver unto them the wondrous tokens of Thy unity, and the gem-like utterances that attest Thy transcendent oneness, they would thrust their fingers into their ears, and would cavil at him and mock him. All this hast Thou set down through Thine all-encompassing sovereignty, and apprehended through Thine omnipotent supremacy.

Translation Notes

بِأَمْرِكَ

biʾamrik ʾ-m-r → “behest”

literal: command; cause

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 §40: have We commanded fire-tabletFire §17: Command gleaningsGWB §644: hath been prescribed kitab-i-ahdAhd §7: a decree kitab-i-iqanKIQ §161: to proclaim prayers-and-meditationsP&M §175: before Thy Cause tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §12: to its dwellers the-hidden-wordsHW §35: of power

وَقَضَيْتَ

waqaḍayt q-ḍ-y → “decree” Distinctive

literal: decree; decree/judgment; decreed

This form usually rendered as “hast”, “didst”, “ordained” (13 occurrences)

hast 18% didst 9% ordained 9% destine 9% accomplished 9% decreed 9% decree 9% thou 9% destined 9% whatsoever 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §89: hath it been decreed fire-tabletFire §29: of destiny gleaningsGWB §488: will soon be ended kitab-i-ahdAhd §10: is ended kitab-i-iqanKIQ §12: was prayers-and-meditationsP&M §367: divers tribulations the-hidden-wordsHW §46: for that which I ordain epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §155: that have happened

بِسُلْطانِ

bisulṭán s-l-ṭ → “sovereign will” Distinctive

literal: sovereignty; king; authority

This form usually rendered as “king”, “sovereignty”, “sháh” (213 occurrences)

king 39% sovereignty 23% sháh 13% sovereign 9% lord 5% power 3% through 3% monarch 2% divine 2% manifest 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §21: monarch of all gleaningsGWB §200: the Ancient King kitab-i-iqanKIQ §117: those Kings prayers-and-meditationsP&M §386: by the power of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §1: is the King the-hidden-wordsHW §98: chief will-and-testamentW&T §8: unto a just king epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: rulers

مَشِيَّتِكَ

mashíhatik sh-y-ʾ → “things” Distinctive

literal: thing; will; things

This form usually rendered as “will”, “desire”, “daystar” (37 occurrences)

will 70% desire 7% daystar 4% might 4% own 4% purpose 4% primal 4% potency 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §159: all created things gleaningsGWB §255: anything kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: thing a prayers-and-meditationsP&M §181: that nothing whatsoever tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §6: desireth tablet-of-carmelCarmel §2: created things.’the-hidden-wordsHW §9: that is epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §226: for whatsoever

وَقَدَّرْتَ

waqaddart q-d-r → “ordained” Distinctive

literal: power; powerful

This form usually rendered as “power”, “thou”, “might” (157 occurrences)

power 49% thou 18% might 8% decreed 5% didst 4% ordain 4% ordained 4% omnipotence 3% divine 2% have 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §240: much fire-tabletFire §48: Ordainer gleaningsGWB §404: human power kitab-i-ahdAhd §9: consummate power kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: heaven prayers-and-meditationsP&M §1: dominion tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: are not tablet-of-carmelCarmel §5: the Mighty, the All-Powerful

بِمَلِيكِ

bimalík m-l-k → “kingdom”

literal: kingdom; king

king 24% angels 20% lord 16% ruler 12% sovereign 8% kingship 4% transcendent 4% overruling 4% all-sufficient 4% supremacy 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §5: Thy dominion gleaningsGWB §244: Sovereign Lord kitab-i-iqanKIQ §43: the angels descend.”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §778: supreme dominion tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: of the Kingdom tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §20: in the-hidden-wordsHW §2: that thine may be will-and-testamentW&T §48: of the

وَبَلَغُوا

wabalaghúá b-l-gh → “teach” Distinctive

literal: reach; reached; attainment

This form usually rendered as “fiercely”, “strayed” (2 occurrences)

fiercely 50% strayed 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §91: teach fire-tabletFire §11: reached gleaningsGWB §395: propagation kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: consummate kitab-i-iqanKIQ §86: eloquent prayers-and-meditationsP&M §254: scale will-and-testamentW&T §14: Teaching epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §228: attained

