The Hidden Words — §100

Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 100 of 160.

Source (Arabic)

(٢٥) ﴿ ای بظاهر آراسته و بباطن کاسته ﴾ مَثَلِ شما مثل آب تلخ صافی است که کمال لطافت و صفا از آن در ظاهر مشهود شود چون بدست صرّاف ذائقه احديّه افتد قطره ای از آن را قبول نفرمايد * بلی تجلّی آفتاب در تراب و مرآت هر دو موجود ولکن از فَرْقَدان تا ارض فرق دان بلکه فرق بی منتهی در ميان *

Shoghi Effendi Translation

(25) O YE SEEMING FAIR YET INWARDLY FOUL! Ye are like clear but bitter water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of which, when tested by the divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted. Yea, the sun beam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in reflection even as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is the difference!

Translation Notes

بظاهر

bẓáhr ẓ-h-r → “seeming” Distinctive

literal: manifestation; manifest; appear

This form usually rendered as “manifest”, “revealed”, “made” (461 occurrences)

manifest 19% revealed 15% made 13% outward 11% appeared 10% appear 8% outwardly 6% visible 6% earthly 6% manifested 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: to the Revelation fire-tabletFire §8: the signs gleaningsGWB §636: born kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: streamed forth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §154: His Manifestation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §331: onrushing tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §8: to assist the-hidden-wordsHW §69: may be made manifest

آراسته

árásth árástn → “desireth” Distinctive

literal: wanted; adorn; adorned

This form usually rendered as “fair”, “bearing” (2 occurrences)

fair 50% bearing 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §143: adorning gleaningsGWB §687: bearing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §514: Whose desire is the-hidden-wordsHW §133: seeketh will-and-testamentW&T §14: rested epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: willed gleaningsGWB §405: promptings the-hidden-wordsHW §151: have adorned yourselves

بباطن

bbáṭn b-ṭ-n → “inwardly”

literal: inward; hidden

inwardly 50% hidden 17% secretly 17% most 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §219: inner gleaningsGWB §391: spiritual kitab-i-iqanKIQ §174: “hidden,”prayers-and-meditationsP&M §602: Thy Concealment the-hidden-wordsHW §104: womb epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §235: Concealment gleaningsGWB §362: inner life kitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: invisible heaven

کاسته

kásth kástn → “foul”

literal: decrease/decline

foul 67% decline 33%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §202: reduce kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: nothingness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §58: decreaseth epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §52: decline epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: foul

مَثَلِ

mathal m-th-l → “like”

literal: like; likeness; example

instance 18% like 14% even 12% consider 12% such 10% same 10% equal 8% what 8% one 6% peerless 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: equal gleaningsGWB §305: Behold kitab-i-ahdAhd §14: like unto kitab-i-iqanKIQ §176: people like prayers-and-meditationsP&M §287: similitudes the-hidden-wordsHW §139: matchless will-and-testamentW&T §15: in their footsteps epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §132: such as are like thee

آب

áb áb → “water”

literal: water; father

water 77% waters 15% father 8%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §207: Father gleaningsGWB §682: All-Glorious kitab-i-iqanKIQ §229: your fathers the-hidden-wordsHW §109: watered epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: water kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: waters kitab-i-iqanKIQ §201: their fathers

تلخ

tlkh tlkh → “bitter”

literal: bitter

2 occurrences in corpus

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: bitter

صافی

ṣáfí ṣ-f-w → “crystal pure”

literal: chosen ones; chosen-ones; attributes

crystal 17% sanctified 17% stainless 17% pure 17% immaculate 17% clear 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §203: purity fire-tabletFire §27: and purity gleaningsGWB §562: goodwill kitab-i-ahdAhd §11: chosen kitab-i-iqanKIQ §160: sanctified prayers-and-meditationsP&M §169: all Thy chosen ones the-hidden-wordsHW §22: choicest will-and-testamentW&T §45: Thy Holy Ones

کمال

kmál k-m-l

literal: perfection; perfect; complete

SE rendered مثل (mthl), آب (áb), تلخ (tlkh), صافی (ṣáfí), کمال (kmál), لطافت (lṭáft), صفا (ṣfá), از (iz), ظاهر (ẓáhr) as “water, bitter, crystal pure, outward seeming”

utmost 44% perfect 9% plenitude 9% greatest 6% extreme 6% utter 6% all 6% perfection 6% absolute 6% great 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §223: will have elapsed gleaningsGWB §529: all-powerful kitab-i-iqanKIQ §14: was incomplete prayers-and-meditationsP&M §467: Cause perfected the-hidden-wordsHW §160: fulfilled will-and-testamentW&T §28: righteous epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §267: whole gleaningsGWB §685: complete

