Introduction by Joshua Hall

The Prayer of Splendor, attributed to the fifth Imám, Muḥammad al-Báqir, is an important supplication in Shí’í Islam, and also in the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths; with regard to the former, on account of the Báb’s drawing the titles of  the months of His Badí’ Calendar from the invocations of this prayer; with regard to the latter, on account of there being a tradition in which the Imám states that the Most Great Name of God is to be found in this prayer—the first line of which entreats God by His splendor (bahá), which tradition Bahá’u’lláh stated to have been fulfilled in His Manifestation.

The following translation attempts to convey as much of the quality and meaning of the text as possible.

View interlinear file with the original Arabic

The Prayer of Splendor (Du’á’ul-Bahá)

Provisional Translation by Joshua Hall

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Splendor by the most splendorous thereof, and, verily, all Thy Splendor is resplendent. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Splendor in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Beauty by the most beauteous thereof, and, verily, all Thy beauty doth charm. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Beauty in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Majesty by the most august thereof, and, verily, all Thy Majesty is august. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Majesty in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Grandeur by the grandest thereof, and, verily, all Thy Grandeur is sublime. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Grandeur in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Light by the most luminous thereof, and, verily, all Thy Light is refulgent. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Light in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Mercy by the most boundless thereof, and, verily, all Thy Mercy is embracing. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Mercy in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Words by the most perfect thereof, and, verily, all Thy Words are complete. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Words in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Perfection by the most consummate thereof, and, verily, all Thy Perfection is faultless. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Perfection in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Names by the greatest thereof, and, verily, all Thy Names are excellent. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Names in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Glory by the most glorious thereof, and, verily, all Thy Glory is mighty. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Glory in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Will by the most compelling thereof, and, verily, all Thy Will shall be fulfilled. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Will in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Power by that whereby Thou art supreme over all, and, verily, all Thy Power is encompassing. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Power in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Knowledge by the most pervading thereof, and, verily, all Thy Knowledge is omniscient. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Knowledge in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thine Utterance by the most pleasing thereof, and, verily, all Thine utterance is delightful. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thine Utterance in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Questions by such as are most beloved of Thee, and, verily, all Thy Questions are well-beloved. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Questions in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Honor by the noblest thereof, and, verily, all Thy Honor is reverenced. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Honor in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Sovereignty by the most abiding thereof, and, verily, all Thy sovereignty shall abide for ever more. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Sovereignty in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Dominion by the most magnificent thereof, and, verily, all Thy Dominion is exquisite. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Dominion in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thine Exaltation by the loftiest thereof, and, verily, all Thine Exaltation is transcendent. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thine Exaltation in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Beneficence by the most eternal thereof, and, verily, all Thy Beneficence hath ever been. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Beneficence in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, of Thy Verses by the choicest thereof, and, verily, all Thy Verses are cherished. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Verses in the fullness whereof!

I beseech Thee, O my God, by such Rank and Lordship as are Thine, and I entreat Thee by all Rank and Lordship itself. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by that wherewith Thou shalt grant my supplication at the very moment when I ask of Thee; wherefore, O my God, do Thou answer me.

Pray, then, for that whereof thou art in need, and assuredly shall it be granted unto thee.