الغَفْلَةِ

al-ghaflah gh-f-l

literal: heedless; heedlessness; neglect

SE rendered وَبَلَغُوا (wabalaghúá), الغَفْلَةِ (al-ghaflah), مَقامِ (maqám), لَوْ (law) as “strayed so far from Thee, that should”

waywardness 27% wayward 13% forgetfulness 13% strayed 7% careless 7% path 7% turneth 7% hath 7% failed 7% grievously 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §190: unaware gleaningsGWB §644: indifferent kitab-i-ahdAhd §5: remained heedless kitab-i-iqanKIQ §214: wayward thought prayers-and-meditationsP&M §855: and banish the-hidden-wordsHW §90: OF NEGLIGENCE epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §156: who art gone astray gleaningsGWB §372: erred

مَقامِ

maqám q-w-m → “people” Distinctive

literal: station; people; place

This form usually rendered as “station”, “connection”, “place” (338 occurrences)

station 55% connection 12% place 6% most 5% seat 5% such 5% spot 3% another 3% court 2% instance 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: Straight Path fire-tabletFire §48: He hath risen up gleaningsGWB §102: mission kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: to be beneath that kitab-i-iqanKIQ §126: passage prayers-and-meditationsP&M §466: they have risen up tablet-of-carmelCarmel §3: most exalted Spot tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §47: own station

لَوْ

law l-w → “though”

literal: if

8 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §88: If kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: were prayers-and-meditationsP&M §788: though

أَحَدٌ

ʾaḥadun ʾ-ḥ-d → “any of”

literal: one; anyone; oneness

one 28% any 17% anyone 15% none 13% man 13% neighbor 4% incomparable 2% alone 2% another’s 2% king 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §104: one of gleaningsGWB §98: God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: the everlasting and goodly prayers-and-meditationsP&M §841: none of tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §28: others epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §114: one gleaningsGWB §115: None

أَحبَّائِكَ

ʾaḥbbáʾik ḥ-b-b → “thy loved ones”

literal: love; beloved; beloved ones

SE expanded to “Thy loved ones”

loved 61% dear 13% who 10% friends 3% love 3% servants 3% upon 3% thee 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: Best-Beloved of the nations fire-tabletFire §7: of Thy love gleaningsGWB §28: a kitab-i-iqanKIQ §219: the New Beloved prayers-and-meditationsP&M §17: them that love me tablet-of-carmelCarmel §1: a Day tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §40: the Beloved One the-hidden-wordsHW §55: thine heart be set

يُلْقِي

yulqí l-q-y → “deliver unto them”

literal: meeting; cast; meeting, encounter

SE expanded to “deliver unto them”

yearn 50% deliver 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §134: meeteth fire-tabletFire §1: of Thy Countenance gleaningsGWB §109: proclamation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §149: attainment prayers-and-meditationsP&M §772: who forsook tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §16: of eternal reunion the-hidden-wordsHW §37: to meet Me will-and-testamentW&T §41: kindling

عَلَيْهِمْ

ʿalayhim ʿ-l-y

literal: upon; on

SE rendered أَحبَّائِكَ (ʾaḥbbáʾik), يُلْقِي (yulqí), عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim), بَدائِعِ (badáʾiʿ) as “Thy loved ones, deliver unto them, the wondrous tokens”

rest 20% wronged 20% upon 20% unto 20% fall 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §264: him gleaningsGWB §635: and encompassed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: of prayers-and-meditationsP&M §225: their the-hidden-wordsHW §42: reveal unto thee will-and-testamentW&T §59: upon you epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §36: the esteemed gleaningsGWB §256: that wronged Us

بَدائِعِ

badáʾiʿ b-d-ʿ → “wondrous tokens”

literal: wondrous; wonders

wondrous 43% wonders 41% marvelous 3% having 2% majesty 2% melodious 2% over 2% bountiful 2% evidence 2% matchless 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §201: to create gleaningsGWB §548: creation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: melodious prayers-and-meditationsP&M §793: matchless tokens the-hidden-wordsHW §38: from will-and-testamentW&T §2: most wondrous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §142: Incomparable gleaningsGWB §281: created things