لطافت

lṭáft l-ṭ-f

literal: kindness; subtle; kindness, grace

SE rendered آب (áb), تلخ (tlkh), صافی (ṣáfí), کمال (kmál), لطافت (lṭáft), صفا (ṣfá), از (iz), ظاهر (ẓáhr), مشهود (mshhúd) as “water, bitter, crystal pure, outward seeming”

favors 26% loving-kindness 16% gifts 11% bounties 9% tender 9% bountiful 7% bounty 6% most 6% manifold 6% subtile 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §15: bounties gleaningsGWB §307: refined kitab-i-iqanKIQ §125: ethereal prayers-and-meditationsP&M §220: of Thy tender mercies the-hidden-wordsHW §66: as a sign of My loving-kindness epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §198: most sanctified gleaningsGWB §629: Thy favors kitab-i-iqanKIQ §23: goodly

مشهود

mshhúd sh-h-d

literal: witness; witnessed

SE rendered ظاهر (ẓáhr), مشهود (mshhúd), چون (chún), بدست (bdst), صرّاف (ṣrráf), ذائقه (dháʾqh) as “outward seeming, Assayer”

evident 23% manifest 23% can 10% made 10% revealed 6% found 6% shineth 6% clear 6% witnessed 6% perspicuous 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §119: of martyrdom fire-tabletFire §48: the place gleaningsGWB §14: esteeming kitab-i-ahdAhd §3: appeareth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §59: reflect prayers-and-meditationsP&M §316: testified to tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §12: have We found them the-hidden-wordsHW §45: and I within Myself may bear witness unto

بدست

bdst d-s-t

literal: hand; hands; hand, grasp

SE rendered ظاهر (ẓáhr), مشهود (mshhúd), چون (chún), بدست (bdst), صرّاف (ṣrráf), ذائقه (dháʾqh), احديّه (iḥdídh), افتد (iftd), قطره (qṭrh) as “outward seeming, Assayer, divine, when tested, drop”

into 50% own 17% unto 17% opened 17%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §126: into the hands gleaningsGWB §312: unto their kitab-i-iqanKIQ §51: hand will-and-testamentW&T §9: into alien hands epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: by kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: into the grasp will-and-testamentW&T §54: opened epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §123: by his own hand

ذائقه

dháʾqh dh-w-q → “tasted”

literal: taste; tasted

tasted 29% holy 12% longing 12% have 12% delight 6% “taste 6% cause 6% tasteth 6% make 6% endured 6%

gleaningsGWB §363: holy rapture kitab-i-iqanKIQ §216: longing prayers-and-meditationsP&M §531: hath tasted will-and-testamentW&T §10: quaff my fill gleaningsGWB §555: of longing desire kitab-i-iqanKIQ §163: delight prayers-and-meditationsP&M §342: endured kitab-i-iqanKIQ §209: “Taste

احديّه

iḥdídh ʾ-ḥ-d → “divine”

literal: anyone; one; oneness

divine 36% god 17% any 9% one 8% man 7% who 7% unity 7% none 4% anyone 4% soul 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §149: unto one gleaningsGWB §462: believer kitab-i-iqanKIQ §224: His Unity prayers-and-meditationsP&M §274: no man else tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §55: dweller the-hidden-wordsHW §69: over the other epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: the unity gleaningsGWB §97: divine unity

افتد

iftd iftádn → “have” Distinctive

literal: fall; fallen; fell

This form usually rendered as “when”, “will”, “tested” (4 occurrences)

when 25% will 25% tested 25% might 25%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: were kitab-i-iqanKIQ §30: become afflicted the-hidden-wordsHW §126: lead them will-and-testamentW&T §51: have befallen epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: when tested kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: will have fallen the-hidden-wordsHW §100: tested will-and-testamentW&T §9: might fall

قطره

qṭrh q-ṭ-r → “drop”

literal: drop

drop 75% dewdrop 10% single 5% every 5% land 5%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §256: lands gleaningsGWB §404: every land kitab-i-iqanKIQ §40: single drop prayers-and-meditationsP&M §792: sides epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §158: regions gleaningsGWB §261: abroad prayers-and-meditationsP&M §137: Every drop epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: drop

نفرمايد

nfrmáyd frmúdn → “not a”

literal: say; command; says

SE rendered افتد (iftd), قطره (qṭrh), از (iz), قبول (qbúl), نفرمايد (nfrmáyd), بلی (blí), تجلّی (tjllí), آفتاب (áftáb), تراب (tráb) as “when tested, drop, accepted, not a, Yea, beam, sun, dust”

withhold 50% how 50%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §153: to sanctify gleaningsGWB §625: His object is to kitab-i-iqanKIQ §115: cry out prayers-and-meditationsP&M §663: Suffer the-hidden-wordsHW §100: not a will-and-testamentW&T §24: towards them epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §215: may enable gleaningsGWB §442: We cherish

تجلّی

tjllí j-l-y → “revelation”

literal: manifestation; manifestations; manifested

revelation 52% splendor 10% splendour 10% one 6% “revelation” 6% glory 3% falls 3% shine 3% reveal 3% such 3%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: falls gleaningsGWB §382: such a revelation kitab-i-iqanKIQ §204: reflected prayers-and-meditationsP&M §448: Thou didst reveal Thy Self tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §8: appeared the-hidden-wordsHW §136: clear epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §11: One gleam gleaningsGWB §117: splendorous light shed

