A TABLET OF

BAHĀ'-ALLĀH OF THE LATE IRAQ PERIOD

لوح

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 LAWḤ-I HALIH, HALIH, HALIH,

YĀ BISHĀRAT

 

BEING REVISED 2006

---

Introduction   

    Below is a slightly revised translation of my earlier rendering(s) of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat, the text of which can be found in the original printing of Bahā'i Studies Bulletin  2:3 (December 1983),105-112, which translated the text  printed in Ishrāq Khāvarī's Ganj-i-shāyigān ("The Befitting Treasury") (Tehran, 123 BE/ 1967-8, pp.33-35). On or around 16/7/1995, I posted a slightly revised version of my first translation of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat on the USA listserve Talisman, incorporating a few minor corrections to the text.

    Subsequently, the Ganj text and my translation of the Halih halih halih... was discussed and commented upon by Dr. Frank Lewis (Emory Univ. Atlanta) and others. Lewis correctly suggested that  in line 5 the words دو طيف  (dū ṭayf)  so Ganj, 34 (this always seemed strange to me) might actually  be دوصَيْف  dū ṣayf, ("two swords [daggers]"). I affirmed the truth of this reading by referring to the text of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat  reproduced in INBMC 35:445-6 

    Later Sen McGlinn (now a student at Univ. Leiden)  obtained a copy of a mss. in the handwriting of `Abd al-Bahā' (from the BWC) which is now available at  ADD. He also made a  poetical version "in rhythmic verse" based on my own translation which he came to dubb something "based on two very defective texts", namely, those in Ganj, 33-5  and INBMC 35:445-6. These versions seem not so much inaccurate or "defective" but  different (possibly earlier?) versions / recensions of the same Tablet. They may well represent earliy or partially updated, possibly orally (and textually) transmitted versions  of the evolving Halih halih halih text. Some of these various recensions, in whole or in part, may well go back to Bahā'-Allāh himself.

    It is very unlikely that all the  differing mss. texts of the Halih halih halih... are all "defective" versions of a single original.  On occasion Bahā'-Allāh (and /or the Bābī-Bahā'ī community?) most likely re-revealed (through waḥy) or refashioned earlier texts in devotional and other circumstances. It is well-known that  Baha'-Allāh re-revealed scriptural texts in sometimes complex "updated" ways. The evolving text history of many alwah of Bahā'-Allāh remains to be clarified.

        The first Persian typed text below is according to that contained in Ishrāq Khāvarī's Ganj-i-shāyigān ("The Befitting Treasury") (Tehran, 123 BE/ 1967-8, pp. 33-35) with one correction. This text was translated in the BSB 2:3 (December 1983),105-112. It is not necessarily wholly "accurate" but represents one stream of the Halih halih halih... tradition.

        The second Persian text of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat  below is that of the Hadiqat al-Irfān in the light also of the typed version from the mss. in the handwriting of `Abd al-Bahā'. This is semi-critically reproduced below. To repeat myself, in some instances it is not that texts are "defective" but that varying  texts often seem to be versions or "streams" of the evolving textual tradition.

---

Introduction

    The poetical  work, the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat    derives its title from the refrain which follows each internally rhyming line (Halih x 3 = Rejoice! or [loosely] Hallelujah!). Composed towards the end of Baha'-Allāh's  residence in Baghdad (late 1862 or early 1863 CE?) it is expressive of his claim to special communion with God through a ḥuriyya celestial maiden evident in such other of his alwah such as the al-Qaṣīda al-warqā'iyya; Hur-i `ujab; Lawḥ-i Huriyya.

    At times one can see from the  text of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat evidence of Baha'-Allāh's imminent assumption of a leadership role within the Bābī community. Drawing on qur'ānic, Sufi and Bābī imagery, most notably the Sūrat al-huriyya of the Bāb's mid. 1260/1844 Qayyūm al-asma' (= QA.29) In his mystically oriented ode, Baha'-Allāh calls upon the members of the Bābī community to listen to his "wondrous new melodies" (cf. Tarikh-i Nabīl Zarandi [Pt II ] cited in Ishrāq Khāvarī, Ayyām-i tis`ih, 332f).