آياتِ

áyát ʾ-y-y

literal: sign; signs; verse

SE rendered بَدائِعِ (badáʾiʿ), آياتِ (áyát), تَوْحِيدِكَ (tawḥídik), وَجَواهِرِ (wajawáhir) as “the wondrous tokens, Thy unity, the gem-like utterances”

signs 56% verses 31% words 3% manifold 2% sign 2% testimonies 2% manifest 2% word 2% reveal 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §218: verse fire-tabletFire §26: utterance gleaningsGWB §555: the manifest signs kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: acquainted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §288: with the signs tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §7: by what will-and-testamentW&T §6: by the holy verse epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §129: signs

تَوْحِيدِكَ

tawḥídik w-ḥ-d → “thy unity”

literal: unity; one; oneness

unity 47% oneness 42% singleness 5% divine 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §42: to unite fire-tabletFire §43: By Thine aloneness gleaningsGWB §183: in the Unity of God kitab-i-iqanKIQ §220: of divine Unity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §406: unity and oneness tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: believers in the Divine Unity tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: lone the-hidden-wordsHW §69: dust

وَجَواهِرِ

wajawáhir j-w-r → “gem-like utterances”

literal: essence

gems 25% gem-like 25% glory 13% essences 13% have 13% essence 13%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: the fugitive gleaningsGWB §5: glory kitab-i-iqanKIQ §193: Essences prayers-and-meditationsP&M §682: the precincts of tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: the nearness the-hidden-wordsHW §1: have taken will-and-testamentW&T §32: Helper gleaningsGWB §331: The essence

كَلِماتِ

kalimát k-l-m

literal: word; words

SE rendered تَوْحِيدِكَ (tawḥídik), وَجَواهِرِ (wajawáhir), كَلِماتِ (kalimát), عِزِّ (ʿizz), تَفْرِيْدِكَ (tafrídik), يَجْعَلُونَ (yajʿalún) as “Thy unity, the gem-like utterances, that attest Thy transcendent oneness, thrust their”

words 63% utterances 10% word 10% utterance 4% terms 4% sayings 2% which 2% mysteries 2% vain 2% holy 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §168: clung to gleaningsGWB §382: the truth of the words kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: single utterance kitab-i-iqanKIQ §16: those words the-hidden-wordsHW §95: faith will-and-testamentW&T §38: of His Word epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §189: Sublime Word gleaningsGWB §708: the words

عِزِّ

ʿizz ʿ-z-z → “that attest thy transcendent oneness”

literal: glory; mighty; might

SE expanded to “that attest Thy transcendent oneness”

glory 49% transcendent 20% exalted 10% glorified 4% honor 4% all-glorious 3% mighty 3% most 3% almighty 3% might 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §225: pride fire-tabletFire §43: by Thy banishment gleaningsGWB §683: exalted character kitab-i-iqanKIQ §130: of power prayers-and-meditationsP&M §365: what shall exalt the-hidden-wordsHW §107: cherish will-and-testamentW&T §4: endeared epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: of glory

تَفْرِيْدِكَ

tafrídik f-r-d

literal: oneness; singleness

SE rendered وَجَواهِرِ (wajawáhir), كَلِماتِ (kalimát), عِزِّ (ʿizz), تَفْرِيْدِكَ (tafrídik), يَجْعَلُونَ (yajʿalún), أَصابِعَهُمْ (ʾaṣábiʿahum) as “the gem-like utterances, that attest Thy transcendent oneness, thrust their, fingers”

oneness 60% singleness 20% holy 20%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §146: One, the Incomparable fire-tabletFire §17: lonely gleaningsGWB §384: One kitab-i-iqanKIQ §191: essential prayers-and-meditationsP&M §75: recognize Thy unity tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §2: Peerless tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §51: forlorn will-and-testamentW&T §5: the All-Highest Paradise

يَجْعَلُونَ

yajʿalún j-ʿ-l → “thrust their”

literal: make; made; to make

thou 17% make 16% hath 14% made 13% hast 12% enable 7% cause 7% number 5% ordained 4% have 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §217: made thee fire-tabletFire §44: We have made gleaningsGWB §219: He shall cause kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: fanciful images prayers-and-meditationsP&M §450: Thou hast enshrined the-hidden-wordsHW §23: thou hast will-and-testamentW&T §36: and grant that epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §8: Make

