What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The original text has not been published; a typescript of it was shared with me by Marc Soudon, who received it from the National Bahá’í Archives of France.
This prayer was written for Gabriel Sacy (20 November 1858 – 21 March 1903), an Egyptian Catholic and Martinist who seems to have become a Baháʼí around the turn of the twentieth century, apparently under the guidance of Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl Gulpáygání, who was also living in Egypt at the time. Sacy spoke seven languages, studied at the Syrian Protestant College (now the American University of Beirut), and worked as the head of the personnel office at the Ministry of Finance in Cairo. E.G. Browne writes that Sacy “had become a fervent Baháʼí with a very remarkable faculty for interpreting the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, especially those of the Book of Daniel and Revelation, in support of the Bábí and Bahá’í claims” (Materials for the Study of the Bábí Religion, pp. 185–86).
He is God!
Egypt
Care of Abu’l-Faḍl
To the honorable Jibrán Effendí [Gabriel Sacy]
How can I make mention of Thee, O my God, and how can I voice Thy praise, O my Beloved, when I am encompassed by concerns that prevent me from being drawn to the fragrances of Thy holiness? And how can I gaze upon the light of Thy glorious countenance when my eyes are veiled from beholding the signs of Thy power? O my Lord! Remove Thou this veil, lift away this covering, and bestow Thy gifts, that I may witness Thy most great signs and arise to serve at Thy most exalted and sublime Threshold, in order that my soul may rest assured through the bounties Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, that my spirit may be quickened by such glad-tidings as have rejoiced the hearts of Thy loved ones, and that I may taste the sweetness of Thy remembrance and praise, even as Thou hast specially favored illumined hearts therewith, and as Thou singlest out for Thy compassion whomsoever Thou willest.
O my Lord! Aid Thou Thy servant, who hath turned his face toward the heaven of Thy mercy, through the sweet savors of Thy gifts wherewith Thou hast vivified the hearts of the pious. Make of him a radiant reality that shineth with the lights of guidance, and a tree firmly rooted in the loftiest Paradise—verdant, blossoming, and bearing choice fruit in the highest heaven. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Lord of bounty, conferring upon whomsoever Thou willest, guiding whomsoever Thou willest, drawing nigh whomsoever Thou willest, and choosing whomsoever Thou willest.
A typescript of the original Arabic text of this prayer appears below (all punctuation and short vowel marks mine).
Adib Masumian 