Translator's Introduction
It is generally believed that Bahá'u'lláh's earliest extant revelation and the only preserved tablet revealed in Iran is the poem known as Rashh-i Ama. It was revealed during Bahá'u'lláh's imprisonment in the Siyah-Chal (Black Pit) dungeon in Tehran, sometime between the months of August and November 1852. Presently, not much more is known about the circumstances of its revelation. The Rashh-i Ama is a Persian poem of 20 couplets, taking its name from the opening words of the first verse. Bahá'u'lláh's style of composition and use of Perso-Arabic idiom in this poem is majestic in tone and yet cryptic and abstruse. To one not familiar with Sufi terminology, deciphering this poem will be difficult. The significance of the Rashh-i Ama derives from it being the "First Emanation of the Supreme Pen" and that it records, in awe-inspiring language, Bahá'u'lláh's earliest intimation of His prophet hood.
Translating poetry is a daunting task! Translating Bahá'u'lláh's poetry entails additional challenges. In the immortal words of Hafiz: "hizar nukti-yi bariktar zi must inja" (there are, inherent here, a thousand epigrams finer than a single strand of hair). Many of Bahá'u'lláh's writings, the Rashh-i Ama included, are infused with multiple meanings and can be understood in many different ways. To approximate the beauty of Bahá'u'lláh's style, the translator is left with a difficult choice: to stay literal and lose the poetic splendor of the original or to compromise the literal in favor of a more stylistic rendering. Those who are familiar with the poem in its original language may well notice instances where this choice has yielded renderings--some noted below--that are, owing to a dearth of expressive words in English, less than literal and yet hardly satisfactory in style. This and other deficiencies should be chalked up to the translator's feeble attempts at taking 'poetic license' or faulty rendering and not to an interpretive intent. In the foreword to his translation of the Kitab-i Iqan (Book of Certitude), Shoghi Effendi reminds us of "what must always be regarded as the unattainable goal: a befitting rendering of Bahá'u'lláh's matchless utterance." It is my ardent hope that this translation will bring the Western reader closer to Bahá'u'lláh's lofty and sublime utterance.
Aside from alluding to Himself, Bahá'u'lláh employs two refrains throughout this poem: the first having to do with divine inspiration pouring, flowing or emanating from Him; and the other exhorting the reader to see, listen, absorb and acknowledge these outpourings of providential grace.
Finally, Arabic and Persian words have not been transliterated owing to electronic document formatting and transportability considerations.
Translation
- Our charm bids waft the Mist of Unknown
Mystery of fidelity thus flows from Our tone- The east wind, musk-laden, from Cathay2 whirls
Its scent so sweet streams forth from Our curls- The ornamented sun from the True One hath risen
Mystery of reality from Our3 visage doth blazon- The sea of purity roars from waves of rapture4
This gift bestowed from His essence5 We capture- Love's treasures lie hid in the bosom of Fars6
Out this treasure-trove Pearls of Fidelity pours- Delight of wine evinced when All7 was manifested
To songs of providence8 this Sublime Token attested- A blast on the trumpet, the attraction divine
These two in one blow flow from the Exalted Clime- Confessed Our face to the cycle of: "I am He"
Baha9 is brimming with the epoch of: "He is He"10- The river of life shimmers in the closet11 of the heart
This sweet wine the ruby lips of Baha doth part- The day of God by the Lord's effulgence is complete
The warbling in Tehran12 from these novel words is replete- Glory overflowing, behold! Misty unknowing, behold!
All this from one melody thy Lord doth sing, behold!- Lo! The immortal Perfect Mystic13, the Pristine Dawn
The Pure Breast from the Highest Throne out drawn- Lo! The Tree of Paradise, heark the Nightingale's song
This Glorious warbling from the Light of Purity hath sprung- Hearken the Persian14 melody, the Arabian tambourine
Hearken the 'No' rhythm15 from the Hand of Divine- See dawning of the Godhead, the Maid of Paradise
How mystery of Unknown from earthly appearance doth arise- Lo! Remnant's Countenance, Cupbearer's Face
Lo! The translucent glass pouring out from Our Chalice- Behold the Burning Bush, see the Hand so white
Behold Mount Sinai radiating from the Palm so bright- Hear his intoxicated moans, see the mystic ecstatic16
In the precincts of rapture3 all living beings are charismatic- From His peek, observe the amorous glance of Baha
From His reed, hearken the Farsi melody of Baha17- Emergence of Revelation 'tis, Effusion of Purity 'tis
Warbling of Nightingales 'tis, that pours out of Nothingness!
Notes