أَصابِعَهُمْ

ʾaṣábiʿahum ṣ-b-ʿ → “fingers”

literal: finger; fingers

finger 50% fingers 30% whose 10% pen 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §244: finger gleaningsGWB §415: the finger kitab-i-iqanKIQ §175: fingers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §438: the fingers the-hidden-wordsHW §129: pen gleaningsGWB §283: as the fingers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §790: Whose finger

وَيَعْتَرِضُونَ

wayaʿtariḍún ʿ-r-ḍ → “cavil at him”

literal: turn away; turning away; objection

SE expanded to “cavil at him”

cavil 75% challenge 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §103: turneth aside gleaningsGWB §689: too critical kitab-i-iqanKIQ §79: opposers prayers-and-meditationsP&M §529: and cavil at tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §14: turns away the-hidden-wordsHW §24: thee turn away will-and-testamentW&T §17: hath epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §29: protested against

وَيَسْتَهْزِئُونَ

wayastahziʾún h-z-ʾ → “scorn” Distinctive

literal: mockery; mockery, derision; to mock

This form usually rendered as “mock” (1 occurrences)

scorn 20% derision 10% deride 10% scornfully 10% scoffed 10% scoff 10% would 10% how 10% mock 10%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §171: scorn kitab-i-iqanKIQ §7: how malevolently they hinted prayers-and-meditationsP&M §850: mock him kitab-i-iqanKIQ §231: scoffed kitab-i-iqanKIQ §246: would scorn and scoff kitab-i-iqanKIQ §230: of kitab-i-iqanKIQ §121: of derision kitab-i-iqanKIQ §157: scornfully

وَإِنَّكَ

waʾinnak ʾ-n-n

literal: indeed/verily

SE rendered وَيَسْتَهْزِئُونَ (wayastahziʾún), وَإِنَّكَ (waʾinnak), أَحْصَيْتَ (ʾaḥṣayt) as “mock him, set down”

thee 43% thou 29% verily 14% since 14%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §216: now gleaningsGWB §161: Were it prayers-and-meditationsP&M §378: likewise, recognize will-and-testamentW&T §36: I call upon Thee gleaningsGWB §235: “There prayers-and-meditationsP&M §534: for Thou will-and-testamentW&T §36: not to gleaningsGWB §704: Liberty

أَحْصَيْتَ

ʾaḥṣayt ḥ-ṣ-y → “reckon” Distinctive

literal: count; enumerate; enumeration

This form usually rendered as “canst”, “hast”, “set” (3 occurrences)

canst 33% hast 33% set 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: stone gleaningsGWB §305: search prayers-and-meditationsP&M §45: measure the-hidden-wordsHW §66: recount will-and-testamentW&T §11: boundless epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §80: have We set down gleaningsGWB §135: reckon prayers-and-meditationsP&M §258: hast reckoned up

بِإِحاطَةِ

biʾiḥáṭah ḥ-w-ṭ → “through thine all-encompassing sovereignty” Distinctive

literal: encompassing; encompass; encompassed

This form usually rendered as “encompassed”, “hath”, “envelop” (75 occurrences)

SE expanded to “through Thine all-encompassing sovereignty”

encompassed 40% hath 16% envelop 11% pervaded 7% embraced 7% have 4% comprehend 4% all-encompassing 4% surrounded 4% surround 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: throughout fire-tabletFire §9: enveloped gleaningsGWB §259: rival kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: encompassed the prayers-and-meditationsP&M §273: encompass the-hidden-wordsHW §98: beset will-and-testamentW&T §14: was noised abroad epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §164: surround

رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ،

rubúbíbatika، r-b-b

literal: Lord; lord

SE rendered وَأَحَطْتَ (waʾaḥaṭt), بِاقْتِدارِ (biáqtidár), رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ، (rubúbíbatika،), سُبْحَانَكَ (subḥának), سُبْحَانَكَ (subḥának) as “apprehended, omnipotent supremacy”