The Hidden Words — §149

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 149 of 160.

Source (Arabic)

(٧٢) ﴿ ای بنده من ﴾ مثل تو مثل سيف پر جوهری است که در غلاف تيره پنهان باشد و باين سبب قدر آن بر جوهريان مستور ماند * پس از غلاف نفس و هوی بيرون آی تا جوهر تو بر عالميان هويدا و روشن آيد *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

(72) O MY SERVANT! Thou art even as a finely tempered sword concealed in the darkness of its sheath and its value hidden from the artificer’s knowledge. Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and desire that thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest unto all the world.

Translation Notes

ای

ʾ-y-y → “O”

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

بنده

b-n-d → “SERVANT”

literal: servants; bondsmen; slaves

من

m-n → “MY” Distinctive

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

مثل

m-th-l → “even as”

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

تو

t-w-w → “thou”

literal: you

سيف

s-y-f → “sword”

literal: sword

پر

p-r-r

literal: feather; wing, feather; wing

جوهری

j-w-h-r → “Essences” Distinctive

literal: jewel; essence; gem; substance

است

b-w-d → “is”

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

که

k-h

literal: that; who; who, that

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

غلاف

gh-l-f → “sheath”

literal: sheath, covering, veil

تيره

t-y-r → “obscured”

literal: arrow; dark; gloomy

پنهان

p-n-h → “concealed”

literal: hidden; concealed; to hide

باين

b-y-n

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

سبب

s-b-b

literal: cause; reason; means; instrument

قدر

q-d-r → “value” Distinctive

literal: power; might; decree; measure; worth

آن

ʾ-n → “of its” Distinctive

literal: that; those; he; she; it

بر

b-r-r → “from” Distinctive

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

مستور

s-t-r → “hidden”

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

ماند

m-ʾ-n → “remain” Distinctive

literal: to remain; to stay; to be left

پس

p-s → “From”

literal: then; then, therefore; therefore

از

ʾ-z → “from”

literal: from

نفس

n-f-s → “self”

literal: soul; self; person; essence

هوی

h-w-y → “desire”

literal: desire; vain desire; inclination; passion; whim; realm; region

بيرون

b-r-n

literal: outside; out; forth

تا

t-y-y → “that”

literal: so that/until

عالميان

ʿ-l-m → “all the world” Distinctive

literal: world; universe; the worlds

روشن

r-w-sh → “illumined”

literal: light; illumination; brilliance; clarity

آيد

ʾ-y-d → “aid” Distinctive

literal: come; support; may aid

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

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

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

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 ¶