    Two musical, vocal renditions of my earlier translation of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat   have appeared. First that of Laura McCall performed at a Bosch mysticism conference and released to me on cassette tape on 17/11/95 and the second that of the professional harpist ADD

 

 

---

THE REVISED BSB 2:3 TRANSLATION

 

He is the Beloved One

هوالمحموب

[1]

حُور بَقَا از فردَوس علا  آمد 

The Maid of Eternity came from the Exalted Paradise;

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[2]

با چنگ و نوا هم

با كاسه ^ء حمرا آمد

With harp and with song, with crimson goblet she came;

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[3]

با غمزه جانی با مزه فانی

 با رقص و نوا آمد

With amorous glances, with the taste of mystical death;

with dance and with song she came.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[4]

با گيسوی مشكين با لعل نمكين

With musky tresses, with beauteous ruby lips; from nigh unto God, she came.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[5]

دو *سيف ز ابرويش صد تير

 ز مژگانش بهر دل ما آمد

 

Two daggers her eyebrows, one hundred arrows from her eyelashes;

to  ravage our hearts she came.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[6]

All souls in her path, all hearts in her embrace,  massacred when she came.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 [7]

 With snow-white hand,

with raven locks--

like the dragon [serpent] of Moses she came;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[8]

From the Divine Lote-Tree this sweet Davidic voice came with the Messianic Spirit.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[9]

With the allurement of fidelity, with the protection of Bahā' (Glory-Beauty);

she came from the Dawning-Place of [the letter] "H"
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[10]

With guiding light from the morn of the Divine Encounter; with Mount Sinai she came;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[11]

This songbird of the Spirit came to her lovers from the Nightingale of  "No".
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[12]

With the joyful tidings of reunion this Divine Maiden came from a branch of the Tree of Blessedness;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[13]

This annihilated lover, this earthly bird; she came as a sacrifice in the path of the Beloved.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[14]

This sword of oppression from the Throne of fidelity; she came upon the neck of the Beloved.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[15]

This sacred missive, with an Arab messenger; she came from the city of Sheba.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[16]

This Eternal Countenance; she came with snow-white hand from the Divine Logos-Command;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[17]

This Ḥijāzī Falcon came with Iraqi accents from the forearm of the King.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[18]

This Pardoning Visage; she came with fetching allure from the Court of Nearness.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[19]

 This Nightingale of mystic meaning,  she came from the sacred rose bush with the hand of *ecstasy*;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[20]

This luminous page;  she came with light and splendor from the Midian of Spirit;
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[21]

This Witness of the Omnipotent, this heady Wine of the Beloved;

she came with the goblet of Sovereignty.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[22]

That essence of the Beauty of the True One, that jewel of the Glory of the True One;

she came with the Most Great Sign.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[23]

That Countenance of the Desired One, that Face of the Adored One;

she came with the Most-Supreme Mercy.
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[24]

The souls to her reunion, the hearts to her Bestowal;

as the Most Exalted Lord she hath come!
 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

[25]

This Wondrous Remembrance hath come from the Eternal Rose-garden

that the lovers of the beauty of the Adored One, hearts and souls burning with love,

might, in utmost tranquility, busy themselves with these wondrous new melodies;

that perchance, attracted thereby, the inmates of the Kaaba of Gnosis might be shaken with ecstasy

and recall their divine and sacred homeland.

 

 

---

LAWḤ-I HALIH, HALIH, HALIH,

YĀ BISHĀRAT

THE PERSIAN TEXT

 

    The second Persian text of the Halih halih halih yā  bishārat  below is that of the Hadiqat al-Irfān in the light also of the typed version from the mss. in the handwriting of `Abd al-Bahā' which is semi-critically reproduced below. To repeat myself, in some instances it is not that texts are "defective" but that there seem several versions or "streams" of the textual tradition. Thus, for example ADD

        Below are versions of  a semi-critical  Persian text of Baha'-Allāh's Lawḥ-i Halih halih halih yā  bishārat. I have added a few vowels to the Persian text to clarify the reading adopted. In setting it down here I have referred to various (unpointed)  mss and texts  printed  in 

• (1) the probably early text in INBMC 36:445-6;

• (2) the  text in Gani-i shayigan, 33-35 [= above, Persian text 1];  

• (3) the BWC typescript text based on a mss. in the handwriting of `Abd al-Baha' (posted by Sen McGlinn);

• (4) The text in Hadiqat al-`irfān, 160ff; (5) add...

