The Hidden Words — §156

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 156 of 160.

Source (Arabic)

(٧٩) ﴿ ای پسر هوی ﴾ تا کی در هوای نفسانی طيران نمائی ؟ پر عنايت فرمودم تا در هوای قدس معانی پرواز کنی نه در فضای وهم شيطانی * شانه مرحمت فرمودم تا گيسوی مشکينم شانه نمائی نه گلويم بخراشی *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

(79) O SON OF DESIRE! How long wilt thou soar in the realms of desire? Wings have I bestowed upon thee, that thou mayest fly to the realms of mystic holiness and not the regions of satanic fancy. The comb, too, have I given thee that thou mayest dress My raven locks, and not lacerate My throat.

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

هوی

h-w-y → “DESIRE”

literal: desire; inclination; whim; realm; region

تا

t-y-y → “so that”

literal: so that/until

کی

k-w → “unto Him”

literal: street

در

d-r-r → “in”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

نفسانی

n-f-s

literal: self; soul; psyche

طيران

ṭ-y-r → “soar”

literal: bird; birds; flying creature

نمائی

n-m-ʾ → “thou mayest”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

پر

p-r-r → “wings”

literal: feather; wing, feather; wing

فرمودم

f-r-m → “have I bestowed”

literal: to say; to decree; to ordain; to command

قدس

q-d-s → “holiness”

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

معانی

ʿ-n-y → “mystic” Distinctive

literal: bounty; loving-kindness; grace; divine care; attention

پرواز

p-r-w → “nurtured” Distinctive

literal: to kindle, to light, to inflame

کنی

k-r-d → “made” Distinctive

literal: to do; to make; to speak; to abstain; to refrain from; to avoid; allusion; insinuation; indirect reference

نه

n-h-y → “not” Distinctive

literal: end; ended; utmost

فضای

f-ḍ-w → “realm”

literal: space; expanse; void

وهم

w-h-m → “fancy”

literal: to imagine, suppose; fancy, idle imagination

شيطانی

sh-ṭ-n → “satanic”

literal: Satan; devil; evil one; accursed one

شانه

sh-ʾ-n → “station”

literal: affair, matter, station, rank, dignity

مرحمت

r-ḥ-m → “mercy” Distinctive

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

گيسوی

g-y-s → “raven locks”

literal: lock of hair; tress; curl

مشکينم

m-sh-k

literal: niche; alcove; musk; musky; fragrant

گلويم

g-l-w → “My throat”

literal: throat; neck; gullet

بخراشی

kh-r-sh → “Daystar” Distinctive

literal: to roar; to cry out; to shriek

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 ¶