The Hidden Words — §128

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 128 of 160.

Source (Arabic)

(٥١) ﴿ ای پسر کنيز من ﴾ در فقر اضطراب نشايد و در غنا اطمينان نبايد * هر فقری را غنا در پی و هر غنا را فنا از عقب و لکن فقر از ماسوی اللّه نعمتی است بزرگ حقير مشماريد زيرا که در غايت آن غنای باللّه رخ بگشايد * و در اين مقام ( أنتم الفقرآء ) مستور و کلمه مبارکه ( و اللّه هو الغنيّ ) چون صبح صادق از افق قلب عاشق ظاهر و باهر و هويدا و آشکار شود و بر عرش غنا متمکّن گردد و مقرّ يابد *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

(51) O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth

Translation Notes

ای

ʾ-y-y → “O”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

پسر

b-s-r → “SON”

literal: building, structure, edifice; to build, construct; structure, edifice

کنيز

k-n-z → “HANDMAID”

literal: treasure; treasure-trove; hidden store; treasury

من

m-n → “MY” Distinctive

literal: from; out of; than (preposition and particle)

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

فقر

f-q-r → “poverty”

literal: poor; needy; the poor one; pauper

اضطراب

ḍ-ṭ-r-b → “dismayed” Distinctive

literal: to be troubled, shaken, agitated; to tremble

نشايد

sh-ʾ-y → “Be not”

literal: to become; to be

غنا

gh-n-y → “riches”

literal: to be independent of; to be in no need of; to dispense with; rich; wealthy; needless

اطمينان

ṭ-m-n → “confident” Distinctive

literal: to be at peace; to be reassured; to settle down

نبايد

b-ʾ-d

literal: it is necessary; it behooves; one must

هر

h-r

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

پی

p-y → “discover”

literal: trace; pursuit; trace, awareness

فنا

f-n-y → “shall perish” Distinctive

literal: to annihilate; to disappear; annihilation

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

عقب

ʿ-q-b → “retribution” Distinctive

literal: outcome; end; result; consequence

لکن

l-k-n → “Yet”

literal: but; however; yet; nevertheless

ماسوی

s-w-y → “all save” Distinctive

literal: level; equal; straight; upon a throne; resting upon; toward; to; direction of; other than; besides; except

اللّه

ʾ-l-h → “God”

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

نعمتی

n-ʿ-m → “gift”

literal: bliss; bounty; grace; comfort; felicity

است

b-w-d → “is”

literal: to be; are (third person plural present copula)

بزرگ

b-z-r-g → “great” Distinctive

literal: great; large; important; grandeur

حقير

ḥ-q-r → “most contemptible” Distinctive

literal: most contemptible; insignificant; lowness

مشماريد

sh-m-r

literal: to count; to regard; to esteem; to consider

زيرا

z-y-r → “for”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

غايت

gh-y-t → “highest wish”

literal: purpose; aim; goal; end; ultimate

آن

ʾ-n

literal: that; those; he; she; it

رخ

r-kh

literal: face

بگشايد

g-sh-ʾ → “Redeemer” Distinctive

literal: open; again; back

اين

ʾ-y-n → “this Chapter”

literal: this; these

مقام

q-w-m → “people” Distinctive

literal: rising; standing; uprising; resurrection

أنتم

n-t-m

literal: you

مستور

s-t-r

literal: to veil; to conceal; to cover; veil; covering

کلمه

k-l-m → “words”

literal: words; utterances; locutions; word; utterance; speech; sayings; verses

مبارکه

b-r-k → “holy”

literal: blessed; auspicious; fruitful

هو

h-w

literal: He; He is

چون

ch-w-n → “As”

literal: since; when; as

صبح

ṣ-b-ḥ → “morn”

literal: morning, dawn; daybreak

صادق

ṣ-d-q → “true”

literal: to confirm; to verify; to acknowledge; to testify to truth

افق

ʾ-f-q → “horizon”

literal: horizon; sphere; realm; quarter

قلب

q-l-b → “heart”

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

عاشق

ʿ-sh-q → “lover’s”

literal: love, passion, ardor

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “break forth” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest

باهر

b-h-r → “resplendent”

literal: portion, share; for the sake of; spring (season)

هويدا

h-w-y

literal: cradle; bed; couch; resting place

آشکار

sh-k-r → “render thanks” Distinctive

literal: thankfulness, gratitude; to give thanks, be grateful; manifest; evident; apparent; clear

شود

sh-w-d

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

بر

b-r-r → “on”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

عرش

ʿ-r-sh → “throne”

literal: of the Throne; companion of the Throne

متمکّن

m-k-n → “all created things” Distinctive

literal: establishment; confirmation; empowerment; firm settlement; place; possibility; being (negated as ‘non-being’)

گردد

g-r-d

literal: become; to become; make

مقرّ

q-r-r → “abide” Distinctive

literal: matter; affair; thing

يابد

y-ʾ-f-t

literal: find; to find, obtain; found

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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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

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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

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

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

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 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

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

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

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 ¶

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 ¶