    This typed version below will largely follow version (3) though this does not necessarily highlight the "defective" nature of other textual traditions of the Lawḥ-i Halih halih halih yā  bishārat.

 

The Ganj-i shayigan Persian text (I)

followed by the BSB 2:3 translation with minor revisions.

 

ADD PERSIAN TEXT HERE

 

هُوالمَحبُوب

 

 [1]

حُور بَقَا از فردَوس علا  آمد 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 [2]

با چنگ و نوا هم

با كاسه ^ء حمرا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 [3]

با غمزه جانی با مزه فانی

 با رقص و نوا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 [4]

با گيسوی مشكين با لعل نمكين

 از نزد خدا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

 [5]  

دو *سيف ز ابرويش صد تير

 ز *مژگو/انش بهر دل ما آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[6]

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[7]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[8]

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[9]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[10]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[11]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[12]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[12]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[13]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[14]

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[15]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[16]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[16]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[11]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[17]

با گيسوی مشكين با لعل نمكين

 از نزد خدا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[18]

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[19]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[20]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[21]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[22]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[23]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[24]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[25]

 

 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 

add rest of  Ganj text

 

---

لوح

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

هُوالمَحبُوب

 [1]

حُور بَقَا از فردَوس علا  آمد 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [2]

با چنگ و نوا هم

با كاسه ^ء حمرا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [3]

با غمزه جانی با مزه فانی

 با رقص و نوا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [4]

با گيسوی مشكين با لعل نمكين

 از نزد خدا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [5]

دو *(ط) سيف ز ابرويش

 صد تير ز مژگا*ونش بهر دل ما آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[6a]*

با نغمه ورقا؟

[6b]*

جانها برهش دلها ببرش جمله فنا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [7]

با كفه بيضأ با گيسوی سودا

چون اژدر موسی آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [8]

اين نغمه داودی از سدره لاهوتی

 با روح مسيحا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [9]

با جَذْب وَفَا با صون بَهأء * عماء

 از مَشرِق هَاء آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [10]

با نُور هد*ي ائی از صُبْح لِقََا

 با طُور سنا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [11]

اين نغمه جان در نزد* جانان

از بُلبُل لآ  آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [12]

با مژده وصلی اين حور الهی

 از شاخه طُوبیَ آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

 [13]

بر صدر حبيبان تير قضا

از سّر سما آمد
 

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[14]

اين نامهء قدسی با هُدهُد ناری 

 از شهر سبا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[15]

بر گردن عاشق سيف جفا 

  از عرش وفا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[16]

اين وجههء باقی از امر الهی  

 با يد و بيضا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[17]

اين باز حجازی با لحن عراقی 

  از ساعد شاه آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[18]

اين طلعت معراجی با جذبهء بّهاجی   

    از ساحت ادنی آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[19]

هان بلبل معنی از گُلبن قدسی   

  با گفت و صدا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[20]

اين ورقهء نورا اين مدين روحا  

  با نور و ضيا آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[21]

اين شاهد يزدان اين مست می جانان

   با جام تولّی آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[22]

آن صِرف جمال حّق آن جوهر اجلال حّق

 با آيت كُبری آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[23]

آن طلعت مقصود آن وجههء معبود  

 با رحمت عظمی آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[24]

جانها بوصالش دلها به نثارش 

   كان ربّ علی آمد

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[25]

اين ذكر بديع از گلشن باقی آمد

 تا عاشقان جمال جانان به آتش حُّب از دل و جان و

با كمال اطمينان به بدايع لحنهای خوش به آن مشغول شوند كه شايد از جذبهء آن

عاكفان كعبه عرفان بشور آيند و وطن قدس الهی را فراموش نفرمائيد.

He is the Beloved One

هوالمحموب

[1]

The Maid of Eternity came from the Exalted Paradise;

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

هَلِه    هَلِه    هَلِه

يَا بِِِِِِِِِشَارَت

[2]

With harp and with song, with crimson goblet she came;

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

O Glad Tidings!

&nbs