آفتاب

áftáb áftáb → “sun”

literal: sun

sun 58% day-star 15% daystar 12% sunbeam 4% orb 4% luminaries 4% light 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §109: Sun gleaningsGWB §122: Orb kitab-i-iqanKIQ §18: light will-and-testamentW&T §23: of the sun epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §12: day-star gleaningsGWB §108: Daystar epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §25: the sunbeam gleaningsGWB §357: luminaries

تراب

tráb t-r-b → “dust”

literal: dust; dust, earth; dust/earth

dust 75% earth 12% clay 8% upon 2% lowly 2% ground 2%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §7: the earth gleaningsGWB §672: that dwell upon the dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §72: their resting-place prayers-and-meditationsP&M §797: and the clay the-hidden-wordsHW §115: dust-heap epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §213: dust gleaningsGWB §665: that lieth in the dust kitab-i-iqanKIQ §190: now dwelling upon the dust

هر

hr h-r

literal: every; each; every/each

SE rendered بلی (blí), تجلّی (tjllí), آفتاب (áftáb), تراب (tráb), مرآت (mrát), هر (hr), دو (dú), موجود (mújúd), ولکن (wlkn), از (iz), فَرْقَدان (farqadán) as “Yea, beam, sun, dust, mirror, alike, falls, yet, star”

every 56% anything 6% whatsoever 6% each 6% whosoever 6% although 6% both 6% whenever 6% one 6%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §175: every gleaningsGWB §512: whatsoever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §71: one of these epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §77: anything kitab-i-iqanKIQ §109: Each kitab-i-iqanKIQ §120: whosoever kitab-i-iqanKIQ §203: Although kitab-i-iqanKIQ §266: Whenever

دو

dú d-w → “two”

literal: two

two 82% twofold 9% both 9%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §165: two gleaningsGWB §144: twofold kitab-i-iqanKIQ §19: Both will-and-testamentW&T §54: spur on kitab-i-iqanKIQ §185: Twelve hundred will-and-testamentW&T §42: again kitab-i-iqanKIQ §223: to kitab-i-iqanKIQ §28: two are

موجود

mújúd w-j-d → “falls” Distinctive

literal: existence; existent

This form usually rendered as “exist”, “extant”, “found” (50 occurrences)

exist 21% extant 14% found 14% evident 7% witnessed 7% existing 7% standeth 7% possession 7% there 7% embodied 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §68: world of being fire-tabletFire §49: thou canst breathe gleaningsGWB §530: mankind kitab-i-iqanKIQ §91: revealed prayers-and-meditationsP&M §755: he would discover tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §36: Shouldst thou inhale the-hidden-wordsHW §16: will be in vain will-and-testamentW&T §6: extant

فَرْقَدان

farqadán f-r-q → “star”

literal: separation; difference; group

separation 37% distinction 18% scattered 6% qur’án 6% separated 6% difference 6% some 6% different 6% because 6% discern 4%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §59: separation fire-tabletFire §1: of separation gleaningsGWB §122: distinction kitab-i-iqanKIQ §170: variation prayers-and-meditationsP&M §319: because of its separation from Thy Self tablet-of-ahmadAhmad §3: shall be tested the-hidden-wordsHW §100: differ will-and-testamentW&T §20: breach

ارض

irḍ ʾ-r-ḍ → “earth”

literal: earth; land; earth, land

earth 65% land 13% world 9% all 4% soil 2% whole 2% amongst 2% mankind 1% realm 1% city 1%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §46: soil fire-tabletFire §3: sands gleaningsGWB §573: or in the earth kitab-i-iqanKIQ §74: this earth prayers-and-meditationsP&M §302: Thine earth tablet-of-the-holy-marinerMariner §43: the lands the-hidden-wordsHW §69: the same land epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §102: all that is on earth

دان

dán d-ʾ-n

literal: know; ignorance; knowledge

SE rendered ولکن (wlkn), از (iz), فَرْقَدان (farqadán), ارض (irḍ), فرق (frq), دان (dán), بلکه (blkh), فرق (frq), بی (bí), منتهی (mnthí) as “yet, star, earth, difference, nay, immeasurable”

ignorance 14% knowledge 14% true 14% understanding 14% thou 7% all-knowing 7% unerring 7% perversity 7% folly 7% ye 7%

epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §22: understanding gleaningsGWB §336: All-Knowing kitab-i-iqanKIQ §183: perversity the-hidden-wordsHW §95: ye have epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §66: thou mayest know gleaningsGWB §429: in His unerring wisdom kitab-i-iqanKIQ §269: folly epistle-to-the-son-of-the-wolfESW §125: true understanding

بی

bí b-y

literal: without; is

SE rendered فَرْقَدان (farqadán), ارض (irḍ), فرق (frq), دان (dán), بلکه (blkh), فرق (frq), بی (bí), منتهی (mnthí) as “star, earth, difference, nay, immeasurable”